Allagash Curieux

See-through golden pour with creamy, diminishing head. Lively nose that is dominated by cask wood and bourbon, an aroma that does not overwhelm all the other aromas — sweet cookie dough and toffee, peat, pineapple, ripe fruit, port, vanilla. Very sweet flavor with moderate acidity and bitterness. Tangy, peppery finish brought on by the alcohol. The mouthfeel is creamy, a hallmark of Allagash. Still, the texture is a bit watery. The balance between the qualities of the tripel and bourbon barrel aging is excellent. Unique and tasty.

First batch.

Fresh: Pours a beautiful hazy amber that clears somewhat, rather quickly. I almost fell over when the cork came out, Monstrous, almost disastrous bourbon aroma, followed by what seems like a windstorm of peat and brown sugar. I do really enjoy bourbon barrel aged beers and as of yet haven’t grown tired of this popular trend, especially with belgian style beer. Taste is so bourbon rich I think some must have been added at bottling. Also tastes of caramel, trappist yeast(Westmalle), raspberry or cherry. Finish is long and very warming. Excellent, but oh so young.

20 months: Bourbon has mellowed considerably in aroma and to a lesser extent in the taste, now this beer shines with incredible complexities. Nutty and dried fruit tastes come to the fore after the whisky steps to the side. Awesome.

Bottle Feb 2006 - pours a clear honey orange with a puffy head that leaves a thin skim of foam. Classic Allagash lacing of course. Oak immediately hits me in the nose, followed by soft cherries, earthy yeasts, sweet hay and caramalized whiskey. First sip is softly carbed with equally soft notes of caramel and bourbon. Yeasty esthers rise through the heavy malts, adding a fruity depth. The 11% ABV is nowhere to be found. The caramel sweetness intensifies in the finish, leaving a great slickness behind. Fantastic.

750 ml bottle. Bottled June 2006. Hazy golden color with white head. Sweat aroma and taste. Buurbon taste with a dry after taste. If you like Jim Beam you will like this beer.

Bottle courtesy of Hopscotch from 2006 batch. Straw blonde pour w/ a small head. Initial mouthfeel is a little light and a tad bit watery, but the finish is spicy hot w/ alcohol and bourbon notes. Good, but would like a little more taste on the front of the tongue. Finish is huge, but mouthfeel is light.

#1900! - 750ml bottle bottled October 2005 - Pours amber blonde with a light white head that fades quick..Aromas of oak, bread, bourbon, and caramel. Flavor is oak, bourbon, bread, cherry, and smooth caramel and some vanilla. Palate is ever so smooth and silky soft. Not much carbonation. Easy drinking and no sign of that 11% alcohol. Nice brew!!!

Big Bottle from my secret santa. Thanks! Pours a beautiful blond with a half-inch white head and lacing. Aroma is very subtle- a little fruity, oaky, and light bourbon. Flavors are a bit more pronounced than the nose. Cherries, more bourbon, very sweet and smooth. A great adaptation of their excellent triple. Nummy Num delight.

bottle from Kingdom Liquors - bottled June 06 - sweet oaky bourbon, a little spicy, thin cloudy head - yes you can taste the bourbon on the finish - very nice