Allagash Victoria Ale - Allagash Brewing Company

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BA SCORE
89
good
-
208 Ratings

rAvg: 3.96
pDev: 10.1%
Reviews: 124
Hads: 84

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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.

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Reviews

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Reviews by nhindian:

nhindian

Pennsylvania

4.55/5 rDev +14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle poured into an Allagash cervoise. Big thanks to 603BeerMe for sending this in a relatively recent trade!

A - Pours a somewhat cloudy goldenrod color with about 2.5-fingers of white foam. Surprisingly, this is, I believe, the only Allagash beer I've had that didn't have that signature rocky, thick, almost-whipped-cream head on it. Rather, it has a more modest texture, which while still creamy, is much more manageable. Decent retention, and thanks to the nucleation point at the bottom of the glass, a half-finger cap lingers for ages. Lacing is surprisingly very faint and sparse, with almost no lacing at all actually.

S - This is truly the closest nose I've had on a beer that approaches that of wine. It's amazing how much the grapes come through at first, and then the rest of the ingredients take it on a ride to remember. Me and my girlfriend always try to take tours and tastings at wineries whenever we go on vacation, so I feel I have a modest grip on how small-batch wines can alter and squeeze different notes out of a grape varietal, and I'm loving what I'm getting here. The Belgian yeast does wonders to the nose, giving a somewhat heavy breadiness but imparting a nice jolt of esthers and spice. Getting that spice, slight lemon, and hay in the finish.

T - As in the nose, the taste delivers a big burst of white grapes at first and then gives it a nice Belgian and farmyard twist. You can almost get the liquid extract of the grapes at first, and then the more leathery characteristic of the skin. Then the yeast takes over, bringing notes of bread, bananas, cloves, and cracked pepper. It finishes with a lighter side, with some straw, lemon, and the lasting effects of the spice.

M - Mouthfeel is medium-bodied with good carbonation. Definitely full-bodied for the 'style', but I feel it helps bring those bolder flavors out in the taste. Pretty smooth despite the high carbonation. Finishes quite dry, which fits in perfectly with the white wine connotation this beer suggests throughout.

D/O - Drinkability is high. As a fairly avid wine drinker as an active beer advocate (though my love for beer far transcends that of wine), I think this is an excellent hybrid between the two alcohols. It starts with an aggressive grape note, but from the middle to finish, the beer has time to develop its own complexities and flavors, so overall I don't feel one side dominates over the other. I could see someone who doesn't enjoy wine (especially white wines) not particularly enjoying this beer, as the start of the beer and the dry finish is ripped directly from white wine, but those who enjoy white wine could definitely jump into this beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2011 02:09:57 | More by nhindian

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Dirksen

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4.25/5 rDev +7.3%

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

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3.75/5 rDev -5.3%

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4/5 rDev +1%

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3.75/5 rDev -5.3%

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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