Allagash Interlude

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

Fairly thick pouring liquid. A dark golden to amber color that has a slight haze that added to the look of thickness. A tall cream colored head. Thick dense rings of lace. Crisp tart apples, oak, attic/dry barn floral soap and apple peels all come to mind with a sniff of this one. Reminds me of my youth and going to the apple orchard to pick up apples in the fall and watching the sorting and making of fresh apple cider. Should likely get another point just for that, but I’ll refrain. The first sip is a real eye-opener. Not the sweet cider flavors I was expecting. Just looked at Oakes notes and I concur, but I will continue. Light sweet malt is quickly swept away by a rush dust from the granary. This really does leave a nice sheet of foam on the glass. Light citric backdrop which keeps this one lively. This has some of the qualities of RR Temptation, but lacks some of the depth. Enjoyable, but missing that little something extra. I will really enjoy the last half of this bottle unfettered with stroking the keyboard.

Hazy orange body with a thin, tan head that quickly dissipates into the ether. The aroma is fantastic! Sweet, fruity and full of yeasty ester goodness. Lovely Brett stylings of hay, mango, vanilla, honey, vanilla, oak, earthy Noble hop resin, fresh dough, sweet oranges and some light spice like grains of paradise. The body is lively and fairly smooth considering the ample carbonation. The flavor is sweet up front with layered malt smoothed by oak and vanilla. The Brett adds a fruity, tart yeast element before a rather pronounced hop bitterness at the end. Upon further examination, there is virtually no detectable alcohol presence whatsoever. This is a smooth, flavorful, elegant yet aggressive, beauty from Allagash. All the Belgian Brett lovers will dig on this something fierce, I would think.

GABF 2006. The beer pours to a hazy glowing golden body with a nice white dense head. The aroma has alcoholic cinnamon, pears, apples, smell is quite nice. The flavor is sweet, nice pear, and tart apples with some light oaky malt. The palate is creamy and lightly alcoholic. Very nice. 9, 3, 8, 4, 17 = 4.1
2005 vintage bottle sampled in late June, 2008. The beer pours to a dark golden bronzed amber body with tons of visible carbonation and a thin fizzy white head. Sexy color and vibrancy. Love the carbonation. The aroma is amazing! Sour starfruit is perfectly blended with oak, Belgian yeasts that aren’t overly done, and lightly vinous notes. Smells kind of like a gueuze/kriek/saison. The flavor is very, very nice. Tart leathery acid up front that blends into an Orval-like saison and yeasty tart starfruit. Pears, orange rind, lemons meets oaken red grapes. No one component is too sharp. Superbly balanced. The palate is surprisingly not over carbonated for this beer. It’s really carbonated, but it fits this beer to a T. Medium bodied with a great malty texture.

cloudy dark straw colored pour small white head some lacing. Instant bret flavor sour berry notes some dough. Nice well coated palate. Odd sour pberry flavor almsot sour farmhouse like.. wine like notes dry wood in the finish. Great original taste.

750 ml bottle 2006 vintage. Hazy amber and orange color with a off white head. Red wine notes with a dry after taste, a very good beer!!!!!

2005 bottle. Hazy, golden-amber appearance; light head formation, decent retention, attractive lacing. Brett in the nose is balanced with the vinuous qualities: tartness and red wine; full, appetizing, complex nose. The belgian profile underneath seems to suggest an abbey tripel: plenty of spice, pepper, yeast; all of which is well-balanced by the barrel aging and secondary fermentation; the tartness is engaging without being overwhelming (shows the reserve of Russian River); the vinuous qualities are well-blended, showing Burgundy/Merlot qualities, light tannins, and oak. So many magnificent things going on with this beer: a light toastiness, a vinuous profile, a belgian tripel background. All balanced nicely.

Pours a light amber into a trappist glass. Sour barnyard and rose aromas. Fizzy, dry and crisp with a fruity wine (white/red/rose) flavor. Tart, quick wild yeast finish.

750 ml bottle, in an awesome trade from slob. Pours a hazy medium amber wit a slight ruddy tint and a small beigey head. Aroma features sour fruit, oak, along with a bit of funk and barnyard, but still some sweet notes - very attractive. Delicious sour-sweet, fruity and tannic, spicy and pepper, red wine notes, some good hoppiness and vinuous characteristics. Medium to full body with creamy carbonation.