Allagash Interlude - Allagash Brewing Company

kojevergas

California

3.3/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Allagash Interlude August 2008 vintage. 750ml brown glass bottle with hood and wire cap over a cork served into an EKU 28 snifter in me friend's gaff in high altitude Castle Rock, Colorado. Expectations are extremely high; I love sours and I love Allagash. Acquired at Red Carpet Wine in Glendale, California. No best before date.

Served a bit cooler than room temperature and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with very little vigor as I didn't want to punish it too much.

Not paired with food.

Cork pops out nice and loud, suggesting good carbonation even after four years.

A: Pours a 2.5 finger beige colour head - fairly thin - with some fair cream and good overall retention. Poor lacing. Colour is a vibrant but nontransparent fig-amber with orange hues. It's a tough colour to nail down. Floating yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. It's got a good colour to it; I'm looking forward to trying it.

Sm: Fig, orange (not orange peel), biscuity yeast, wild yeast, bacteria, bretts, hints of mango, tropical fruit esters - likely from the background subtle hops, some floral character (also likely from the hops), and fruity sugars. It's nicely subtle all around, certainly a sweet quality. Tropical yet very fresh. Some clean unobtrusive malts. Some booze might break through a bit there at the end; I'll see in the taste. The aroma does get stronger as it warms.

T: Fruit is what I notice first - orange peel, orange, and perhaps mango. Some clove. I'm shocked at how restrained the sourness seems. It's not horribly yeasty. I'm curious which brett strain was used; it walks a fine line between sour and funky - but invests seriously in neither. This is somewhat disappointing. Not as full bodied as it needs to be. Malts are clean and unobtrusive. Biscuity yeast does come through, but not as much as anticipated (or wanted). It has some subtlety, but does feel pretty simple for a sour from Allagash. I have to admit I expected better. No oak comes through. Maybe some white wine hints. The floral character from the hops is nice. It definitely needs more fig and more of the dark fruit promise that was present on the aroma. I do like it.

Mf: Undercarbonated. Smooth and wet. I'd like more crispness. It's just too damned thin to support the flavours. Pretty light on the palate.

Dr: I expected a phenomenal sour, and that isn't what I got. It's rather pricey for what it is. It hides its ABV extraordinarily well, but I'd sooner take a more affordable sour; I'm looking forward to the Supplication I'm drinking next. It's drinkable and I like it, but it just isn't world class. A decent offering from Allagash, but nowhere near the quality suggested by the hype. Maybe the four years of aging reduced the quality. In any case I won't be getting it again.

This tastes more like a farmhouse ale or a saison than a true sour or wild ale.

Low B-

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 00:42:23 | More by kojevergas

scruffwhor

Illinois

4/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2011 vintage.

Good bubbling, but not much in the way head or foam. Bronzey/copppery color.

Sweet green grapes, and ripe purple grape aromas. Some wine and some wood for an overall faintly tart fruity and earthy aroma.

Tart upfront and in the middle. Tart grapes and young red wine f;avrs. Then some woody, toasted water cracker flavors pop up to help round out the funk and Earth. Not too tart, and just a little warm. This was a nice sipper with great carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 00:50:44 | More by scruffwhor

Tilley4

Tennessee

4.6/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I picked this bottle up while on business down in Atlanta... It's hot and steamy here today and I spotted this in the back of the fridge and said, "Aha!" I've been looking forward to this one since I bought it and now is as good a time as any to give it a try...

Into my Allagash glass it goes... Out comes a glowing golden brew with lots of carbonation and a persistent, if smallish, foamy head... The stream of tiny bubbles erupting from the bottom of the glass is particularly fun to watch..

The pungent aromas of the beer are noticed right away... A sharp red wine aspect is immediately recognized as well as tiny bits of the barrel and the oft' remarked leather and horse blanket aromas so common in these wild ales... Quite intriguing and very enticing... This has one of the best aromas in the Wild Ale style that I've ever experienced...

Sipping this ale reveals a sharp biting sourness (although not one of legendary proportions as found in La Folie) that mingles with an earthy musty funkiness from the Brett and quite a bit of the red wine aspect... the beer seems to constantly change with every sip... I'm glad that the sourness isn't overwhelming as I, for me, it would take away from a magnificent brew... This has the right balance of mustiness and sourness to make it very memorable... The ABV is slightly perceptible but doesn't detract anything at all... Instead, it merely enhances the experience... A nice glow to the cheeks is felt and enjoyed after about half a glass...

A world class effort from the folks at Allagash... How I wish I could get their brews here at home... I don't think I've ever had a bad beer from this brewery and this one lives up to its reputation... I enjoyed every sip of this...

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2012 19:37:56 | More by Tilley4

KMcG

Virginia

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

A: copper color, 1-2 fingers of head. There is great retention and lace

S: The aroma is a mix of light red table wine and molasses, with a hint of cherry and funk. I can pick out some slight vinegar.

T: Slight tart, some honey and more balanced than the aroma. Oaky finish and dry.

M: Moderate, prickly carbonation, and dry like a champagne

This is a special beer with complex aroma and flavors, but easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 17:39:09 | More by KMcG

merc7186

New York

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

I had this beer from the bomber poured into a tulip glass.

I had the 09 and 11 side by side.

A: Amber, Golden Straw Hue, Passes Most Light, White Head Ring, Some Lacing (both beers)

S: 09 Wine Barrels, 11 Wine Barrels and Brett

T: 09 Wine, Tart Cherries, 11 Brett, Wine, Cherries

M: Decent Carbonation (both), Medium Bodied, Tart, 11 Mild Funky

Overall, the 11 is a better beer IMO but both are solid.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 01:30:00 | More by merc7186

ThePorterSorter

New York

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

we have both the 09 and 11 (with Brett) side by side.

the beer pours a slightly dark amber and smells of apple cider vinegar. the 11 smells like Jesus with potent wine notes, some funk, and strong sourness. The 11 packs a super B.O. pungency as well. Both taste excellent with strong notes of apple cider vinegar sourness and malt sweetness. The alcohol is more pronounced in the 11 than the 09, but both are quite drinkable. This is definitely one of the most drinkable sours. I would recommend a warmer cellar temperature for drinking, but it's still a very flavorful ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 00:56:53 | More by ThePorterSorter

sliverX

New York

4.15/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Side by side

2009 nice light copper minimal bubbles around edge
Smells of a nice acidic sour. Slight barnyard stink.
Taste is a sour, acidic, slight green Apple skin.
Mouthfeel is very bright carbonation. Overall a nice sour, vinegar, and apple domination.

2011 same look, smell is more subdued version. Taste is a more relaxed acidic brett version. Same mouthfeel.
Personally I like the 09 better but I'm sure if we sat on the '11 for 2 years it would be just as nice.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 00:54:47 | More by sliverX

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

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

750 oz bottle poured into a pint glass (unfortunately) at cellar temperature.

L - Slightly cloudy medium-to-deep amber color with a 3 finger white bubbly head that dissipates fairly rapidly. Nice carbonation as far as I can see. A little bit of lacing.

S - Lots of stuff going on here. I get sweet aromas of apple juice, strawberries, and grapes; sour vinegary aromas; the difficult-to-describe pungency of oak and red wine; and the definitely-apparent funk of Brettanomyces. There’s a little bit of alcohol apparent here, as well. Very intriguing smell.

T - Probably more balanced than I expected from the aroma. There are the definite sweet flavors of apples and grapes, followed by a slightly sour taste, and finishing up with the funky barnyard flavors of Brett. A little bit of booziness comes through here.

F - Medium-bodied with a nice tingling sensation from the carbonation and a crisp, dry finish. Creamy mouthfeel at times, especially with some mouth-swishing, and a definite throat-warming sensation from the alcohol.

O - In my mind, this is a great example of a wild ale. It smells great and tastes well-balanced between sweet, sour, and funky flavors. I was expecting this to be a bit more sour than it actually was, but this lack of sourness (and the resulting balance) seemed to make the beer more drinkable and less heartburn-inducing. Maybe a little pricey to get more than a couple of times, but absolutely a very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 05:00:42 | More by BlackBelt5112203

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

4.48/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a corked bomber into an oversized wine glass (bottle marked September 2011)- pours a hazy orange/copper color with less than a finger of head, minimal retention and a few spots of lacing.

Smell's very tart- signature wild ale scent. A lot of Brett funk (!!), a bit of booze, and a hint of cabernet.

Taste is more balanced- not as tart as the smell would lead me to believe. The Brett tartness hits up front and rides through the whole taste but is usurped by sweet malt, maybe a bit of candi sugar, and finishes with a surprisingly noticeable red wine flavor.

Feel matches the taste profile very well- light to medium body with only a soft carbonation. Rolls over the tongue; this is an exceptional beer. Given what other exceptional wild ales cost (Consecration is $13 for a 12 oz), paying 20 bucks for this is reasonable. I'm using it celebrate and I encourage you to do the same : D

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2012 01:29:45 | More by Hopdaemon39

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

Chaney

District of Columbia

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

This was certainly an expensive little guy, but from what I remember, it's well worth it.

Served in a tulip.

The cork popped out rather aggressively.

A: It poured a very cloudy orange with a small wispy, foamy head that lingered throughout the session. Beautiful!

S: Sure, it had the distinctive sour apple flair, but that wasn't too overpowering. It seemed to be balanced out by a rather aggressive lactose sugar quality when I dig my nose into the glass farther.

T: The sourness in this is not upfront at all. In fact, there is a very malty, brown sugar-like flair to this that is definitely the anti-Weyerbacher "Riserva!" The finish is only slightly dry, with a bit of lingering brown sugar. I actually could have used a bit more sourness.

M: I've tried Aud Bruins that were MUCH more sour than this, but I actually dug it in this setting. Once again, this had a very milky, yet champagne-like texture that I enjoyed, but I got a bit bored with it rather quickly.

O: Was this as good as I remembered it? No, not really.... but it was still quite good. This was almost like a brown ale that went slightly sour (in a good way). I guess that is not totally fair here since I guess the whole point of the wine barrel-aging is so that the harsh acidity would mellow out, making this sour, but not primed for the sourhead.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 23:09:54 | More by Chaney

dejrrma

Georgia

4.13/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011 Printed on Bottle. 750ml for $19. poured into a dogfish head snifter.

a- Pours an orangey amber with a fluffly white head, creamy top, and thick lacing.

s- red wine, green apples, tartness, alcohol

t- not as sour as the smell led me to believe, but there's a bit of tartness. there's some of the acidic apple smell with the wine definitely coming through. a little malt/sweetness, and yeast/brett is present. there's also a bit of woodiness. the alcohol is noticeable.

m- nice carbonation a body like white wine. its crisp but wet and ends with a nice dryness and the warming of the alcohol.

o- i was expecting something much more sour than this, and i was slightly disappointed.but the beer is still delcious and i think i might go get another bottle to age.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2012 22:35:23 | More by dejrrma

Fubar1453

Massachusetts

4.48/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2009 Vintage uncorked on valentines day.

A: Golden orange with a good creamy head.

S: Red wine and apple cider. Really interesting.

T: Same as the smell, its a sour red wine mixed with apple cider. Absolutely no alcohol. The sourness lingers in the back of the throat and I found myself puckering at times. This is the most interesting and complex beer I've ever had.

M: Right amount of carbonation, very crisp.

O: An awesome beer, I ate steak tips with this and it was absolutely incredible, grab a bottle of this if you can.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 19:53:36 | More by Fubar1453

draheim

Washington

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

750mL bottle (September 2010) into a saison glass. Pours a perfectly clear honey amber w/ a 1-finger white head, zero carb rising from the bottom of the glass.

Aroma is tart and dry, vinous. Fresh Granny Smith apples & green grapes.

Taste is fruity, a little tart, w/ a dry finish. An interesting combination of sweet and sour. White wine and spring pears.

Mouthfeel is light and dry; lack of carbonation is disappointing.

Overall this lacks the complexity I was hoping for, but I imagine it would be a good beer to pair with some nice cheese.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 04:49:08 | More by draheim

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

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2011 Vintage

A: Pours a hazy golden orange color with a finger high fluffy head. There was limited head retention and lacing.

S: This beer had lovely sours aromas with hints of red wine.

T: The beer was not as sour as one might have suspected from the aroma though the tastes of the red wine were present. For a beer this strong, the taste of the alcohol was nicely hidden.

M: A bit shy of medium bodied, this beer had moderate carbonation and a dry finish (probably from the red wine).

O: Enjoyable but not the best of the "brett" offerings from Allagash, probably would not pick it up again.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 23:13:55 | More by dbrauneis

LtCracker20

Connecticut

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

2011 Batch

A- Pours a semi-hazy straw yellow to golden body with a very thin head that fizzes away to a thin cap with no lace.

S- Tart, funky, a lot of apple and a lot of pear.

T- Sourness up front, with a lot of the apple and pear flavors coming through.

MF- In between light and medium bodied with a fair amount of carbonation. The flavors do last for a little while on the palate though.

O- I really liked this better with some age on it but had never had it this fresh before. I think at least a year and this would be the beer I remembered.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 03:19:51 | More by LtCracker20

KajII

North Carolina

4.22/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

[Best served in a Trappist glass]

The pour was a clear reddish copper orange with a small (less than 1 finger) white fizzy head that diminished quickly into a thin layer of residue that lasted throughout and produced some excellent sticky lacing.

The aroma had a Farmhouse funkiness to it, with a sweaty grain malt, some wild yeast and had notes of sour grapes, red wine and a nice woody oak.

The taste was sweetly acidic, quite tart and very fruity right off and then became sweetly sour with a strong wine characteristic and a hint of wood at the end. The flavor stayed with you for a nice long time after the swallow, allowing for a nice sour grape finish.

Mouthfeel was right in the middle of light and medium in body and very dry in texture, like a nice Merlot with a fizzy carbonation.

Overall a very unique tasting strong ale, one like I have never tasted in the past, but definitely plan to do so again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 20:30:24 | More by KajII

Alieniloquium

Florida

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

750 mL bottle poured into an Allagash chalice. June 2009 bottle.

Appearance - Orange amber with a bit of cloudiness. Hefty white head with great retention. A pillow rests atop the body. Large sticky tracks of lace after taking a few sips.

Smell - Oh yeah. Bretty and funky. Not to the level of a gueuze, but still quite appealing. Strong wine presence, as well. Reminds me of Supplication, without the intense tart aromas.

Taste - Not as appealing as the aroma belies. A slight bit tart at the beginning, but it fades quickly. Not really sour at all. Some funkiness, but it's dominated by blander flavors (if that makes sense). A hefty malt flavor persists throughout. It's oaky and permeated by red wine flavors. It masks a great deal of the yeast characteristics. Finishes slightly bitter and vinous.

Mouthfeel - Heavy for the style. The malt backbone is stronger than I'd like it to be. The finish is very nice because the wine dominates. Without it, this probably wouldn't be interesting at all.

Overall - Not Supplication and not really close, even though this is very good. The gulf in class is vast, even if the numbers in this review say otherwise.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 04:34:05 | More by Alieniloquium

unclejazz

New York

4.7/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I got me a sweet connect to a cheap supply of this stuff and boy am I glad. It is delicious. If the top teir sours out there are better than this, I have great things to look forward to. It was just sweet and had a great brett flavor that was not to sour. No vinegar at all, which I imagine I would not like or want. I could sip on this all day in the winter or summer, day or night, in jail or on bail. No matter, you could do a heck of alot worse. Enjoy this no matter the cost. Try it just once, it is worth it.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2012 05:35:52 | More by unclejazz

ummswimmin

New Jersey

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

I really like Allagash brewery. They put in a lot of effort into making some very challenging beers.

This beer was light brown with no head.

You get a ton of sweetness in the nose. The wine barrels leave really good vineous qualities. There is also a decent dose of sour from the Brett.

In the body you also pick up the wine presence. This makes for a very good sipping opportunity. This beer has lots of great layers. The feel is also really good. I enjoyed savoring this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-05-2012 03:40:27 | More by ummswimmin

TTAmod

Michigan

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

750 mL 2011 release. $21.99 at Cardinal. Poured into chalice.

A: Bright, cloudy orange with a thick, effervescent white head that never goes away. Sticky lacing clings to the sides of the glass.

S: Brett, yeast, cherries, bit of oak.

T: Bit of brett up front, along with some nice fruit (sweet melon or cherries, maybe both?) Fades to a nice earthy and honey overtone. The brett sticks around and stays to the end. Not too funky..more on the sweeter side, but very, very nice and refreshing.

M: The effervescence shows through more here. Medium with a fairly high carbonation.

O: Quite nice. I love wilds and wine drinkers would really like this as well. Its price point is similar to a lower-end to okay bottle of wine, but this is far more complex. I'd choose this over a wine any day.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 00:58:49 | More by TTAmod

beerbiatchMD

Maine

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 mL bottle into a wine glass.

A: light orangy gold in color with a small amount of bright white head, good lacing.

S: a bit of sourness stands out, funkiness, a bit of hay, some zestiness and cherry as well.

T: wheaty with a hit of sour citrus, some Belgian spice as well and some alcohol.

M: crisp, good carbonation, dry, a bit of alcohol.

O: a very good ale, close to a wild but not quite. Would characterize as a good and approachable entry to sours. Highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 20:42:45 | More by beerbiatchMD

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

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

Bottle shared by jayhawk73. Thanks Jeff.

Hazy orange hue with a small head that recedes quickly. Honey, oak, brettanomyces, light funk, subtle fruit. Good flavor, though not as lovely as I remember upon sampling the draft version. Sweeter than expected, with a pronounced honey presence throughout. Nice brett quality. A solid beer. As is customary with me, I would prefer more sour & funk character in lieu of sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 01:33:14 | More by Huhzubendah

jayhawk73

Maryland

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

Pours an orangish color with a nice one finger off white head. Fairly murky in appearance as well- like river water. The nose is Brett, with some caramel, malt. Fairly sweet, but not overly so. The taste is really good, just a tad sweet for my tastes. Honey, caramel, cherry, oak and Brett are the main tastes I get in here. I don't get any of the 9.5% ABV at all. Maybe some straw in the aftertaste. Feel is medium, syrupy, sweet, and bitter on the back end. Overall, a very nice beer.. But I'd like a little less sweetness in it, and more sourness. I'm sure it would age very well. Maybe I'll try that some day. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 00:13:41 | More by jayhawk73