Allagash Odyssey - Allagash Brewing Company

Halcyondays

California

3.9/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Beachwood BBQ,

A: Pours brown with a light off-white head, good lace.

S: Definite medicinal alcohol, phenol, dark fruit.

T: Prune and date syrup are evident with a bit of molasses and oak. Some phenol is still there, but not as big as in the smell which makes the drink more satisfying in the end.

M: Rather full-bodied, creamy, some ethanol notes.

D: Good, but not as good as I expected, but another solid brew from Allagash and one I's certainly have again.

Serving type: on-tap

10-12-2009 20:29:06 | More by Halcyondays

jwc215

New Jersey

3.48/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

bottled in October, 2006 - poured into a glass chalice.

Pours very dark brown. The thin head soon becomes patchy.

The smell is winey/vinuous. Grapey with sugar candy sweetness. Subtle hints of oak.

The taste is of sugar candy, grapey wine, and vanilla. Sharp alcohol notes that smooth out over time.

The feel is creamy. A bit too light at first, but gains more of a body as it warms.

This one is different - I'll give it that. For me though, it's too sweet and wine-like.

Edit: Bottled in Jan. 08 - reviewed in Sept. 08:

Adjusted scores by .5 higher on all but drinkability.

It does have some chocolate notes that I picked up this time to add to complexitity. Body is still creamy, but yet sharp. Alcohol sharpness, oak/vanilla and vinuous (with some sourish grapey notes), in a red wine way, dominate. An interesting brew - a slow sipper. I enjoyed this bottle more than I did the first one I reveiwed. I noticed a few more subtlties and some more creaminess, but still not overly thrilled.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2007 14:57:10 | More by jwc215

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A 750 mL bottle from a trade with goodbyeohio. This is a February 2005 bottling that I cracked open after reading a recent thread that said the 2004 had run its course.

A: The ale has the dark black color of a black cherry color, highlighted nicely with ruby red tones that come through when the ale is held to light. The head approached 2 fingers on pour but quickly wasted away to a thin white band.

S: The nose has the swirling depth of a Belgian ale, candi sugars and distinct Allagash yeast strain, along with the buttery sweetness of oak.

T: The oak aging has really left its mark on this beer. The buttery sweetness is evident immediately, adding a vanilla bean flavor to the ale. Dark candi sugars add an appreciable depth to the ale as well, nicely complimenting the oak aging with an underlying sweetness. The more I taste the beer, the more that oak aging is easily mistaken for the sweet corn smoothness of a bourbon barrel ale. The finish has some dark alefruits, raisins particularly, with a healthy dose of candi sugars.

M: The mouthfeel is engaging from the first sip, taking oak and Belgian flavors and seemlessly melding them together. The warmth of the alcohol pops out only at the end of the sip, creating a nice finish.

D: I wanna take this beer behind the middle school and get it pregnant. I thought that Curieux and Interlude were the zenithes of brewing but this one is a real sock-knocker-offer.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2007 01:38:16 | More by akorsak

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nearly black in color (no light shines through); Awesome lasting lace; good head that lessens to a half finger.

Dark chocolate smells along with light bitter hops, alcohol and cream.

Wonderful complex flavor--some elements of a dark porter (chocolate, smooth full body with ample carbonation) and a Belgian dark ale (notable alcohol and yeast flavor). Strong alcohol warmth in the swallow with a hoppy aftertaste (the chocolate remains throughout).

This is a very rich and satisfying brew. I don't know whether I could have several of these, but one is definitely a great experience.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2008 00:33:12 | More by smcolw

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in a tulip glass)
Bottled Jan. 08 Case #600
A- This beer pours a dense brown body that only shows a beam of red light shining through when held to the light. There is a sea of microbubbles that support half a glass of creamy light tan head that is smooth and a bit sticky.

S- This beer has a fragrance that comes through during the pour but it is a mellow cream and brown malt note. As the beer is sipped notes of brown malt have a slight sweetness to it with a softer coffee roasted note. There is a faint vanilla and dry wood hint when it is pretty warm.

T- This beer has a smooth soft flavor of toasted malt with a slight sweetness and a faint brown sugar note with hints of prunes all blended together. There is a soft roasted black malt hint and the finish is a soft mild hop note that lingers for just a second. There is a note of dry wood under a soft alcohol spice flavor aswell.

M- This beer has a medium-full mouthfeel with a creamy almost silky texture with no real alcohol heat and a tight little fizz at the finish.

D- My overall impression is that this is another Belgian Strong Dark Ale. They seem to all taste very similar with all the flavors blended together and not much really popping out to impress my tastebuds. I don't think I would have noticed the oak barrel notes if I wasn't looking for them. But it is a good solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2008 23:09:30 | More by rhoadsrage

Wasatch

Utah

4.63/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Thanks goes out to jwc215 for this brew.

750ml Bottle
Caged/Corked
Bottled: Jan 08

Poured into my St. Bernardus Watou glass a very very nice brown color, very nice carbonation, awesome thick/creamy one-finger plus off-white head, tons of thick/creamy sticky lacing left behind. Then nose is malty, with some yeast, plums, figs, and raisins, very nice notes of Oak. The taste is sweet, malty, yeasty, with some nice dark fruit tones, and with notes of Oak. Full body, the alcohol is hidden very well. Very drinkable, this is an awesome brew, Allagash did a fabulous job with this one, highly recommended. Thanks Joe.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2008 22:54:26 | More by Wasatch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.47/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a two-finger cream head that fades slowly to a ring leaving some lace. Totally black color. Medium carbonation and medium-heavy bodied. Raisin/malty nose. Flavor is sweet, raisin, hints of oak. The high ABV is hidden. Bottled Jan 2008. Over the top but worth trying at $17.00 for a 750ml bottle from a Tully's Beer & Wine Wells, ME.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2009 23:41:41 | More by jdhilt

Jason

Massachusetts

4.58/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

750ml brown magnum with a bottling date of February 2005 on the label.

A- Two fingers of think head stick to the glass all the way down as bubbles continually rise to the top. A shade of garnet within the deep dark brown colored brew.

S- Candied fruit, almost fruit-cake like smell. Toffee and bread crust, over-cloved molasses cookies. Spicy fermented wheat, phenols and alcohol make for a very complex aroma.

T&M- Molasses cookies, cloves, candied fruit and pecan brittle all come to mind. Lush smoothness with a mild crispness that cradles the delicate yet feigned thick body. Solid oaky bite, teethy with a drying effect. Tad buttery with a alcohol warmth in the back.

D- Crazy Crackers! This has to be, hands down, one of the most flavorful, complex and enjoyable beers I have had in a long time. Allagash makes brewing a quaffable 10% Belgian style beer look simple. Paired this with some hard goat cheese and bunderfleish.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2006 02:45:34 | More by Jason

mdfb79

New York

3.58/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From 03/25/11 notes. Shared by jslot38; thanks Justin. January 2010 bottle, case 970.

a - Pours a dark mahogany brown color with one inch of light tan head and light carbonation evident.

s - Smells of spices, dark fruit, bready malts, pepper.

t - Tastes of dark fruit, spices, yeast, and bread again. A little too much spice for me.

m - Medium body and low carbonation.

d - A good beer, but a little to much spice for me. Glad to have tried it and would given another shot, but probably wouldn't seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2011 01:17:57 | More by mdfb79

Billolick

New York

4.72/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

large bottle, caged and corked, dated, numbered, the works. Simply stated this has got to be one of the best brews on the planet. Large, flavorful, strong, complex. Tons of wood, figs, raisins, rum.Words cannot do justice to this flavorful tipple. Get a few bottles, put em away for about 5 years and enjoy, or crack em open tonight and savor this nectar. One of the best brews I've ever had the priviledge of drinking.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2005 05:42:55 | More by Billolick

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle from Spirit Haus, Amherst, MA. Corked and caged.

Poured into a Rapscallion glass, formed 1 1/2" of frothy tan head over the garnet-hued brew. Head lasts well due to plentiful bubbling, and lacing is almost a complete coating of heavy foam. Aroma is vanilla, oak notes, and alcohol. Taste is as the nose indicated, but with the strong flavors all melding amazingly well, and none overpowering. Mouthfeel and drinkability, for the style, are incredible, able to go down smoothly and even quickly. Worth the green to give it a try yourself.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2005 00:35:52 | More by ppoitras

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appears a dark, mahogany brown with a 2 finger, off white head that slowly fades out and sticks to the glass.
Smell is of raisins, brown sugar, plums, caramel, vanilla, cocoa, oak, dough, tobacco, caramelized apples.
Taste is of the mentioned aromas. The balance seemed to be slightly skewed towards the oakiness and leaning away from the Belgian goodness but overall, it's enjoyable and very well done.
Mouthfeel is smooth, creamy, sugary, medium bodied with mild carbonation and a semi-dry finish. Some may think it's a bit "thin" but it's the dryness from the oak tannins that gives them this initial reaction.
The abv is evident after a few sips and it makes you wonder whether or not the beer was soaked in used bourbon barrels. The barrels were newly toasted American oak so the caramelized bourbony flavors are all derived from the beer combined with the oak. Nice.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2007 21:31:55 | More by weeare138

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml corked and caged, thanks a ton April and John!

Pours a cloudy reddish brown, almost rusty, medium sized tan head forms, drops down to a thin layer and ring, some decent lacing on the glass. Smell is wacky, raisins, butterscotch, grapes, oak, very fruity, vanilla, yeasty bread, light bit of spice, the wood is very prominent and well done. Taste is similar, very fruity, brown sugar, wine, bread, lots of wood, yeast, alcohol, vanilla, cherries and wild berries, caramel, quite nice. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium to high carbonation, very nice stuff, complex and easy to drink for its ABV. Glad I have another in the cellar!

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2008 19:40:36 | More by Viggo

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to the BAer who brought this to the Nov. '12 Philly burbs bottle share. Ray (baybum) I think. I'm not sure what vintage this one was.

Dark brown pour, hazy, with a small off-white head that dissipated mostly, leaving some thin lacing behind. Caramel malts in the nose, stone fruits, herbal hops and a touch of smoke. I actually got quite a bit of oak up front in this one, pretty toasty at that, caramel, peach and pear, a little raisin, yeast, herbal hops; no vanilla detected. Medium body, moderate carbonation, drinkable, and decent overall.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 09:27:15 | More by Rifugium

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.72/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very dark chestnut brown color with a huge frothy, pillowy tan head with excellent retention, only slowly fading into a lasting cap that leaves chunks of soapy lacing in it's wake.

Chocolate malty aroma that is slightly earthy with hints of oaky wood. Dark fruit notes and peppery spice also present.

Creamy malty body with lots of estery dark fruit notes, especially raisin, prune, plum, and dark berries with lots of peppery zest, chocolate malts and earthy oak. Very smooth and quaffable with hints of grape and cherry dark fruit. Very nice balance of dark fruit and chocolate malt. The ABV is excellently balanced without a trace of alcohol warmth making this beer extremely quaffable. Sweet dry finish. Excellent!

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2009 07:21:36 | More by corby112

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.3/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap the other night at the Allagash event at Max's.

This beer is just luscious looking. It pours a dark brown color with a creamy looking, persisting head. There is very good head retention and very good lacing. The beer looks viscuous. On the nose I get lots of chocolate and vanilla, and the beer just smells decadent and rich. The beer is very rich and long lasting on the palate, with the flavor profile replicating the nose. The beer is moderately sweet, with a soft, plush, satin-like mouthfeel. The beer has almost a creamy consistency to it. There is not a sharp edge anywhere with this beer, and it has a long finish with barely noticeable alcohol.

Outstanding. An excellent beer from Allagash.

Serving type: on-tap

06-20-2008 15:11:39 | More by johnmichaelsen

glid02

Georgia

4.53/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Had on-tap at the Brick Store.

Pours one shade from black with dark maroon highlights and a 1.5-finger tan head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of dark fruits - plums, dried figs, and raisins - with good amounts of dark malts. Traces of tobacco waft out and increase a bit as the beer warms.

Tastes very good. Muted yet robust dark fruit flavors up front are backed by dark malt flavors. As with the smell peat and tobacco flavors come out midway through the sip and become larger as the beer warms. The ending is crisp and mildly bitter.

Mouthfeel is great. It's got a very smooth thickness with grainy carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I didn't have a problem finishing my glass and could easily have a few more.

Overall this is a very good BSDA that is even better thanks to the barrel-aging. Another nicely done BA beer by Allagash and one that's well worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2009 00:12:06 | More by glid02

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

4.45/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

500ml brown bottle, corked and caged. Bottling date: Feb. 05, 10.4%abv. for this bottle; served lightly-chilled in a large tulip-shaped wine glass.

A: dark brown in colour; the beige beer head builds up fast and wanes equally with haste, leaving a thin layer of sparse foam and moderate carbonation underneath.
S: assertively oaky (white oak) and chocolatey in aroma, yet it's simultaneously rustic, dampy, prune-ish, datey, with a nice whiff of port and rather deep burned sugar... in the background a subtle touch of Belgian brown ale's woody-sourness lingers. The nose is unlike any 10%abv. beer as it is so mellow and settled, and more aromas await to ascend as the beer warms...
T: lightly chocolatey and dark-sugary malts descend on the palate first with a rather light palate, then treacle, licorice, annis, sweet prunes, dried berries, and coffee candy all develop and intertwine before a heavy dose of dryish herbal bitter-sweetness takes over. The lengthy and deep-running aftertaste shows plenty of chocolatey malts with an even more enjoyable yet delicate touch of oaky aroma, like what a well oak-aged Cabinet Sauvignon has to offer.
M&D: smoothly-textured and softly-fizzy, this full-bodied dark ale somehow tastes very light, without showing traces of high-octave alc. at all. Two years of further ageing in the bottle has made this oak-aged ale a balanced, easily approachable and very delicious nectar. Somehow the flavour also reminds me a lot of some English old ales; so, to me, this can be fairly described as a cross b/w the Belgian and English styles of strong old/dark ales. Highly recommended!

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2007 23:56:58 | More by wl0307

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This poured with a light, deep-brown head. The beer itself was a deep brown color and the nose gave off an unmistakable smell of bouron whiskey as imparted by its aging in used barrels. The mouthfeel is thin, light, and unobtrusive, whch was somewhat surprising. Both the taste on the tongue and the finish are awash with a bourbon-sweetness, sort of like coconut. I'd like to have Lew Bryson weigh in with his thoughts on this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2006 21:43:53 | More by woodychandler

kojevergas

California

3.73/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served on-draught into an 8 oz stem-goblet at The Bruery Provisions in Orange, California. It was overpriced of course (seeing as it was The Bruery). Expectations were extremely high given the brewery, which I'm rather fond of. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a 1.5 finger head of nice cream, good thickness, and great retention for the ABV. Colour is a solid nontransparent dark amber.

Sm: Fruit, plums, amber hops, cream, toasted malts, vanilla bean, and caramelized malt. A mild to moderate strength aroma.

T: Complex and subtle, with all the notes from the nose plus more bright fermented fruit like cherry or even raspberry. Lightly toasted malt forms the foundation. Almonds, dried fruit, and raisins are all present. Quite nice. Full bodied yet delicate and enjoyable. No yeast. Nice layering. Incredibly well balanced. Nicely built for the style.

Mf: Smooth and wet, with a subtle cream undertone. Complements the flavours well. Delicate and light on the palate.

Dr: Very drinkable for the ABV - which is itself really well hidden. I rather enjoy it. It was high priced, but worth it. All things considered, I did expect this to be better - especially given its reputation and seeming trade value. It's really good, but it isn't great. Not worth trading some great for.

A good candidate for aging.

High B

Serving type: on-tap

03-22-2012 04:41:03 | More by kojevergas

DrJay

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Part of my BC2 package from aprilluvsbeer. Thanks April!
Very dark brown, but still clear and transparent, this beer had mahogany edges with brilliant ruby highlights. The pour produced a tight, light tan cap that settled slowly to a thick ring and there was spotty lacing throughout. The barrel really contributed a lot of character to the aroma. Toasty malt and toffee were prominent, with some vanilla, oak and booze following. A little buttery smelling too. Mellow bitterness with a fruity backbone, flavours of figs and other dried fruits were quite forward. Sweetness was similar to brown sugar or molasses, a little buttery with a bit of alcohol in the finish. Low carbonation, creamy bubbles and medium bodied with a bit of dryness and warmth, plus a bit of stickiness. This stuff is dangerously easy to drink. Fairly mellow and very balanced, it was complex yet not overbearing.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2008 01:36:13 | More by DrJay

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

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

A: Deep chestnut, dark tan head, thin ring of retention, good lace.

S: Dark fruit, light phenolic spicing, cola, light tart fruitiness.

T: Light spicing, brown sugar, caramel, modest bitterness, alcohol is slightly warming.

M: Moderate body is smooth with an off-dry finish.

D: A good drinker.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2010 02:49:52 | More by Derek

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.3/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottled January, 2008- cases bottled, 600. I bought this from Decatur Wine and Spirits. Definitely could use some aging. It is pretty tasty right now, but the taste of new oak is pretty strong. If you like that, drink it now. If not, age this for a year or more. Since I've never had it before, I couldn't wait and decided to try it fresh. Pours as about a dark a brown as you can get before shifting to black. Fairly thin head, but there is barely any head fading. The whole cap sticks around for the life of the beer. There is also some spotty lacing. Smell is oak dominated, with some subtle typical Belgian strong dark notes of raisins, candi sugar, toffee, and spice in the background. The taste becomes more integrated as the beer warms and opens up, but there is still a lot of new white oak in the flavor. Spicy oak notes, woody, vanilla, and quite a tannic bitterness that echoes through the whole thing. At this point, the raisin, prune, candi sugar, and toffee play second fiddle to the oak bomb. That being said, as with a great wine, the early oak and tannins predict greatness in the future of this beer. With some aging, these components should mellow and become more seemlesly integrated. Also, although the oak is prominent, the tannins are the star, and this beer is not a vanilla bomb. This makes the whole flavorr profile more complexx and interesting. Mouthfeel is full, creamy, and quite tannic. Challenging and complex. The alcohol is eextremely well hidden and as big in flavors as this beer is, it is still a pleasure to suss out the various components of this brew. A prime candidate forr cellaring.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2008 00:02:55 | More by Georgiabeer

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Feb 2011 edition

Poured into chalice. Pours 1 finger of khaki tan head. Good retention with lace rings. Color is a dark mahogany brown.

Aroma: A lot of oak, vanilla, spices. A lot of dark fruits as well. Plums, pears and apples. Some alcohol shows.

Taste: A lot more roasted than I expected. Fairly earthy. Figs, plums, dark dried fruits. Lighter oak flavor, spices, and alcohol. Bready malts.

Mouthfeel: Dry and roasted. Medium bodied with a medium to high amount of carbonation. Ends very dry and roasted.

Overall, not really was I was expecting. Too roasted for a Belgian. I liked the oak in the nose, but it was much more faint in the taste, unfortunately.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2011 00:42:45 | More by mothman

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.9/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bottled Feb. 2005 - Glossy black body with deep burgandy highlights within. Inch high, puffy tannish foam sits for good length before settling to a big fluffy collar and a solid skim. Minimal lacing in small globby strings and a few spots.

Heavenly aroma of vinous-like oak decorated in lots of dark nuances of dark fruity malt, black licorice, tootsie roll chocolate, carob, vanilla, and a splash of good Ol' alcoholic breath.

Taste has an emaculately creamy front that's airy and rounded with a full brunt of dark fruity malts. Has a short stay middling area of chocolate and date flavors. Lively and full on the swallow with warmth and alcoholic texture bringing a breeze of vanilla and port flavors. Hints to carob, root beer, black licorice and, anise. Finishes great with great length and memory with a leftover melting pot of rich chocolate laced with dark fruityness and sticky maltyness and lightly fluffed with some cocoa powder composition. Its much more complex then what I'm able to describe and soak in, but take my word for it. Its damn good!

Feel is a very solid medium body with a uniform ride of interchanging full areas gliding from point to point, as do warming qualities, creamyness, smoothness, and maltyness. Looong finishing area, it sticks with you for a day and a half. A very complexing texture and character to this beer. Quite spectacular!

Yum, yum, and yum, this stuff is killer! Fantastic job by Allagash. No surprise really, but damn I could never get sick of this stuff. Me likey.

Two thumbs for RealityDeviant for coming through and getting me some!

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2006 02:45:27 | More by tavernjef