Allagash Dubbel Ale - Allagash Brewing Company

HopsYeast

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-medium dark copper body with a thick 1 finger head that maintains itself well then fads and leaves ample lacing .body is slightly hazy

S-hops, orange peels, plums, dark fruits, malt, vanilla, clove, honey

T-heavy maltiness, baking chocolate, walnuts, vanilla, subtle hops

M-thick body with very very low carbonation. Leaves palate semi dry waiting for the next sip

O-another very enjoyable offering from what has become a favorite brewery of mine. Every beer they make is deeply complex and rich with flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

12-10-2011 04:30:38 | More by HopsYeast

musicman575

California

4.65/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Color is hazy amber with a thin layer of fine, light tan bubbles.

Yeast is the dominant smell plus pear and some spiciness, even a light note of coffee.

A gentle sweetness and some dextrins compliment the bready and chocolatey malts in this medium bodied beer.

I'm enjoying this more and more!

Leaves a bit of warmth as a perfect amount of carbonation and an ample hopping finish it off

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 02:12:31 | More by musicman575

atlason

New York

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle poured into tulip at ~53F. Batch #97.

A: Deep copper, ample puffy head and good lacing. Slight hazy.

S: Belgian yeast, grassy hops, light caramel.

T: Pretty aggressive hops, reminds me a bit of the style of Allagash White in terms of the deviation from the oringinal. Fairly close to the Ommegang style but not quite as warm and malty, a bit tinnier.

M: Middle of the road in terms of viscosity, pretty acidic with medium carbonation. Easy to drink.

Overall quite impressive brew, not a world class example of the dubbel style though.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 03:58:28 | More by atlason

UnderPressure

South Carolina

3.45/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a nice reddish amber with a momentary one-finger head.

Nice aroma. Slightly funky Belgain yeast and complex malt aromas.

Decent flavor. Somewhat complex malt character. Toasty malt. Belgian yeast in the middle. And a crisp, clean, bitter finish.

The mouthfeel is not fantastic. Medium bodied, a little on the thin side. But it's hard to tell with so much carbonation. This is a Belgian style beer, so I guess the high carbonation is acceptable.

This beer is pretty decent. Nothing outrageous. A nice representation of the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 22:40:06 | More by UnderPressure

mvanaskie13

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a tall chalice, nice creamy light tan head sits on top, color is transparent amber, decent carbonation.

Smell is spicy, hints of phenols and bready yeast.

Taste is clean, lightly spiced, hints of caramel and toffee malt, bready, yeast. Sweetness is just right, bitterness just enough to clean it up.

Mouthfeel is very well balanced, nicely carbonated, clean.

Overall this is a great dubbel, maybe a touch light on some malt sweetness but very clean flavors.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 01:18:35 | More by mvanaskie13

TheHoppiest

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this in a trade with CheezyBlaster, thanks! Note that this bottle was from Batch #98.

Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a Belgian-style chalice. Pours a beautiful ruddy amber color, almost silty in appearance, with a soft, creamy-foam head that starts about 1/2" high and gently, slowly reduces.

Has a very yeasty, malty, biscuity aroma, with hints of burnt sugar, maple, dark dried fruits, and hints of vanilla. I know this is sounding like it has a very sweet aroma, but it doesn't; it simply smells like these flavors, but doesn't smell overly sweet.

Starts slightly sweet yet tannic, with hints of figs and dates, molasses and plenty of yeasty malt. Oaky, peaty and earthy, while it is plenty carbonated, it is not at all harsh or metallic. The ending drops off a bit, drying with a smokey note to finish.

Medium bodied, this feels both soft and very carbonated, with a slightly tacky, dry feel on the tongue.

I still don't have a good handle on this style of beer, and always feel hesitant in stating if what I've just had is good for the style, bad for the style, or simply middle of the road. I know that I liked this beer, though I'm not heartbroken that it may be the last time I have it in a while due to its unavailability in Northeast Ohio. I believe that there's plenty to recommend about this beer -- nice tasting, beautiful in appearance, and it has a decent mouthfeel -- but I also am not finding it to be terribly memorable as I type up this review and it sits in the glass awaiting further consumption. I guess the best I can say is, try it you can find it, but don't stress if you can't find it.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2011 01:50:08 | More by TheHoppiest

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Batch 61

Pours a hazy orange-ish to amber color with a light tan head. In the aroma, fruity with notes of caramel. In the taste, fruity and a small tartness and dry yeastiness. A sour like bite and medium to lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a dry to tart fruitiness in the aftertaste. Nice sour presence that came with age, and a nice fruitiness.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2011 20:45:57 | More by OWSLEY069

ebrauser

Utah

3.58/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 750 to a snifter.

Appearance: Clear, dark amber with a cream colored, 1" head.

Aroma: Lemon, grapefruit, and tons of apples and caramel.

Flavor: Crisp malt with small influxes of apple and cigar smoke moving through the incredibly dry texture. It is so airy that sometimes, it doesnt even taste like I am drinking anything. The small flavors coming in and out coincide with a flavor that I can only describe as a "plainness" that I am guessing has arisen due to it being in the fridge, and not a cellar for a long while.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2011 03:18:23 | More by ebrauser

mrcarterxxl

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Allagash Dubbel

A= a brownish copper hue between amber and brown with a medium sized head

S= very malty smell sweet , maple syrup.

T= bitter yet slightly malty with bitter orange/grapefruit , figs,grapes,rasins, dried fruit notes.

MF= medium bodied with faint carbonation, finnish lingers.

This Allagash would go well with a steak or a beef stew, game meat, pork, curried/spicey foods.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 00:42:53 | More by mrcarterxxl

rinhaak

Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

22 oz. bottle poured into a tulip glass.

Pours a rich, cloudy mahogany-brown with a full two finger head. Only moderate head retention, it receded fairly quickly leaving behind a decent lace.

The nose is very fruity, bready, and sweet. Lots of overripe fruits, prunes, molasses, cherry, and even a hint of artificial chocolate.

Far too overly carbonated (for my personal tastes - the bubbles violently attack the tongue), there is a very rich malt caramel/toffee malt flavor to the beer. Though there is definite fruitiness, the fruit flavors recede more to the background than the nose would have suggested. Not overly sweet but with a fairly syrupy quality, I taste brown sugar, cinnamon, clove, and chocolate.

Overall I found it to be a rather underwhelming beer. The dubbel doesn't quite live up to the standards that Allagash has set and reset with nearly every other beer they produce. While I won't shy away from it in the future, I certainly won't be seeking it out ever again.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2011 01:45:19 | More by rinhaak

BeerResearcher

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle. Freshness date not noticed.
It pours clear ruby-hued mahogany color with a two finger dark beige head and loads of lacings.
Big aromas of raisin, prune juice, caramel, molasses, and cherry brandy.
Tastes of raisins, ripe plums, caramel, toasted malt, toffee, and slight yeasty spiciness mingle and balance. A bit of apple brandy is noticed in the finish.
This highly drinkable Dubbel is medium bodied with a moderate effervescence. It becomes slight oily and slick as it warms. Very nice representation of the style!

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 14:52:19 | More by BeerResearcher

Murrhey

Montana

3.48/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle into a Pilsner glass

A: Two finger head that stuck around at a finger's width for a sip or two, but kept nice lacing throughout. Nice mahogany coloring.

S: Sweeter smell, woody aftertones.

T: Slight wood elements to the taste, but not much going on otherwise. Subtle but not great.

M: Feels very light, almost as if I'm sipping on foam, but with the smaller head, I know it is just the texture of the beer.

O: The bitterness is offset by the wonderfully light mouthfeel and aroma. Nice beer, but not my favorite.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 04:02:29 | More by Murrhey

superspak

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle into tulip, batch 67. Pours clear dark reddish brown color with a nice and dense 2 finger light khaki head with fantastic retention that reduces to a thick cap. Some nice lacing clings to the glass as well. Aromas of big raisin, apple, caramel, grape, candi sugar, molasses, and cherry. Some very nice and complex aromas here. Taste of grape, raisin, caramel, toasted malt, chocolate, toffee, and yeast spiciness. Fairly dry finish, but there is some lingering notes of dark fruits, caramel, roasted malt, chocolate, and spices on the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a very nice creamy and smooth mouthfeel. No alcohol noticed at all in the taste or finish. Very nice drinkability for 7%. Overall this is definitely an excellent Dubbel from Allagash. Very balanced and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 03:05:27 | More by superspak

gueuzeonhigh

Maine

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer was labeled as "Dubbel Reserve batch #99".

Poured a dark amber caramel color producing an active head that welled up on high and scupltured a wonderful crest at the rim of my glass. The beer serving was like that in an advertisement.

A modest nose- emanating hints of hops, caramel, malt and a fruity citrus background.

Alas the head was somewhat short lived-- as it receded into a coverlet over the surface of the beer.

The flavor was that of a light ale, with mild hop flavor, a tangy zest of citrus, spices and malt- I claim that the malt and hops were equal.

This beer reminds me of a Belgian brown ale.

The mouthfeel was cordial.

Overall this was a very satisfying beer-- it was not heavy on the palate nor was it overbearing in alcohol content or flavor.

I plan to purchase a few more bottles and cellar a few to see if this Dubbel changes character for the better over a period of time.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 00:57:44 | More by gueuzeonhigh

tehzachatak

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle poured into a shaker pint.

A - pours a dark, slightly hazy mahogany with a extremely vigorous 4 fingers of head that take a long time to settle, leaving only minimal lacing. a very pretty beer.

S - incredibly complex. liquor soaked fruit (esters), slightly spicy, yeast.

T - very smooth and balanced. more fruit, general sweetness. some soft, caramel-ish malts. tiny bit of a bite on the back end.

M - exceptionally quaffable for a beer this complex. lightly carbonated, soft in the mouth. lighter body than i would expect.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 23:45:08 | More by tehzachatak

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This poured out as a typical shade of brown with a light tan colored head on top. The smell of the beer was a little earthy, it also had some dark fruits and yeast aromas in there. The taste of the beer had some nice sweet flavors upfront that faded into a dry soft aftertaste. The mouthfeel of the beer was pretty good, easy to drink and very smooth. Overall it's a pretty good Dubbel I think. I wasn't disappointed by it at all.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 05:32:58 | More by Knapp85

DavidST

Texas

4.18/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a goblet, no freshness date, but from batch 88.

Pours a nice slightly hazy tea color with a bubbly off white head which quickly dissipates. The smell is a little musty, a little belgium funk, with some sugar and grape. The taste is pretty great, this might be aged, but I get some caramel malts, some grape all very dry on the way down along with some almost roasted malt / hop bitterness, this beer taste wise is fantastic. Feel is very carbonated, with a medium thickness.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2011 02:08:34 | More by DavidST

Dotcubed

Arkansas

3.43/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Purchased a dark beer which seems like I'd enjoy.
Thing is, it may not be dark enough for me.

Massive foam that nearly left the sam's glass.
Great sediment. Great brown hue.
Sticky lace.

Musty grape smell.

Light body. Toast character. Modest bitterness and dry alcohol.

Creamy, lighter than I'd hoped.

It has some watery-ness to it. Made well, possibly stored poorly and for too long.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2011 00:39:16 | More by Dotcubed

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.45/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A decadent and lavishly Belgian Dubbel Ale with a plethera of well melded flavor for an elegant and rewarding session. With the development of 3-years of bottle conditioning, this bottle shared at Decatur's Brick Store Pub was an epic session!

With a pour of rust-stained hues of mohogany and mauve, the hazy beer releases a very froathy and creamy head of lightly tanned foam. Persistence with intircate patterns of lace, the foam character carries itself with as much grace as any Dubble I've seen.

Rounded aromas of brown sugar and molasses weave fold in on fruity esters of apples, berries, dates, figs, and grapes. Corriander, white pepper, clove, and zesty alcohols give a spicy balance to the nose where only a mild herbal hop presence is detected. Chocolate, walnuts, and a mild wine-like vinous note continue to deliver waves of experinces for the olfactory sense.

Rich sweetness of malt shape the early taste with the same brown sugar, molasses, and chocolate character that was promised by the nose. Remaining malty succulent and sweet, the beer draws in the spicy, fruity, earthy, and winey notes of pepper, dates, figs, walnuts, grape, cider, blackberries, oaky wines, and a mild element of must or dust. A very complex flavor spread creates every much as interest as in aroma.

Rich and malty, the vibrant carbonation allows for early creaminess but a fleeting dryness in finish. Aided by warming alcohols and a gradual hop drying, the semi-malt finish lingers deep onto the palate in a very desert-like fashion.

Perhaps a touch sweeter than classic Trappist Dubbels, but Allagash Dubbel tilts toward the maltier side of the scale for a succulent session that rivals some of the best made Belgian Strong Dark Ales. This beer has proven to cellar with grace and confidence, at least through three years of conditioning.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2011 15:27:35 | More by BEERchitect

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Allagash Dubbel Reserve 2006 Edition Batch #60

Opens with a large pop. Decants into two snifters, a cloudy brown color with a white head and good staying power. Aroma is raisin, belgian yeast fruityness, large malt and a hint of booze. In the taste, appleskin, white grapes, light fig and some faint spice. It could be the peppery Belgian yeast, or it could be muddled coriander, but there is a small spice on the tip of the tongue. Musty yeast, grapes, and malty all the while with faint caramel. There is a subtle, growing dryness to this beer, and time has evened out all the flavors and made for a smooth feel. Medium bodied, and somewhat light at that. Overall, the Allagash Dubbel holds up nicely with 5+ years on it, a nice treat.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2011 05:02:58 | More by Stinkypuss

ikantspel

California

3.95/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

batch #92. served at around 60° into a fine china chalice

appears a dark amber, fat creamy almost 2 finger head. lacing is still there after a couple of minutes

nutty smell with dark cherry, yeast, malt, and plum

toffee, malt, and cocoa? flavor. hint of caramel creeping in

pretty smooth. not as strong as i thought. a good dubbel nonetheless

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2011 05:02:01 | More by ikantspel

EkimGram

New York

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: 12oz bottle poured into Duvel snifter. Colour is a very cloudy brown. Finger-thick head is very heavy and leaves an excellent lacing.

Smell: Lots of dark fruits and spice followed by some spicy yeast, cloves, and goodness.

Taste: As the smell, plenty of dark fruits. The yest definitely has more of a presence in the taste than in the smell:

Mouthfeel: Full-bodied buy not heavy. Thick, just the slightest, gentlest amount of carbonation. Finishes just slightly sticky.

Overall: A very solid Dublle, especially an American-made one. If I come across this brew again I will definitely be getting more of it.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2011 06:10:44 | More by EkimGram

t8s8l8

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Look- A dark amber beer, brown red and orange colors fill the glass. a nice big fluffy head with lots of bubbles, falls slowly but keeps a descent lacing.

Aroma- fruity, mostly dark fruits possibly plum, raisins or sour cherry's.A slight alcohol note.

Taste- a malty sweetness that goes well with the fruity yeast aroma. slightly sour, sweet chocolate. a subtle hop taste. a tongue tingling awesomely dry beer.

Overall Experience- A nice beer fit to style. just an amazingly drinkable beer nothing but great brews from Allagash.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 23:46:38 | More by t8s8l8

bierfreundlich

California

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a nice deep amber with tints of red and purple. The head is thin with fine bubbles, off-white in color. Some lacing on the side of the glass.

S - Very fragrant sour smell like green apples, plums, and cherries. Yeasty and fruity.

T - Tastes quite fruity, going along with the smell: dark stone-fruits

M - Thin and very light on the palate. Carbonation is light to medium.

D - Overall, an exceptionally smooth beer that I can thoroughly enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 01:21:34 | More by bierfreundlich

vandemonian

Maryland

3.4/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Allagash Dubbel Ale is Dubbel by name but not by nature. Look elsewhere if you want a rich, spicy Belgian beer.

A: Amber colour and a 15 mm head that fades to very good lacing. 4.5

S: Malt with some woodiness. No noticable yeast. 3.5

T: Malty/grainy into a crisp slightly sour aftertaste. Lager like finish. Not that much like a Dubbel. 3.5

M: Fizzy. 3

O: Not great; not much like a Dubbel. 3

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2011 02:36:03 | More by vandemonian