Allagash Fluxus 2007

Formerly brewed at Allagash Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Portland, Maine USA

750ml caged&corked bottle. Pours a very cloudy, lovely gold with hints of orange. The head pours immense and soft and is comprised of very fine, small bubbles. The head slowly fades into a thin disc of white floating on top of the cloudy, deep gold. The aroma is spicy and doughy - a lovely bouquet of grain and esters. The rye has a definite character in the nose, but there are also other spicy notes: coriander and lavender (I suppose that last bit could be from the yarrow flowers?). There is also a decent bit of alcohol in the aroma. The flavor starts very flowery and sweet. The malts and rye have a very nice, subtle, bready taste that goes well with the flowery spices and peppery esters. There is a tinge of ethanol in the flavor, too (though not hot or solvent-like). The middle of the tongue picks up a pretty decent bitterness that is earthy and fruity. The finish is dry and leaves a spicy, peppery after-taste. The mouthfeel is soothing and creamy - medium in body and full of lively carbonation that tickles the tongue in spots but acquiesces into a dreamy silkiness in others. Overall, I was blown away. The rye and yarrow really deliver interesting and beautiful flavors. Wow.

750 ml bottle - almsot two years old now as I picked this up at bottleworks and didn’t look to closely; assumed it was the current version, but the yarrow is what peaked my interest; poured reddish orange with faint carbonation and thin white head; spice, sweet fruit and tons of yeasty goodness; lavender, wild flowers and almost wood-ish hints; quite intoxicating in a medicinal kind of way; medium body and just a lovely sweet and wild flower fell; honey, lavender with mild syrupy texture; apples and maybe some juniper too; just a delightful beer all around; by the end I’m getting vanilla, oak and toasty notes; a very unique mix of spice, flowers and yeast that really surprised me and inspired me to brew my own yarrow belgian beer; wow, an amazing brew!!!!

750ml bottle. Pours hazy orange and golden in color with white head. Aroma yeasty, citrus and spicey. Taste sweet, spicey and yeasty with dry finsih, with lite alcohol burn. Another good one from Allagash!!!!

Pours beautifully. Yeasty, funky nose. Gives a superb flavor in the true style that Allagash brings. Smooth and tangy citric edge. Consistent and steady profile. Very vibrant. Excellent mouthfeel. This drinks beautifully and is easily one of the best Allagash offerings out there.

Cloudy golden-orange colour. The aroma is herbal, spicy (mint, chamomile, cinnamon) and toasty with breadcrusty malts and rye. Huge herbal character - must be the yarrow - with lots of chewy rye, full maltiness. Big and rounded with a peppery finish. Very unique, well-balanced brew with accents of both Belgium and gruit. Impressive effort, muddled only by a slighlty overt yeastiness.

Let’s do this in the wrong order and start with the obvious 5s. The appearance is extraordinary. Clear gold, and carbonation that looks more like champagne than beer and pinpoint bubbles that last and last. Small dense white head and incredible lacing. An easy 5. Ditto on the mouthfeel, an easy 5. Nose of a tripel, although the malting is entirely different. Great nose, with touch of hops behind the malt. Not sure I’m a big fan of yarrow, but the hops provide sufficient bitterness. Really nicer than my dinner tonight, actually.

Richmond "industry" gathering. Medium gold with an orangish note. Floral and spice aroma. Flavor was of sweet light malth, and a dominating floral note that can be best described as, well, yarrow. Can’t say I would have pulled that flower necessarily on my own, but the power of suggestion is great. Nice.

Objectively speaking: A creative beast made by masterful hands. Experimental and passion worthy.
I like: Gorgeous pour, large fluffy white head. The yarrow works beautifully, there is great potential to this plant as a substitute to hops during the shortage. Dry, sharp palate despite the malt’s thickness and underlying sweetness. Balanced to perfection. Lasting finish, pungent, herbal, floral, lingering and complex. Generous cerealic chewiness. Just tasty and racy. Excellent lively mouthfeel.
I dislike: I’m very impressed. I wish I had gathered more from the rye, I never noticed it was there.