Allagash Odyssey

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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Deep garnet brown color with a thin sand-tan head. Aroma is rich figs and oak, with a touch of dark brown sugar and molasses. The flavor has a nice foward oak, enriching a very creamy, rich chewy, dark fruit beer. Not a super thick syrupy beer, but vdery larg and in charge on the flavor. Mission figs, dates, and a touch of black strap molasses. Nice lingering oaky finish. As it warmed, it developed an anise like flavor. Bottle tasted on May 18 2008

Draft sample @ Brewvival on 2/27/10. Solid beer from Allagash... really nice American Oak presence over the nose... dark pour with an average head... dark fruits and sweet malts really dominate the body... Belgian yeast finish.

Extremely dark brown pour, solidly sized light tan head that retains nicely; visible carbonation in the liquid. Aroma is full of dark spices like clove, along with some classic Allagash Belgian yeast. This is complemented by the second tier of smell, which holds some nice wheat, wood, and toast. Flavor is excellent; lots of wood and toast again, but there is some beautiful dark sugar that comes through; caramel, candied apple, and molasses. The spice comes through once again later on, with delicious dark Belgian notes and a touch of brandy. Palate is really nice; certainly full bodied, but relaxes itself into a sweet but clean and unfettered finish. One of my favorites from Allagash, and an exquisite Belgian strong.

’07 bottle thanks to BanditBrewingCO (BA)
Beautiful dark purple, thin cream-colored head that is gone quickly. Nose of oak, nut, earth, and lots of sweet, deep berry, also some caramel and hints of the 10.4% abv. More fruit in the flavor, burnt toast, light vanilla and some oak, a little alcohol. Thin body, long fruity finish. Not incredibly complex, but nicely so and rather cohesive, and on top, pure enjoyment.

Appearance: pours with the appearance of dark old European woods rich in lore. Khaki tannish head. Bottle conditioned so a steady stream of bubbles greets the eyes. Swirls foamy with a khaki collar.
Nose: interesting and intriguing. Chocolate and plum, Hershey’s chocolate and ruby port. Smell of the seasons changing to Fall. Grape and plum pomace – stems, skins, and pits. Faint oak planks underneath, almost as an afterthought. Fresh black cherries resting in their own juices with no additives or preservatives. Touch of leather in the back along with more pomace – makes me imagine what the old leather Madera sacks of yore may have smelled like after years of use.
Palate: wow! Subtle and soft, sophisticated and aristocratic. Chocolate and leather, pomace, black cherries both in essence and fresh juice. The pomace lingers in the back of each swallow along with old wine soaked oak. More cherries and chocolate with the addition of red and black grapes. Bakers chocolate teases the top back middle of my tongue. More oak comes out to play as she warms up with campfire and fireplace designs.
Final Thoughts: wow and wow! Allagash Brewing never disappoints and the Odyssey was indeed an odyssey of all the senses. If one is so lucky as to stumble across a bottle or three, embrace greed and buy them all.

Bottle. Dark dark brown with ruby notes around the edges in the light. Subtle head that disappeared quickly, but left lacing on the glass. Aroma is malty and has a hint of hops. Maybe a little bit of coffee a la a baltic porter??? Flavor is very malty, but balanced with the oaky richness and some nice bitterness to end. Palate starts creamy and ends with a nice crispness.

750mL bottle, January 2008 bottling. Pours a very dark cola color; fluffy, light-khaki head with excellent retention and lacing that coats the glass: medium-sized, tightly packed lines of bubbles at the edges of the glass, regenerative from below. Soft barrel presence in the aroma: cola, dried dark fruits, warming, toasty vanilla; a really nice balance between the dried fruits of the Belgian core and the vanilla from the wood; some raisins and dates. Medium-to-full mouthfeel: gorgeous vanilla notes layered over a cola and dried fruit core; nothing sticky here, nothing unfocused: reminiscent of a coke float: creamy vanilla layered with dry cola notes and sweet (again, nothing sticky) candy / cotton candy sugar; gorgeous, chewy, generous barrel-aged beer. The vanilla presence is lovely: toasty, and lacking the buttery notes typically seen from bourbon barrels. Lengthy finish: cola, toasty vanilla, and soft breadiness.

Bottle. My favorite release from allagash thus far. Dark brown pour. Aroma/taste is oak, malt, smoke, merlot, and floral notes. I will drink this again. great.

Bière #3 au Mondial 08 (28/5/08), bouteille. Brune noisette, petit collet. Arome de malte fumé avec des fruits sûrettes, un peu de vin rouge. Goût fort de fruits des champs mures, vin fortifier et une sensation d’alcool plaisant.

February 2005 batch: Holy smokes, Batman! This beer defies any classification system. If you wanted a Belgian, you’d cry funky. If you wanted a strong ale, you’d cry odd. Poured a nice dubel like dark brown color with a humungous head that really sustained itself well. The lacing was incredible and clung to the walls of the glass well after finishing. The aroma was very strong vinous / wine-like and with a definite oak presence. The flavor was very complex with vinous / oak flavors coming across first. The candy sugar and spices came out underneat the main flavors as the beer warmed, but the alcohol also increased. Oddly enough, minutes after each sip, there was a mild chocolate flavor in the after after taste (take that for what it is worth). Mouthfeel was medium bodied.