Thanks to Les Addis from Allagash Brewing, I was able to have my own personal Allagash Brewing tasting. I was able to try 3 different Allagash Beers: Fluxus 2011, Curieux, and Four. I enjoyed all three and have reviewed each of them separately.
Beer 1: Allagash Four
Taken from their website: "We brew this beer with four malts, four sugars, four hop varieties and we ferment it four times, using four different yeast strains. The complexity of the brewing process is matched by the complexity of this unique beer. Flavors of raisin, candied fruit and plum express themselves throughout."
Description: Belgian Style Quadruple
ABV: 10%
Profile: Mahogany, Complex, Candied, Malty
Serving Temperature: 40°-50°F
Availability: Year Round
Awards: Bronze at GABF 2007
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Reddish orange colored with decent head and some lacing.
Aroma: Sweet malt smell. Picking up some pretty fruity undertones such as bananas, cherries, and raisins.
Taste: Lots of dark fruits. Taste how it smells. Nice and malty.
Mouthfeel: Nice and smooth. Light to medium bodies with a bit of creaminess.
Overall: Very drinkable Belgian Quad. I want more!
Grade: A-
Beer 2: Allagash Fluxus 2011
Taken from their website: "This year's Fluxus was brewed with Belgian pilsen malt, light munich, malted wheat and a variety of aromatic and colored malts. It was hopped using only Alsatian Brewers Gold . It was then fermented with our house yeast at a lower than typical temperature, resulting in a more subdued ester profile than expressed in our other house yeast beers. Primary fermentation was followed by a cold maturation or "garding" period of six weeks. The resulting beer is a medium amber colored ale with a smooth lager quality. The aroma presents a complex earthiness and toasted grains, balanced by a fruity candied grape character. The full body highlights a rounded maltiness accentuated by both nutty notes, and spicy hop flavors. The finish is remarkably dry with a wine-like character and light tannins."
Description: French-Style Farmhouse Ale (Biere de Garde)
ABV: 8%
Profile: Amber, Malty, Dry
Serving Temperature: 40°-50°F
Availability: Limited Annual Release
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Brown with reddish tint. Non-transparent with a thick nice head. Great head retention.
Aroma: Sweet fruity malt aroma with some toastiness present. Little hop aroma.
Flavor: Very complex malty flavor. Caramel and toffee, plus dark fruit. Low hop bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a touch of creaminess. Moderate carbonation.
Overall: A strong, flavorful farmhouse ale. Very tasty with complex maltiness. Many flavors lingering on the tongue.
Grade: A-
Beer 3: Allagash Curieux
Taken from their website: "Allagash Curieux was the first foray into barrel aging. Curieux is made by aging our Tripel Ale in Jim Beam bourbon barrels for eight weeks in our cold cellars. The aged beer is then blended back with a portion of fresh Tripel. The resulting beer is soft with coconut and vanilla notes, with hints of bourbon."
Description: Bourbon Barrel Aged Strong Ale
ABV: 11%
Profile: Dark Golden, Smooth, Bourbon, Vanilla
Serving Temperature: 40°-50°F
Availability: Year Round
Awards: Bronze World Beer Cup 2007
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Golden yellow with a huge head at first pour. Reduced to a thin ring quickly.
Aroma: Nice woody alcohol smell, with bourbon and vanilla. Little bit of spiciness too.
Flavor: Love the bourbon flavor. Not too much, not too little. Picking up the oak notes a bit and some vanilla. Some fruitiness and spiciness in there too.
Mouthfeel: Moderate carbonation and medium mouthfeel.
Overall: Brilliant! I am in love with this beer. This was my favorite of the three. Great barrel aged flavors.
Grade: A+
To summarize, I really liked all three of these beers. My favorite though was the Allagash Curieux. I look forward to picking up a bottle sometime soon and saving it for a special occasion. After drinking these Allagash beers and the ones at the New Belgium/Allagash Beer Dinner back in August, Allagash Brewing has definitely moved up my list of favorite breweries. I have definitely been impressed by the seven beers I have tasted on these two separate occasions.
Lastly, thanks again Les Addis for introducing me to these fantastic Allagash brews. I am jealous of your occupation by the way!
Cheers!
0 comments:
Post a Comment