Allagash Interlude - Allagash Brewing Company

aasher

Indiana

4.05/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This bottle is the 2010 vintage and courtesy of thagr81us from a massive trade back in September. Thanks Calton!

It pours a medium bodied and cloudy dirty auburn in color with a slight white lacing around my snifter. The nose is very dry, funky, bretty, with an interesting fruity tartness which is almost melonesque. Perhaps it's aged hops? Regardless, it has more fruit in the nose than I anticipated. The flavors are extremely dry and funky. It is barnyard galore and a brett bomb. You get some slight fruit like sweetness but this is all dry brett. It drinks fine but like I've said, is almost too dry. Overall it's a nice sour and has enough going on to keep you interested throughout. I wouldn't say it's worth the $20 pricetag though...

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 02:18:22 | More by aasher

clayrock81

Virginia

4.05/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured a clearish amber brown body with minimal head that leaves lace on top of an oaky, woody, malty aroma but also has some floral hops, sour fruit and funk. Body is more of the same as I get a smooth, somewhat creamy medium bodied beer that has this puckering sour sweetness; I get this rush of sweet caramel malts that have some thickness (yeast/bread) along with light fruits (grape and tropical like pear) and this rush of a sour, almost tart finish. Very well balanced and I was shocked at the almost 10% ABV. I don't want to say "wine-like" but it reminded me of a heavier white wine w/ the sweetness being prevelant and the plush fruit taste afterwards.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2011 22:43:46 | More by clayrock81

kingcrowing

Vermont

3.75/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap poured into a wine glass. 2010 Vintage.

Pours a hazy orange amberwith almost no head but a small tingevof white foam. Nose is sharp and tart, funky and rich.

Taste is really tart and funky with a nice rich red wine flavor, dry and its almost like there's some tannin in it. Very unique and tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2011 00:19:59 | More by kingcrowing

claspada

New Jersey

2.35/5  rDev -44.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

2010 version bottled in September according to the bottle.

Pours a clear, coppery body with a medium-sized, ivory-colored head. Little to no lacing present after the head recedes.

Aroma begin with an overwhelmingly dominant Brett smells; funk and hay with a dailed up musk factor and old, tired oak vessels with a lesser note of sour apple.

The tastes begin with light pilsner maltiness and a syrupy sugar sweetness get quickly dislodged by a powerful tangy tartness and coarse astringent tannins. Splash of sour apple vinegar. Slight notes of white grapes and a touch of sour-tasting wheat malt and more Brett yeast flavors with a small hint of booze. Oaky finish with a slap of acidity and chock full of tannins.

The mouthfeel is a hair above medium-bodied with medium to low carbonation. Quite the tongue-coating mouthfeel with an unpleasant overly astringent, unbalanced finish.

Overall I really did not enjoy this sour ale from Allagash. In fact I think this is probably the least enjoyable sour ale I have ever had. 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. There were no wine barrel flavors and the acidic, tangy flavors were just too disjointed and left me wanting so so much more.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 01:14:48 | More by claspada

brystmar

New York

4.08/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draft at Blind Tiger.

Reddish gold, mild head, no lace. Tart yeast, fruity, Belgian spices in the nose. Smells like a sour.

Taste is super funky with big spikes of flavor left and right. Hops, yeast, Brett, earthy funk, oak barrels, and a Belgian Tripel spice profile. Tastes like a Tripel hooked up with a sour one drunken evening. Crazy and fun and enjoyable, but hardly sessionable. An interesting drink for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2011 23:50:42 | More by brystmar

ehammond1

California

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

On Tap

Churchill's Pub & Grille
San Marcos, CA

Clear, bright mandarin orange in color with a very thin off-white head. Not much cling left on the glass.

Sweet and fruity aroma along with a mild muskiness and distinct Brett yeast. The fruits consist of green apple, sweet pear, white/green grapes, and a mild strawberry hint.

The green apple, pear, and white/green grapes play the largest role in this beer's flavor, almost making it taste far more like a wine than a beer. The sourness is very, very mild and the mustiness is somewhat lost as well.

Thin bodied and very low carbonation, nearly reminiscent of white wine.

A flavorful, fruity, very mildly sour ale from Allagash. I was actually somewhat disappointed with this one, though I didn't know at all what to expect.

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2011 22:38:35 | More by ehammond1

jcartamdg

Florida

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

Pours a reddish brown apple cider color with a one finger head that disapates almost instantly, leaving a ring of foam around my glass producing great lacing. Aroma of oak, red wine, funk and slight vinegar. Taste is tart and fruity with a finish of oak and redwine. This is a fantastic sour, just behind Russian river's Consecration in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 00:31:55 | More by jcartamdg

Damian

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Drank on-tap at Green Street Grill, Cambridge, MA
Served in a wine glass

The beer poured a nearly clear, glowing, orangey-amber color with absolutely no head nor any lacing.

The nose was remarkably fragrant. Funky with strong horse blanket notes. Some wet hay and lemon appeared as well. The tartness was nicely matched by a good dosage of rich malts and ripe fruits. Somewhat caramel-like. Slightly grapey with subtle notes of oak.

The taste was perhaps more interesting and complex than the nose, but the flavors did not meld together as well as I had hoped. The beer was funky on the front end with Brett and horse blanket notes. Slightly fruity with a noticeable biscuity malt presence. As the beer moved along the palate, the flavor profile turned quite dry and a bit sharp. I picked up a surprising amount of piney hops in the center, and they crescendoed into the pithy and bitter finish. Tons of oaky, tannic, red wine notes came through on the back end.

The mouthfeel was medium bodied with a fine, sprightly effervescence. This seemed to compliment the flavor profile quite well.

Although I enjoyed this beer and I can appreciate the efforts made by Allagash to concoct a creative version of an American wild ale, the end product did not come together quite as well as I had hoped. Perhaps putting some age on a bottle of Interlude would result in a beer with a more rounded, and better integrated, flavor profile.

Serving type: on-tap

09-07-2011 22:57:23 | More by Damian

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

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

750mL bottle poured into a flute; December 2009 bottling

Pours an amber color with a firm off-white cap. Some spider web lacing as it retreats. Solid retention.

The nose is of oak, sourdough bread, granny smith apples, cider vinegar, pungent cheese, and wine notes. Amazingly complex and broad. One of the best noses I have come across.

More wine up front on the palate than the nose. Fruity underneath (granny smith apples, peaches, apricots) with a cider vinegar flavor as well. The oak lends a sharp, crisp drying quality.

Medium body, smooth and creamy. High carbonation, but it mellows to a smooth finish. Some vinegar notes linger along with the dryness of the oak.

This is a high quality wild ale. Broad, complex flavors and aromas. Highly enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2011 19:09:10 | More by ColForbinBC

nickd717

California

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

Review dated 5/4/2009. Tap at City Beer Store in SF.

Attractive hazy golden-amber appearance with a foamy off-white head.

Funk, malt, and fruits on the aroma.

Flavor was pale malt, oak, funk, light fruits, green apple, and a Bretty sourness that is much less biting than more hardcore sours like some of the Russian River stuff.

I like that - too sour is just not enjoyable sometimes. (2011 note: I now disagree with this perspective, but that was my viewpoint back in the day). Smooth palate.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2011 15:40:02 | More by nickd717

ottovon

Arizona

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

'08, shared by whiterascal.

A: ruby-orange color with an off-white head. The head fell quickly to leave an outer ring around the beer.

S: a nice aroma. I get strawberry, and a subtle sweet aroma. hints of earth and cherry. Some merlot notes and oak with a bit of vanilla. As it warms a bit of sourness starts to come out.

T: a bite of alcohol. A bitter finish. Earthiness, musk, hints of cherry and strawberry. A little bit of lactic sourness. I get quite a bit of oak with hints of red wine.

M: thin-medium body with high carb.

O: this is a really good beer. wish we had more.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 03:13:13 | More by ottovon

jondeelee

Massachusetts

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

This review is for the August, 2008 edition. Typical of Belgians, this one sports a strong fruity and spicy nose, replete with hints of spiced oranges, bananas, and cloves, in addition to bearing more than a passing resemblance to ice ciders.

On the tongue, most of those fruit flavors translate nicely, though the spiciness does come through far more strongly, building as the liquid swirls in your mouth. Light caramels and brown sugars are also present, as well as a good thread of toasted grains. The oak aging has allowed this brew to build up a nice, complex head of flavors, and as well, there are just the slightest hints of oak on the edges of the mouthful, resembling in this sense perhaps an extremely fruity chardonnay. Whether it's the fruity spiciness, the carbonation, or the alcohol, this one will also leave your tongue tingling. The aftertaste is a slow burnoff of the spicy fruit flavors, lasting a surprisingly long time.

Overall, I was impressed with this brew, and thought the oak aging was well worth the time and effort.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2011 15:41:40 | More by jondeelee

russwbeck

Virginia

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

Had on-tap at Rustico Ballston for on Allagash event. Got a free glass too!

A: Slightly clear orange pour without much. Lacing us only minimal. 4

S: The sour smell is present, but as is a sweetness I assume comes from merlot barrels. Fruity for sure. 4

T: The taste is surprisingly light up front followed by a big hit of
Brett. Seems like grapes, or perhaps wine, follow. Only a hint of booze pulls this together nicely. The warming alcohol sensation adds the finishing touches 4.5

MF: Big hit of carbonation and a really light and refreshing body. 4.5

O: Highlight of this Allagash tasting. Truly stands out. 4.5

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2011 01:10:54 | More by russwbeck

AlexFields

Tennessee

4.03/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

EDIT: ratings edited on 1/9/2011, review not edited.

Bottle is 2010 vintage, poured in July 2011.

Pure amber yellow, reasonable size head.

Smells of brett, berries, dark grapes, red wine. Nice mix, not super aromatic though.

Wasn't sure if this would be sour or just funky in a brett way, but it's definitely a bit sour. Not mouth puckering but it's tart. Some brett funk too, but red wine is definitely in the forefront here. The barrel aging has really made this beer what it is, I can't imagine it would be all that interesting without it. The red wine tartness and brett work pretty well together.

This reminds me a bit of a less good Temptation using red instead of white wine. A nice sour but not one I'm going to pay $22 for again.

8.1/10

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2011 13:39:25 | More by AlexFields

twiggamortis420

Texas

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

750 mL bottle from the 2007 vintage courtesy of bboyshatter...this is the last beer from my first BIF ever, Black Booty Vol.3! Pours a hazed gold color with a small white head.

Nose is impressively sour. Grainy tartness with some brettanomyces, not much fruit though. Some oak and maybe a little sugar.

Wow, sourness does a total 180 and is very light on the taste. Brett still holds firm, as well as sweet grains and alcohol. Barrel conditioning is quite evident and shows off some pretty impressive oakiness. At first I was a bit disappointed at the downturn in sourness, but the depth of oak and complexity are really quite enjoyable. Actually reminds me of Curieux, minus the bourbon and funk of course. I dont think it quite lived up to my expectations, but was enjoyable nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2011 01:53:26 | More by twiggamortis420

Cavery

California

4.05/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750ml 2009 bottle shared with SundaySour, Saturday night brew.

Split into Stone Nonics. Review from notes.

A: Deep cloudy unfiltered orange. So amber like that it makes me think of Jurassic Park. Some off red colors make it look like the ripe line of a peach. Two finger head with lightly pink foam leaves cobwebs of lacing on the rim.

S: Subtle coriander note up front that gives into flour on rustic breads. Amazing not-too-sweet savory bread in the nose. The light sweetness that exists is suggestive of french bread crusts. A crisp lingering of carbonation/dryness that is reminiscent of champagne.

T: Green apple skins crunch in your mouth. A lightly acidic bite gives way to champagne dryness. Fine bready malts add a savory dimensio0n. Alcohol sweetens in the bread, and races the yeast in a complex and warming finish. the juxtaposition of yeast and alcohol is magical in the mouth.

M: The carbonation sizzles like hot oil on contact. The tingling mouth never seems to go away. I can't tell if it's a temporary numbness caused by the initial sting of high carbonation, or if this is the energizer bunny of lively mouth-feels. A memorable mouth for sure.

O: A reasonably complex brew. The different characteristics of this beer really blend for an introspective drinking experience. Love the dryness and crisp flavors. The mouth really accentuates the flavor transitions. The silent champion of this beer is the oak, strong flavors are subdued in favor of nuanced ones. Sour oaking is quite nice.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2011 23:01:15 | More by Cavery

Spider889

Ohio

3.65/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Big thanks to Cabgoddess for breaking this out at a recent tasting.

2007 bottling.

A- Gold, a bit cloudy, ok head to it but no lace to speak of.

S- BRETT! Slightly sour with some dry oaky funk. There's also a nice fruity kick on the back end featuring sour green plum. I liked the aroma a lot, actually.

T- Tart and spicy. Belgian yeast is big here, overpowering the Brett more than one might imagine.

M- Good and strong carbonation, and dry.

O- Not a bad beer at all. I am not sure the age has helped it though.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2011 19:05:38 | More by Spider889

rfgetz

New Jersey

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

Pours an interesting reddish orange hue, somewhere between a blood orange and grapefruit, minimal spots of head. Scent was quite fruity, white and red wine, with notes of tropical (mango) and citrus (tangerine), notes of musty hay, damp wood and dry oak - quite unique. Flavor was quite exquisite, the notes of wine grapes work wonderfuly with the notes mango and tangerine, the woodieness of the beer contains both musty notes from the yeast and dry, toasted notes from the wine barrels. Light notes of vanilla and grahmn cracker provide sweetness. Medium bodied, carbonation is under control, quite dry on the palate. Quite the standout beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-13-2011 13:18:20 | More by rfgetz

Kshock

California

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

2009 Bottle

A- Deep Orange amber color. Nice white lacing around the edges and some lacing on the glass.

S- Smells like wood, fruits (apples, cranberries), and yeast. Smells like a sangria almost...

T- Lots of fruit syrupy sweetness. There is a lot going on in this beer. A lot of the wine made its way into the beer.

M- Nice on the palate, shows some life with the carbonation. cleans out very nicely as most allagash beers do.

O- Good beer, wish it had more wild characteristics towards the way of a lambic, then this would be killer.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2011 01:00:33 | More by Kshock

alf212

Pennsylvania

4.93/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

August 2008 bottle

Appearance: Hazy ruby orange. Not much head retention but tonsa bubbles from the carbonation

Smell: Sour grapes n berries. Very very funky n yeasty with some malt but it's really all bout the berry funkiness with this beer. Exceptional taste. I haven't tried too many other wild ales but IM really digging this. I love saisons but this really just took it to another level with the taste. Two words Refined boldness

Drinkability: very dry champagne finish that keeps you coming for more and more. It's very refreshing and easy to drink

Definitely worth trying out. It's a shame its so expensive or I'd be drinking this all summer. Definitely a good beer to let wine drinkers know what's reallly good

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2011 02:47:49 | More by alf212

pmlondrigan

New York

4.28/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

June 2009 vintage. Opens with a resounding pop. Nice audible sizzle, and a two finger head that sits atop and never seams to fade too much. Belgian lace abounds, pale in color. Initially smells sour and of grape skin, then transitions to a more leathery, smoky brett based aroma. But there is always some wine barrel and woody presence in the aroma. Complex and soft flavors. Bretty leather, smoke, and earth-y-ness off the bat and then some wood, wine, and a tad of sour. The age of this beer coupled with french oak creates a real fruity quality.
Super clean and dry mouthfeel, really well attenuated beer almost no after taste. Really pleased I let this sit for very well near 2 years. It has aged very well, now I wish I had more. I must say Allagash beers always seem to age well.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2011 00:43:03 | More by pmlondrigan

DIM

Pennsylvania

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

a: This was a moderately dark, clear golden color. It poured with a large, firm, fizzy cap that faded to clumpy lace.

s: Interesting and very funky. Farmhouse yeast and wine barrels definitely take a back seat, which is kind of a shame. Still, what is here is quite appealing. Lots of sour fruit like grapes, pears, and apples, plus plenty of the good ole barnyard funkiness.

t: Funk first here as well. Plenty of tart tangy fruit flavors, a little oakiness, and lots of difficult for me to describe sourness. There is also a little something sugary trying to emerge. I didn't taste anything to suggest an abv of 9.5%.

m: Crisp body and effervescent carbonation.

o: I loved this as is, but I would love to try it with the funk dialed down sometime.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2011 15:54:06 | More by DIM

BedetheVenerable

Missouri

3.63/5  rDev -14%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: June 2009 bottling. Corked/caged, with Allagash's typically-classy/minimalist designing. Was half expecting this thing to foam out all over the place, after reading other people's reviews. Yet, although the cork pretty much cannoned out, the beer all stayed in the bottle.

Appearance: Absolutely gorgeous dusty rose beer with orange highlights. The first half of this bottle went into my New Belgium globe and pours remarkably clear for a bottle-conditioned Belgian-style ale. Creamy ivory cap with good staying power and some nice lace.

Smell: Vibrantly fruity, bretty goodness up front, with a slightly sourish/vinous presence supporting. This could be the result of some mix of bugs or perhaps from the aging in French Merlot and Syrah barrels. Oak isn't really appreciated, nor is any real malt presence. Pleasant for sure, but not a ton of depth; the fruity bretty notes are pretty powerful (not that that's necessarily a bad thing).

Taste: Nice fruity brett funk up front. It's mildly tart, though not as tart as I was expecting it to be perhaps. As the beer leaves the mouth, you're left with a bit of tart raspberry and some underripe strawberry. Again, considering that this was fermented in the primary phase with a farmhouse yeast, I expected a bit more character fron this beer, but the fruity flavors are nice. I can detect just the faintest hint of dry, tannic oak. Would I have picked this out if I didn't know this was a barrel-aged beer? I'm not sure. This beer would have the next highest scroe in flavor except for one significant flaw. I realize that Interlude is 9.5% but the alcohol comes through a bit stronger than I'd expect it to, especially at about two years of age. I know that this is very highly attenuated (first a saison-type yeast and then Allagash's house Brett strain) and perhaps this dryness accentuates the alcohol a bit. Either way, it's somewhat distracting and takes away from the overall enjoyment of the beer.

Mouthfeel: Fairly high levels of carbonation, but somehow manages to be fairly smooth/velvety at the same time. Just a prickle of carbonation, but it seems oddly full as well.

Overall: Huge thanks to whichever generous trader hooked me up with this bottle (sorry, it was last summer)! I saved this for a special occasion (turns out that I got an A in medieval Latin and finished grading 120 student exams). I'm glad I saved it for a special occasion, as it's a really interesting/special beer. The verdict? Tasty beer, and one of the sexiest-looking libations I've ever had grace my glass. That said, at $20.00, it's not quite perfect enough to justify picking it up at the asking price (unlike Allagash's Curieux, which I'd probably pay double for).

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2011 03:14:09 | More by BedetheVenerable

andrewinski1

Maine

3.55/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The bottle is from 2008. I got my tulips ready but I still wasn't quite quick enough for this gusher. Lots of foam when poured, most likely from additional fermentation in the bottle. The color is reddish orange. There is a small layer of bubbles that linger after the foam settles.

The aroma is full of spicy yeast. Only a deep big whiff reveals slightly tart notes. I detect a little sweetness in the malt, but not much.

This beer starts out dry and leaves a lot of oak on the tongue. The finish is full of oak and wood.

The body is light to medium. There is medium carbonation.

This is a decent beer. I think I like it fresher better, but still enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2011 02:14:08 | More by andrewinski1

PeprSprYoFace

California

4.08/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Got this gem from baconsausage in the Regional GIF. Thanks man. 2009 vintage poured into a snifter.

Pours a very nice golden amber color. Thin white head dissipated to a ring after a while. Slight lacing.

Aroma is very barnyard funky. Slight sweet aroma.

Taste is more funky than sour. Lots of barnyard funk. Slight lemony tartness left on your tongue after swallow.

Mouthfeel is nice and dry. Nice high carb.

Overall a tasty beer. Not in my top 10 sours but still tasty.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2011 06:52:06 | More by PeprSprYoFace