Allagash Fluxus 2009

Brewed by Allagash Brewing Company
Style: Saison
Portland, Maine USA

750 ml bottle - pours crystal clear light orange with fluffy white head lingering; aromas of earthy spice, pepper, sweet sourdough bread and yeasty spices; very sweet on first sweet that trumps the mild dryness on the palate; very tasty with nice peppery kick, floral hops, honey and earthy notes; very tasty overall with the sweetness a tad high, but I kind of like the saison/triple style blend; the fluxus series is 3 for 3

Pours a hazy goldenrod color with a creamy beige head that leaves some nice spotty lacing. Aroma is tart lemon creme with a big pepperiness. Flavor is light candied citrus, sort of like how lemonheads candy tastes after the sourness is gone. The sweet potato is very mild but I get a little bit of it up front. The pepper comes in strong in the finish. Very dry and the flavors are all very well-integrated. Mouthfeel is divine with a clean finish and a slight warmth.

75cl bottle at K&L. Gold with a thick white head. The aroma is quite peppery and floral with some sweet potato being a definite possibility, though it is not pronounced enough for me to be sure that it is not just the power of suggestion. Blind, I would never pick it out. The flavor is lightly sweet with lots of pepper and some herbal hops showing in the finish. Light bodied with a dry finish. The pepper seemed a bit too forward as first, but the beer seemed to gain balance when it opened up. Nice saison with a unique twist added by the sweet potato; definitely overpriced though, and I can’t imagine buying any of this when even Fantome is less expensive. (7,4,8,4,15=38)

Rerate: 75cl bottle again. This actually smelled really good this time, with the sweet potato and spices working very nicely together. The spicing was still strong in the flavor, but didn’t seem out of balance at all actually. I’m going to go ahead and give this a success rating to Allagash for doing a well-done, interesting saison, though it is still way over-priced.

Draft at Kuma’s corner. Pours a glowing orange/gold. Nose is a bit funky. Spices, citrus, a little acid in the nose, bread and pepper. On taste, super refreshing. Nice spicy malt notes, clean bitterness with a nice tang to help you along. Damn fine Saison.

Pricey corked and caged 750ml from Olive Tree Marketplace in OB, but these Allagash brews are always pricey even in Maine. This is my packing for my trip beer, or my I’m too tired to pack but I have to beer. Pours orange with a tan head. Nose is sweet floral and light with an overall nice inviting feel. Taste is sweet floral, lightly bittered and very very quaffable. Another good balanced brew from Allagash

750ml bottle. Pours hazy golden in color with full foamy white head. Aroma sweet, spicy, mild hops and yeasty. Taste sweet, spicy, lemon and bready with dry finish.

Bomber, shared. Pours a slightly golden-orange with a medium-sized white head. Aroma is Belgian yeast with a bit of spice and slightly-detectable pepper. Taste is Belgian yeast up front, with peppercorn and spice, and a yeasty finish that meshes beautifully with the sweet potatoes. The beer is very easy-drinking, and no flavor becomes too overpowering at any time. They did a very good job here.