Allagash Four - Allagash Brewing Company

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.99/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle from 2007

A: Pours a murky mahogany in color with light amounts of visible carbonation and some orange + brown highlights. The beer has a half finger tall soapy beige head that quickly reduces to an extremely thin ring at the edges of the glass. Minimal amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of dark fruits, spices, and Belgian yeast. Lighter aromas of toffee malt sweetness.

T: Upfront there is a light to moderate flavor of toffee malt sweetness which lasts throughout the taste of the beer. That is combined with moderate to strong flavors of dark fruits (fig) and spices (cinnamon and clove). There is a light to moderate presence of Belgian yeast and just a hint of bitterness in the finish that fades quickly.

M: Slightly heavier than medium bodied with light amounts of carbonation. Light amounts of dryness and alcohol warming in the finish.

O: This beer aged really well, it picked up some definite hints as if it had been barrel aged over the years and I think the sweetness has increased and it has mellowed overall. Very enjoyable, can't believe I let this one cellar so long before reviewing it.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 01:37:26 | More by dbrauneis

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle poured into a taster. Batch 23.

Appearance - Light brown with some reddish tints. Pours with a big khaki head. Light wisps on the surface. Medium collar.

Smell - Not sold on the smell. Fusel alcohol. Fruity. Slight sherry.

Taste - Vast improvement. Plums, raisins, great fruit flavor. Darker caramel malts. Less alcohol.

Mouthfeel - Slick, slightly harsh. Well carbonated.

Overall - It's really a good beer, but it has its faults.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 23:55:01 | More by Alieniloquium

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

3.8/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

750ml bottle into a snifter

A: Pours a medium amber color with two fingers of fluffy white head. Great retention.

S: Very light on the nose, particularly for the style. I get very mild dark fruits, a bit of citrus and esters from the yeast. As the beer warms, I get more spicy esters, but dark fruits are very mild still.

T: Very similar to the aroma, just a bit more dark fruitiness. As the beer warms, I get some peppery flavors and some booze. Quite dry, though.

M: On the thin side with high carbonation.

O: The flavors here are decent, but I could use more dark fruits and a bit more complexity. The esters are a bit harsh and do not mix that well with the maltiness.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 01:26:32 | More by coreyfmcdonald

gr0g

New Jersey

3.51/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance is hazy orange-copper. Head is sizable as expected for an abbey style ale, with good retention and lacing characteristics. Fruity esters are prominent on the nose with some notes of candi sugar and honey. A nice menagerie of fruit: ripe grape, apple, and plum. Some faint yeasty phenols. The aroma is great but too weak.

The flavor could best be described as a "strong Dubbel" and is disappointing for a quad. Quite dry for the style with a fairly hoppy finish. Way too much hop presence. Notes of white grape and toffee. Not really improving as it warms. The mouthfeel is a saving grace as it's a good match for the style.

Allagash has a rare miss on its hands with this. The $16 price adds to the disappointment.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 22:25:44 | More by gr0g

Greywulfken

New York

4.55/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

November 21st, 2012 bottling date.

A: into a tulip, amber brown body with just the slightest haze, two-finger head, beige; modest lace, good retention - a frothy-rimmed film remained throughout

S: lots of malty aromas - some musky, some semi-sweet - and lots of fragrant hoppy and yeasty scents, from floral to herbal

T: very complex - very suggestive of an aged old ale or barleywine - sweetness comes in the form of candied fruits and malt, but there are drying overtones reminiscent of barrel aging; less sweet than most quads I've had - a lot of hop bitterness and yeasty brightness

M: drying, crisp, slight tartness on the tip, some smooth coating; carbonation adds briskness to a smooth drinking beer; lighter body and feel than most quads I've had - the whiskey-ish drying seemed to offset any weight I might have felt in another quad

O: add this to my list of Allagash awesomeness - my review numbers may be a little misleading if you're thinking typical quad - this is an atypical quad (IMO) - my impression of the beer was that it tasted as much like an English old ale or strong ale as much as a "traditional" quad (such a St. Bernardus or a Pannepot). I loved the flavor and feel, very complex and elegant. Very classy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 16:07:53 | More by Greywulfken

rdilauro

Connecticut

3/5  rDev -26.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I havent had a Quad in a wile. It poured a real dirty brown cloudy hue. Very little if any noticeable head
The initial nose had lots of malt in it.. I also detected alittle pear on the nose
The first taste was very big, a bit dull but big and full. Lots of malt and a good amount of alcohol in it
The second and third taste was the same.

Not a lingering aftertaste

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 03:19:16 | More by rdilauro

deebo

Minnesota

2.73/5  rDev -33.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A lover of quads, excited to try Allagash's take on the style.

A-Bottle from Batch #25 shared with friends this beer is clear amber with a bubbly white head with no staying power.

S-Not a lot going on here, aromas of sweet malt (caramel) are dominant; weak in those characteristic Belgian yeast esters.

T-Quite non-descript, malt upfront, with a fair punch of alcohol with just a hint of yeasty esters and a quick pop of spicy hops.

M-Alcohol is a bit hot, likely because the malty mouthfeel is low and doesn't carry the heft of a 10% brew well. The fairly high carbonation does not work here very well either.

O-I had hopes that this would be my first excellent quad as Allagash has proven they can knock out a Belgian style (see Allagash White and Tripel) but like other US Brewers miss the complexity deliciousness exemplified by St. Bernardus Abt 12 and Westy XII. This beer needs work. Average compared to US versions I've tried, below average compared to Belgians.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 14:12:43 | More by deebo

Dope

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

No date that I can see, but it is batch 22.

A: Pours a cloudy, rusty reddish-brown. Huge tan head. Fades very slowly with top notch retention. Leaves small blotches of lacing behind.

S: Very sweet with lots of dark fruits. Plums, raisin and fig with a nice caramel and earthy background. Notable yeastiness with some cloves and a bunch of banana.

T: Dark fruits but not nearly as strong as in the aroma. Nice fig and raisin for sure along with banana. Has a robust cocoa and really nice toasty character in there too. Some caramel helps sweeten it up a bit. Finishes almost a bit hoppy with a little bitterness and maybe some medicinal qualities? Lots of black pepper and then drying in the aftertaste with some more toastiness. Is this oak aged I wonder?

M: Heavy and full but with high carbonation - helps cut it a bit.

O: A very interesting quad. Great complexity. Sweet without being overly so (like a lot of quads). Nice balance of sweetness and bitterness to boot. Very unique.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 02:38:39 | More by Dope

kangarooAdam59

Wyoming

3.85/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This is my first ever quadrupel, so here goes (Batch 27):

I decided to use a snifter and a chalice. The first portion was poured into a snifter and the second portion was poured into the chalice.

A: The head definitely lasts way longer in the snifter, and is much larger. The body is darker as well. A nice soft white coat of a film appears across the top of the body of the portion poured into the chalice. Both bodies are too hazy for any carbonation to be seen rising. Barely any lacing is left in both glasses.

S: the same in both, raisin, that Belgian yeastiness, some light sugars, and light some banana.

T: the same in both glasses with the previously mentioned flavors combining subtley.

M: heavy and a bit sharp here and there. This is not very drinkable and am feeling my palate is wrecked after this bad boy.

O: since I'm new to this beer called a "quadrupel," I figure I'd like to come back to this after I've tasted other quadrupels, and when I'm ready to shell out $16.00 for a bomber of this beast.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 16:52:01 | More by kangarooAdam59

jtd1969

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A -golden Amber color with good carbonation, typical of belgian styles from Allagash.

S - Maybe some raisin and belgian yeast, sweet fruit.

T - Some wood(maybe oak), some fruit (kinda a mix of light(some grape) and dark ones (prune/raisin), very subtle light earthy hops

M - Full bodied with good carbonation

O - What a delicious beer.It is not as good as others I have had by Allagash, but worth a try. I recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 03:46:19 | More by jtd1969

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Batch #28

Beer is a medium-hued brown/amber with a good-sized off-white head. Decent retention.

Smell consists of Belgian yeast and fruit. Raisin, grape. Vinous. Bready malt.

Beer is surprisingly thin. Bready malt, dark fruits (grape and raisin), yeast. Fairly sweet, a bit of a candy flavour.

Medium bodied, moderate carbontation. Surprisingly thin. Alcohol is well hidden.

Overall, disappointing. I am an Allagash fan and a Quad fan, but this one doesn't really do it for me.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 01:53:38 | More by jrenihan

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this bottle up the day of the Ghoulschip release, roughly a year old. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

A - Pours a great clearish amber with a great two finger head that leaves a nice, thick creamy blanket.

S - Nice sweet, malty sweetness. Not much though, very one note for me.

T - Taste isnt too too bad. Lots of malty sweetness with older hops and light dark fruits. It is slightly metallic though...

M - Mouthfeel has very nice carbonation for a quad, and a 10% beer no less. Quite enjoyable.

O - Overall, this beer was a bit too one note for my liking, which is a shame as I held onto this for so long.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 18:46:26 | More by rudzud

puboflyons

New Hampshire

4.48/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From Batch 25. sampled on August 5, 2012. For my 1,000 review on Beer Advocate I have chosen a Quad that pours rich amber, garnet with red hues and a substantial, puffy mocha head that sits on top like the foam from a milk shake.

The aromas are vibrant with dark malts, Belgian candied sugar, dark dried fruits, butter, and a low hop profile.

The body is medium to bold with a slight acidic quality and otherwise smooth on the tongue.

Sweet malts appear at first in the taste with a higher than expected bitterness that gives off a boozy character which kicks in more prominently, tears into my sinuses, and opens the passageway. Yet it mellows almost as quickly as it explodes leaving a dryer, lingering finale in its wake.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 18:42:59 | More by puboflyons

draheim

Washington

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750mL (batch 21) into a chalice. Pours a clear amber w/ a 2-finger khaki head, sticky lace, lazy carb.

Aroma is bready malt, dark fruit, molasses.

Taste is strong alcohol, floral Old World hops, bready malt, candi sugar, dark fruit. Hoppy bitter finish.

Mouthfeel is slick and smooth w/ a dry clean finish.

Overall a solid quad but nothing mind-blowing.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 04:54:40 | More by draheim

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this beer quite a few times, not sure how a review escaped me. Anyways, this was thanks to sharing from Rudzud.

Huge fluffy 2 finger head, messy lacing, hazy murky reddish orange brown color.

Nose sweet reddish malts, fruity, stone fruits, very light earthy hops, caramel and candy flavors, light booze, nice Belgian malts, long Belgian yeast additions and esters, hint of fruity spicy rye or is that additions from the various yeast strains?

Taste sweet Belgian flavors, lots of belgian malts, fruity esters, light stone fruits, Belgian yeast additions, some warming and slight tingly booze, earthy bready flavors, hint syrupy and light sweetness with caramel, candi sugar, and molasses. Finish is a semi sweet, sticky malts and slightly syrupy, light lingering booze and belgian malts.

Mouth is fuller bodied, some warming and tingly booze, good carb.

Overall not bad, nice malts and sweet flavors, belgian flavors, but not as great as I remember, bit boozy too.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2012 12:41:48 | More by jlindros

chodinheaven

Maryland

3.73/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Hazy light mahogoney in color with a beautiful thick and somewhat fluffy off-white head on top. Dissapates very slowly and releases a nice bouquet of aroma. Only a hint of booze detected in the nose mingled with dried cherries and other darker fruits as well as a hint of vanilla. A bit floral also with a touch of banana. Not very spicy, just a lot of soft tones and lots of subtleties in the aroma, all pleasant and inviting but without an overbearing blast of intense aromatics. Very nice.

No one flavor jumps out and takes over the taste here, but several contribute to the overall picture in subtle, understated ways. As it warms up, more flavors make their way through, but what ends up happening is the alcohol feel seems to take more of the attention than the flavors. And yet the alcohol is pleasantly warming, but makes the body a little on the thin side and the flavors of the ingredients don't seem to be completely supported. That said, subtle flavors of dried fruits make their way through, almost fig- or possibly raisin-like as it doesn't have much tartness to it. Vanilla does peek through as well, just hinting at it. The hops have an even-keeled approach in the backside, adding a slight floral, even herbal bitterness. The malts don't do enough for the body to overcome the ABV, but they do have a nice, albeit weaker, grainy caramel maltiness. Only a touch of banana softness, and certainly wouldn't hurt from a bit more. The second half of the bottle tastes just about the same only with a little more carbonation to cleanse the palate.

Overall, not a bad beer really, but I think Allagash does some better beers. For the price point, Allagash Couriex is a better choice in my opinion. Just a lot of flavors that I seem to be missing judging by the label, and the body doesn't quite have enough mmmph to back it all up.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 05:09:32 | More by chodinheaven

kojevergas

California

3.33/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

750ml brown glass bottle with hood and wire cap over a cork purchased at Wades Wines in Westlake Village, California for $19.99 plus tax and served into a Guinness goblet in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are extremely high given the brewery - which I've been very impressed with so far - and the style - which is one of my favourites. Batch #25. No best before date.

Not paired with food.

Served refrigerator cold and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

Gives a rather powerful satisfying pop when the cork comes out. I got the cork out quickly with just my hands.

A: Pours a three finger head of nice cream, good thickness, and great retention for the 10% ABV. Colour is a dark copper orange. Not at all vibrant; a bit dull. Semitransparent. Non-opaque. No floating yeast particles are visible, but I'm judging from the top of a large bottle here. Pretty good lacing.

Sm: Biscuity yeast, cream, delightful malts, and well balanced hops. The yeasts are dominant and quite appealing. Hints of dried fruit. A nice aroma for a quad. Moderate in strength. Subtle. The notes don't ring distinct, but seem to work well together. Let's hope that carries over in the flavour.

T: Pleasant biscuity yeasts. The malts are a bit more troublesome, not quite providing the subtle foundation expected. Cream comes through. Some dried fruit - plums and fig - is far too restrained to sincerely impact the flavour profile. The hops are a bit too present considering the style. It's quite biscuity all around. The flavour just isn't bold and distinct enough to make it a great quad. Needs more fruit and more of a focus. The yeasts are nice but they still come off feeling restrained and underplayed, and even take a turn for the worse on the finish. Needs more complexity. It's subtle, but could and should be moreso. Good layering but the end result isn't ideal. I wish it were more bold and focused. No alcohol comes through.

Mf: Entirely too thin. Not strong enough to support the flavours. Nicely smooth and wet, with some cream. Adequately carbonated.

Dr: Quite overpriced for the quality, though not a bad quad by any means. Hides its ABV well. It's disappointing, but then I expected a lot of it. The third act bothers me and it's too hoppy for the style. A decent effort from Allagash, but not on par with their other offerings. Give it a go if you have the money, but don't expect too much from it. I might get it again aged at a good price. I wouldn't recommend it to friends though. Certainly drinkable.

Low B-

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 05:53:48 | More by kojevergas

BostonHops

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml corked/caged bottle served in an oversized wineglass. batch #22. after a vicious battle with the cork...

pours a regal, ruddy chestnut tone with a luminous deep red/orange relection when held to the light. solid finger-plus of a beige head demonstrates considerable retention and nice walls of lacing. a beaut.

nose is headlined by belgian yeast, sweet maltiness, and a spicy, fruity type of character. shades of a particular belgian quad that i can't quite place... st bernardus maybe, or koningshoeven. flavor follows the nose with its sweet malts and belgian yeasts. pretty balanced, with a bit of a hoppy bitterness in the finish. some alcohol warmth. not quite what i was expecting after the nose, but close. a nicely built beer. medium-plus bodied, creamy mouthfeel.

originally reviewed on: 10-24-2010

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2012 21:55:15 | More by BostonHops

CuriousMonk

Virginia

4.23/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bomber into tulip glass. Pours amber-brown with a moderate white head and light lacing that lasts well throughout. Nose is a little earthy/herby for the style, but with plenty of brown sugar, maple syrup, belgian yeast, and some alcohol heat. Flavor is more typical of quads with rich, sweet breadiness, and yeast on the front, fading to fruit and alcohol in the backfinish. Sticky mouthfeel. A very nice quad!

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2012 17:11:15 | More by CuriousMonk

luthyr

California

4.38/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a tulip glass. Nice golden color with a light, persistent bubble head.

Hints of caramel, cherry, raisin and yeast. Nice aroma.

Wonderful flavor! Not too strong, light malt, very light hops, and a mild fruity sweetness. Surprising from a quadrupel. Complexities with each sip!

Very light mouthfeel, easy to drink. Probably a bit too easy!

Amazing overall taste! Adding this to one of my favorites.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 05:25:36 | More by luthyr

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.05/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Black Raven pint glass. Pours a dark red-orange amber. Gushed out of the bottle. Very thick light tan head that persisted and left heavy lacing. Nice presentation. Aroma is sweet with heavy stone fruit, light malt and Belgian spicing; slightly sour. Flavor of sweet and caramel malt and light fruit. Moderately dry in the middle. Finishes with Belgian spices, a bit of hops and sweet fruit. Nice medium to heavy body. Not as intense or complex as the best Belgian quads, but pleasant and very nice to drink. Another top notch Allagash ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 03:17:05 | More by LiquidAmber

tomfneph

Kentucky

4.45/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle purchased at the Charleston Beer Exchange. The appearance of this beer is outstanding. Poured into a tulip glass the beer has a thick creamy persistent head. The color of the beer is a gorgeous reddish orange. The nose is cherries, apples, and a hint of clove. The taste is predominantly a pleasantly sour fruit mostly cherry and apple. The hops are subtle. These are definitely not west coast hops! The 10% ABV is very well hidden, almost no burn. This is a very smooth and mild quad. It is much lighter and not as vinous as a Westvleteren. This beer really tastes like a saison ale to me. The only negative is a slightly thin body and mouthfeel. However, at 750 ml, you better share this one! I highly recommend this complex beer. I will drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 18:10:29 | More by tomfneph

mindspin315

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Dense solid amber body with a soapy tan bubble head. Lots of nice alcohol legs and lacing.

Nice clean smelling Quad. Lots of raisins, cherry, apple, sweet sugars, and yeast esters.

Lost of great flavors...clove, cherries, fresh cut red apples, apple skins, candied sugar, and golden raisins. The carbonation is the star of the show here. What a great mouthfeel and amazing drinking beer. Carbonation moves everything along drys out slightly and a nice sweetness is left on the palate. A very light alcohol tinge pops through right at the finish.

The fermentation process (4 times here) is truly amazing. The beer drinks incredible and nice subtle flavors are prevalent all throughout. One of the best American takes on a Quad period! Most Belgian Quads don't match up.

[94/100]

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 08:34:05 | More by mindspin315

TheDeuce

New York

3.35/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Allagash Four…..in a large 750ml bottle

Appearance-a light brown color with a tan three fingered head into the snifter glass. The head cracks and dances around before slowly disappearing.

Smell-a strong burn of alcohol at first, deeper smells reveal a wide range of flavors, fruit and dried grape aromas mixed with pepper sipce, light bread and a touch of hops. Very very pungent.

Taste/Mouthfeel-Heavy mouthfeel of molasses and spice upfront, a little fruit and the crashing burn of heavy alcohol and sugar, smoothness is ok, not great. Peppery notes, a little syrupy. Finishes with a touch of fruit and more burn.

Overall-an ok beer, not that unique given the style and with the hype and the label I expected a little more.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 01:22:56 | More by TheDeuce

superspak

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle into tulip, batch 18(2008 bottling I think). Pours very hazy dark red color with a small fairly dense khaki head with good retention that reduces to a thin cap. Some spotty lacing on the glass. Aromas of huge raisin, prune, banana, caramel, molasses, candi sugar, and yeast spices. Nice aromas with big fruitiness. Taste of big raisin, prune, caramel, toffee, toasted malt, molasses, candi sugar, biscuit, and yeast spices. Lingering notes of molasses, toffee, dark fruit, and yeast spices on the finish for a while. Medium carbonation and fairly full bodied; with a very creamy and slightly slick mouthfeel. Alcohol is extremely well hidden for 10%, with hardly any warming after the finish present. Very smooth and drinkable, but it is still a sipper. Overall this is an outstanding Belgian Quad with tons of great flavor and balance. I would definitely have this again.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2012 08:37:20 | More by superspak