Allagash Victoria Ale

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

(750 ml bottle) Medium white head and slightly hazy golden-orange body. It leaves a thick coat of lace. Aroma is sweet; it has fruit and yeast, and after a while I thought I detected some chardonnay grapes. Medium to full bodied. Smooth mouthfeel; some carbonation. It is sweet and smooth but nothing much else stands out. A bit of a warming aftertaste. Not as "interesting" as I thought it would be from the description, but very smooth and drinkable.

Hazy rich golden apricot color, huge foamy white head, moderate lace. Nose of hops and chardonnay wine. Mouth of a Belgian ... must be their yeast. Seriously overpriced, but really amusing. Works much better than DogFish Midas Touch.

25.4 oz bottle. Hazy apple juice with a thin white head. White grape juice, some yeast. Underlying clove and caramel. Soft mouthfeel with a persistent, tiny carb burn. Green grapes and orange peel. Ends up chewing grape skins. Gets cloying after a few glasses. Certainly interesting but didn’t grab me.

Tap at Barcade. Pale yellow beer with loads of suspended yeast. Very perfumey aroma with sweet grapes, baked bread, soft wheat, vanilla, rose water and a soft creamy sweetness. The palate is terrific, silky smooth with fine carbonation and a creamy wheaty character. Doughy malt aroma with some soft spiciness as well. Light nutmeg and cardamom. The flavour is unusual in that it doesn’t really taste like it smells. Lean wheaty spice/malt character. Some floral character and light yeast is apparent but they are quite subtle compared to the intensity they register on the nose. Fairly hot yet, although that may settle down over time. I’d be interested in seeing how this one evolves.

Bottle. Hazy golden colour with a nice white head. Nice sweet malty aroma. Also sweet malty flavour with a little sourness at the end. No bad at all.

Doughy malts, plenty of yeast, grapes, some nutty malts, marzipan and hints of alcohol are all apparent in the chaotic yet alluring aroma. Hazy burnished copper coloured body is topped by a fluffy white head that recedes slowly to ring. Surprisingly bitter up front with nutty malt sweetness and doughy yeast character. Grapes are definitely apparent as is the alcohol. Somewhat syrupy despite pointy, sharp carbonation that is distracting. Fairly warming. Bottle sampled in Fall 2006 with beerbuzzmontreal, Cathschlag, GlouGlouBurp, MartinT, Olivier_MTL, Rastacouere and Yowie.

Bottle courtesy of Bu11zeye: Poured a bright yellow color ale with a big foamy head with great retention and lacing. Aroma of sweet white grape juice with some Belgian malt and some yeast. Taste is sweet with a nice mix between Belgian style malt and a yeasty finish. I couldn’t really pick-up the taste of grapes in there. Body was above average with some good carbonation and no alcohol was noticeable. Overall, this is an interesting beer but definitely not the best from this fine brewer.

Bottle Gift from Stegosaurus. Hazy off white pour with hints of bread and belgian spices. Sweet/ banana taste with a nice light blended flavor. Very Very good.