Allagash Dubbel Reserve

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

A hazy deep red beer with a thick light orange head. The aroma is sweet malty with primary notes of caramel, but also a light dusy straw note of hops. The flavor is sweet malty again with caramel being strongest, combined with a boring note of spices and brown sugar, as well as a light note of smoke. The end is dry with a light note of wood.

12 ounce bottle form Thaichile. Served in a trappist glass. Murky, nutty brown color. No head formed when pouring. No lace. Looks pretty lifeless. The aroma has some roasted nut character. A touch of sherry, winey, dark fruit character. Kind of boring palate. Just okay.

Bottle. Hazy red brown colour with a tan head. Light smoked, dusty, malty, dark fruits aroma and taste. Medium body with a dry finish. 4-3-5-3-10 Re-Rate 5-4-5-3-13

Poured out murkey dark amber. Slight head. Aroma of fruit and sweet malts. Chocolat, malt and dark cherries. Plenty of carbonation and the alcohol comes out slightly at the end. OK beer, but not for me.

Poured from the bottle a dark brown with a reddish tint and a very small tan head. Aroma was a sweet malts and dark fruits. Flavor was the same sweet malts and dark fruit could pick out a cherry flavor. An overall excellent beer.

Pours a deep brown with red highlights. Head is white and faded quickly even with an aggressive pour. Aroma is part subdued and part indistinct, with some cherry, some spice, and interestingly some alcohol notes. Tastes slightly sweet but more earthy-spicy - an interesting flavor that is hard to place. A little caramel, tinged with cherry, and a slightly bitter finish that lasts. Slight alcohol as well. Lots of carbonation, a bit watery. Good, but absolutely pales in comparison to your classic Abbey Dubbels.

Bottle: Poured much darker than I’d anticipated ... like cherry-stained oak wood. The head was smally, but sticky. The aroma reminded me of smoked sausage. The flavor, however, was sweet and inticing with a nice round malt, sugar, rich fruit. Wonderfully rolled-together flavors. I could see how this would age gracefully. Not quite what I’d expected from a "dubbel", but this was an outstanding drink.

12 oz bottle


This was not a bad pickup. it cost me about $1.80 as part of a mixed six pack at the local grocery store, along with a handful of other things I’ve been meaning to try. I would certainly consider picking it up again as it was a solidly made beer. While not a standout in any way, it is well enough made to keep around as a daily drinker.

Aroma / Appearance - The half-finger bubbly head erupted over the body before settling back into the caramel brown body. Carbonation was very active. The nose was a nice mixture of caramel, wheat and cherries. While not very complex, it gave a clear sense of what to expect.

Flavor / Palate - Wheat, cherries and a mild bitterness highlight the experience in many of the sips. Eventually a chocolately mouthfeel formed as it began to coat my tastebuds. The body was a little watery but still satisfying with some malt in evidence. This would be nice for a summer day when the temperatures were in the 80s. I’m not sure I would consider it for the fall or winter though your mileage may vary.