 ClarkVV (3547), Allston, Massachusetts, USA
Jan 30, 2008
Original release bottle, drunk a couple times in the past six months, most recently on 11/24/07
So at about 20ish months in the bottle, this one still shows a mountainous size of well-retained off-white head that laces as well as any Belgian-brewed Belgian ale. No surprise there. Leaving the sediment behind, the beer is a dark, but muted copper color in the middle, with lighter gold hues on the edges. Clarity is high, carbonation plentiful.
Aroma is full of grape fermentation notes (sharp esters and phenols, with nectarine notes and some higher alcohols, to briefly sum up what I associate with the grapes). The malt is surprisingly rather full in the nose, with rich, rich honey dough notes (definitely some sticky caramel as well). As far as that goes, it balances the sharp fruit esters and alcohols very nicely. With warming, vanilla and even light citrus notes (esters) emerge to add some complexity, though I don’t know that the vanilla works well with the fruit notes and breadiness. Still, the aroma is full, strong and not flawed, as well as distinctly Belgian. The alcohol is the most problematic, but I don’t see this as any more alcoholic than any other Belgian ale fermented (non-spontaneously) with fruits.
In the flavor is a luxurious amount of honey, caramel, peach and nectarine, with the tell-tale vanilla on the finish. I like the interplay of the more dry fruit notes with the honey and caramel, but probably it’s even a bit syrupy/sugary at this point. There is a touch "breadiness" or premature oxidation that dulls some of the malt intensity (not necessarily a bad thing) and with the alcohol on the finish, it’s quite dry and balanced by the end. Phenolic spiciness is easily noted throughout, with an almost herbal-like bitterness on the finish. Texture, as with most Allagash beers, and especially with this amount of malt softness, is extremely supple with engaging carbonation.
As with most of these Allagash one-offs, patience once again proves to be rewarding.
nuplastikk (375), Maryland, USA
Jul 14, 2008 750ml corked bottle. Attractive, thick honey-gold color. Soft, sweet mellow aroma. The taste interplay between the grapes, yeast, malt, and hops is quite enjoyably complex. Honey mead notes, mild grape flavors as well. This is quite a beer, not unlike Midas Touch. Victoria has a lot more depth of character and subtlety to it. Top shelf stuff.
JohnnyJ (633), Reno, Nevada, USA
Jul 7, 2008 Pours a dark gold/orange with large white head. Fruit, biscuits, grain, banana, spice, sweet honey, wine grapes, citrus, and earthiness. Quite interesting with the grapes, but a little to much carbonation.
heemer77 (3609), North Liberty, Iowa, USA
Jun 30, 2008 On tap at the Maproom in Chicago. The body was dark gold with an off white head. The aroma was malty bread with some hints of funk. There was also a light floral character. The taste was sweet potatoes with a light tobacco finish. There was some cinnamon spice that came through as it warmed. Decent.
thedm (3405), Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA
Jun 25, 2008 This corked and caged bottled brew from Indianapolis, IN poured a large sized head of foamy fine to medium sized white colored mostly diminishing bubbles that left behind a transparent typically carbonated yellow orange colored body. The aroma contained notes of grapes and malt. The mouth feel was smooth and only slightly tingly from start to finish. The flavor contained mild notes of malts and grapes with a slight acidic hop finish.
BlackDonald (697), On a beer trip all over the USA, California, USA
Jun 24, 2008 I was not sure what to expect here considering I hate Chardonnay. This was interesting, a beautiful glossy and radiant pour. Reminscent of a trippel, but the nose tells you otherwise, lots of buttery notes, a bit of vegetal earthiness, yeasty spice notes, rounded out by some sweet honey. The palate, has a bit of a sour tang, and a terribly uncomfortable acidity and overcarbonation. Not one of my favorites.
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