Neddles
Allagash Brewing Company

NeddlesNeddles
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Allagash Brewing Company
 
Maine, United States
Style:
Wild Ale
Ranked #241
ABV:
10.5%
Score:
94
Ranked #2,686
Avg:
4.23 | pDev: 6.62%
Reviews:
19
Ratings:
149
Status:
Active
Rated:
Aug 12, 2023
Added:
May 18, 2014
Wants:
  40
Gots:
  31
Named after our first employee Ned. Neddles is a sour brown aged in rum barrels from Ned's new venture, New England Distilling.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ColdOne:
Photo of ColdOne
Rated by ColdOne from New York

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

Aug 25, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by atlbravsrno1 from Maine

Aug 12, 2023
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bottled 9/12/18

And we keep plugging along with the bottles I picked up when me and my friend went and did their cellar tour. This one is a bit of an oddity, a sour Brown Ale aged in rum barrels, not really something you see much. Hell there’s not many rum BA beers to begin with, but the combination is even more rare. Let’s see what it’s all about

Pours a clody reddish brown with a finger of off white head that quickly fades to a ring and leaves minimal lacing

The rum is very evident in the nose, with the tartness really being more of a backbone for it to play over. I’m picking up on aromas of sweet rum, toasted coconut, sharp oak, golden raisin, brown sugar, tart cherry, vanilla, and dark bread

It definitely has more of a bite in taste which is much appreciated, but the rum is still present. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting tart cherry, dark bread, sweet rum, coconut, brown sugar, plum, and apple skin. The swallow brings notes of sweet rum, black cherry, molasses, toasted oak, brown sugar, vanilla, and light red wine vinegar

A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a tart and earthy beer. Finishes slightly sticky but is still drinkable between that and the high abv

This is a very strange beer. A very odd combination that works quite nicely
Jan 16, 2023
Photo of Cashbail
Reviewed by Cashbail from New Hampshire

4.59/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Bottled January 13, 2016. 11.5% ABV

Pours a tawny red with little carbonation. and no head.

Smells of caramel apple .

Taste is a smooth layering of stone fruit, sour apple and the rum barrel.

Overall excellent and happy I could get this at the cellar sale.
May 31, 2021
 
Rated: 4.18 by paresis from Massachusetts

Sep 09, 2020
 
Rated: 4.1 by cp45 from New Jersey

May 03, 2020
Photo of Gatch
Reviewed by Gatch from Massachusetts

4.68/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Bottled Sept. 12, 2018 and picked up at the brewery on Oct. 12th. Didn’t know at the time that this was over a year “old,” but a pleasant surprise! Definitely a step-up from their non-barrel-aged sour brown ale, James & Julie, thanks to the rum barrels. Certainly an amplification of the aromas and flavors of J&J, with plenty of sugary fruits, earthy yeast, and dank wood. Deliciously tart and funky.
Nov 09, 2019
 
Rated: 4.29 by Budlum from Maryland

Sep 07, 2019
Photo of smanson56
Reviewed by smanson56 from New Hampshire

4.27/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This beer pours a light brown color with a creamy tan head.
The nose is mild not the tartness of some beers of this type. Notes of the rum barrel aging come through to me in the nose.
The taste to me is complex it has hints of sweetness blended with some molasses and hints of stone fruits.
The mouthfeel foe a beer of this type is very smooth and mellow.
This beer is complex and has a lot of things going on. It totally hides it's 10.6 ABV. The beer is wonderfully smooth to drink. The taste is so enjoyable.
My biggest disappointment is I only bought 2 bottles !
Mar 03, 2019
Photo of vfgccp
Rated by vfgccp from New York

4.23/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
April 1, 2014 bottle, cracked March 11, 2018.
Mar 11, 2018
 
Rated: 4.37 by REVZEB from Illinois

Dec 31, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by paulish from New York

Dec 28, 2017
Photo of GreesyFizeek
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York

4.46/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
On tap at Tap and Mallet in Rochester, NY.

This one pours a murky brown color, with a small head, and no lacing.

This has a really huge rum aroma, with some light red grapes, vanilla, and caramel.

This basically feels like a slightly sour rum barrel aged barleywine, and that works out nicely for me. There's a really nice caramel malt complexity, with a nice slight spiced character from the rum, vanilla, and slight sour grapes. The rum is not quite as pronounced as the aroma.

This is slighly creamy, with a good level of carbonation. It's definitely a slow sipper.

This is another exceptionally unique beer from Allagash.
Nov 19, 2017
 
Rated: 3.84 by nmann08 from Virginia

Oct 29, 2017
 
Rated: 3.92 by Mikexw from New York

Oct 29, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by oriolesfan4 from Maryland

Oct 24, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by fthegiants from California

Oct 11, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by Nichols33 from Massachusetts

Sep 25, 2017
 
Rated: 4.55 by riderwbd from Vermont

Jul 24, 2017
Photo of Sabtos
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio

4.21/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Dark but clear shimmering copper with a loud, fizzy tan head that quickly settles to a thin ring.

Smell is sherry and deep oak, balsamic vinegar, and wine barrel tannin with a bit of a char. A sharp acetic funk makes it seem like it's going to be all acid on the palate.

Taste is much more measured than expected, starting with cherry and raspberry, then bringing that smokey char with toasted sesame and then apple skin.

It seems acetic and vinegary, but doesn't actually feel acidic. It is quite tart, but also has a crisp carbonation, but then the body rounds in the middle, with a soft and frothy light finish.

I wasn't expecting it to be this drinkable but it certainly is a complex treat!

2016 vintage
Jul 16, 2017
Neddles from Allagash Brewing Company
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 149 ratings