Allagash Black

Draft from Pizzeria Paradiso. Pours opaque black with faint coffee. Not as aromatic as I would think it would be, but maybe I’m a little stuffy. Tan head that clears quickly, but leaves lots of lacing on the glass. Watery taste up front, almost like a tap water taste. It gets better as it gets to the middle and back palette. Coffee with roasted malt. Kind of disappointing, for something in the 95th percentile I expected good flavor and mouthfeel across the whole palette. This didn’t deliver, but I will probably revisit it to be sure.

Color is black and opaque. Aroma is of chocolate, coffee, and malts. Flavor is of malts, coffee, dark chocolate, and dried fruits. Has a coffee and malt aftertaste. Another gem from our friends at Allagash.

Dark black with a thin brown head. Very agressive aroma of coffee, chocolate and dark fruits. Amazing flavor combination - all the traditonal roasted characters of a stout, along with dark fruits and some yeast notes. Pretty viscous mouthfeel. Great beer.

Black pour tan head fruity and malt aroma .. taste of dark fruit and roasted coffee with chocolate .... bitter hop end the dark candi gives it a nice belgian twist this is very very drinkable and hides the abv well ... would do again

Bottle, pours a black brown into a glass with a fine foam tan head that thinned to a cover and ring, it looks dark brown with some ruby at the edges of the glass, aromas of coffee with a hint of wood and wood smoke, dark roasted malt with a touch of burnt malt(?), I had to let this glass warm up before the aroma really opened up, I sensed some Belgian yeast fragrances as it warmed and some dry dark chocolate in the background to, coffee and roasted malt flavors that give an impression of a Belgian dark strong ale with coffee flavor mixed in, there is some malt sweetness in this drink but it is pretty dry on the tongue. I guess this ale needs to warm up almost to room temperature before the aromas and flavors come forth, some raisin and prune with burnt sugar and/or blackstrap molasses flavors emerged as it warmed, a light bitterness at the finish, I thought this had a thin mouth feel for a Foreign Stout compared to some other Foreign Stouts, light and bubbly on the tongue, this ale does have a light and airy feel on the palate that I get with many Belgian beers, this ale was ok but I was not impressed with this, I was hoping for something more.

Beer tasting at wine world. Although the competion was not strong this won best of show for me. Nice toasty malt taste without the strong sweetness....balanced.

This was an intresting brew. I have been trying new stouts like crazy. This really filled the bill as a new taste I have not had from any other stout. The smell is very normal. As is the look of the beer/head. The taste on the other hand was very new. Toasted malt, slight sweetness, oddly a bit refreshing. The yeast used in this beer is the true factor. The beer has a uniqe aftertaste. Almost a bit bitter. But it is not. Alcohol is not masked in this brew. You are aware it is there. As you can see it’s had to fully describe. Do try it if you have a chance.

750ml bottle Batch #6 (at least 6+ months old). Pours a dark cola color, slightly more viscous, medium fizzy frothy tan head that stays fluffed for a long time. Aroma is a nice balance of crunchy dry coffee roast, creamy rich chocolate and light fruit, the oats give nice depth, rich creamy and full, inviting and I can’t quite place what it reminds me (maybe Piece’s stout). Flavor follows, oats being quite prominent, creamy upfront chocolate quickly turns to dry roasted coffee, finishes quick and dry, ashy burnt unpleasant aftertaste, way too dry. Medium bodied, somewhat creamy but has an abundance of larger tightly packed airy carbonation in a very dry body. [much better with food, brings out some alcohol and fruit which livens it up a bit]