Allagash Curieux

From a 750mL Bottle, December ’04 Vintage. Mostly transparent, golden yellow colored pour with a tall layer of well sustaining, fizzy white head. Estery aromas of lemon rind and bready malt spiced with some mild, earthy pepper. The bourbon characters lurk sufficiently behind the base beer, emitting vanilla tones while cold (40F), becomming increasingly boozy and brashingly oaky as it warms. Pear esters add a soft, soothing contrast to the bourbon. Medium-light bodied, moderately carbonated mouthfeel with a soft, malty texture. The body is nice and light, but has a texture that indicates a high starting gravity. Bready malt and pear ester flavors up front on the palate, followed by a white pepper brightness. Starts to warm a bit in the middle, with some vanilla tones softening up the spiciness of the alcohol. Finishes rather bourbony, and increasingly so as it warms, with a grainy, oak tannin harshness lingering in the finish. The tripel character is pleasantly evident beneath the barrel traits, but I find the bourbon (as opposed to the straight up oak) aspects to be slightly over whelming. Still, in all regards, this is a well executed, enjoyable beer.

I’m not much of a bourbon drinking, in fact the stuff makes me quizzy, but this is one interesting beer. I was three sheets to wind when I had it but heres what I recall. The smell was very oaky with bourbon (of course). Though the smell of bourbon was definitly in there, the taste was a little less than I expected, which was actually a relief. Definitly a sipping beer. Nice and smooth and comforting.

750mL. Bottled November 2007. pours clear and golden with small white head. aroma is sweet with bourbon a little vanilla and a hint of alcohol as it warms. mouthful is smooth with a nice malty balance that is a little on the sweet side. this is an easy sipper at 11%. nicely done.

750ml bottle from Lone Hill Liquor. Pours a clear sparkling golden with a thin white head. Aroma is fruity with some vanilla and metallic notes. Hints of bubblegum and a little spicy, doughy. As it opens up I’m detecting some alcohol. Flavor is sweet and spicy, a little bit bready, fresh fruits like pear and apricot, and a very nice mellow alcohol heat. I’m having a hard time picking out any barrel characteristics, some vanilla is about it. Finishes sweet with a touch of bitterness. Would like it a little dryer as the sweetness lingers a bit too much, like I’ve been chewing bubblegum. Full bodied and somewhat sticky with generous carbonation. This is very nice and extremely well balanced. A very easy drinker considering the 11% ABV.

Pours with thin creamy white head and carb bubbles. Faint smell of alcohol and woody cream. Carbonation hits pretty strong and tastes very boozy. Slight hints of vanilla. Has very creamy texture and lacking in complexity. It might be one to leave in the cellar a little longer. Great creaminess, but leaves you breathing quite a bit of heat.

Had on tap at the Brick Store Pub in GA. Hazy yellow pour, large white frothy head. Sweet aroma of oranges and bubblegum. Flavor was sweet citrus and vanilla. And an ever so slight tartness on the back. I did not taste the alcohol at all, which could be dangerous, as this was very tasty!

Draft at Map Room. Pours a darkish yello-orange-brown with a dissipating head. Nose is super spicy, like pink bubblegum. Cloves come through, as does the vanilla and oak. I don’t get a bourbon bite, which is nice, just the pleasantries of the barrel. Pretty one dimensional, unfortunately, though very drinkable. Okay, but a bit too much bubblegum for me.

hazy apricot color. incredibly complex. super pineapple and fruity. so summery, so appropriate. flavor is like a fruit smoothie. though upon bourbon suggestion it is there. very very sweet. awesome.