Curieux
Allagash Brewing Company

CurieuxCurieux
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From:
Allagash Brewing Company
 
Maine, United States
Style:
Tripel
Ranked #5
ABV:
10.2%
Score:
95
Ranked #1,479
Avg:
4.28 | pDev: 10.75%
Reviews:
1,025
Ratings:
4,128
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 21, 2024
Added:
Apr 05, 2004
Wants:
  578
Gots:
  1,214
Aging our award-winning golden ale in freshly emptied bourbon barrels layers the beer with notes of vanilla, caramel, oak, and a hint of bourbon. First brewed back in 2004, Curieux remains our most popular barrel-aged beer.

To make this beer, we age our Tripel in bourbon barrels for approximately seven weeks. After that time is up, we blend the barrel-aged beer with a portion of fresh Tripel, to bring out the beer’s notes of passion fruit and honey. The result is a flavorful and multi-layered ale with a crisp, dry finish.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BuckeyeNation:
Photo of BuckeyeNation
Reviewed by BuckeyeNation from Iowa

4.8/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
October 2005 bottling. Sun-splashed lemon with a wealth of fine carbonation enlisted in the creation of a regal white head. The texture of the foam isn't quite as spectacular as on most authentically Belgian ales, but it's still mighty attractive. Thick sheets of lace look like they'll stick until the cows come home. Like most Allagash beer, this one is a looker.

The nose is very nice, it's just that I was expecting some indication that the beer was actually aged in Jim Beam barrels. It smells like an excellent, impressively fruity tripel that... wait just a minute... a few more sniffs deliver a little woodiness... that still isn't very whiskey-like. Here's hoping the flavor profile is as advertised. [note: warming opens up the nose so much that it approaches the quality of the flavor at roughly the midway mark of the bottle.]

Curieux is outstanding beer! For some strange reason, my nose didn't identify what my palate is having no trouble identifying and greeting like an old friend. Allagash says there's a 'hint of bourbon'. I respectfully disagree. There's as much bourbon whiskey present as there is tripel. It's no surprise that these guys have found the perfect balance between the base beer (Tripel Reserve) and the flavor imparted by the wood.

Their decision to age the beer in bourbon barrels has done several things. It has effectively eliminated the ethereal complexity of Tripel Reserve and has replaced it with the power and deliciousness of Kentucky's finest. As a bourbon fanatic, I love the outcome. It's as if the brewers created an entirely new world-class beer from one that was world-class to begin with.

The flavor profile consists of ripe, buttery pears; caramelized sugar; charred oak and a huge splash of vanilla. Allagash has definitely done their homework (as always) because they've managed to imbue the beer with the very essence of the barrels' former occupant. As far as I'm concerned, the decision to age the beer eight weeks was perfect.

I love those light and airy Belgian tripels and I also love this one. It's heavily silky, lightly sticky and aggressively carbonated. When the bubbles wear off on the swallow, the flavor lingers with a determination that reminds me of my favorite bourbons. Not only that, but the huge ABV is warming me nicely and is beginning to blur my senses. Time to slow down so that I can finish this review with some sort of coherence.

Curieux had three huge things going for it right off the bat. It's brewed by Allagash, it uses Tripel Reserve (one of my favorite tripels) as its base beer, and it's aged in bourbon barrels (my favorite liquor). Therefore, I'm not the least bit surprised that I've been gobsmacked yet again. If you like beautifully crafted, amazingly delicious, Belgian-style ales with an American flair, it doesn't get any better than Allagash Curieux.
Feb 27, 2007
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.85 by DrinkDrunkDrank from Connecticut

Mar 21, 2024
Photo of BJB13
Reviewed by BJB13 from Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
12 ounce bottle poured into a Tulip.
Bottled 10/12/23

L: Hazy gold, 2 finger stark white head, creamy foam has good retention, leaves some lace.
S: Spicy hoppy nose with some fruity esters to open, oak tannins becoming more pronounced as it warms.
T: Malty and moderately sweet, cracker-like malt, honey, golden raisin and apricot-like dried fruit flavors, tangy finish is spicy and more dry, yeast is flavor is light.
F: Medium weight and creamy with enough carbonation for a crisp finish, smooth overall.
O: Alcohol is well hidden, not getting any bourbon character but white oak is present and pleasant , very enjoyable and easy drinking.
Feb 11, 2024
 
Rated: 4.73 by JarMills from Canada (BC)

Feb 08, 2024
 
Rated: 4.47 by Nyoder

Feb 04, 2024
 
Rated: 4.04 by craigbelly from Iowa

Jan 28, 2024
Photo of LiquidAmber
Reviewed by LiquidAmber from Washington

4.39/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a lightly hazy, medium golden amber with a two finger white head with great retention and solid lacing. Aroma of grainy Belgian malt and yeast, clove, lemon and mild bourbon. Flavor follows with grainy Belgian malt and fruity yeast, clove, light bourbon, oak and touch of vanilla. Medium bodied with moderate creaminess. Allagash used to distribute in the Northwest and many of their ales were my introductions to Belgian styles; I didn't realize at the time how authentic most of the were, but I grew to love them. This one I never got to try and was glad to finally get a can of it. Exactly as described, it's a classic Belgian tripel with light bourbon and oaky barrel character. The latter are somewhat subdued, but do add to the interest of this great style. Fine malt and Belgian yeast notes. The oak is mild, and I wish it was a little more assertive. The bourbon is light too, but that seems an appropriate level. Allagash seems quite proud of this one and for good reason. I'd love to drink this again. Nicely done.
Jan 19, 2024
Photo of Hayesbro
Reviewed by Hayesbro from Pennsylvania

4.37/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours an opaque gold with a slight head. Strong aromas of sour, surprisingly, and oak, a little aged wine in there. Fairly sweet, the barrel shines through, with some fig notes and spice. Excellent.
Dec 27, 2023
 
Rated: 4.59 by swtdixie91 from South Carolina

Nov 03, 2023
Photo of FreePal88
Reviewed by FreePal88

4.5/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Incredibly sweet, almost sickeningly sweet, but pretty complex. Every swig I'm wrestling with its flavor and sorting through its spicy/oaky/honey/slightly fruity elements. A little "big" to drink regularly, but its snobby, "classy" aesthetic isn't necessary. Sell this in tallboy cans, you cowards!
Nov 01, 2023
Photo of AGU313
Reviewed by AGU313 from Maryland

3.16/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
A: Tiny Bubbles and a thin head. Golden yellow and hazy.

S: When aerated sweet vanilla and oak with some coconut. I can smell the alcohol.

T: Bourbony, bitter hoppy, vanilla

M: Light and gentle carbonation

O: Honestly Bourbon is not for me, I don't know why I picked this beer, For lovers of Bourbon I'm sure you'll like it,
Oct 15, 2023
 
Rated: 4.43 by Neelbeer from New York

Sep 30, 2023
Photo of barnzy78
Reviewed by barnzy78 from Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottle
thanks to Ken for the bottle!
L: sightly hazed golden body; foamy creamy white head
S: doughy grain, floral noble hops, spicy yeast, mild oaky bourbon
T: dough, pale malt, oak, bourbon, vanilla, light caramel, honey, spicy Belgian yeast, grassy/spicy/floral noble hops
F: super smooth, medium body, alcohol is warming, pleasant carbonation, balanced & dry finish
O: I wasn’t wowed by this the first time I had it, but it truly lives up to its reputation
Sep 18, 2023
Photo of BWSpoon
Reviewed by BWSpoon from New York

4.78/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
From a can purchased at the brewery. First time and wow. So good!!! Flowery but not perfumy. Light and bright on the palette, like other Allegash beers. Complex, nuanced, a real journey. Not overly boozy in spite of the high ABV. Not an everyday beer. A special event.
Sep 18, 2023
 
Rated: 4.22 by QuentinDishaw from Massachusetts

Sep 02, 2023
 
Rated: 4.6 by Beecham from California

Sep 01, 2023
 
Rated: 4.13 by slightexag from New Mexico

Aug 25, 2023
Photo of jjamadorphd
Reviewed by jjamadorphd from Florida

4.1/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very deceptive, very tasty...

When I see a brew is barrel-aged, at 10.5%, and it has a taste that hints of the booze - I found it very deceptive, in a good way. The booze that I expected to taste and even smell - was basically non-existent. I find this to be well made for that fact alone. A tasty treat indeed that I would be glad to try once again.
Aug 21, 2023
Photo of Darkmagus82
Reviewed by Darkmagus82 from Texas

4.34/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a can into a tulip glass
Appearance – The beer pours a clear golden color with a small white foam. The head has a fantastic level of retention, fading slowly over time and leaving tons of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma is big and bold with lots of candied sugar and biscuit malt. Mixed with these aromas comes a nice doughy smell mixed with lots of coriander and clove, along with a bit of nutmeg. At the same time notes of yeast and some peach and lychee are there as well. For a bourbon barrel aged brew, the bourbon smell is light, but adds a nice accent, mixing with the rest to produce a rather inviting smell.
Taste – The taste begins with a nice crisp cracker and biscuit malt flavor mixed with some sweet grape, peach, and apricot flavors as well as flavors of candied sugar and yeast cake. Along with these flavors comes a decent showing of coriander and clove, with some lighter notes of white pepper and grain. As the taste advances the sweeter flavors get stronger, with some bubblegum and cane sugar joining in. At the same time a bit of grass and hay join in, and with a touch of bourbon coming on at the end, one is left with a nice, sweet, crisp, and flavorful triple like flavor to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is light for a 10.5 % abv brew, with a carbonation level that is high and effervescent. For the style and the taste, the feel is great and makes for a very pleasant sipper.
Overall – While not very heavy on the bourbon at all, the brew is rather flavorful and tasty. A very nice, slightly sweeter sipper, and one certainly worth a try.
Jun 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4.3 by QuintusHorace from California

Jun 24, 2023
Curieux from Allagash Brewing Company
Beer rating: 95 out of 100 with 4128 ratings