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

RuckusDu

Colorado

3.98/5  rDev -7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - The foam on this is almost three fingers tall and a little off-white, slight yellow. Some good lacing. Body is a mostly clear wheat color.

S - A nice sweet to this, almost cotton candy like. A little vanilla and banana. Very creamy.

T - I can't figure this thing out. A truly unique experience. The bourbon is there and forward (along with some alcohol). I guess it fits what it is going for, a bourbon barrel aged tripel. Vanilla, slight banana, a little clove, and some pepper.

M - Alcohol burn, drying, great carbonation and body, and goes down easy. Even though there is that alcohol burn, it still drinks very easy.

O - Like I've said, this is weird. But it is so drinkable and pleasant, that I can't put it down.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 00:21:13 | More by RuckusDu

ThePaleRider

California

5/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A- Golden yellow with a white head that sticks to the glass and stays there.

S- a beautiful mixture of whiskey and ale.

T- in my opinion this triple has no equal. The perfect blend of triple and barrel aging is seamless. Honestly not sure what more a whiskey lover would desire in an ale. Amazing balance that really leaves you wondering if this is really %11.

M- so smooth for %11. The after taste really leaves you wanting more and leaves the tongue saturated in Jim Beam.

O- best beer of all time, especially for beers that aren't seasonal. Bottle or tap, I've never been disappointed.

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2012 21:38:16 | More by ThePaleRider

tdm168

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Village Draft House. Served in a chalice.

A - hazy orangish yellow with no head

S - coriander, pepper, fruity, funky, a hint of orange

T - fruity, spicy, banana, bubblegum, orange peel, serious booze

M - boozy, warm, full bodied, well carbonated

This is a really solid Tripel. The flavor is fantastic. There is no mistaking the alcohol content here though. You know what you've gotten yourself into. At some points I thought the booze overcame some of the more subtle flavor notes. Otherwise, this was a really good beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2012 09:33:13 | More by tdm168

heymikew

California

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

one of the better efforts from Allagash
Tripel
Rich golden color
Heady/Yummy dark fruit nose
Heady and intense
Banana and pear fruit with a nice Bourbon (barrels from JB) presence, bit of vanilla.
Smooth and creamy mouthfeel.

Good for a late evening beside the fireplace

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 03:36:43 | More by heymikew

matttttYCE

Arizona

3.65/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

July 2011 bottling. Bone white head of about 2 fingers. Creamy. Medium lacing. Slightly hazy golden yellow straw colored liquid.

Fruity/estery, pear, lemon zest, bready notes, candy sugar, clove, slight white pepper, banana, with oak, vanilla, and light bourbon mingling in the background. Much less oak and bourbon than I expected.

Much the same as the nose. Fruity and estery, lemon, pear, Belgian candy sugar, light clove and banana, hints at white pepper from the nose, and again very light bourbon, oak and vanilla way in the background. How do I coax them out more?

Nearly round carbonation works well with the light-medium body and soft consistency. The finish lingers with almost a sour note, and some of the fruity notes, along with some oak.

I don't know if I just aged this too long or what, but the bourbon barrel aging is so close to non-existent it's not even funny. I thought this was heavy on the bourbon and oak so I aged it a while, but what I'm currently drinking is like a Trippel that had maybe 10-20% aged in barrels. A little disappointing that there's so little bourbon because I think a strong showing of that would work really well. But, this beer still is pretty good. I was just looking forward to more bourbon.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 07:09:10 | More by matttttYCE

vfgccp

New York

4.53/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Special thanks to Frank for bringing this over.

A - Pear gold. Fine white head. Nice lace and retention.

S - Oak, white table wine, caramel, and vanilla. Soft and well integrated.

T - Silky and incredibly smooth. Mellow booze elevates caramel, Chardonnay, oak, and a fantastic vanilla bean note. Oak, vanilla, and honey linger through the finish.

M - Medium/full body with a soft and super smooth frame.

O - Stellar.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 23:52:39 | More by vfgccp

RussBecker1

4.1/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served on tap during an allagash event at Kudu coffee house Charleston, SC

A- A beer that deserves the correct glass. Beautiful haze of golden yellow, with a perfect two finger head that possess some serious lasting power. You can practically see the texture Curieux possess.

S-For those who don't know, this particular beer is aged in Jim Beam barrels and that first becomes apparent in the small. The scent is unmistakable as the bourbon vanilla is abundant with very faint fruit hints that the tripel possesses.

T- Woah. Not quite like anything I have ever tasted. The initial taste is unmistakably Jim Beam, but to my surprise the latter notes of the tripel manage to shine through and compliment the alcoholic vanilla quite well.

M- A bit too creamy for the taste it creates. Curieux cascades throughout the mouth and coats the palate making some of the flavors go dormant towards the end of the glass.

O- Highly recommendable. Fully enjoyable without parings, one I will certainly seek out in the future.

Serving type: on-tap

08-31-2012 13:26:40 | More by RussBecker1

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

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

Poured from tap into Allagash glass at three penny, montpelier, VT. Hazy yellow orange color with thick head.
Belgian wit aromas meet something sweet like caramel or sugar?
Wow...that's an amazing taste. Super smooth belgian banana and clove mixed with smooth vanilla and toffee bourbon notes. Wow. This is a good brew. Flavors, smooth, carbonation...all on point for this. Its an expensive bottle so I jumped on the tap when I saw it; but I will now say its worth the price..maybe aging a few years to really develop some vanilla and bourbon flavors.
Wow, just an awesome brew.

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2012 01:51:28 | More by DrinkSlurm

ChrisAceGates

5/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I had a bottle and poured it into a chalice.

A nice rich golden brew with a 1/2" head that was fairly stiff. I normally like a Tripel to have a stiffer head, but considering this is no ordinary Tripel (if there is such a thing as ordinary Tripel), I'm cool with it.

The smell was crisp, definitely some delicate malts and a slight scent of the bourbon barrel.

The taste was fantastic, some peach and candy notes. And the bourbon barrel was not overpowering, only hinted at, contributing to the overall taste. A very sweet tasting beer.

The mouthfeel was clean and refreshing, the right amount of effervescence to compliment the taste.

Overall it was an incredibly enjoyable beer. Will definitely have this again and enjoy it thoroughly.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2012 15:26:05 | More by ChrisAceGates

andrewinski1

Maine

3.75/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle from September 2009. So almost three years old. Poured into a chalice. The color is slightly hazy and golden. There is a small quarter inch head.

The aroma has some nice peach and vanilla with a touch of oak.

This one is full of bourbon barrel oak to go along with sweet malt. There is a slightly fruity peach and plum like component that comes from the yeast. There is a subtle bourbony taste in the finish.

This is full bodied. There is a soft but effervescent mouthfeel. This is a pretty nice treat to have every now and then; lots of complexity.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 22:11:28 | More by andrewinski1

vinhgoh

4.48/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Went to tour the brewery in Portland, Maine.

First off, fantastic brewery, staff of 40 or so, well kept, great atmosphere to just sit, drink, and talk.

The Curieux is their strongest brew. They get their barrels from Jim Beam which have only been used once.

The color is a deep brown ale-look. The smell has a mixture of the trippels fruit...but it is over powered by the bourbon.

At first you get a dark and heavy taste of a true dark ale with hints of honey and wheat, but then you kind of get punched with a taste of the bourbon. This is a brew that would be best enjoyed by itself.

Fantastic brew. Maybe not for all, but definitely a favorite on my list. Too bad they stopped exporting to Texas. They said Texas would be the first state to receive Allagash again as soon as they can meet demand.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 23:51:09 | More by vinhgoh

themind

New Jersey

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

This beer surprised me! I have not had many beers from Allegash and I picked up a 2011 bottle. Well this beer is good! it has a mild bourbon flavor and good carbonation. For a barrel aged beer this was very smooth. At $15.00 buck a bottle I would not buy it again due to wanting to try other beers at this cost. That said to me it's totally worth the $15.00 bucks. If you have not had it, try it it's very good.

Bottom line; Worth the money a well made brew!

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 00:56:40 | More by themind

Dankuel

Illinois

4.9/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured beer into a brandy snifter glass. Beer has the appearance of a typical tripel: a cloudy brown/orange color with a thin frothy head and moderate lacing on the side of the glass. At cold temperatures the estery/fruity and phenolic aromas really stand out. There is also some very light oak in the background. As the beer warms the oak comes out a bit more. The spice of the bourbon really hits the nose but compliments the esters and phenols quite well. It definitely tastes like a tripel but is extremely well balanced and complimented with the bourbon oak. The aftertaste is something to be applauded; a nice pungent burn that leaves me feeling as if I took a shot. Amazing mouthfeel, my palate begins to go dry after a few swigs of this, I love it.

Great beer, can't wait to pick up another bottle and age it.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 21:40:34 | More by Dankuel

NoLeafClover44

Delaware

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

8 oz. pour served in a snifter at Ulysses American Gastropub in Wilmington, DE.

A - Pours a slightly hazy straw gold with a finger of white head. Great retention and eaves behind a patchy lacing. This is what a tripel should look like.

S - Smells of pear, spicy clove, lemon peel, and some vanilla. The oak and bourbon flavors are present but not dominant. Pleasing aroma makes me anticipate the first sip.

T - Granny smith apple and pear tartness on the front. The cloves and Belgian yeast couple with vanilla for a balanced middle. There is also some oak hidden in there with a big bourbon finish. The bourbon and traditional tripel flavors pair wonderfully.

M - Light-medium body with tingly effervescence. Somewhat dry on the finish without much alcohol heat.

O - I was somewhat hesitant to order this one because of the price ($9.00 for an 8oz. pour), but decided to go for it. Although this is not a style I have seen Bourbon barrel aged before, I was very impressed with how well the barrel and tripel flavors melded. I am not one who believes that anything you throw in a bourbon barrel will come out better, but this one works on every level. I will seek out some bottles now that I know it is worth the price. This is probably the best Allagash beer I have tasted.

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2012 18:02:55 | More by NoLeafClover44

RyanLigeia

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance 3.5 -A semi hazy light golden color. Lots of visible carb bubbles racing to the surface. A large head on this one that condenses to a 1/3 inch layer of thick foam that sits over the top for a long long time.
Smell 3.5 - A faint white wine aroma. Light grapes, alcohol, belgian yeast. Not bad but nothing too out of the ordinary for a tripel. Wondering where all the wood and bourbon is...
Taste 4.5 - There they are. Delicious. Very very unique in such a great way. Belgian yeastiness, light grapes, alcohol, the wood starts to show through in the middle and a smooth sweet bourbon kiss at the end. The onnnly thing i could do without is the slight bitterness but thats to be expected with the triples so I can't really say much.
Mouthfeel 4.5 - Very comfortably warming on the way down. Enough carbonation to still feel like you're drinking a beer but it coats your mouth completely and goes down so smooth. Compliments the flavors VERY well!
Overall 4.5 - Delicious and original. Cool to get those triple flavors + aromas along with the wood and bourbon taste from the aging. I feel like theres not too many companies aging belgian styles like this, I dig it. $20 for a 750 ml is a little steep but if you're not worried about the price id say give it a try for sure!

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 04:05:59 | More by RyanLigeia

Burlyn

4.63/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A beautiful golden honey color with a light head.

Smells sour and clean.

At first its sweet followed by a very slight sour second taste which is then finished with a bitter maltiness. Bananas. Cloves. Black bread. Bourbon.

Very viscous and oily. Heavy and thick on the tongue.

It grew on me. Very complex and layered flavors make this a joy to drink. The 11% also goes easily unnoticed unless you actively think about it.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 05:30:47 | More by Burlyn

sethmeister

New Hampshire

4.6/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Caged and corked bottle marked "bottled may 2011"

Poured into a tulip this trippel is hazy golden with a thick and cakelike off-white head which leaves small patches of fuzzy lace

The scent wafts from the pour. Cake batter. Bourbon and maraschino cherries. Candy sugar. Overripe pineapples.

Taste is initially sweet, then briefly sour, woody. Very long finish. Herbal hop flavor and bitterness lingers. Pears. Pineapple. Bourbon. Woody notes. Slight sourness. Touch of vanilla. Sweet bread dough notes appear reminiscent of a sweet holiday bread.

Oily, weighty mouthfeel; high viscosity.

Drinkability good. ABV of 11% belied only by a mild warming in the throat.

Complex, balanced and very satisfying trippel.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 20:58:57 | More by sethmeister

kylehay2004

Florida

4.3/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: half finger head on a murky pale golden with subtle crimson hued body. nice lacing.

S: I really felt like this one had a very weak aroma. Mostly clove, oak, bourbon but I was disappointed here but the flavor makes up for it...

T: Top notch here. up front clove, banana, wheat, earthy hops fade to a bourbon and sweet cedar/oak finish.

M: medium body and moderate to high carbonation and nice moist finish.

Overall: I actually feel I have had better bourbon barreled triples but this is the best I have had that is widely distributed. Very drinkable, alcohol very very well hidden and complex. Only knock is the weak aroma.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 00:25:17 | More by kylehay2004

AgentMunky

Alabama

4.23/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

T: Excellent! This is the bourbon barrel aged tripel I remember. Belgian spiciness, vanilla soft, lightly citric finish.

M: Excellent. Spicy. Refreshing. Smooth. Yum.

O: An excellent beer. I'm sad it was only brewed once. Highly recommended. Will have again.

Serving type: on-tap

06-29-2012 04:18:23 | More by AgentMunky

SawDog505

New Hampshire

3.55/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a 20 oz Duvel tulip, bottled in September of 2011. Pours a cloudy yellow orange with a 3 inch white head with lacing everywhere. Smell is huge clove, banana, musk, and some fig. The taste is wow, much more aggressive with clove and a big tickle of bourbon. Body is medium, enought carbonation for its large size, not overly dry for me, and drinkable enough and this isn't my favorite style at all. This is an excellent beer, especially if Belgians are your thing. I prefer Hoppy beers, but this is well done even so.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 01:16:20 | More by SawDog505

VillageThief

4.58/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A beauitful triple full of flavor and packs a nice punch. This beer starts off with a strong carmel taste with a hint of the alochol which settles in as you drink it. Has a great yeast taste to finish off which does not overpower the Carmel taste but really helps enhance it. I am in love with this beer for its amazing taste and feel all whole hitting me with that 11% abv. Also goes very well with dessert or any sweet meal.

Serving type: on-tap

06-20-2012 00:33:07 | More by VillageThief

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.1/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a darkish amber with an intensely fluffy white head. There is definitely sediment, but it could be poured off after a year of aging/settling. The beer was served relatively warm which produces a sweet, yet tart bourbon nose and plenty of yeastiness. It drinks very easily and you forget (almost instantly) that this bubbly, champagne-like tripel is 11%abv... The bourbon is well masked and the beer is easily consumed. Very tasty beverage that's worth trying is you like Belgian style and wood aged beers.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 00:46:07 | More by ThePorterSorter

ProudBeerSnob

New York

4.65/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from bottle (marked as bottled in January 2012) into Maudite snifter. Nice pop from the cork, no foamy mess.

Cloudy straw to golden in color? Nice, big, puffy head that thins out but not completely leaving some nice lacing.

Wonderful aroma. That Belgian yeast nose, with sweet bready notes, almost like cake batter. This beer is too darn drinkable for 11%! Nice sweet (but not too sweet) finish, with just a kiss of booziness.

I've got to get more of these.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 01:24:40 | More by ProudBeerSnob

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

hdofu

Maryland

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

Wow... pours gold with a white head. Smell is heavily of bourbon. Taste is light but with a finish of burbon... given the heavy abv it's quite remarkable really as it mostly hides the heavy impact... given its a tripel its quite remarkable as most don't have such a flavor... pretty near perfection

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 04:07:06 | More by hdofu