Allagash Odyssey

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

750ml caged&corked bottle. Pours a deep brown like a cherry/mahagony wood stain with a minimal (though very long-lasting) light tan head that leaves occasional, thick, tendrils of lace on parts of the glass. Aroma is complex and interesting. My first impression was, "bacon?" from a distinct, though far from overpowering, smokiness combined with malt sweetness that subtly resembles maple. Layers of malt sweetness with caramel and chocolate follow along with a big whiff of alcohol. There are notes of dried cherry in the aroma, too, along with a subtle woody character. The flavor starts rich in roasted and caramel character - like robust porter. There is a hint of smokiness - much less than alluded to by the aroma. The smokiness actually blends well and accentuates the roasted grain character. The second wave of flavors is fruity with esters. As the beer nears the middle of the tongue, notes of Scotch whiskey (dry, a little smoke, alcohol) emerge. There is a nice dryness with notes of chocolate. Very complex, very tasty, and very nice. The mouthfeel is medium-full in body, slippery, with tendrils of thickness. The carbonation is decent, but low for strong Belgian ales - but in a good way as the lack of extreme bubbles makes the beer softer on the palate and helps bring attention to the complex layers of flavor herein. Overall - another knockout from Allagash. These beers are really pricey (~$13/bottle - $20 for Interlude!) but so worth it - so much better than buying a $13 bottle of wine (which is pretty common).

Bomber. Poured a cloudy mahogany with an impressive coffee/cream head. Aromas typical of strong ales - candied fruit, bittersweet chocolate, toffee, molasses. Taste is very heavy in chocolate, with a good amount of hops to give it a nice bite.

This beer gets strong points just for the label artwork. Wonderful aroma, it jumps out of the bottle as soon as it is popped, following from the pour into the glass and all the way out to my chair, this beer has filled the air. The yeast strain is very aggressive in the nose, followed by the barrel aged toastiness coming in a close 2nd. Lots of fruit on the palate along with alcohol, and some of the bready maltiness gets drowned in that, giving this kind of a harsh astrigency. Very well done again, but I would like to see how this ages and evens out.

Dark brown pour. A bit watery with a thick fluffy light tan head. The aroma is amazing. One of the most aromatic beers I’ve had. A very strong sweet bread, perhaps banana bread, aroma. Hints of honey and molasses. Some grain and some fruit as well -apples and grapes. Very unique and complex. The flavor is good, but not quite as good as the aroma. Sweet fruity grape and apple flavor but that is quickly overrun by a strong bitter alcohol flavor that lingers. There’s a nice bready aftertaste to finish it off. A good beer, though not necessarily worth the price.

dark hazy pour, big full offwhite head. Aroma is fruity, some cherries, apples, maybe some apricot, with a touch of smoke, and sweet malt. Flavour is very nice, lots of sweet malt, with a good dose of caramel, and some sweet tobacco, and smoke. A very complex beer, i’m sure i missed many nuances, but what i had i really enjoyed.

Poured from a 750 ml bottle, vintage 2008. Warm, oaky, mahogany appearance with lightning formation of resilient, creamy light brown foam. Smoky, meaty, lightly tart aroma; an initial burst of cherry tobacco and silkier cavendish, sparky and tangy with barbecue tones underneath. Strawberry jam. Bittersweet chocolate, raisins, vanilla, apples, and brandy round out this sophisticated, textured interplay of decadent and sprightly; really an intriguing, gorgeously nuanced, challenging aroma.

Dry tobacco and erudite spirit flavor; alcoholic but never hot, and offering the silky nuances of toasted oak but not its sometimes startling sweetness. Warm chocolate, raisiny cavendish smoke, syrupy wooden sweetness, and an angelically pure vanilla presence gaining a particular shimmer toward the mid palate; big brown sugar and roasted red fruit notes. The oak imparation is so soft and full throughout, and really seems to be the perfect companion for the rich, roasty tobacco touch that first characterizes it.

Full body is lightly frothy and very dense; softly carbonated and approachable, calling to mind the pristine balance and gentle strength of the trappists. Finishes with some oaky alcohol touch, recalling both a warm, fireside scotch and a no holds barred, wildly hot, fruity zinfandel, and a dusty chocolate density.

A smashing success. Thanks Ken!

750mL bottle, January 2008 bottling. Pours a very dark cola color; fluffy, light-khaki head with excellent retention and lacing that coats the glass: medium-sized, tightly packed lines of bubbles at the edges of the glass, regenerative from below. Soft barrel presence in the aroma: cola, dried dark fruits, warming, toasty vanilla; a really nice balance between the dried fruits of the Belgian core and the vanilla from the wood; some raisins and dates. Medium-to-full mouthfeel: gorgeous vanilla notes layered over a cola and dried fruit core; nothing sticky here, nothing unfocused: reminiscent of a coke float: creamy vanilla layered with dry cola notes and sweet (again, nothing sticky) candy / cotton candy sugar; gorgeous, chewy, generous barrel-aged beer. The vanilla presence is lovely: toasty, and lacking the buttery notes typically seen from bourbon barrels. Lengthy finish: cola, toasty vanilla, and soft breadiness.

Appearance is a deep brown with a small off-white head, and some light lacing. Aroma of wood, yeast, malt, fruit, chocolate. Taste is of oak, fruit, sugar, chocolate, and alcohol. The mouth was average, though maybe a little light for this beer.