Allagash Odyssey - Allagash Brewing Company

evantwomey

North Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Split a 750 ml w/ a few friends. Pours out pretty black but when held to the light looks more like a dark ruby. Fairly modest head, minimal lacing. The aroma reminds me of chocolate covered cherries in a major way...and definitely some oak in there too. Flavor is very similar to the smell, but some raisin flavors too maybe. Oak is very prominent but not overpowering at all. There is some weird synergy with all the flavors here and I can't quite describe it, but I am in awe. The taste is very complex and the best adjective I can use to describe it is 'deep'. Definitely worth seeking out and would definitely love to have some more of this.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2009 04:24:57 | More by evantwomey

thedindaniel

California

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

Split this (in drink and cost) with a friend tonight, as it is not a cheap bottle and I wasn't sure what to expect...

A - Dark mahogany body with a beautiful light head. Very small bubbles that cling to the glass.
S - Whoa! Barrel smell comes out for sure with a caramel-oak thing going on but an undertone of grapes. Totally smell the alcohol.
T - Here is where the let down is... very mellow compared to the smell. Has a vanilla-y flavor though.
M - Crisp, clean... dances on the tongue.
D - So, so drinkable. The 10.4 percent is a bit deceiving here and I could see myself drinking a lot of this if it weren't $22 a bottle.

Overall, worth a try if you like the style and enjoy barrel-aged beers... but not quite worth getting more than one bottle of.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2009 04:51:37 | More by thedindaniel

JosephLondon

Texas

4.93/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

BSDAs are hard to master but when one is, I don't think there is a better beer. I had high expectations for this beer and they have been met and surpassed.

The appearance is a deep ruby brown with a light brown, stubborn head that refuses to budge which floats atop. In the several minutes it has taken the head to recede, it has left its signature of rings on the glass.

The smell is a perfect and well-balanced blend of fresh, ripe fruit and malt. However, the taste is where this beer is king. The complexity of a good BSDA is so meticulous it is impossible to decipher what and how much.

Let's see. There is pear, plum and raisin. I detect green apple, slight molasses as well as a touch of clove and cinnamon.

The mouthfeel is satin on the tongue. It is light, fluffy and silky. It caresses the taste buds upon its departure and while making its journey to its resting place. Just if it were thicker it would have the ultimate score.

Drinkability?: I just finished a 750 ml bottle. Too bad there isn't a store I can get another open at 1:37am

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2009 07:41:55 | More by JosephLondon

stephendedalus

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a February 2005 (750 ml) bottle. Poured a deep brown/caramel colour -- decent carbonation and a nice head (maintained head for several minutes). Smell is underwhelming -- expecting more -- just hints of vanilla and oak/bourbon with alcohol spiciness. Taste has the base notes of a dubbel acccented with the expected vanilla and oak flavors -- not much else going on. Pretty good mouthfeel and at 10.4% this is a very drinkable beer -- the ABV will sneak up on you. However, the verdict, unfortunately, is that this is less of an Odyssey and more of a (pleasant) three hour tour. Gilligan!

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2005 04:16:00 | More by stephendedalus

soultrain19

Texas

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

Poured into my tulip glass. Very,very dark with just a faint red glow when held up to the light. It had a limited head that quickly wisped away. The wonderfully complex aroma was full of beautiful malt characteristics and fruit. And the taste. Oh my! The taste is divine. Plum and raisin and chocolate and just an amazing collection of sweet and earthy flavors with the oak just sort of mellowing or melding the flavors together. For such a big beer the alcohol was not discernible and the mouthfeel was remarkably smooth and creamy. I wasn't sure what to excpect, but I know what I got. An absolutely fantastic beer that my only regret is that I had but just the one. Now I begin my search to acquire more.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2009 15:57:24 | More by soultrain19

smuttanator

Massachusetts

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

Picked this up during the vagabond release, 2009 vintage. First off, this is one of the smoothest beers I've ever had the pleasure of drinking. It uses the oak beautifully to smooth out the 10.4 alcohol without taking on that strong vanilla flavor many over-oaked beers do. My only complaint is that I wish the flavor was more complex.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2009 02:13:57 | More by smuttanator

NuclearRich

Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Feb 2011 bottle poured into a snifter style glass.

A. A deep dark abyss with a medium sized head of an almost opposite color of light tan. The head fades rather quickly into a thin cap and has minimal lacing.
S. Dark fruit, vanilla notes surrounding a slightly boozy belgian ester background.
T&M. A big carbonated bite cascades over the tongue, smoothing into a robust thick and roasty character. Actually reminds me of a porter. Robust, roasty, thick, a slight bitterness and a hint of dark fruit.
O. Pretty good stuff. The oak isn't as strong as I thought it would be, but personally I think that's good. I would be happy to have it again.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2011 17:33:49 | More by NuclearRich

Rollzroyce21

California

4/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap @ Bruery Provisions

Poured into snifter

Vintage: I'm assuming 2011

Aroma: Unexpected roast with hints of dark fruits

Medium body and creamy. Taste bitter espresso notes. The heat's there, but faint. Almost doubting it's a belgian dark; its much like a stout in many aspects. Very drinkable.

Now in the 2nd half (warmed up a bit) and the heat's showing more. Picking up the earthy wood from the oak. Getting some sugary sweetness at the tip of the tongue. Catching hints of cherries.

Overall, a nice diferent take on a Belgian dark. I totally wasn't expecting to taste something like this.

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2012 03:12:38 | More by Rollzroyce21

maestrotmbg

District of Columbia

4.55/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

tasted 12/09 bottled 10/06. Hints at butter and jam on the nose. Tastes malty, caramel and mildly sweet. A bit of vanilla from the oak aging is evident and adds to the complexity. Very drinkable for the style, it hides it's alcohol content very well. Flavor has no sharp edges, the beer aged well. No trace of hops. Solid mouthfeel and it's relatively dry despite very little bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2009 22:02:43 | More by maestrotmbg

NonServiam

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22 oz, bottled September 2008 in a batch of 530 cases. 10.3% alcohol v/v. Unfiltered, bottle conditioned, noticeable yeast cake. Poured into a Duvel glass (wide-mouth, flared tulip).

Appearance
The body of the ale is an opaque ruby in color, almost black if not held before a light. A light cream-white head forms readily, about 1-2 fingers in height. It persists well and laces the glass aggressively.

Aroma
Sweet, malty, some cream and some medicine. Biscuits and oak. A touch of earth and spice.

Taste
A well balanced, steady crescendo and diminuendo. A rising sweet barley note that becomes red fruit and tartness; this grows progressively drier and finally fades into a lingering aftertaste of biscuit and nut, with some alcohol.

Mouthfeel
Smooth and milk-like. I would prefer the carbonation be toned down a bit for a silkier, less astringent effect.

A great beer overall, and surprisingly drinkable for the style -- the aftertaste is more nutty than alcoholic. I find the red fruit esters to be very distinctive and hard to name. It would be nice to cultivate the yeast for homebrewing purposes.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2009 04:20:04 | More by NonServiam

RescueKitty

3.93/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber and served in a tulip glass. Poured very dark mahogany with a thick off-white head. Glowed a dark ruby red when held up to the light. Smelled of sweet dates and dark figs. The first sip was a surprise. Tasted of coffee with hints of dark chocolate and dark fruit with slight wood notes. Creamy mouthfeel. The alcohol was well hidden. I expected this to be much sweeter than it was. Though tasting of soft fruits, it had a nice dry finish. An impressive and complicated beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2012 03:13:26 | More by RescueKitty

TerrenceOBrien

New York

4.93/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a dark reddish brown with a very thin off-white head. Aroma and flavor both have heavy wafts of oak and vanilla. Some hints of toffee and the sweetness is palpable on the nose even before you taste. It had a nice medium body and mouth feel -- not too light or too heavy. Doesn't have a ton of bitterness, but just enough to remind you that you're drinking a beer and not Malta or a bourbon. I bought a bottle at the brewery over the summer of 2011, cracked it open for the holidays that year. Lets hope they still have some when I head back up this summer -- might be my favorite Allagash brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 18:55:06 | More by TerrenceOBrien

zen

New York

4.85/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

after having heard from a couple of people that this was just an awesome beer i just had to have it. i work in a supermarket and i work the beer section i just had to get this. after calling my beer guy i got 2 cases in. after having this i now have a favorite beer. the flavor was just amazing and has the smell of vanilla. i bought a second bottle just to age and cant wait until that is ready to taste

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2005 05:13:03 | More by zen

blackkristos

Maine

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

A real treat of a beer. Served on-tap in an 8oz glass.

It's a very dark, thick looking brew with little to no head. First smells of honey, chocolate and coffee. A little alcohol. Tastes pretty sweet, roasted coffee and honey. The alcohol is certainly noticable, but not over-bearing. Very full and thick body and the sweetness takes away that initial alcohol taste.

A perfect sipping/dessert beer. Ended up having another later in the evening and was still in love with it, although more than that may have been pushing it.

Serving type: on-tap

05-22-2008 18:32:28 | More by blackkristos