Allagash Hugh Malone - Allagash Brewing Company

Chaney

District of Columbia

4.13/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this on tap at the Whole Foods in Fairfax.

Served in a tulip.

A: Poured a cloudy, peppery, yet compactly eye-popping orange color, with a white sawdust for a head.

S: I definitely got more fruit than hoppiness, but I did manage to get a little bit of that grass-infused hop compound that I commonly associate with this style.

T: I totally dig the finish on just about all of Allagash's brews... so fresh, clean, and inviting. I got a tinge of grassiness, but not too much (thank God!), along with tons of orange zest, and Allagash's distinctive Belgian yeast strain.

M: I had to remind myself that I wasn't drinking a mimosa. A good bit of bubbly carbonation was present, along with tons of bitter citrus and tons of lacing.

O: I'm turned off from this style due to the bitter grassiness that I mentioned. This one doesn't have that quality and it's a better beer for it!

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2011 02:06:43 | More by Chaney

Sam21

Connecticut

4.1/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750ml bottle purchased for ~$16. Bottled in September 2011. Poured into tulip.

Appearance – Golden body with a picture perfect fluffy white head. Textbook retention. I poured this beer about five minutes ago and the head has barely receded.

Smell – Candied citrus fruits pour out of the glass. Really juicy. A touch of caramel in the back.

Taste – Sweet fruits galore. Sugared grapefruit, orange, and citrus rinds. The yeast runs pretty wild offering hints of clove and slightly phenolic undertones that cut through the sweetness. The finish is bone dry and has a characteristic American IPA grapefruit bitterness that cuts through.

Mouthfeel – Soft and full carbonation fill the mouth and scrub the tongue clean allowing the bitterness in the finish to shine through. On the lighter side of a medium body.

Drinkability – This beer is so smooth. The sugared grapefruit flavor really grabbed my taste buds and kept me coming back sip after sip. Full bodied carbonation and a palate cleansing bitterness. The Belgian yeast hold things together really well. Solid brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 01:51:40 | More by Sam21

Rukasu

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Purchased from Franklin's in Hyatsville, MD...probably stored at home beyond optimal freshness of 6 months

A - Pale straw/honey colored gold. Thick, dense white head

S - Floral hops, malty sweetness, grass, faint citrus and pine

T - mildly bitter hops, molasses, lemon, Belgian malt

M - Lasting tannic bitterness that remains after swallow. Fairly light for an IPA, but also warming.

O - Pricey beer ($18), but to be expected with Allagash. Quality beer. Despite being kept for longer than optimal, tasted great poured into snifter.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 19:45:17 | More by Rukasu

celticfutblclub

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

on tap at meadhall 12/8/11

A - golden yellow with a hint of orange in there. thick white head with superb retention and good lacing.

S - floral nose orange peel lemon zest bread malts grass hint of grapefruit in there and some bubblegum.

T - grass hops punch quick orange peel bubble gum

M - light to medium bodied with tons of carbonation too much in fact. bit of astringency from the hops but nothing overbearing.

O - its a good brew. not worth the price at meadhall but a good brew none the less.

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2011 01:01:23 | More by celticfutblclub

BerlinBomber

Connecticut

4.38/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Just had the pleasure of trying this at Plan B in Glastonbury, CT

I had heard really good things and this definitely did not disappoint

I don't recall having any Belgian IPA's in the past, but if they all taste like this then I am all in

This is really easy to drink so be careful though

Allagash is always top notch

Serving type: on-tap

12-08-2011 18:44:05 | More by BerlinBomber

tigg924

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into an Allagash pint glass. Had at New World Tavern--Plymouth

Appearance: 3/4 inch head, moderate carbonation, gold in color, cloudy

Smell: toasted malt, floral and pine hops, Belgian spice

Taste: sweet grass and honey in the start followed by citrus hops in the middle and end..Light Belgian spice throughout.

Mouthfeel: sweetish start with a bitter middle and end, dry aftertaste, moderate carbonation, medium-light bodied

Overall: One of the better Belgian IPAs I have had. The alcohol is really well hidden and the hops are not as biting as some Belgian IPAs. This one is really smooth and super easy to drink. I could definitely have a couple of these in a night.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2011 14:52:19 | More by tigg924

pokesbeerdude

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750ml into a Delirium Tremens glass. Courtesy of Drazzamatazz.

A: Turbid gold in color with an enormous white head, a good 2 inches worth that absolutely will not recede. Incredibly dense and rocky head with great lacing as well. Really a nice lookiing beer.

S: Lots of citrusy, definitely Belgian in nature, approaches a somewhat plastic note but never really gets there. Quite spicy and nice.

T: Fair amount of hops and hop resins, lots of grapefruit and lemon with just a touch of pine. Decent amount of bitterness. Malt is mostly devoured by a highly attenuating yeast leaving not much in the way of sweetness and really letting the hops and yeast shine. Nice spicy Belgian yeast profile that works well with the hop profile. Just a touch of graininess.

M: Incredibly light, prickly carbonation, and bone dry. This hits all the mouthfeel perfectly.

O: Usually not a style that I really like, but this is a very well done BIPA. I really like the hop combination here and the spicy yeast character, works really well. A very nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2011 01:59:03 | More by pokesbeerdude

thedoubler55

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: A nice hazy gold in color, with a nice frothy white two finger head at the top that leaves a nice lacing around the glass.

S: Citrus and lemons notes throughout on this brew,lots of grassy hops present.

T: Exaclty like the nose, with a nice flavor belgian yeast.

M: Light bodied, with high carbonation, great balance.

O: Very good belgian IPA, very tastey and perfect balance on this brew.

Serving type: growler

11-12-2011 19:31:37 | More by thedoubler55

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From notes taken at the Armsby Abbey on 10/26/11.

A - Poured into a tulip a clear amber with a two finger head that sinks to a thick blanket and leaves huge creamy side lacing.

S - Fairly nice aroma. Nice citrus and light spice notes (belgian yeasts, maybe some cloves). Good pine/citrus hops.

T - Getting some odd bubblegum flavors in this in between citrus hops and sweet malts/belgian spices. Very unique and different.

M - Nice carbonation for this beer. The spices in it make it quite nice and drinkable.

O - This is a pretty solid beer from Allagash. Good take on the style, very nice spices.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2011 17:00:59 | More by rudzud

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a tumbler at The Tribes.

My Accidental Highway to Hell Tour begins right here. I know you're pumped! It pours a lightly hazy pale yellow straw topped by a finger of white foam. The nose comprises lemon zest, mandarin orange syrup, wet hay, light pineapple, and a touch o' banana peel. The taste holds notes of banana peel, lemon rind, orange rind, light orange zest, very light clove, melon, grass, and a few pinches of brown sugar and nutmeg. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a crisp, dry finish. Overall, a pretty solid BIPA, though nothing overtly special or outstanding.

Serving type: on-tap

11-08-2011 22:32:52 | More by TMoney2591

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.1/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at coalhouse pizza, stamford, CT.
Ok, my only gripe about this is that it was served in a stupid mason jar! Set a side, it poured a slight hazy golden wheat color with a thick white foam. Smells of citrus fruit and slight banana belgian style yeast. Really smells good and what Id expect from the type, but even more aromatic.
Taste if full...belgian hoppy IPA. coats the tongue of alcohol and yeasty fruit. Very tastey and a satisfying brew. I wouldnt hesitate to get again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-06-2011 02:22:37 | More by DrinkSlurm

billab914

Virginia

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled in September 2011 according to the label. Poured from a 750ml bottle into my Allagash glass. It poured a hazy amber color with a huge frothy white head quickly filling most of the glass.

The aroma has a pretty nice mix of zesty, citrusy hoppiness and earthy belgian yeast spice. I get some notes lemon zest and pine mixing with some of the earthy clove and nutmeg like spices. Pretty flavorful and balanced aroma overall and very nice for the style.

The taste shows a little more of the earthy, yeast spices to it up front. In the finish more of the hoppiness comes out with some bitter grapefruit and citrus rind flavors mixing with a little lemon zest. Pretty nicely balanced and drinkable.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with carbonation being above average. Overall it was a pretty solid beer of the style. It had a nice balance between the zesty, citrusy hops and the belgian yeast spices that made it very drinkable.

Although it's a pretty good beer of the style, it's also probably the most expensive version of the style I've ever seen. For that reason alone it will be a one time purchase for me as there are too many alternatives for a fraction of the cost. For what I paid I could have probably bought a dozen Raging Bitches instead.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 22:51:23 | More by billab914

unclejazz

New York

3.88/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

The golden color and thick alabaster 3/4" head invited me warmly into this potent Belgian IPA. The 9 ounce pour had a nice bubbly appearance with quite a bit of lacing. Its nose definitely had strong pine and grapefruit notes which also came thru once I tasted it. This finish was crisp and my food match choice woule be fish and chips.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2011 19:50:02 | More by unclejazz

aorloski

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Sunset Grill in Boston

Appearance - Hazy golden yellow, about a fingers worth of head that sticks around for the duration. Great lacing on this one.

Smell - Citrus, piney, floral. grapefruit and lemon zest are the big characters here. Not getting as much belgian yeast as you would expect from a belgian IPA, smells rather west coastish actually.

Taste - Very delicious. A touch of bitterness up front rounded out by big juicy fruits in the middle and ends dry. I wish i could taste a little more funk in this since it is labeled a belgian IPA, but once again it tastes more like a west coast IPA for me. Still great stuff none the less

Mouthfeel - perfect amount of carbonation, nice and dry finish.

Overall - A very nice beer by allagash, not the best allagash I've had and definitely not the best IPA or belgian IPA for that matter but a great beer nonetheless. 20 bucks a bottle at my local shop however would make me run away, i probably will never buy this bottled. On tap for 7 bucks though, it was worth it. Good job once again allagash!

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2011 17:53:53 | More by aorloski

kennylopez

New Jersey

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

Poured 2011 bomber into a snifter

Appearance: a golden hazy yellow with a fine white head that poured about two fingers thick yet settled to a nice layer about a bottle cap thick that leaves spots of lacing as I enjoy it.

Smells: there is a lemon and citrus hop in the front, and is followed with a wild like yeast that I think of when I think Belgian style.

Taste: I get a bitter orange and lemon hint. There is a fresh hop taste and a great grass hay yeast that twist this well balanced ale.

Mouthfeel: a well carbonated and crisp IPA. I have the 2011 edition which reads on the label 7.8% and is prevalent, yet subtle. It finishes quite dry and has a sticky feeling, but doesn't linger to long in my opinion.

Overall: It is kind of a pricey brew for my budget now, but I spoil myself with good beer here and there and this is well worth it. If I could drink this all the time I would gladly enjoy, but I believe it is only brewed once a year and I guess that is factor as well. If I see it again I will pick it up I suggest if you were interested enough to read this review then you should try this ale too.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 01:51:03 | More by kennylopez

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

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

Poured into an Allagash stem glass, this IPA was a slightly hazy amber color with a frothy puff of white head that retained well and left some decent lacing. Brilliant aroma of herbal and citrus hops, and a cornucopia of fresh fruit. As it approached my lips, I actually got the sensation of a West Coast IPA. Hops and more hops, grassy and citric, orange blossom and honey, all overlaid on a solid sweet malt base. Mellows out towards the end and leaves a nice dry finish. Medium mouthfeel, and quite the quaffable IPA. Goes great with food.

Serving type: on-tap

10-25-2011 01:20:52 | More by Rifugium

rdilauro

Connecticut

4.15/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a light Pilsner color with a good white creamy head.. The aroma and bouquet was very pleasant. There was a fine strong but not over powering hop smell. The first mouthful was big and full. Some malt, touch of gentle barley, a hint of tropical fruit, maybe even some pear like taste.
The nose in this one is bigger than the actual taste and finish. That was my one negative about this one.. But all I needed to do is bring up the glass to my nose and the aroma took over.
I will try this one again

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2011 00:47:00 | More by rdilauro

merc7186

New York

3.4/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this beer poured from a bomber into a pint glass.

The beer pours decently with hazy straw color to it, a mild foamy white head and mild lacing on the glass. The beer smells average with a mild citrus hoppy scent followed by a breasy yeasty smell. The taste is decent with a nice orange, hoppy citrus flavor, candied sugar, and bready flavors. The mouthfeel is decent while the beer was decently carbonated and left you a mildly dry mouth. Overall, a decent beer although there may be cheaper alternatives for the same kind and quality of beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 14:48:23 | More by merc7186

rfgetz

New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A hazed but glowing amber color with cap of dense white froth, good lacing. Scent is strong on juicy and fruity citrus hops, strong orange and candied sugar notes backed by a faint grain whiff, light spice and bready yeast. Taste leads with the orange and tangerine notes, spice and bready yeasts come through before the beer mellows into a fresh grain backbone. Medium bodied, a touch of oily heft, bubbly. A very nice surprise, good fruity Belgian IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2011 14:29:57 | More by rfgetz

Brysky

Florida

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle poured into a chalice

A- very nice amber gold body with no head

S- light hop smell

T- slight sourness but a light hop taste at the back end

M- bit on the light side, was expecting a bit more from it but it was still good

Overall it is pretty good, nothing to special for the price

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2011 23:27:04 | More by Brysky

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer poured out as a hazy yellow color, The head was long lasting and left a decent lacing on the glass. The smell of the beer gave off plenty of hop aromas and Belgian yeast. The taste of the beer had a light bready flavor to it with a bitter hoppy finish. The mouthfeel of this had a good strong bite to it with each sip. The yeast didn't really soften this beer up too much. Overall i found this to be a pretty good Belgian Style IPA but not my favorite.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2011 17:04:57 | More by Knapp85

Kshock

California

3.9/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Hazy orange color with bright white head and lacing on the glass. Lacing is pretty sticky.

S- Smells like belgian yeast and some hoppiness, backed up by some malty sweetness.

T- Fruity sweet esters followed by some hoppy flavors, but bitter. interesting how its has a strong flavor without being very bitter. Clean finish like most Allagash beers.

M- Light on the palate and dances a bit with agitation then drys out into a very clean finish.

O- Very well made beer, but what else would you expect from Allagash.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2011 22:38:19 | More by Kshock

flannelman808

California

4.15/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a review for a batch 5 bottle ... Abv has changed to 8.3%.

A: Caution contents under pressure is no understatement. This corked btl POPs with very little pull and needs an immediate glass to pour into or it will volcano all over the place. Pours a yellow amber color which has just the slightest haze and has an angry stream of bubbles trying to escape in my Duvel glass. A rather stark white head forms and threatens never to leave. Lacing is equally motivated to never go away.

S: Orchard pear and some tangerine jump out first followed by a subtle spice.

T: Harshly bitter up front and more spicy than I might have imagined. Bitterness comes mostly from grassy notes and fruity notes take time to develop and are more suggestive of citrus pith/rind and juice.

M: lots of carbonation leads to a prickly palate.

O: Looks amazing. Smells amazing. Though good this tastes like a typical belgian IPA (read as disappointing)

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2011 01:21:05 | More by flannelman808

SkeeterHawk

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Here is one from Allagash that got mixed up with the Victoria series at the Downtown Spec's, so I hadn't noticed it for a while there. Fret no more, Hugh, I will give you a home.

Appearance: Pours a very clear yellow gold color with a huge head 3+" thick that was the product of a monster vortex of bubbles rising. So much so that the head rose after the pour. The head itself is slightly off white to almost peach colored. It was probably 5 minutes before the head started to fall to where I would be able to drink the beer. After the head finally starts to decide to submit to gravity, it leaves some pretty decent, but spotted, lace on the glass.

Aroma: I initially got a good amount of hopping that reminded me of some of the Belgian sour beers, but the malt is reserved through the head. It really seems like I am picking up a subtle wild yeast character through the foam, but let's see once the beer settles a bit...whenever that will be.

Taste: The flavor is also led by the hops, but there is also malt detectable in the flavor as some toasty notes with some bread crusts. The hops are coming back as lemon grass in the flavor more so than I thought from the aroma. The beer is actually pretty hoppy for just about any style, but the finishing hops are quite assertive and win out for the balance of the finish. Though the hops are in control of pretty much the whole beer, there is some balance provided to keep the palate in check throughout the experience.

Opinion: This is a pretty good beer, but it was a bit out of balance for my taste. There is something about it that I can't quite put my finger on. It is like it has a very subtle wild character, but not enough to contribute anything but an anomaly in the flavor. That said, it is probably just an earthy hops that I am misinterpreting or something. Either way, I will certainly drink the whole bottle, but they make others that I enjoy a lot more than I have this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2011 00:58:21 | More by SkeeterHawk

impending

California

3.45/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The Trappist. Poured a slightly hazy dull yellow straw, minor dense white head, ok lacing.

Aroma tends to a strong pale, hops while distinctive are not overly assertive.

Taste reverses the nose as the hops define the brew. True to the style the hops, while forward, don't contribute a strong pine nor citrus note making it rather indistinct tending towards mediocrity. Light to medium bodied mouthfeel.
cheers
jd

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2011 23:34:50 | More by impending