Allagash Victoria Ale - Allagash Brewing Company

Displayed for educational use only; do not reuse.

BA SCORE
89
good
-
209 Ratings

rAvg: 3.96
pDev: 10.1%
Reviews: 124
Hads: 85

Ratings Help

Brewed by:
Allagash Brewing Company

Maine, United States

Style | ABV
Belgian Strong Pale Ale | 9.00% ABV

Availability: Rotating. bottle (101), on-tap (23).

Notes:
Victoria Ale was inspired by a visit to Victoria Mansion, in Portland, Maine and the visual references to Bacchus, the god of wine. The brewer's decided to fuse the worlds of beer and wine. Over two hundred pounds of Chardonnay (Vidal Blanc in 2010) grapes were brought in, crushed on site and added directly to the mash. Victoria Ale's aroma is fruity spice, and the taste presents subtle notes of green banana, black pepper, and fresh-crushed mint. With a focus on the subtle, wine-like character of the grapes, the 9.0% ABV brew boasts a pale copper color, Belgian yeast influence, and a medium body with a long candied fruit finish with hints of honeydew melon, and, of course, white wine grapes.

View: Beers (36) | Events (0)

Reviews

Sort by: Latest | High | Low | Top Reviewers | Show Hads:

« first ‹ prev | 1-25 | 26-50 | 51-75 | next › last »

Reviews by Rifugium:

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.5/5 rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at Teresa's, Wayne, PA

Leftovers from an Allagash event apparently. Copper-amber color, thick white head that receded to a ringlet, leaving a bit of lacing on the glass. Aroma of white grapes, light lemony zest, pale malts. Elements of the aroma appeared in the taste naturally, white wine, bready pale malts, pithy citrus, apple skins, subtly tart, and a touch of peppery spice. Medium body, slightly chewy, decent and quite drinkable, but a bit bland overall.

To me, this came off almost as an attempt of cloning or at least imitating a Temptation or Damnation, and while decent in its own right, it wasn't nearly as good as those two.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2012 14:09:20 | More by Rifugium

More User Reviews:

MastaShonuf

California

3.75/5 rDev -5.3%

05-25-2013 03:31:03 | More by MastaShonuf

Dirksen

California

4.25/5 rDev +7.3%

05-24-2013 19:25:52 | More by Dirksen

Kelp

New Hampshire

4/5 rDev +1%

05-21-2013 05:35:24 | More by Kelp

bootdown21

Connecticut

4.25/5 rDev +7.3%

05-18-2013 03:32:27 | More by bootdown21

Zbeetleman

California

3/5 rDev -24.2%

05-15-2013 05:14:28 | More by Zbeetleman

YoungTeach

Massachusetts

4.25/5 rDev +7.3%

03-19-2013 22:04:57 | More by YoungTeach

spycow

Illinois

4/5 rDev +1%

03-11-2013 05:15:25 | More by spycow

GRG1313

California

3.75/5 rDev -5.3%

02-25-2013 02:15:36 | More by GRG1313

Bizoneill

Connecticut

4/5 rDev +1%

02-21-2013 15:41:56 | More by Bizoneill

deac83

Texas

3.75/5 rDev -5.3%

02-11-2013 05:22:13 | More by deac83

jsilva

Massachusetts

4.25/5 rDev +7.3%

02-09-2013 23:35:14 | More by jsilva

superspak

Michigan

4.1/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, 2009 vintage. Pours moderately cloudy golden amber color with a nice 2 finger fluffy dense white head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Spotty foamy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of big white grape, grape skin, pear, apple, honey, floral, apricot, grass, herbal earthiness, white wine, light black pepper, light funk, and light yeast spiciness. Damn nice aromas with good balance, strength, and complexity of malt notes and yeast esters. Taste of big white grape, pear, apple, apricot, honey, floral, grass, herbal earthiness, light pepper, white wine, light black pepper, light funk, and light yeast spiciness. Lingering notes of light fruits, honey, floral, grass, light pepper, herbal earthiness, light funk, and white wine on the finish for a good bit. Damn nice flavor balance and complexity of malt/yeast esters; with zero cloying sweetness present after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a lightly slick and very smooth mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is an excellent Belgian Strong pale ale. Great flavor balance and complexity of malt and yeast esters; and very smooth to sip on. A very enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 07:15:57 | More by superspak