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

sogrady

Maine

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

This is, for the sake of full disclosure, my favorite beer. It's not a beer that you can consume in any real quantity, but for a glass or two it's about as well as you're going to do.

Strong even for a Tripel, the bourbon flavor is absolutely present but not dominating. It warms, complementing the existing oak, vanilla etc tones cleanly.

Appearance is a brilliant gold, and the nose is divine. One of the best examples I know of of the potential for casked aging. This beer, in short, is a treat.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2010 03:33:44 | More by sogrady

zaphodchak

Virginia

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

On draft at Brixx pizza in Charlottesville, VA.

Thin head (small glass, and not poured by me) and complex lacing, like a fractal. Clouded golden body.

Citrus and tangy hops on the nose.

Taste is amazing. Oaky, smooth, sweetish, malty-- complex and excellent on several levels. Buttery, faintly citrusy; completely balanced and utterly luxurious. This is the taste of privilege. Clean finish and almost no aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is rich and luxurious to mathc. Smooth-textured and creamy.

One of the best I've had this year. To nitpick, the smell was really unassuming, but I got a pour with a very thin head, so that may explain that. It's easy to see now why the bottles command such a high price, but it was quite reasonable on draft.

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2011 18:42:08 | More by zaphodchak

Greywulfken

New York

4.78/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

A: great looking beer: made me think of dark golden cider; starts with massive head, relaxes into thin layer of foam and laces

S: oak, citrus, some bourbon whiskey notes, orchard fruits soaked in booze

T: super classy: high notes of warm soft citrusy hops; undertones of bourbon, vanilla, and coconut - very nicely meshed - apple/pear/peach sweetness with brighter citrus and oaky bourbon notes

M: smooth and clean finishing - the feel is like a strong pale Belgian, but a tad thicker. Drinkable? There is no way you won't want to keep drinking this.

O: brilliant! They age their tripel in bourbon barrels and then mix it back in with some straight tripel - probably a very delicate process with a big pay-off: you get what (to me) tastes/smells/feels like a strong pale Belgian ale mixed with a light-fruit tripel. Extremely drinkable - it will continue to entice your taste buds after drinking.

2013 Update: Curieux always reinforces my opinion of it. This is a must try tripel.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 01:06:47 | More by Greywulfken

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

djwilson

Ohio

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

Serving Type: Bottle, bottled february 2005.
Consumed out of a large Brandy snifter.
Aged two years.

Appearance: Very light copper color, slightly unfiltered, nice head retention. Leaves a nice Belgian lace on glass.

Smell: Very Little Oak, Big Bourbon nose, slight hint of vanilla, and caramel.

Taste: Tip of the tounge gets a heavy residual sugar hit, sides of the tounge pick up the destinct bourbon flavor, back center of tounge gets the nice sour belgian charecteristic, Finish is shorter then I expected considering the huge aroma, it does linger for several seconds gradually mellowing, with oak undertones.

Mouthfeel: Fells Light and clean, expected to be shocked with a huge bourbon kick, but it's very well balanced for a beer at 11% ABV.

Drinkability: Dangerously smooth for those who like Bourbon aged beers, Love the big bourbon aged beers but most leave me satisfied with one snifter, this one can be consumed a little to quick for a beer of this SIZE.

I will Say this at the top of my list for Bourbon aged beers. Very nicely done Allagash. Keep up the good work

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2007 20:50:25 | More by djwilson

edraid

Ohio

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

Only got this beer because I had a gift certificate and would not normally spend the money. Poured a straw gold color with about a finger of quick dissipating head. Smells like bourbon with a touch of caramel. Light on the mouth with lots of carbonation I want to say the same as most Belgian style beers. alcohol is hidden well with oak malt and yeast. Some fruit ester from the yeast. would suggest this beer. Maybe I'll stop being such a tight ass and start splurging on beers like this more often.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2007 03:24:44 | More by edraid

adamette

Ohio

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

Live review. The fourth of four Allagash 750 ML corked and caged bottles that I picked up at Rozi's Wine House in Lakewood. This one was $13.99. I was especially happy to find this since Tripels are my favorite style and this one is one of the highest rated ones out there. Bottling February 2008. Cases Bottled 650. 11% ABV. Poured into my gold rimmed Gulden Draak tulip glass.

A Bold golden yellow body (darker than the Allagash Tripel reserve that I sampled and rated yesterday under a similar fluffy white head of about 3 inches. Great lacing on the inside of the tulip and even some visible sediment (the yeast?) in the bottom of the glass. My second tulip glass (presumably from the bottom of the bottle) was darker than the first, probably due to the sediment. Allagash yet again displays its mastery of a style just in the look of this beer. 5.0

S Just a great smell of bourbon barrel aged goodness with the great sweet malt and Belgian yeast of the Allagash Tripel that admired in their very good Tripel Reserve. The bourbon smells really create a fruity, caramel kind of bigness to the beer that suits it very well. The smell cannot be improved. 5.0

T All of the promise that the smell displayed carries right over into the taste. What a great idea to take a great beer to begin with (the Tripel) and bourbon barrel age it. I had RIS Bourbon barrel aged in the past but this shows me that it should be done more often with "lighter" beers such as this tripel. The taste reminds me of Great Lakes Rackhouse Ale (another Bourbon Barrel aged light colored beer). For most the taste would likely be too sweet and the sweetness is high for sure but I love this level of sweetness. There is more "warmth" from the alcohol in this one vs. the Tripel Reserve. I love the combination of flavors here. There is a great light caramel like flavor from the bourbon and sweet malt. 5.0

M As suggested, really big and syrupy sweetness in just a great mouthfeel. 4.5

D For this high of an ABV it is insanely drinkable. I found the bottom of both tulip glasses very quickly indeed. Due to its bigness (taste and ABV) I cannot give it the highest ratings for drinkability. These two tulips will be enough for me tonight. 4.0

Notes: Simply a great beer from Allagash that everyone reading this should try. I can easily see buying one of the 650 cases that were produced in February 2008. Tripel is my favorite style and this and Weyerbacher Merry Monks are probably my favorite examples.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2009 23:54:01 | More by adamette

gregk

4.73/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I have to say I am addicted to this beer! If it wasn't $19 a bottle I would be tempted to drink it every day!

Nice bright color and brilliant aroma. The bourbon flavors really pop but are not overwhelming. The alcohol note is a bit strong but hey, that is one of the things that makes this beer what it is :-)

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 16:19:41 | More by gregk

CheezyBlaster

Massachusetts

4.73/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Very attractive pour. White-golden, clean, enormous, bright, fluffy, white head. Lovely, slinking lacing.

I like to lump it all together when I'm in love. N,T,M:

Excellent. Just great. White grape juice. Green apple. Pear. Fresh baked bread. Vanilla nip, especially in the nose, and bourbon sweetness -just a kiss. Slightly tart. Remarkably complex in taste -I can't even! Clove and coriander are there but just a small part of this dance. Alcohol is present and welcome; the way it coats and mildly burns off leaving a bourbon nip at the end. Wonderful. The edifying yeast is almost forgotten with all the flavor -but the funk of 40,000 years slides around, controlling the Belgian character. The body is just divine. Medium cloy-free body, with the punch of a heavy. This beer is art. This is just a notch below some of the best seasonal/limited release mind-blowers I've had.

I have read this in reviews for this beer: perhaps not for those new to craft. I agree. I would not have liked this when I was just getting into craft. Also, if you're into bourbon barrel aged beer, try this, but don't expect the characteristics of the barrel to come forward the same way they do in a stout, for example.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 22:58:02 | More by CheezyBlaster

GolgiIPAratus

Massachusetts

4.72/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Sampled: 10.11.05

It faded quickly, but a light head once sat on this pale gold nectar. Bubbles arise from the 2 inch depths. Slight lacing, very slight.

The smell is, at first, of typical tripel style. There are orangey esters deep in the nose, but overall the beautiful bourbon qualities take a hold. Wooden overtones and a rich dryness give this beer’s aroma a wonderfully distinctive quality.

The flavor is delicious. There’s an apparent sweetness with complex malts all around the tongue. The bourbon burns with just the right amount of heat, not too much. Practically perfection. The brew is light in the mouth, yet quit apparent with the alcohol heat.

It should be obvious, but this is a brew made for lengthy, shared enjoyment. At a listed 11% or so on the bottle combined with the whiskey flavor, made me take it slow. But the slower you drink it, the more you can enjoy it!

===
Notes: I drank this on my 2nd year anniversary while my wife was unfortunately away on business. I didn’t (want to) drink the whole thing, and it held up well for one night with a wine stopper. Still tasted fantastic the next night!

===
UPDATE: 2006 Edition - the 2006 Curieux is loaded with vanilla and oak aromas and flavors which hid the alcohol much better this year. Whether that's good or not...

But still a truly delicious offering.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2005 18:14:54 | More by GolgiIPAratus

techdiver

Pennsylvania

4.72/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled August 2006 Pours a hazy deep gold with minimal head and modest lacing.

Alcohol, vanilla, mango, and papaya to the nose.

Taste is well balanced with malt, hops, and tropical fruit flavors melding together with the noticeable alcohol content.

Great mouthfeel, very smooth and well carbonated.

Again, I'll have no trouble finishing this 750. And again, of my recent foray into these special Allagsh offerings, my favorite is still Odyssey.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2007 03:31:36 | More by techdiver

amiles

Oregon

4.72/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap... From notes a while back.

A: Beautifully carbonated, thin white head, straw colored body.

S: Aroma is fruity with hints of bourbon.

T: Definitely one of the better beers I've had in my life. There is something about a well made tripel... but this ones got bourbon notes. Excellent!

M: Again, carbonated to keep it interesting till the last sip.

D: Amazing, but dangerous.

One of my favs.

Serving type: on-tap

04-17-2008 04:35:37 | More by amiles

cannabanaceae

Washington

4.72/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This was served in a orval goblet. dated may 2008. (Tasting better than my buddys served in a snifter.)

The look was golden brown. With a light head.

The smell was first of belgium yeast, candi sugar, bit of bourben followed by a nice balace of hops. A lot going on in there.

The taste was like a tripel gone wild. This is to me how I would always want a tripel. Taste was much like the smell with a perfect balance of oak and hops. The malt was nice and clean, as was the light carbonation.

This was a brand new bottle just a little over a month old, Iam glad I popped this now, it was perfect young. The 11abv was very much hidden. This was a pricey beer but well worth it. NICE

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2008 15:11:20 | More by cannabanaceae

Bowdoinbeerboy

Maine

4.72/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This beer is absolutely amazing! $9.99 at the Hannaford's in Brunswick.

Pours with little head, beer is a marvelous cloudy yellow color when held up to the light, not much carbonation is apparent. Candied fruits and booze in the nose, rather subdued but it might just be too cold still to really release all the complexity. This beer is delightfully complex, sweet fruits up front, citrus and peach, the alcohol makes it sweet but it is all toned down by the bourbon barrels. The aging really becomes apparent in the middle and end flavor profile when the beer is well rounded, big bodied, and smooth. The 11% abv is really well hidden and the sweetness is nicely muted by the barrels. Warms the throat. A little fiesty as it goes down, overall a great beer, definitely worth the 10 bucks!

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2008 03:52:17 | More by Bowdoinbeerboy

dirtbag43

California

4.72/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Wow! The character of this beer is bold and beautiful. Deceivingly strong, the alcohol never gets in the way of the warm, rich, woody flavor. Smooth from the top to the bottom this is a world-class brew. Now if we could just get a beer aged in Jack barrels I'd be totally satisfied!

Serving type: on-tap

01-08-2009 02:35:32 | More by dirtbag43

fostwal

Texas

4.72/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Definitly one of the best beers that I have had. It is so smooth and flavorful. I love the sweet floral scent that you get drinking this from a snifter. The appearance betrays its power. It is a very light and hazy straw colored beer. It has a slightly sweet and malty taste with a hint of hops. It has a really rich malt flavor. The barrel aging has really mellowed this beer. No bitterness and no bite at the end. Just smooth and rich flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

08-16-2009 20:48:26 | More by fostwal

pd360

Maine

4.72/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

What a strange and wonderful beer. Beautiful amber, copper color with slight foamy head. The taste is unusual, sweet but not cloying, spicy but not overpowering, and strong but not too strong. I love this beer and will enjoy it for many special occasions to come.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2009 00:04:09 | More by pd360

jeffjeff1

California

4.72/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I picked this up at work a couple days ago.

Appearance- copper color, nice head

Smell- wonderful aroma, fruit, oak

Taste- smooth, there is some bourbon flavor in there., very nice

Mouthfeel- medium bodied

Drinkability- Excellent, This is a superb beer. Allagash has done a wonderful job.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2009 04:38:56 | More by jeffjeff1

mondegreen

Georgia

4.72/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml into a DFH Signature Glass.

A: Bright orange color with a cumulus head. Like sunshine is a glass (wow, is that a cheesy line, or what??).

S: Great Tripel smell. Citrus and spices. Oak and bourbon complementing. This is a wonderful aroma.

T: Following the nose, the taste is phenomenal. The melding of the Tripel with the bourbon is a mastery of art. Oak and vanilla notes make this a complex and very enjoyable brew.

M: Medium bodied and well carbonated. Picture perfect mouthfeel for a Tripel.

D: Only the price will hold me back (~$16 for a 750ml). However, if you love Tripels you must try this at least once. The 11% sits very comfortably in this beer, and the quality absolutely justifies the price.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2010 13:47:09 | More by mondegreen

mithrascruor

California

4.72/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 mL bottle poured into a chalice.

Appearance: Pours a very hazy golden color with a hint of orange. Creamy thick head with good retention and great lacing.

Smell: Fruity yeasty aroma with pineapple, apple, and a bit of citrus.

Taste: The flavors are a bit mellow, but in a good way that gives it a light feel while still being very flavorful. The beer has a good biscuity/yeasty base with vanilla and fruits on top. Generally sweet (but not overly) with a bit of hop bitterness in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Light- to medium-bodied with a creamy smooth feel.

Drinkability: Extremely (almost too) drinkable. There's barely any presence of alcohol in the smell and taste. Exceptionally tasty.

A really wonderful beer. Quite pricey, but totally worthwhile. Perhaps the best American-brewed Belgian-style ale.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2010 02:03:54 | More by mithrascruor

angelogarcia3

New York

4.72/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Another of my favorite beers. This beer started me on the quest for Bourbon Barrel-aged beers. A light colored almost golden in color beer. Cloudy with a thin ivory-colored head. A very light nose of bourbon and clove. The mouthfeel is almost syrupy with slight effervense. The bourbon taste is very pronounced with hints of clove, and honey.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2011 22:27:38 | More by angelogarcia3

beerbiatchMD

Maine

4.72/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 mL bottle dated July 2011 shared amongst friends.

A: golden clear with bright white head, fairly constant stream of bubbles, excellent retention during entire glass pour and great lacing.

S: Nose has a bit of funk, some hay, and alcohol is apparent as well. Not as strongly Belgian as I remember from previous tastings. There is a hint of oak in there.

T: There is a hint of Belgiany fruit and slices, behind fairly strong alcohol. Definitely get some hints of bourbon.

M: fairly crisp and dry with sharp alcohol heat. Good carbonation.

O: a very good strong Belgian-style ale. I am looking forward to aging the other one I have. Very good, would highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 21:32:53 | More by beerbiatchMD

cfleisher

New Hampshire

4.7/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on-tap at The Dirty Truth in Northampton, Mass.
Light amber color with hints of honey. The bourbon added some nice hints of vanilla, putting it out front of many of the other tripels on the menu. We had this at the end of the night, four strong beers into a tasting, so take this review with a grain of salt. But I'm confident that if I ordered this again, I'd feel the same on most accounts.

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2008 22:10:30 | More by cfleisher

DIM

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

note: This was bottled in sept. 2007.

a: This one is a slightly cloudy pale golden color. It pours with a huge fizzy white head that has great lace.

s: Huge bourbon smells dominate, along with some woody vanilla. Some of the tripel does manage to sneak through, aromas of yeasty sour apples.

t: Things are much more in balance here. Early on, flavors of earthy grainy yeasts, peper, cloves, and mildly sour apples are all blanketed by bourbon flavors. The finish is a wondeful wave of woody, vanilla bourbon goodness.

m: This has a nice oily texture and a pleasantly gentle carbonation.

d: I wasn't sure if bourbon barrel aging a tripel would work, but Allagash has done fantastic job with this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2008 11:46:14 | More by DIM

alexgash

Connecticut

4.7/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle, bottled on August 2006. Served at 45 degrees F.

Pours a clear, brilliant golden with yellow straw edges. Small, half inch of tight-bubbled off-white head. Some lacing, but not a lot. Nose of spiced cider, manuka honey, white pepper, ripe pears, Chardonnay oakiness, and mild bourbon. Surprisingly Chardonnay-esque.

Soft, lightly-toasted wheat malt and mild astringency up front. Pear cider tangy-ness and tropical fruit sweetness fill out the palate. Light alcohol and definite bourbon notes around the edges. Some honey sweetness mixes with peppery notes. Hints of vanilla and oak in the warming finish. Mild peppery, herbal hop bitterness is there as well. Lingering tropical fruit and oaky bourbon. Excellent. Full-bodied with a very nice creamy, mouth-coating feel. A very well conceived and executed beer. I love the way the light bourbon and oak mix with the sweet, peppery base. Delicious!

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2008 00:34:38 | More by alexgash