Allagash Tenth (10th) Anniversary Ale

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

Caged and corked. I found this gem this month at Bon Vivant. There’s not indication to a bottling date so I’m not sure of its lineage. It opens easily with little vigor and pours in a whimper, golden orange. The aroma is tart and fruity, not unlike some mandarin oranges, yet there’s an underlying promise of syrupy goodness. This essence carries on in the flavor, fairly sweet on top with a definite, dainty fruitiness. There’s just enough spice and a big dry finish to keep it from being too much in the sweet vein. This would do lovely with a big garlicy plate of pasta, or just as an apertif. (#3324, 2/16/2008)

Pours a cloudy orange with a thick white head. Aroma of syrup, licorice, and orange. Very carbonated, slightly funky flavor. Citrus comes through as well. Really enjoying this one as it has aged a couple of years.

Bottle brought by someone generous to our hotel room at GABF 2007. Tasted during our large Saturday night tasting. Visible yeast floaties in a pale hazy orange beer. Smells are big and citrusy (melon, orange, muscat grapes) with some funky horseblanket. Lightly sweet and soft in the mouth with spidery yeasty things (almost clove and corriander) playing on the top of the tongue. Some dark grain in a somewhat spicy, fruity and still sweet finish.

From a 750mL Bottle. Generously shared by TAR. Pours a transparent gold color with a huge head of active, fizzy white suds. Sweet, fruity esters in the nose, bringing out notes of candied oranges, muscat grapes, and herbal coriander. Medium light bodied, fizzy carbonation that sizzles on the palate. Flavors of Belgian candi-sugar and pear liquor create a sweet and fruity profile, but this is all kept in check by the lightness and fine attenuation of the palate. A light yeasty spice adds some mild peppery complexity in the finish, along with a soothing alcohol warmth. A masterful creation that is holding up quite well.

Bottle, sampled at BA Belgian Beer Fest, 10/27/07. Poured hazy golden, with a small off-white head. Aroma of yeast, coriander, orange, and pepper. Flavor is yeasty, with pepper, malt, orange, vanilla and some oak. This is holding up very well.

RBSG 07 Minneapolis Grand Tasting: Orange color, light head and lacing. Nose of light oranges and grassy coriander and orange peel. The flavor is bright and balanced, sweet and pleasant. Nice yeast and orange, clean, balanced.

Nov 2005 - Beer poured with huge, out of control head. Aroma was funky yeasty, whatever that is that makes saisons funky. This beer is just too darned sweet...sickly. There was a little spiciness there and a little hop presence that salvaged this...but still not a huge fan.

Name: Tenth (10th) Anniversary Ale
Date: 01/27/2006
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cask Eve, 2006

pale cloudy yellow, whispy white head, spicy light mint aroma, nice light malt flavor, touch of sweetness, slightly tart, light spices, tasty but hard to nail down,

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 4/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.6/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4