Allagash Odyssey - Allagash Brewing Company

homebrew311

Illinois

3.54/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Deep purple color with white head. Nose is funky with farmhouse qualities and dry oak character. Notes of dark fruit present along with white oak. Taste is fruit forward with dry notes of oak and grape. Mouthfeel is relatively light with moderate carbonation. Overall, lots of Belgian esters here, not my favorite brew.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2013 00:49:30 | More by homebrew311

chinchill

South Carolina

3.88/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

on tap at Duckworths (NC)

Pour is a bit light for the style; but then I see this is partly a dark wheat beer. The clear dark brown/amber body is covered by a bone head that has great retention

Mouthfeel: near medium body with well-chose, soft carbonation. Very smooth.

Taste and Aroma: Wheaty, with plenty of alcohol esters and Belgian yeast. Also rather sweet up front. with hints of caramel and brown sugar, but ends mildly bitter.

O: Low on dark fruit for style, this Belgian ale was disappointing but should appeal more to folks who like wild yeast and wheat in their beers more than I do.

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2013 18:20:37 | More by chinchill

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Served in a snifter at Bigby's Pour House.

Quick poll: Ulysses or Odysseus? Anyway, this stuff pours a lightly-hazy sienna topped by a finger of glowing off-cream foam. The nose comprises earthy berries, light maple syrup, and dry biscuit. The taste brings in more of the same, though now the berries are less tart, everything is generally sweeter, and some strong notes of oak make themselves more than known. The body is a lithe medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a drying finish. Overall, an alright beer, but one that just seems too scattershot, too schizoid, to be truly effective to my tongue. Frankly, I'm glad I've held off on buying bottles of this in the $15 or so range...

Serving type: on-tap

04-07-2013 20:11:37 | More by TMoney2591

notchucknorris

California

4.03/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a murky chestnut color with a thin cream-colored head. Some spotty lacing.

S: Lots of dark fruit and Belgian yeast on the nose. Plum and date stand out the most along with a good amount of oak.

T: Rich and malty upfront with a good hit of dates and raisins. Lots of oak, some chocolate and brown sugar. Finishes on a bit of a dry note, but has a great full mouthfeel. Good stuff but I don't think it's worth the price.

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2013 01:08:44 | More by notchucknorris

jtd1969

North Carolina

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

A - Carbonation is high. Deep Reddish Brown in color.

S -Plum, raisin, brown sugar, and some oak.

T - So good. Chocolate, raisin, prune, caramel, spice, lots of dark ripe fruit.some smokiness, oak finish. It had a good bitterness along with the mounds of fruit, yeast and smooth malt character. Very complex. It was so good.

M - Medium body with high carbonation. Extremely smooth. Delicious.

O - Beer is something special. So glad I got a pour from this outstanding keg of beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-03-2012 16:42:14 | More by jtd1969

tigg924

Massachusetts

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

ad on tap at the New World Tavern--Plymouth

Appearance: 1/4 inch head, amber in color, clear

Smell: dark fruit, chocolate, oak, and smoke

Taste: smoky start,followed by sweet dark cherries,other dark fruit, moderate oak and a big alcohol kick at the end.

Mouthfeel: medium carbonation, medium-light body,sweet and smoky--but not smoky enough for a smoke beer--with a bitter back bone and an alcohol rush at the end

Overall: Love the whole combination here. Truly an exceptional beer, the smoke and oak play delightfully with the great qualities of a BSDA. Am going back to find this again.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2012 13:10:21 | More by tigg924

kojevergas

California

3.73/5  rDev -12.9%
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

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.68/5  rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap at Mugs Alehouse in Brooklyn, NY

A: Pours a clear amber in color with a thin off-white head. The head reduces to a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light lacing is observed.

S: A very light aroma to this beer which I was a little surprised by... Caramel malt sweetness and just a hint of smoke.

T: The beer has a great caramel malt sweetness and a nice malty body but this is complemented by a very interesting note of smoke.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation.

O: One of my favorite styles of beer and this is a good offering - a little different/interesting with the hints of smoke. Quite easy to drink and definitely one to have again.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2012 16:31:25 | More by dbrauneis

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

beerbiatchMD

Maine

4.38/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Novare Res into 25 cL Allagash glass.

A: reddisha amber brown in color, small brown head with minimal lacing.

S: coffee, earthy roasty malts, woody and leathery, a hint of piney hops. Not as much Belgian spice as I remember from a bottle I've had previously.

T: very dark roasty grains, coffee, some oak, also a hint of tartness--maybe apple. A little bit boozy.

M: smooth mouthfeel, good carbonation, not a lot of alcohol heat even though the taste has some booziness to it.

O: Very good. It's a bigger beer but still very drinkable. Again, I remember the bottle I had a few months back (which would have had ~1 year of age on it) had some more Belgian yeast/spice notes. This one is good, but a bit more stoutish.

Serving type: on-tap

02-13-2012 09:38:08 | More by beerbiatchMD

CuriousMonk

Virginia

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

On tap at Rustico's poured in sampler glass. Pours a cloudy brownish-amber color with a small beige head. Aroma of brown sugar, vanilla, oak, caramel, and sweet fruity bread. The flavor precisely follows suit. Only very minor oxidation has set in and it takes nothing away from the experience. Medium-bodied, with a sweet, coating mouthfeel and low carbonation. Overall a very nice beer!

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2012 22:53:26 | More by CuriousMonk

UCLABrewN84

California

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

On tap at Boneyard Bistro in Sherman Oaks, CA.

Pours a clear copper color with a khaki head that settles to a thin cap. Thick rings of lace form on the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, toffee, and wood with some nutty aromas. Taste is of malt, toffee, brown sugar, wood, and alcohol. There is a noticeable alcohol warming in the back of the throat after each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a light crispness. Overall, this is a very good beer but I enjoyed the taste more than the smell.

Serving type: on-tap

02-05-2012 07:31:26 | More by UCLABrewN84

drabmuh

Maryland

3.78/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

At the time of this review, this is the #4 beer on the "Top Beers - Belgian Strong Dark Ale" list on beeradvocate.com. Served in a snifter.

Beer is dark brown, hazy, thin lazy head of tan bubbles, minimal lacing and carbonation.

Aroma is sweet, a little oaky / woody, some yeast. Malt.

Beer is lighter in body than expected, strong throughout though. The oakiness adds a sort of bitterness almost like a hop at the end of the palate, this beer is fine but not good enough for the cost in my opinion.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2012 04:24:04 | More by drabmuh

metter98

New York

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

A: The beer is dark reddish brown in color and poured with a thin beige head.
S: There are light aromas of dark fruits in the nose along with oak from the barrel aging.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste has complex flavors of dark fruits along with notes of oak.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The beer is well balanced and hides its alcohol well.

Serving type: on-tap

12-17-2011 04:24:09 | More by metter98

nickd717

California

3.95/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the 2009 Bistro Barrel Aged fest in Hayward, reviewed 11/14/2009.

Dark brown with purple hues and a small beige head.

Aroma is dark fruit, caramel, alcohol, and spices.

Flavor is nice but not quite worth the bottle price. Caramel malt, spice, raisin, fig, and vanilla.

Alcohol well-hidden. Dry finish with medium body and a pretty average mouthfeel.

Serving type: on-tap

08-26-2011 15:42:23 | More by nickd717

kawilliams81

Illinois

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

On tap at Finnegan's

A- dark amber to brown, with little head or lacing

S- get some roasted malts and coffee, get the oak faintly

T- Almost like a light stout. Coffee, roasted malts, some chocolate notes. The oak is noticeable but not overpowering. Slight bittern finish.

M- Medium bodied, creamy semi-dry finish.

O- Again with Allagash I am not all that impressed. Not sure what I was expecting with this beer but not sure I would get it again.

Serving type: on-tap

06-05-2011 16:48:59 | More by kawilliams81

ehammond1

California

4.3/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On Tap

Churchill's Pub & Grille
San Marcos, CA

Dark ruby and brown in the glass with a very minimal tan head. Leaves the entire glass wet with sticky lacing.

Aromas of dark fruits, namely raisins, figs, and cherries. A presence of tangy Belgian yeast. Smells powerful yet balanced and accessible.

Dark fruits, bitterness, sweet molasses, a touch of alcohol all come together for an incredibly flavorful beer.

Smooth, airy, luscious, divine mouthfeel. Tremendous!

A wonderful BSDA. I would be happy to drink this again anytime, anywhere. I'll drive out of my way to drink this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-05-2011 05:17:09 | More by ehammond1

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On Tap at The hulmeville Inn, served in a big ass goblet. I've been avoiding this beer for years and I don't quite know why?

Odyssey is a dark ass wheat beer looking pretty black yet comes off tree bark brown with a nice pretty off white/cream colored inch of foam that had some stickage on the glass, kinda coating. Great retention.

Smell is not very pungent, yet very rich and straight forward. Roasty/toasty malt, with a yeasty vibe and oak I guess, I did not really pick up on it, truthfully. Some earthy scents, a dark wheat beer is not to far off, something from bavaria maybe? I can't descrie it, rich though.

Taste is killer, it's so smooth, it's not really hot at all. I heard stories of hotness, but not here, just a hit. Dark wheat up front mixing in with light cocco and deep toasted malt, not really roasty. Oak is very minimal, but Ithink the blend of 1/2 oak, 1/2 stainless really smooths this sucka out. Id imagine this would be quite hot out of a fresh bottle.

like said, smooth, rich and decadent. I lied, there is a bit of heat after extreme warming but it is a afterthought with all this flava. Carb is minimal, but what's there keeps shit together.

Overall, I gotta try this again, cause im pissed I passed this up for so long. On tap this is a must for me now, alcohol be damned.

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2011 04:35:31 | More by onix1agr

confer

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Tap and Table.
A- Chestnut brown with red hints.
S- Smokey roasted malts. I am not a big fan of overly smokey beer and was not expecting much after smelling this beer but..
T- The taste was sweet dark fruits. There was not smokey taste or hint of alcohol and at 10% that is surprising. There is also a hint of orange. This was the first big beer that my wife also enjoyed.
MD - Creamy and unbelievably drinkable for a 10%. I could easily drink a few of these but that would prove to be dangerous.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2010 00:44:12 | More by confer

donniecuffs

New Jersey

4.08/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

At the Allagash promo recently at the Coppermine Pub in North Arlington, NJ. Into a tulip, poured a deep mahogany, with a thin beige head and decent lacing. Great nose: dark fruit/prunes, candi sugar, clove, blackberries. The taste was sweet first, dissolving to spiciness, and a very dry finish, which left me cottonmouth afterwards (a little too much so). Impressively, no hint of the alcohol content. The feel was very smooth and full-bodied, with very little carbonation. A pleasant flavor mix, but the cottonmouth after-effect had me reaching for another offering after downing this one. Nonetheless, another great job by the Allagash crew.

Serving type: on-tap

07-03-2010 17:50:28 | More by donniecuffs

Seanibus

California

3.9/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours murky brown with a vast off tan head. The aroma is fruity, apple, pineapple, with a phenolic edge as it warms. Flavor is dark and grainy, wheat and oats, with spiced pear, apricot, roasted apple. The cereal character is huge. The finish is mellow and smooth. Good but strange.

Serving type: on-tap

05-16-2010 14:27:06 | More by Seanibus

rfgetz

New Jersey

3.6/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a murky reddish brown in color with minimal fluff of head but leaves good lacing. Scent is of sweet malts, touches or fresh grain, earth, oak, light spice and floral hops. Taste is a rather undewhelming blend of dark crsty bread, sweet malts, very mild spicing - failry weak tasting. Lighter side of Medium body but somewhat watery. Just doesnt do much for me, mild without being complex, lacks assertiveness and a good oak quality from he aging.

Serving type: on-tap

05-10-2010 18:36:01 | More by rfgetz

chaz01

Ohio

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

Draft served at Jake Melnick's in Downtown Chicago, served in a snifter type glass.

A: Dark Brown and opaque with a nice thick head.

S: Lots of oak and maltiness in the aroma.

T: Like the aroma, picking up oak and woody bark flavors in the taste with a little dry cocoa and dark fruit flavors.

M: Good carbonation and medium bodied -- not as heavy as the dark color might indicate.

D: No signs of the 10% ABV, very smooth going down. As the bartender joked, "This is so smooth, I'd give to my mom". Would pair well with sharp cheese or a hearty stew.

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2010 11:21:06 | More by chaz01

4000qtrap

Missouri

4.2/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Source/Serving: Draft

Smell: Raisins, dark cherries, dark chocolate, nutmeg, a little licorice and even some honey.

Taste: Semisweet vanilla, slightly oaked chocolate malts, and raisins up front are awesome. Plateaus at some roasted malts in the middle that has a punch of sweet, ripe prunes and caramelized wood followed by some pepper and more roasted malts and yeastiness. Finish is cocoa, semidry, oaky, and ripe prunes.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2010 04:45:54 | More by 4000qtrap

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

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

Draft pour into a 10.5 oz tulip, batch #1328. $7.50.

A: Dark, nearly black body becomes a gorgeous garnetty plum hue when backlit. Small light brown head that builds up nicely but is gone quickly. A satisfying amount of patchy lace sticks to the glass.

S & T: At first, the aroma of the Odyssey seems to be slightly one-dimensional, especially considering the added complexity I expected after doing my homework. (Apparently, a portion of this Belgian-style dark wheat beer is aged in oak barrels and is then blended with another portion that spent over six months in stainless steel. Sounds good, huh?) But as this beer warms, it really opens up. Roasted malts of chocolate and fresh espresso. Semi herbal and floral hops. Earthy yeast contributions. Smoked wood, maybe bourbon soaked, dark fruit showcasing unripe plum. Small sour notes are present in the background. Despite my growing appreciation for this brew, there is still less depth here than a premier BSDA would provide.

M: Light carbonation and medium body. Silky smooth. In fact, just a little light for my preference. Even at 10% ABV, no sign of alcohol on the tongue or nose.

D: The Odyssey drinks very well on draft. Now I want to find a bottle and see how that compares. I have a feeling the mouthfeel will perk up and this great brew will become even better.

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2010 23:42:23 | More by FeDUBBELFIST