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

cvm4

Mississippi

4.08/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottled March 15, 2012

A - Pours an opaque yellowish orange. Nice one finger fizzy head that dissipates quickly.

S - Smells of dried banana chips and tropical fruit. The wood & vanilla from the bourbon lingers in the background.

T - Honey & mild fruit upfront. Loads of belgian esters/flavors. The bourbon comes in at the end & leaves you with a vanilla woodsy finish.

M - Lighter body & full carbonation. Pretty wet on the mouth.

O - Just a carefree beer that joins two things I'd never think to meld together. It's great & not overdone or boozy.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 01:45:56 | More by cvm4

chugalug06

Colorado

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

Cloudy, banana colored, foggy brew. Medium body. Head is large and soapy-foamy white.

Spicy Banana. Awesome aroma. VERY light vanilla barrel is noted, not heavy, very light.

Perfect heavy carbonation plays perfectly into the spice and fall time fruits of the belgian flavors. Wet, refreshing, damp, carefree, unique and perfectly roughed-up by a solid bourbon barrel. Lots of great heat burn a few seconds past your last sip.

This brew is belgian greatness. Normally, I hate heat burn, but with this brew it's so flavorful and deep. Highly recommended and well worth the $16 price paid. I cannot wait to trade for some more of this stuff! I need a southern trading partner...

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 00:29:20 | More by chugalug06

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

ricchezza

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 5

Distinct pilsner malt base with noticeable candi sugar (or similar). Although there is no mention of this being a Belgian-style Triple on the label it is clear upon tasting it that that is exactly what this is (I should have expected that from Allagash!).
Consumed while cold the sweetness of both the grain and sugar is prominent. There is also what I perceived to be a lemon-esque zing.
After allowed to warm a bit the flavor became fuller. The bready yeast character that I was missing before is clearly more distinct now. Slightly dry finish.
The oak barrel character is smooth and balanced nicely as opposed to overwhelming the core Triple characteristics.
Overall impression is that Allagash has yet to disappoint me. Excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 14:31:52 | More by ricchezza

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A-Pours hazy and the color of honey. Head is very small. Not a complete layer.

S-I was really expecting more here. It's not very intense. The barrel aging didn't do much for the nose. Of course, the oak is there, but boy is it soft. On the contrary, I really enjoyed how the nose is not violently yeasty like most Tripels. It has its goods and bads.

T-Pretty good. Pale fleshed fruit, honey and moderate spice. Again, happy that there isn't an excessive yeast boom. Sweet. Barrel aging again comes up short. Just mild notes of oak, vanilla and Bourbon.

M- Light for the ABV. Dry with some booze. Sweetness lends a sticky feel.

O/D-I have actually been waiting to try this for quite a while. I am disappointed. Lacks a hearty barrel-influenced flavor. I enjoyed its rather mellow degree of Belgian yeast, but the flavor is still a bit bland. High potential, low yield.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2012 00:53:12 | More by VelvetExtract

MEsoJD

California

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

[poured into Gouden Garolus glass]

I: I've had the pleasure of enjoying this brew for a long time ever since my first encounter with it at the Black Boar bar in Eagle Rock. I've also enjoyed bottles with friends, but only recently have I had the opportunity to give a review.

B: [11.0% ABV. 1 Pint. 9.4 Fl. OZ. May 25th, 2012Release] I love the presentation of this bottle. Gives off a high quality/classy feel to it with the authentic an feel of the label texture to it's minimalist artwork/design. Some may not even assume that it's beer at first glance. All the information you can ask for is fit into one label. I really appreciate that you can clearly see the bottle date on the front of the label(many brewers make it hard). Overall, one of my favorite bottle presentations.

A: Light orange/golden body transparent body with white carbonated head(fast dissipation) and decent lacing(note: I suspect my pour may have been too aggressive or due to age (never had it this old)).

S: Smells of orange citrus, Belgian yeast, bread malt, oily/alcohol aroma. Reminiscent of some Belgian triples.

T: Orange citrus, some apple, light bitterness, spicy smokey/woody presence(due to the bourbon barrels), sweet bread malt complimented by warming alcohol. Alcohols presence increases with each sip.

M: Smooth slick/oily finish, low/med carbonation, full body, and apparent alcohol(sipper).

O: One delicious beer with a sense of calculation. What I love about this beer the most is with each sip the alcohols presence becomes more bold thus also enhancing the other flavors. I wouldn't recommend to newcomers, but this will truly be something appreciated among the experienced palate. Beer lovers should at least buy one bottle to store/age, and others should find it on tap. At $20.00 a bottle, it's something to have on special occasions. Savor Good Beer!

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 23:31:00 | More by MEsoJD

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

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

A-hazy golden color with a nice white head and some lacing

S-banana, malt, hints of yeast and bourbon

T-bananas, yeasty bread, malt, vanilla, bourbon

F-medium body with moderate carbonation, smooth, alcohol well-blended

O-a delicious triple, the bourbon barrel adds nicely to the overall taste and balance

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2012 22:53:18 | More by MDDMD

abrand

Illinois

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

2009 bottle poured into a snifter. Served at room temp

Pours a golden color with a big 2 finger white head that never fades. Very nice brightness to the pour. Good clarity as well. Smells of dough, yeast, bourbon, and some funk. A lot going on with the nose. Taste is surprisingly smooth for the big abv. Some fruit comes through with sweetness. Mild notes of bourbon left in the 3 year old bottle. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and still well carbonated. Overall this is complex and great. Ages very nicely with the alcohol balancing with the sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 00:37:04 | More by abrand

MinorThreat

Colorado

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

Thanks to Patrickbrusil for the rocking extra. Poured from C&C to Duvel Tulip

A- Straw golden with subtle haze and ridiculous white pillowy head

S-Subtle vanilla, oak and bourbon play well with the sweet citrus-y and yeasty notes.

T- Wow, perfectly integrated sweet bourbon vanilla and oak with orange peel and cereal grain. The greatest compliment that I can give a beer is being assertive with restraint; this beer is the perfect example. All of the flavors are clean and bright without being overpowering or one dimensional. This is so well executed.

M-Viscous yet bubbly, very silky

O- Thanks Patrick, this was a huge win. I only wish I had a few dozen more.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 03:31:30 | More by MinorThreat

jtd1969

North Carolina

4.83/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A - mirky golden with a hint of orange. lacing and good carbonation

S - sweet fruit with bourbon. some yeast

T - bourbon, slight banana , some pepper, (not hot), subtle sweetness

M - smooth and mellow, good bourbon mouth burn, yet mild. ABV is noticeable in my opinion.

O - Really really good. A delight to drink anytime, but especially after a long day at work.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 23:48:37 | More by jtd1969

mgironta

New Jersey

4.98/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The label on the brew said that this was from the October 2010 batch and 750 cases were bottled. The brew poured with a one finger white head into my Rogue chalice. Every time I use these glasses, I think that are darn heavy. Anyways, the head dissipated and didn’t leave any lacing on the glass. The color is a light yellow with a hint of orange and presents with moderate carbonation. The body is clear. On the nose, I got a lot of bready and yeasty notes. Then, I get some golden fruit and sugars. I don’t smell much of the oak that I thought I would from being aged in bourbon barrels. On the taste, the first thing I say is, “Damn, this is a good beer.” There is a lot going on with this. There is a definite wood/vanilla characteristic, then the fruit, then some breadiness and spices. The alcohol, which is hefty at 11%, really only makes itself known on the finish, when it really warms the throat. There is light carbonation on this brew, which is perfect. The brew itself is lighter than I thought and not really syrupy. I love this brew.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 01:26:15 | More by mgironta

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