Allagash Odyssey - Allagash Brewing Company

Phelps

Arizona

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

Bottled July 2009 and tasted nearly a year later.

Looks: like crushed velvet. Notes of light amber and deep crimson mingle about while fizzy bubbles caress the sides of the glass and rise slowly to the surface, becoming part of a flesh-toned head so creamy and dense I'd like to make a blanket out of it. The foam placates itself atop the drink and recedes only ever so slowly, leaving ample walls of sticky lace as it goes.

Smells: like Autumn. The dark aromas of fall are captured in this: oak, sweet grape jelly, cranberry, pears, pine, cloves, cinnamon. It's complex and enticing, like a bowl of potpourri.

Tastes: like complexity. There's a lot going on here and it's difficult to describe. Toasted bread, cinnamon, a light oakiness, red wine, sweet pears. A flash of tart white grapes mingled with a distinguished toasted malt character. Just the slightest funky tang is evident at the finish. Everything is in perfect balance.

Feels: like that velvet blanket I was talking about. Soothing across the tongue, nearly creamy and with a buxom medium-full body. The carbonation is and perfectly subdued, and the alcohol is so well-hidden I had to struggle to notice it at all.

Drinks: like an heir to the throne. Maine's Allagash is already the closest an American brewery can get to Belgium, at least physically. Odyssey shows that the gap in brewing skill is even less broad. It could stand tall against any other BSDA -- or against any beer, really.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2010 00:10:51 | More by Phelps

afrokaze

California

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%

05-18-2013 22:07:17 | More by afrokaze

klawburke

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +5.1%

05-18-2013 16:52:01 | More by klawburke

jplopez21

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%

05-18-2013 12:31:36 | More by jplopez21

bcostner1

Tennessee

4.5/5  rDev +5.1%

05-18-2013 00:36:07 | More by bcostner1

SkiBum22

New York

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%

05-15-2013 21:01:37 | More by SkiBum22

Absolut

California

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%

05-14-2013 18:04:44 | More by Absolut

lupercmda

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%

05-14-2013 01:46:55 | More by lupercmda

willjschmidt

California

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%

05-13-2013 02:24:03 | More by willjschmidt

purdueflyguy

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -12.4%

05-13-2013 01:35:53 | More by purdueflyguy

zillo043068

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +5.1%

05-12-2013 17:51:56 | More by zillo043068

JSouth

Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +11%

05-12-2013 17:41:25 | More by JSouth

hawkmage

California

4.5/5  rDev +5.1%

05-11-2013 22:45:21 | More by hawkmage

Phillyz

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%

05-11-2013 19:27:25 | More by Phillyz

ubufan2112

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%

05-11-2013 01:35:50 | More by ubufan2112

HopNuggets

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +5.1%

05-10-2013 15:29:53 | More by HopNuggets

SHerninko

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -6.5%

05-09-2013 18:08:46 | More by SHerninko

ODBRIP

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +16.8%

05-09-2013 14:43:13 | More by ODBRIP

ItalianHopHead203

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +5.1%

05-09-2013 14:34:23 | More by ItalianHopHead203

vfgccp

New York

4.55/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Dec 2011 bottle opened May 2013.

A - Beautiful looking brew. Dark walnut body with ice tea and cranberry highlights. Fluffy off-white head with poor lace and ok retention.

S - Dark grains, toasted Eggo waffles, maple syrup, toasted marshmallows, booze.

T - Oak, honey, toasted coconut, rye bread crust, caramel, toasted whole wheat, vanilla, almond, tiramisu. Complex with great integration, and not overly sweet.

M - Medium frame. Nice smoothness.

O - The beer really opens up close to room temperature. Great balance and complexity.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 02:24:36 | More by vfgccp

mggkohl

California

4.5/5  rDev +5.1%

05-08-2013 22:27:57 | More by mggkohl

beernads

Florida

4/5  rDev -6.5%

05-08-2013 07:21:29 | More by beernads

cadaugherty

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -12.4%

05-08-2013 00:04:10 | More by cadaugherty

beertunes

Washington

3.96/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from January 2010, shared on 5/5/13. Poured into tulip. Poured a nice deep reddish-brown color with under 1/2 inch of light brown head that had good retention and moderate lacing.

The aroma was a lot of deep malts and a bit of fruitiness from the yeast. There was a bit of wood aroma as well, an overall very pleasant scent. On the tongue, all the above features were present, just bolder. The fruitiness (plum and cherries) was prominent, with the wood providing a good bass note underneath.

The body was nicely full, yet wasn't heavy. The beer was smooth and even across the palate. For a beer with a nice bit of sweetness, this had a surprisingly dry finish. Drinkability was dangerously easy, I would have happily killed the 750 by myself. Overall, a very nice beer. A must try if you see it, and probably worth trading for.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 19:14:47 | More by beertunes

Beerswag

California

4/5  rDev -6.5%

05-07-2013 03:42:23 | More by Beerswag