Allagash Odyssey

Brewed by Allagash Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Portland, Maine USA

Tasted at Dr. Bills. Not my favorite. Some oxidation. Light sourness. Aroma isn’t that bad. Drinkability isn’t so high. A little too dry.8,3,5,3,13:3.2 Rerate at Woodshop quad: 7,3,7,3,15:3.5

2008. Pours mahogany into a Trappist glass. Off-white micro head with medium retention leaves sheet lacing as it recedes to skim surface and hug rim. Oak and bourbon aromas. Crisp heady, malty oak and pit fruit. Lasting bourbon finish.

Appearance: Pours a clear, dark brown body with a full, frothy, khaki-colored head. Plenty of glass-coating lacing on the way down. Smell: Slight sweetish hints to the aroma of rich brown malt, vanilla, candied fruits, and (though only mildly) oak. Taste: Sweet, mildly roasted maltiness with a full taste of Keuken stroop. For only using a mere 10% wheat, I did feel it contributes significantly to the flavor, but that’s just me. Handful of vanilla cookie crumbles. Distinct, yet well blended taste of toasted oak. Fig and banana fruitiness. A bit of alcohol heat on the malty, toffee sweet finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Moderate carbonation. Slightly sticky mouthfeel. Drinkability: I enjoyed it, but I’m not going to lie to you, my friend really disliked this one. I hope this bottle of Odyssey hasn’t formed an irreparable rift in our long-standing friendship.

*did not like! would never buy* smells: kinda belgian, .. yeah.. a dark belgian. typical, spet for a hint of rich nice brown warm buttery malts. of those present in a creamy brown ale. mild though. App: nice garnet nice head. Flavor: medicinal. the booze is sugary and fake. it is chemical covered. there are brown malts that pop up in and out of the booze. nothing fights the bad horrid booze though. it is wasy off and way wrong. ICK. Palate: to thin to watery. OA: no no no, this is a punishing beer. nothing of intrest.

Opaque brown with thin white head. Aroma comes out as it warms with dark rich fruitsand citrusy notes with sweet brown sugar. Medium bodied with woody taste and subtle plummy flavors. Alcohol is not overbearing, but in tandem with the wood produces noticeable astringency. $16/750

Bit of a raisin aroma with just a light oakey aroma. There is also a toasty spiced smell. There is also just a hint of orange. There is a lot more oak on the palate than there was in the aroma. The beer coats the tongue and leaves a raisin flavor mixed with kind of a sweet honey flavor as well. There is also acidity that reminds me of coffee on the finish. Got a 750 ml bottle at State Line Liquor in Elkton, MD.

750ml bottle bottled January 2008. Pours an almost opaque dark brown with ruby-red highlights and about an inch of light-tan head. Smells fruity (dates, citrus) with some chocolate, vanilla, wood... Tastes like chocolate, date, wood, some citrus, coffee, hints of bourbon (I think)... Wow. A plethora of different flavors all playing in harmony. Rich full mouthfeel with ample carbonation to keep it drinkable. Alcohol is present only in warming, but not in mouthfeel or flavor. Very drinkable, especially for a beer of its size (abv as well as flavor). Phenomenal. Definitely Allagash’s best product, at least that I’ve tried thus far, and quite possibly the best beer I have ever tried.

Bottle on 11/30/2008 at the 3rd Annual Richmond Industry Gathering. Clear dark amber body with ruby highlights. Dark malt and caramel aroma with some spice. Sweet spicy caramel and molassas flavor. Medium full body with moderately high carbonation. 8/4/7/3/15 - 3.7 04/02/2008: On tap at Capital Ale House - Downtown. Dark brown body with ruby highlights and a small frothy brown head. Sweet molassas, caramel, spice and light rum-soaked fruit aroma. Sweet fruit flavor with molassas, caramel, and more spice and a noticable bitter finish. Medium full body with moderate carbonation. 8/4/8/3/16 - 3.9