Allagash Curieux (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Tripel) - Allagash Brewing Company

bnuttz

Wisconsin

3.53/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours out a golden yellow with a little orange tinge. A nice foamy white head on this one. Smells like straight up burboun, but if you smell closer you can smell belgian yeast aromas. There is definitely a belgian beer in there. Tastes like grain alcohol. This stuff is pretty stiff actually. Some vanilla and coconut flavors are present, basically burboun. Its not bad, but I wont more tripple here. You can feel the burn in your mouth with this stuff. Alright, and different, but not stellar

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2005 01:07:06 | More by bnuttz

watermelonman

California

4.38/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This poured to a nice dark gold with a medium head. There's a small amount of lace left behind.

The smell is interesting and very, very good. Bourbon comes through plain and clear on top of light malts and a touch of citrus. The taste is good as well. Oak comes out lightly, while bourbon remains strong on top of the pale malts and yeast. The mouthfeel is fairly light and very appealing. Drinkability takes a slight hit for the alcohol, but remains fairly high.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2005 04:14:10 | More by watermelonman

hobbes2112

Texas

3.15/5  rDev -26.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

750 mL December 04 Listed as 11% ABV (not 9.5 as listed here)

Pours a bright yellow with golden core, very little initial head with next to zero retention.

Aroma is straw, oak (though a lot more sweet than one would expect in a bourbon) and a yeasty smell like those ready to bake dinner rolls.

Taste is alcohol first and foremost, a lot more of the woody notes coming in towards the end of the draw. Really sharp bite right as the aftertaste kicks in, leads into a dark cherry.

This is an intense beer, I liked it but expected more. At roughly $15 I doubt I will get this again.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2005 04:15:25 | More by hobbes2112

mzwolinski

California

4.15/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I tried this at the Pizza Port Belgian Beer Fest and was not terribly impressed at the time. Saw it at a local liquor store the other day and figured I'd give it a shot under more favorable circumstancs (big smelly crowds, hot sun, and too many good beers don't make ideal conditions for tasting!)

Pours cloudy peach in color, with a thinnish off-white head. The aroma is very oaky indeed -- like someone scraping on bark with a knife. As the beer warms, the aroma picks up a slightly fruity character, but it is quite buried under the scents of wood and alcohol.

Oak flavors start off the taste as well, though here they quickly give way to a strong bourbony character. Some black licorice flavors all the way through and just a hint of mildly tart fruitiness mid-palate. Mostly a typically bourbon-like burn at the back of the throat. This is one hot mother. Thankfully, the carbonation is even enough to lighten up the mouthfeeel and keep the beer from feeling too heavy.

As the bottle says, I expect this will improve with age, but I ain't got the patience or the space. As it is, it's drinkable, though definitely a sippin' beer. Recommended for whiskey fans, but not your typical beer by a Kentucky mile.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2005 02:06:18 | More by mzwolinski

MrSeth

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

My first bottle of Curieux was like a first date or something. Too many great things going on all at once to really stop and take try to explain it. My second bottle was so bad that I swore off buying it again. I'm hopeful that the third time is a charm.

[Bottled in Feb. 2005]

Poured into a Xlarge tulip with deep murky golden color, also with some brown tones. The head was ridiculously huge. But after the fight I had with the cork, it doesn't surprise me.. where's that saber when you need it?

The nose has some soft bourbon aromas in it, somewhere between the previous two I tasted in strength. Oakiness stands out in the smell.. a bit musky, but I love that in its proper dose. All the various ingredients come together in a doughy-bourbon medley that works well.

First sip, whew! Starts with straight bourbon flavor, bold enough for a bourbon fan - interesting enough character to outshine the other bourbon aged ales. Then a sweet, lightly toasted malt taste.. There's also a light estery, cherryish sweetness helping to make it much more palatable. This is no wimpy ale! It's a very warming brew, with alot of alcohol at the end.

The head just keeps going, with bubbly still feeding it. It adds a creamy mouthfeel to an already very smooth, easy drinking brew.

What can I say, I'm floored all over again! My thanks to Nick at Bauer Wine for mentioning that this ale still tastes great AND kicks ass. I would be drinking alot less great beer without your suggestions bro.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2005 02:21:14 | More by MrSeth

BrewMaster

California

4.78/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Labeled as "Bottling February '05." 11% ABV.

Appearance: Poured into a 25 oz crystal sniffer. Cloudy reddish orange with a thick, creamy white head. Excellent head retention. Very smooth head. Light swirling revives the head to full size.

Smell: Apple, pear, pepper, grass, and a strong alcohol scent. There's also a flutter of a wood aroma.

Taste: Smoky and slightly toasty flavor. Sweet, dry scotch flavor. Sandy, with a big malty and fruity flavor. Light apple, lemon, and a crisp wood flavor that lasts through into the aftertaste. The wood is very much like hickory or mesquite in flavor. It reminds me of the wood chips used to smoke meat. Earthy and gritty in a good way. A light hop ending as well with a bit of yeasty spice. There's also a very light lingering alcohol flavor that is balanced very well with the woody malt flavors. This tastes great. It is not your ordinary tripel.

Mouthfeel: Very smooth and velvety. Well carbonated but not sharp on the palate at all. Coats the palate very well and the flavor opens up nicely.

Drinkability: This beer is absolutely delectable. Wonderfully smooth with a balanced and complex flavor. Other brewers should strive to brew something this good.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2005 03:47:50 | More by BrewMaster

LuckySevens82

Florida

3.9/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750 ml bottled December '04 (11% abv version)

Pours a hazy, bright, slightly yellowed orange. blinding white head forms and quickly fades. Collar is nice but not particularly impressive.
Smell is peaches, pears, green apples, bourbon whiskey, a woodsy aroma, and a slight bit of hops. Alcohol prominent as is a fairly nice yeast characteristic.
Taste is fruity, bourbon (LOTS of bourbon), bitter hops - quite a bit more than I expected - and oaky sweetness.Yeastiness is present as well. Alcohol is strong, but not overwhelming. The flavor of the bourbon is intense but there is very little heat to the 11% here. The problem I am having with this one is that the bourbon kind of overtakes much of the other flavors in the beer (which isn't necessarily a bad thing, just mentioning it).
Mouthfeel is okay, decent carbonation, no overwhelming sweetness, or alcohol.
Overall, A nice experiment from Allagash. Very glad I tried this one, but I'm not sure that it was worth the $15.99 I paid for it. Nevertheless, I bought it like 3 months ago and it's been cellaring since, so I'm not that upset. Drinkability suffers only because of the abv and the intensity of the bourbon flavors.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2005 01:27:12 | More by LuckySevens82

NiceGuyMike

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I stumbled upon this beer in an unexpected place. I wasn't in the position to buy at the time, but I did make a special trip to get his brew.

Boy, was it worth the effort. I have had mixed results with Tripels, so I'm pleasently surpised with this.

Looks good with a dark golden color. Brilliant oak flavor. A bit sweet for my tastes make a dry version and I be all over this. Carbination lingers behind a thick mouth feel. Very nice. High alcohol content leaves this a bit rough and not highly drinkable. But nice and very enjoyable.

I'll be sure to pick this marvel up again.

I cannot wait to try the Odyssey.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2005 01:32:12 | More by NiceGuyMike

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.3/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Perfectly hazy orange appearance, solid slab, of rocky white foam on top...excellent look for a tripel
Nose is full of citrus, fruits, and spice, like a wicked apricot whipping a naughty peach...and the whiskey whispers in...oak, vanilla, and sweet malt peeking over the fruit...quite unique! The more I sniff it, the more astounding it feels...honestly.
taste: big, brisk, full and bold, the alcoholic kick isn't shy at all, ...all the taste of a tripel, but kicked up a notch (how much do I owe Emeril?) ...abundant fruit, very sweet, but matched immediately with the slick character of whiskey, creating a complex union, not found in any brew yet encountered...extraordinary, really...every taste gets better...yummy, methinks...yummy McYummersons...
I am profoundly grateful to have had the oppurtunity to try this delicious creation, and thank UncleJimbo for providing....wish I could have a case in the cellar for future tastings.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2005 06:40:40 | More by feloniousmonk

gimmehead

Illinois

4.6/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours orange -peach with a small white head that coats the glass nicely. Smells of charcoal and bourbon, banana, spicy and peppery, some mild fruity esters and citric notes, and an excellent musty oak aroma. WOW, is this a complex brew. Tastes very spicy. Extremely evident bourbon flavor and alcohol kick. Very warming, almost overpowering. Bready notes with some citric tones, and some sugary sweetness hidden under the alcohol burn. Maybe some tart apple and sweet peaches. Like I said, very complex. Mouthfeel is velvety smooth, with a little carbonation tickle. A great beer to sip and enjoy with a good book- don't be in a hurry with this one. I must have one for the cellar.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2005 04:58:29 | More by gimmehead

merlin48

Kentucky

4.3/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

September, 2004, bottling, served at cellar temperature in a goblet. Pours a clear, clover honey body that is alive with carbonation. Thousands of tiny bubbles mingle about in the glass. Head is one centimeter tall and vanilla in color, and tightknit. Excellent retention and some delicate sheets of lace are left on the sides of the goblet. Very attractive.
Aroma begins with an unexpected note of white grapes, quickly followed by oaky vanilla and some vinous alcohol.
Mouthfeel is medium full bodied, with effervescent Belgianesque carbonation and an alcohol sting.
Taste begins fruity, with white grape juice and some tropical pineapple and mango. Bourbon notes are prominent. Oak wood and vanilla become prominent at room temperature, along with a strong note of warming alcohol. Tropical mango and sytraight bourbon make up the finish.
Nicely executed Tripel with a great deal of complexity. Allagash is probably my favorite American brewer of Belgian styles, and Curieux doesn't disappoint. The alcohol presence could have been better concealed, as this bottle has some overdone warming that is almost "hot" at times. I would prefer their ordinary Tripel to this one, but I'm looking forward to sampling a different batch of Curieux to compare with this September, 2004, bottling.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2005 11:20:12 | More by merlin48

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

3.83/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The beer poured into the chalice crystal clear light golden with a white head which rose tall, fell slowly and lasted well to lace the glass.

The aroma was fruity with a strong bourbon alcohol presence and a strong oak barrel presence. The spicy higher alcohols phenols burn the nostrils as the aroma is perceived.

The flavor was light with a strong oak presence and a strong bourbon impression. The flavor was crisp and contained the impression of a triple, but the oak and bourbon overpowered the balance and the alcohol detracted.

The finish was dry with lasting oak and bourbon. The body was medium and well done, but the alcohol made the impression of the body much less than actual. The alcohol and the bourbon made this one tough to consume. If you want a bourbon alcoholic triple this is the beer for you.

750 ml corked and bailed bottle. Bottled on September 2004. $13.99 price tag at Wine Warehouse in Charlottesville, VA...ouch. Definitely not worth the price of admission.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2005 00:53:16 | More by GCBrewingCo

sulldaddy

Connecticut

4.43/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I am sampling this 750 bottle in a snifter at room temp. The bottle opens with a loud pop! ALmost expect a geyser but not even a little foam. I pour the beer into the snifter and it exhibits a clear golden orange hue with a fluffy bleached white head of 1 cm resting on the surface. Aroma is light but caramel and some mild spicy hops are overpowered with by a sweet bourbon presence. First sip reveals a very fine yet slightly prickly carbonation and a slightly syrupy body. Flavor is rich and complex with a hint of dry wood and some tangy yeast hits mixing with the strong bourbon flavor. The bourbon notes leave a sweet smooth coating on my palate. I enjoy this beer, but I also really like bourbon too. If you are looking for more typical belgian notes, this may not be the beer for you. No hint of the 10% abv anywhere.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2005 03:52:45 | More by sulldaddy

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.13/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a two-finger cream head that goes slowly and leaves a good lace. Cloudy, light amber color. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied. Nose is alcohol, starts with a distinct alcohol/bourbon flavor some sweetness, finishes with a slight sourness. Nothing like the sweet Belgian triples but is very good. Bottled 10/2004, the ABV is now 10%. 750ml bottle for $14.00 from Colonial Spirits Acton, Ma.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2005 00:00:18 | More by jdhilt

MuddyFeet

North Carolina

4.28/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled: 10/04. Had this sitting in my beer closet since November and opened it up for my friend when he came over for dinner. The appearance is a finely carbonated Budweiser gold (not the best description, but that is what it made me think of). A very thin head formed in the glass. The bubbles rise very prettily from the stem of the glass. The nose reminds me of my father's bourbon with very strong honey tones. The flavor is very a sweet mead-like honey, hints of apples plus spice flavors and a subtley pleasureable bourbon finish on the tongue. The hops also help smooth out the finish. The mouthfeel is very heavy and just sticks to the tongue.The alcohol is definitely there, but nicely hidden and balanced behind all of the malts and hops. Very drinkable, I am definitely pick up another couple bottles of this and set aside for a special occasion.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2005 01:01:42 | More by MuddyFeet

santoslhalper

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Appearence: Pours a nice light orange with a creamy white head.

Smell: The smell is a almost a peanut whisky smell mixed with odd fruits. Crazy!!

Taste and Mouthfeel: It's incredible what the Bourbon did to this beer. Thier Tripel is always wonderufl, but this is just out of control. It's incredibly smooth and balanced, but even more intense than usual. What a crazy beer. The mouthfeel is superbly creamy.

Drinkability and Overall: This is a crazy beer for sure. Allagash's beers are always good, but I'd have to say this is the most unique of their beers. It really has a flavor all to itself, and it's wonderful. If you find this, buy it.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2005 22:10:34 | More by santoslhalper

HoboAGoGo

Indiana

4.05/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured a beautiful orangish color, but the head dissipated a little too quickly. Smelled of sweet, and of bourbon. Tastes like a well-made tripel, nothing too out of the ordinary until you start to taste the bourbon that is most prevalent at the end. Let me take another sip. Sugars, bourbon, slight bitterness, pepper, candy. Expensive, so I doubt I'll ever try it again, kind of a shame I decided to drink it during a re-run of "The King of Queens."

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2005 04:12:14 | More by HoboAGoGo

HappyHourHero

Indiana

3.1/5  rDev -27.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Light fleshy fruit aroma up front quickly smothered by the bourbon alcohol (some coconut and rubbing alcohol). Airy, bright white head fades quickly to a thin film. Slightly hazy, golden straw colored beer with a few stray bubbles rising slowly to the surface. Tastes like a bourbon infused triple. Fleshy fruit and yeasty triple flavor goes toe-to-toe with the mild bourbon tones. Mouthfeel is creamy smooth. I thiink I'd rather spend my $15 on two bottles of the triple.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2005 21:03:59 | More by HappyHourHero

Truh

New Hampshire

3.95/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

The strange, funky, and wild just kept coming with this one on 11/5/2004. 1 pt. 9.4 fl. oz. poured twice in a goblet.

Initial soft covering of carbonation, with some littering out into striated jettrails. Very understated nose of sifted stew, golden raisins, and a bit of ginger. Pale yellow hue with just a hint of haze, but on the whole fairly clear and opalescent. Some biting bourbon of flashing heat and woody oak up front, followed by a warming alcohol suppressant. Wonderful balance of all inputs, great fall/winter offering.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2005 22:16:29 | More by Truh

poundboy

Vermont

3.03/5  rDev -29.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

This is a good, well crafted beer. I love Allagash's triple, but the oak aging just did not do it for me. I am not a big bourbon drinker and the flavors imparted from the aging in bourbon barrells made it hard for me to drink. I guess I have just gotten sick off of bourbon one too many times and the olfactory reminders of those occurances made this an unpleasant experience for me.

Appearance: Hazy gold with minimal head.

Smell: Vanilla and smoke. Like watered down Jim Beam. Some sweetness underneath, but I detected none of the various fruit flavors others have.

Taste: Dry, with some of the fruitiness and phenols coming through. This beer is somewhat interesting in that it manages to by both sweet and dry at the same time. However the aftertaste is exactly the same as I get from a shot of bourbon. I somewhat enjoy that when I'm drinking whiskey, I did not enjoy it at all in this beer.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, with some pleasant tingling, sour once swallowed.

Drinkablility: Had a bit of a hard time finishing the glass. Not the beer for me. But many others like it. It is a good beer, just not at all what I am into.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2005 21:40:05 | More by poundboy

CRJMellor

Arkansas

4.5/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to brewguru for the bottle.
Pours a glowing light gold color with an enormously effervescent white head on the pour that fades into a snifter coating layer of puffy lace.
Aroma is loaded with medicinal alcohol notes, strong vanilla hits and some grain and pale malt. I swear I get some rum or curacao notes as well.
Flavor has some fruity sweetness, reminds me of sugar cookies with lots of vanilla tones. Just a hint of peat and a then a yeasty, cloved, spiced finish with a hint of white pepper. Very intriguing indeed. You can tell the Tripel is here but the vanilla flavors and peaty aroma cut off any of the citrus that the Tripel has to offer.
Mouthfeel is really tremendous and full of contradictory notes. Sweet yet semi-sour mash. Harsh vanilla notes coupled with a softness of citrus, grain and yeast.
Drinkability is really very good. Must admit when I first heard about this beer, I was highly skeptical. I'm a fool for doubting the genius of Mr. Tod. This beer is a true classic and a style buster. Only a mad brewing genius like him could marry barrel aging and a world-class triple to make such an intriguing and tasty treat.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2005 18:13:10 | More by CRJMellor

maddmatt48

Georgia

4.75/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Allagash has a lot of good beers and this one fits near or maybe at the top. For an 11% alcohol beer it is easy to drink. It is some and really tasty like the grand cru, but you get a hint of burbon from the oak aged barrels. It is the smoothest 11% abv beer I have ever drank. It is a little price at $10-12 per bottle, but it is very good. I have only been in Maine for a couple of months, but Allagash has nothing but good brews.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2005 02:56:27 | More by maddmatt48

clvand0

Kentucky

4.33/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to sheepnutz for sharing this bottle. I've been looking forward to this one. Corked 25.4oz bottle. Pours an orange color with a small head that dies off quickly. The aroma has a lot going on with the vanilla, spices, yeast, oak, and orange. Very nice. The flavor was nice. Lots of spices and peppery notes from the Belgian yeast(s) and some vanilla and honey. The flavor was a bit hot, as the alcohol is a little too upfront. I think a year will do this one wonders.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2005 18:53:47 | More by clvand0

ADR

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Out of a bottle, Extreme Beer Fest, 2005...

Hazy apricot appearance, nice soft yellow head that laces very impressively. Tart almost lime aroma, very fresh in impression with hints of underlying sweetness. Medium mouthfeel, carbonation like a misty rain with fine-textured bubbles. The bourbon barrel aging seems to mellow the tart crispness of the style very nicely, a woody and smooth impression sets in. Slight spices at the close but not heavy in that context. Alcohol is well-hidden. Finishes with a light orangey uptake, reminding you of its Tripel heritage. I was pouring this beer at the fest and word-of-mouth and appreciation led to a huge run on it at both sessions of the EBF (it was gone after only two hours at both sessions). Nice beer in a style I tend to not appreciate as much.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2005 14:11:12 | More by ADR

twelvsies

Maine

4.22/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've been very impressed with Allagash lately. This was one of the few beers that I made a mental note of "must try this" at the Extreme Beer Fest in Boston this past weekend. Well, there were a lot of amazing beers there and I got sidetracked... so I picked up a bottle on the way back. Popped it open tonight and was very pleased. It's more straight forward than their original tripel, which was surprising. Pours a light gold color with a substantial head. Smells sweet and reminiscent of vanilla and that signature barrel-aged warming scent that seems to be in the spotlight right now. Taste is full of Belgian spices and sweet mature malts and herbal hop characters. Tints of banana and vanilla are very present as well. Never smelled/tasted banana in a beer before... Wowie. Super smooth aged texture. Overall, I can't tell if it's better than their original tripel. It's a totally different beast I'd say. Try it for yourself, it's worth it.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2005 07:38:56 | More by twelvsies