Allagash Fluxus 2008

Brewed by Allagash Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Portland, Maine USA

Hazy yellow-gold with small off-white head. Juniper aromas, also some ginger. Sweet, floral, and yeaty. Nice carbonation level and very good palate. Great body and flavor profile, with a sweet entry and a dry finish making for a nuanced, refined, and pleasurable drinking experience.

On tap at Tyler’s. Bright hazy golden pour. Lighter than expected. Lots of clove, coriander, and especially ginger as well as some banana and definite herbal (kinda basil-mint) notes. Orange-citrus as well. Very interesting, but I think I’d get tired of this fairly quickly.

Name: Fluxus
Date: January 03, 2009
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party
Vintage: 2008
Appearance: cloudy dark yellow, fine white head, streaks of lace
Aroma: sweet malt aroma, nice spicy character, sweet candy with spices
Flavor: sweet malt flavor, candied orange, nice spicyness, light bitterness
Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 14/20
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4

Tap at Brouwers. The aroma is pretty spicy. Lots of coriander, clove, ginger. I also get some moderate citrus(orange) notes. Pours a hazy orange golden with a pretty decent head that hangs on the whole time. Lots of spice in the flavor too. Clove, coriander, too much ginger IMO. Some sweeter fruity orange notes come through as well as a good deal of wheat. Lively carbonation, lingering ginger cleans the palate eventually. The palate was nice actually, pretty damn nice, but there were too many spices for me, but I can appreciate this as well done.

On tap at Pizza Port Carlsbad. Pours a really deep hazy golden straw color, with fluffy white head. It’s got lemon zest, banana, spice, clove, flowers, wheat, and light fruitiness. Hints of ginger, pepper, and orange. Interesting and well done... an imperial wit!

Fresh bottle and draught at Sunset Grill and Great Lost Bear. A clear, bronze with tangerine hints and a loosely retained white head. Dry, peppery ginger and clean minerality in the nose produce none of the candy-sweetness that the yarrow of last batch was noted for. Succulent mandarin and light clove play about the nose, with some mild banana fruitiness and a lasting, dry brace of wheat on the finish. The flavor shows immaculate clarity, without a muddled or vegetal spiciness, almost like basil and surprisingly tame and controlled for ginger. Citrus and light bubble gum are painted overtop a deep, yet well-attenuated pils malt with a snappy, crisp yeast finish and even a mild hoppiness. Alcohol is not noted, nor does it seem like an "imperial" wit in a bad sense (as in, overdone). Just a strong wit bier, but retaining its refreshing character. With warming and breathing it actually loses balance; the carbonation receding to produce a bit too much sweetness/stickiness. Best quaffed quickly as a refresher. Great improvement on last batch, methinks. Much better restraint on the spicing.

Appearance: Pours a hazy, yellow body with a small, bubbly, white head. Smell: The bouqet is occupied by scents of flowers and fresh ginger. Slighter notes of honey, pears, and a tiny spritz of lemon juice. Taste: Delicate wheat sweetened with just the right amount of clover honey. Enter the chamomile florals and spicy ginger, as well as fruity pear taste. Small kick of citrus zest. Dose of clove and coriander. A restrained bitterness gracefully slides in midway. Finishes dry and reasonably crisp. Kindly leaves you with a very light, lingering spice burn on the tongue. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-high carbonation. Light stickiness to the overall mouthfeel. Drinkability: Now that’s damned drinkable and significantly more enjoyable than the dream-haunting 2007 Fluxus. Here’s looking to another delightful Fluxus in 2009.

Blonde ale. Lots of spice. Banana. Clove. Borders on wit. Citrus. Light body. Nice.