Allagash Interlude - Allagash Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A cidery aroma and appearance, something Cantillon. Some lace. But more enjoyable on the palate, malt and incredibly subdued from being wild and funky. Wine and woody taste, an easy drink, far better accompanied by food. Spicy and herbal.Not sweet, a fine beverage.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2006 00:19:49 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2005 vintage. Radiant mandarin orange with a sparkling visage thanks to an impressive number of Champagne-like bubbles. Things become much more quiet at the two minute mark, but not before a stunning crown of alabaster foam has been created. I can't think of a single American brewery whose heads are this consistently Belgianesque. A modest amount of sea foam lace graces the glass.

Brettanomyces has such a distinctive aroma that it was instantly noted as beer exited bottle. The flavor profile might be a different story, but at this point in the proceedings, I wish it had been left out. I was looking forward to smelling what the Belgian yeast and the Merlot and Sirah oak barrel aging were able to contribute. It's still a remarkably appealing nose, but it might have been stunning with less barnyard funk.

I feel the same way about the flavor profile. I like wild yeast just fine, but there's no point in attempting to add other, more delicate, flavors to a beer when they have to struggle mightily to be noticed. Having said that, the funkiness is controlled rather than out of control. It's still possible to appreciate the incredible craftsmanship of yet another outstanding, outstandingly drinkable, Allagash ale.

I agree with the brewers that the beer has 'remarkable wine-like qualities'. It seems to me, though, that it's more white wine-like than it is reminiscent of Merlot or Sirah. There's a tart white grape vibe motoring along beneath all the yeast, with unripe pears firmly ensconced in the sidecar. A welcome clove spiciness is the only evidence of the traditional Belgian yeast strain. I don't believe that I've had a double-yeasted beer prior to this one.

I can't believe that much candi sugar was used. The beer is minimally sweet early and dries out considerably as each mouthful progresses. It finishes crisp and tart, like biting into, again, an unripe pear. As far as any qualities that might have been gained from the oak barrel aging, I can appreciate only an indeterminate woodiness that I wouldn't have noted if I hadn't known the details of the beer's creation.

The body/mouthfeel more than holds up its end of the bargain. It isn't what I would consider stunning, but intense scrutiny fails to find any real flaws. It's amazingly supple and bathes the mouth in an appealing fashion. A perfect amount and feel to the carbonation is the icing on the BSPA cake.

Interlude may not rise to the stratospheric heights of some of the brewery's other offerings, but it isn't far behind. I'd like to see them mix things up from year to year, perhaps adding a little less Brettanomyces next time. I hope they continue to push the brewing envelope because I almost always love the result. Allagash is a national treasure.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2007 21:41:50 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.47/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I had actually missed picking this one up the last time it was around, mostly because I had always seen other things that I had wanted to try more. This time though I grabbed a bottle the other day as soon as I saw it in the store. It was a January 2007 vintage, 750ml corked and caged bottle, which I was thrilled to be finally sampling. Served slightly above cellar temperature into an oversized wine glass, I proceeded to indulge myself.

Appearance - The pour was very nice with a ruby colored liquid being presented in front of me. Nice clarity as there was almost no haze to it at all, and the overall look was that if you had been looking through a gemstone, very nice indeed. A two inch high, off white colored head then rose up from the depths on this one and settled down nicely to about a finger high. Good retention left at least a half an inch layer throughout the entire session and coating amounts of side glass lace were visible throughout. Nice carbonation could be seen bubbling up throughout the session and the overall look was just very nice.

Smell - The aroma caught me off guard at first to be honest. Rich, sour, tart, notes of Brett were the first thing I picked up on, and to be honest I was not expecting them at all. It was amazingly rich and complex, with a beautiful full nose to it. Lots of sugar to be found under the Brett, sweet hints of caramel and syrup were everywhere. A touch of cherries I could pick up as well. There was no oak at first, but after letting it warm up a few minutes, the oak hints really started to come out nicely and wrapped up with the sour funk, to produce a really wonderfully sweet, spicy, and tart aroma.

Taste - The flavor did not have the same level of sour funk that I experienced in the nose, it had much more of an oaky, sweet, and sherry like flavor to it would be the best way to describe it. It rolled across the tongue with the sweet essence of caramel, and lots of spiced oak like flavors, rolling through, some of the sourness could be picked up after a few minutes; however it was fleeting, as the sweetness came through and pushed it back. There was a nice touch of candy like flavor, especially in the finish as it rolled on back and left a smooth, coating follow though.

Mouthfeel - Very nice, medium bodied ale, it definitely was a little weightier then I thought it would be. Nice carbonation throughout the entre session, it never really felt dull, or slick at all. Nice consistency with an awesome follow through.

Drinkability - For a 9.5% Belgian strong, it was spot on. I did not pick up any alcohol in this one at all, and in fact it was smooth as silk. Rich creamy and complex flavors were the norm here and the Mouthfeel was superb, really letting the flavors pop on the tongue,

Overall I thought this was excellent. Definitely a different take on the style and the complexity was just excellent overall. I was shocked by how the aroma differed from the flavor though both were well above par. It's a pricy one at $20 a bottle, but it is something that is well worth a try. Another winner from Allagash.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2008 10:28:44 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

4.13/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The pour from a 2009 bottle is a hazy light amber color with a finger's worth of white foam.

S: A very nice lactic acid presence combined with a nice must and barnyard funkiness. Some apple, white grapes, and mild citrus round out the nose.

T: The flavor has a nice lemony lactic acidity to go along with a mild but impressive funkiness. The grapes are present in the flavor as well, providing a nice vinous character that works well with the oak.

M: As I previously mentioned the beer has a nice dryness and tannic character which I enjoy in a wild ale. The carbonation level is moderate and works well.

D: A nice offering from Allagash. I found it to be slightly more enjoyable than Confluence and some of their other beers. I'd definitely recommend this one and would have no problem with having it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2010 06:00:41 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark golden copper with a fairly slight head that leaves a good ring around the top of the beer. The aroma is quite nice, with a lot of citrus, green apple, ripe fruits, Brett, and a bit of acid. Taste is quite similar. A lot going on here, and in addition to the nose I picked up a bit from the barrels. Mouthfeel is very nice. Some puckering qualities, but nothing too harsh. A bit sweet in addition to the sour. This would be more of an everyday drinking sour. Very drinkable all around.

Serving type: on-tap

03-16-2010 10:27:17 | More by Thorpe429

UCLABrewN84

California

4.38/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap for Allagash night at Boneyard Bistro in Sherman Oaks, CA.

Pours a slightly hazy golden color with an off-white head that settles to a film on top of the beer. A foamy curtain of lace forms on the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grain, grape jelly/jam, and some grape juice aromas. Taste is the same with a nice fruity flavor that lingers on the finish. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer and I am really enjoying the grape aromas and flavors I am getting from this one.

Serving type: on-tap

03-22-2012 05:14:49 | More by UCLABrewN84

brentk56

North Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a hazy amber color with a significant billowy head that sticks and laces well

Smell: Each sniff brings out a different element - tart green apples; Brett funk character; vinous Merlot/Syrah elements; cough syrup, too

Taste: Starts with a fruity apricot and plum flavor that grows increasingly tart by mid-palate, but also displays an undertone of toffee; after the swallow, the tart apple and Brett flavors rush forward with a bit of barnyard funkand other earthy/oaky elements; the vinous elements don't show up much until the very end, and they remain subtle but distinct

Mouthfeel: Medium body with tingly Belgian carbonation; some warmth on the finish

Overall: A serious beer to contemplate carefully

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2007 01:44:17 | More by brentk56

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.05/5  rDev -27.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours a clear, coppery body with a medium-sized, ivory-colored head.

Smell: Aroma dominated by Brett with a dailed up musk factor and old, tired oak vessels with a lesser note of sour apple.

Taste: Some malts and a syrupy sugar sweetness get quickly dislodged by a powerful tangy tartness and coarse astringent tannins. Splash of sour apple vinegar. Slight vinousnicity. Touch of sour-tasting yeast, a small hint of booze. Oaky finish with a slap of acidity and chock full of tannins. Argh!

Mouthfeel: A hair above medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. Quite the tongue-coating mouthfeel.

Drinkability: Here's my problem, I found it to be overly tart, sharply so, and a bit heavy on the oak. For me, this left the overall taste to be rather disjointed, with nothing really coming together for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2008 19:17:02 | More by ChainGangGuy

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

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

Bottle: Poured a deep hazy and cloudy amber color ale with a medium white bubbly head with minimal retention. Aroma of Brett is quite strong with some sourness and some sweet white wine characteristic. Taste is quite sour with some tart and oak flavouring. The wine oak aging can definitely be notice but does not overtake the beer. Funky Brett brings a nice finish to this beer. Alcohol is not noticeable but I’m not sure that the high level of ABV really brings anything more to this beer and would probably have preferred a slightly lower ABV (6.5%-7.5%). Another great American wild ale that even though is excellent is still one notch below the RR Temptation.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2006 15:25:26 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Very few beers deliver on the promise of the lable, nor the hype. This beer exceeds all expectations. Though I'm not sure about the Belgian Strong Pale characterization, the beer is great at any style. Distinctly Belgian aromas (tartness and sourness) with a musty, farmhouse astringent that challenges the tastebuds. The challenge of the brew stops short of agression or harsh, instead tempered with aged hops, oak barrels and a complex vineous roundness. The beer is well matured and balanced offering rich, over-rippened pineapples, peaches and pears for sweetness. The alcohols are well woven into the fruity, spiciness with merged with nuttiness, oakiness, and strong berry tartness. This is one of the better beers sampled in quite some time, and just in time for the spring season.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2007 14:49:20 | More by BEERchitect

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Stunning! From the fruity Brettanomyces nose to the lightly chalky and vinous notes in the finish, Allagash's Interlude seduces!

With it's hazy-but-glowing orange body and creamy yellowed-white cap it beckons! The head retention is quite good, bolstered by streams of very-fine gently-effervescent natural bubbles rising from beneath. It eventually drops to a wide collar and whispy surface covering, but the initial walls of solid lace remain.

The aroma is the siren song here; beautifully delicate, bright, fruity, and funky all at the same time. "Barnyard" is just too ugly of a word to describe the rich Brettanomyces character, yet it's perfectly justified. Wet-straw, horses, mud, a bit of manure, and damp wood all come together with a waft of juicy summer fruit (strawberries, tangerine, apricot, papaya) to make one beautiful, delicate, but wide-ranging portrait.

In the mouth it's gently effervescent, caressing the tongue more than bristling against it. It's light-medium in body; supple rather than crisp, and slick across the palate.

The flavor starts with a combination of softly sweet, just slightly honeyish malt, and juicy fruit (apricot, tangerine, papaya, melon). It's intense with sugar and tartness and fruit! As it warms and the tartness softens and the sweetness spreads, the woody/earthy/funky character of the Brett becomes apparent. It may be an acquired taste, but once you're hooked it's enough to lead you blindly straight into the depths of hell. Quite enticing!!! The woodiness and vinous character of the oak barrels appears in the finish, along with a sublime bitterness and touch of yeasty chalkiness. It lays in the mouth, but dully, and without really disturbing anything. The bitterness fades, and really all that's left is some chalkiness and oaky dryness.

I remember thinking when I bought this that it was expensive, but having tasted it I'd gladly pay more - although I hope I don't have to as I intend to buy more!!! It ranks right up there with the other Brett and oak enhanced ales coming out of the US, and in my opinion it's a little more rounded, softer, and more drinkable. The alcohol is never noticeable, and there's enough Brett character to satisfy even the die-hard fan without becoming sharp. It's rounded, well-balanced, and interesting! Superb!

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2007 02:56:05 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in an oversized wine glass at Durty Nellie's.

Finally getting another shot at Interlude, and it's on-tap. (Interestingly, the news that they've got some Darkness kegs downstairs intrigues me further...) It pours a slightly hazy golden orange topped by a quarter-finger of white foam. The nose comprises apple cider, light Brett, mandarin oranges, lemon zest, and cinnamon. The taste holds notes of lime, orange zest, light nutmeg, pepper, mild Brett, and a few sparse cobwebs. The body is a light-ish medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a slightly oily feel. Overall, a nice bit o' wildness, but a tad mild on the flavor (I was looking for just a pinch more pop, so to speak). Good times, nonetheless.

Serving type: on-tap

01-26-2011 03:54:20 | More by TMoney2591

metter98

New York

4.2/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Hazy golden yellowish-orange in color, the beer poured with a finger high off white head that quickly faded away, leaving only a ring of bubbles on the surface around the edge of the glass.
S: There are aromas of sourness along with strong notes of red wine from the barrel aging.
T: Similar to the smell, the beer has a light amount of sourness with some flavors of red wine from the barrel aging.
M: It feels a bit shy of medium-bodied on the palate with a light to moderate amount of carbonation and a moderate amount of dryness.
O: Although the alcohol is well hidden from this beer, the amount of dryness lends it to being more of a sipper.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2012 04:32:54 | More by metter98

WesWes

New York

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

The beer pours a golden color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is great. It has a wonderful mix of pale, Bret yeast, and oak barrel scents. It's tart, but nothing too intense. The oak mellows it out quite a bit. The taste is exceptional. It has a warm pale malt flavor that goes down easy and finishes sour with excellent oak notes. It has quite a complex palate. The mouthfeel is good. It is a full bodied beer with good carbonation. This is a damn fine beer. There is definately a lot going on here. The flavors are very intense and blend well together.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2007 16:53:51 | More by WesWes

Mora2000

Texas

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

Pours a murky orangish-brown with a white head. The aroma is light sour with oak, sour apple and vanilla. The flavor is tart apple with oak, lemon and vanilla. The beer finishes very dry, making you want to drink more and more of it. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A very nice sour that has a lot of flavors besides just sourness.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2010 22:00:02 | More by Mora2000

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.1/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

On-tap 1/3/2013 at Track 84 in Warwick, RI, served in a tulip glass.

A: The beer is a deep gold color, with a short off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains grapes and other fruits, wild Belgian yeast and caramelized malts.

T: The taste starts out sweet flavors of grapes, caramel and citrus followed by a mild tartness. Then some breadiness comes in from Belgian yeast and a heart but not too heavy male character. There’s a mild but complementary hops presence which brings a good balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and very smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: Tasty, goes down dangerously easy, not too filling, strong kick, good representation of style, this is a very solid and complex Belgian-style beer to drink for a long time.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2013 16:55:38 | More by TheManiacalOne

Gueuzedude

Arizona

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

2005 bottling, Sampled May 2006
As I pour this beer I get an intense, bright, fruity aromatic note that most reminds me of strawberries. The beer appearance is an orangish, red-gold color, fairly hazy and topped by a frothy tan colored head. The up front fruitiness, while still in the nose, is drowned out by the austere, funky Brett notes in the main nose of this beer. Notes of berries intermingle with notes of earth and damp wood, as well as a note of sour acidity that is almost, though not quite, reminiscent of lemons. The intense fruitiness is really the striking thing, at least to me, about the aroma the typical funky Brett notes are of course here, but that intense, sweet berry fruit character is quite a pleasant balance to the funkiness.

The taste is initially pretty darn tart. I was not expecting this level of sour, though it is quite mild for most intentionally soured beers, but not necessarily ones that advertise the use of Brettanomyces. Again that berry note is here in the taste, it starts up in the middle of a quaff and lingers on through to the finish. Notes of green grapes and tart apples join the fresh berry notes to round out the fruit flavors that I find in the flavors. I wonder if the berry notes are from the aging in the wine barrels, but it seems so vibrant that I am just not convinced that it is from the wine barrel aging. The beer is fairly light, especially when one considers the alcohol content, and is easily quaffed, yet tends to linger and lightly stick to the palate. Of course there is a solid Brett character here as well, though it is not as prominent in the flavor as it was in the nose. Notes of musty cobwebs linger on almost ephemerally in the mouth as sharp almost urea-like notes cut through, but can not quite vanquish them entirely.

What an enjoyable brew this is. The balance of this beer is enlightening; fresh vibrant fruit notes intermingle with the funky wild yeast notes and provide an entirety to this tipple that the individual components could not hope to achieve.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2006 03:02:36 | More by Gueuzedude

emerge077

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

January 2007 release.

Decided to finally open this bottle after having a couple glasses of Orval. It seemed to be a logical progression somehow.

Body is a high-clarity amber orange, tinted the color of clover honey. A few lazy bubbles work their way into ascension. Once the bottle was opened at cellar temperature, it foamed, and weakly threatened to gush. Into a tulip glass it foamed up to the brim, then rapidly faded to a skim. Not alot of lacing or great head retention, but the color is nice.

Cheesy, mildly wild aroma. Celery, damp stones, soft ripened cheese at first.

Complex flavors, buttery cheese, vaguely fruity, straw, wild yeast definitely. It's on the restrained end of the wild spectrum, but lends enough to make it interesting (with the odd band-aid note). Honey and pear in the aftertaste. Not getting much sourness or even tartness. Very well balanced and integrated overall. I'll be getting another one of these for a special occasion, I just had to see if it lived up to the hype, and it does. For fans of wild Belgians, Saisons, etc.

I'm guessing this would pair well with a blue cheese, or Morbier and pears.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2007 04:42:22 | More by emerge077

Halcyondays

California

4.38/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

25.4 oz. wine-style bottle, bought for $19.99 at Hollingshead's Deli in Orange, CA, Vintage January 2007,

A: Pours a slightly cloudy, light orange, with a fizzy white head, which hisses at first pour, with fair retention, though later pours leave a nice film after the head dissipates.

S: Interesting smell, banyard funk, what they call horse blanket, with grape juice, and strawberry, cherry.

T: Very complex taste. Have the BSPA background, with an estery taste, mixed with the funkiness, wet hay, and saddle leather from the brett. Coming in not as robust as I thought from reading the label, are sweet wine notes, tasty grape and strawberry. A great mix of flavours, it works really well. The sourness is light, pretty mild, but it's there, but just adds to the complexity of the beer.

M: Slightly acidic, tannic, and bone-dry from the brett character, but smooth and easy to drink. The sour character almost makes it refreshing for a 9.5% beer.

D: A great beer by Allagash, but at the price, I can't see myself buying it except for once or twice when it comes out each year. Still, it is a beer every craft fan should try at least once. One of the most complex beers I have ever had for sure. Thanks to Kenny at Hollingshead's for having the last stash of this at his Deli, I can't find it anywhere else in the Southland.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2007 19:15:16 | More by Halcyondays

jwc215

New Jersey

3.53/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

August 2008 vintage:

750 ml cage-corked bottle, poured into a wide-mouth glass.

Pours orange amber with a thin white head that eventually becomes a wide patch. Vanishing lacing slide down the glass.

The smell is funky/sour with oak, some bready notes and a peppery spicing.

The taste is not as sour as expected. There is a malty sweetness - touch of honey - though some sour holds in. It becomes grapey/vinuous with plenty of pepper. Finishes warm and semi-dry.

It is light-to-medium bodied with effervescent carbonation, though it becomes a touch syrupy within that.

Even after about a year, the heat of the alcohol shows. I do like the aroma.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2009 03:46:46 | More by jwc215

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A growler filled last night (6/19) at Capone's. It was opened last night for a glass or two, so this has been exposed to air on separate occasions.

A: The ale is a brilliant hazy orange-esque color. Brown highlights darken the ale in patches. The head has been the biggest casualty, never building up in any manner.

S: The ale's tart aroma is as strong as ever, showing off a huge batch of brett that is just waiting to make you pucker up. A dry red wine aroma wafts out of the tartness to further dry out the nose.

T: The combination of brettanomyces and red wine barrels is deadly! The distinct flavors from each meld together to create an incredibly complex drink. The brett creates a barren landscape of tartness that few things can emerge from. The flavors are intense and scalding, stripping the tongue of its ability to taste. As the tastebuds recover, another dominant flavor emerges to counter the brett. The red wine barrel aging has imparted an intensely dry vinous flavor to the beer, giving it a unique red grape finish. In between the brett and wine, the beer shows off a funky saison-like consistency, but only if you allow it to warm in your mouth. If cold, that component of the ale will slip away undetected.

M: The mouthfeel is so complex that words don't seem to do it justice. There are so many big flavors at play here that you can not be disapoointed.

D: The ale is satisfying from first to last, with a flavor explosion that is rarely even seen in a beer. The ale is pricy but it will knock your socks off.

Serving type: growler

06-21-2007 01:09:30 | More by akorsak

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The cap blew off the bottle with a slight twist to the cork....a minor amount spilled out. That said, there is little head, but it has staying power and leaves a gentle lace on the glass. Light amber and crystal clear.

Some sour cherry aromas, all-spice, cinnamon, slight nutmeg; some alcohol warmth in the aroma also.

More sour than most American Belgians (is that an oxymoron?). Much spiciness as described in the aroma is present in the flavor as well. This is an extraordinarily complex ale. The aftertaste lasts for a long time.

A potent concoction with a lovely blend of interesting flavors and smells. This is a strong ale and it shows in the alcohol warmth.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2007 19:51:34 | More by smcolw

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in a tulip glass)

A- This beer has a crystal clear light reddish hued body with a sea of swirling tiny bubbles to support a sticky off-white head. There is a good bit of lacing after each sip.

S- This beer has a smell of fresh rain leading into a musty light fruit hint. There is a note of wet wood and a nice vinegar note to follow up. A note of red apples comes through in the vinegar as the beer warms.

T- The soft sweet malty hint blends into a dry red wine tannin flavors with alight chalk hint to it. The beer finish with an odd but tasty plastic flavor almost like cheesy hops. The finish has some tastes of nectarines and apples skins blended together as it warms.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a light sticky texture and no real alcohol heat.

D- This beer has some nice mysterious complexity and a good flavor but the plastic note at the end is a bit odd yet interesting.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2007 19:17:49 | More by rhoadsrage

Wasatch

Utah

4.33/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to NutBrown for this brew.

Jan 2007 Bottle
750ml
Caged/Corked

Nice POP upon opening.

Poured into a chalice a nice slightly cloudy deep orange color, real nice carbonation, nice little creamy off-white head, which leaves some little islands and sticky lacing. The nose is malty, yeasty, nice touch of oak, and some caramel. The taste is slighlty sweet, malty/yeasty, some oakyness/caramel. Full body, a well rounded/complex brew. Very drinkable, this one is very tasty, highly recommended. Thanks Alan.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2008 19:31:19 | More by Wasatch

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at Armsby Abbey.

A: Hazy golden wheat orange color with quickly fading fluffy head.

N: Some sour fruit, a little yeast with some bready malts, slight funk.

T: Taste starts right out with some funk, sour fruit, some yeast and some bready malts. A nice sour fruit taste, not too heavy but definitely there and the main character. It starts to get a little chewy as it goes down. Some sour cherry specifically, with a little creaminess. there is also hints of oak and vanilla.

M: Medium to lighter body with decent carbonation (bottle conditioned was better I think).

F: Very dry finish with some lingering sour fruit and bready malts, a very little funk, but mostly the long dry bready taste.

I think the beer is better with bottle conditioning than on tap. It's one of those rare things.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2010 17:16:35 | More by jlindros