Allagash Dubbel Reserve

Brewed by Allagash Brewing Company
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Portland, Maine USA

caramel, bread, butterscotch, vanilla, amber, clear, a minimal head, medium sweetness, lightly bitter, full body, soft carbonation, long finish.

12 oz bottle. roughly the color of cherrywood but a bit clearer. thin offwhite head lingers above but the majority of the bubbles dissipate relatively quickly. lightly alcoholic reminiscent of red wine, with toasted and spiced grains and a little nutty. feels flat (not in carbonation but depth) - rather like the product of malt, hops, and yeast.

A murky bronzed orange hue. Metals and cheap chocolate on the nose. Clean. Hints of banana and cinnamon, distantly. Crisp and minty flavor of very light malts and quiet yeast. Mildly reminiscent of a date, fig and pecan trail mix with a quick temporanillo soak. Copper and pears press with a slow, persistent gravity. Finishes with a tinny canned pineapple sweetness, and minerals. Palate is slightly thin and short on malt strength. Smack of plain sugar and honey. Consistent, and boring.

12oz bottle. Another nice brew from Allagash. Pours a beautiful chocolate brown with a nice off-white/tan head. I got strong notes of dried fruit (raisin and perhaps dates). Strong coffee and toffee flavors. The coffee may have been just a touch overdone, but it mellowed a bit as the beer warmed up. A nice malty offering. Recommended highly. I have a world of respect for the Allagash family of beers and this did nothing to change that opinion.

Hearty, full, and even. It’s smooth with clean tones. Almost a nutty flavor to it. I think you’d want to drink this with a hearty meal - a meat and potatoes kind of thing. But hey...that is just my immature palate’s wild guess. I know Allagash makes a lot of different stuff, so I would be quicker to try the others before coming back to this one.

A nice attempt at a Belgian. I say that because, unlike other NA makers of Belgian ales (Ommegang and Unibroue particularly), you don’t forget with this one that you are NOT drinking a "real" Belgian. The beer poured with a HUGE foamy head that was impressive. The mouthfeel was a tad on the carbonated side and the aroma was spicey. The taste was good...not overdone on Belgian sugary goodness...but a little lacking in complexity and fullness compared to the "real deal". A funky yeasty taste was also noticeable...with mild hops and spices discernible.

Mahogany with good, foamy head / Nose of malt, raisins, and caramel / Full, creamy body with great, lingering finish / Big flavors of toffee, coffee, chocolate, raisins, vanilla, and sour malt / Pretty much a textbook example of an excellent Belgian.

Pours a light golden amber. Smells of nuts and sports a light foamy head. The sweet malt flavor finishes vy smooth without an overly alcoholic taste.