Allagash Black - Allagash Brewing Company

Douglas14

California

4.1/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a jet black color with an incredibly thick, fluffy, tan head (a very light tan color). Immediately, brown sugar and sweet fruity syrup scents appear. Alcohol and roasted malt shortly follows. The smell reminds me very much of Avery's The Beast or DFH's 120 Minute; extremely sweet with a nice roasted hint. The flavor turns your attention to more roasted characteristics; chocolate, coffee, and malt. There is also banana, cherry, oak, grain, spices, and sugar that are present in the taste. Very awesome beer. Extremely unique...a definite must for everyone to try.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2008 03:45:23 | More by Douglas14

Zach136

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

06-18-2013 20:56:03 | More by Zach136

Mattco

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -14%

06-17-2013 21:35:21 | More by Mattco

ThePaintedGrey

Pennsylvania

4.11/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into tulip glass.

A: Lovely almost-black color with a big, frothy head. Starts out rather large, but eventually diminished to a respectable 1/2 inch or so head that retained throughout. A wonderful shade of dark red shines through when held up to the light. Average lacing remains as you drink.

S: Roasted malt, slightly yeasty with spice character throughout. Fairly complex. Very interesting.

T: Definitely on the sweeter side, considering the type of brew; however, it's very complex and very inviting. Chocolate is apparently immediately, closer to dark chocolate, but not as bitter as you'd expect. A light hint of coffeehouse flavors mixed in with the chocolate notes. Very, very slight hints of licorice (possibly anise, but it seems too sweet) materialize and disappear as the beer moves towards the back of your mouth. Slightly bitter finish.

M: Not as creamy as the appearance anticipates... But, it's definitely smooth with a mild-carbonation. Makes for a very drinkable brew.

O: I wouldn't call this Allagash's best, but it's a very drinkable brew with exceptionally complex flavor notes. I could definitely see myself drinking this one a lot while kicking back later in the day.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 03:17:58 | More by ThePaintedGrey

dasenebler

Maine

4.05/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

6/16/13
Allagash Black
12oz (can't decipher date code)

Pours very dark, near black, with brown highlights. Tight off-white head, spotty lacing, average retention. (3.5)

Aroma is vaguely yeasty. Light sulfur, spice, ester, dark fruit , alcohol and roasted malt. (3.5)

Flavor is on the sweet side, but very complex. Notes of licorice, date, clove, pepper, chocolate, molasses and coffee. Roasted malt flavor builds up on palate, but does not dominate at all, letting the Belgian yeast character shine through. I really like the phenol and spice. Mouthfeel is velvety, but could use more carbonation. (4.5, 3.5)

Much tastier and more complex than I remember. Sweetness and alcohol make it more of a dessert beer. Aroma and head could use improvement. (4)

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 22:41:06 | More by dasenebler

azathot

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

06-16-2013 02:56:20 | More by azathot

Boone757

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

06-16-2013 01:45:48 | More by Boone757

n00blar

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

06-16-2013 01:10:57 | More by n00blar

jkane101

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -1.7%

06-15-2013 20:07:09 | More by jkane101

Evoforen

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -1.7%

06-15-2013 20:06:14 | More by Evoforen

beyah

Maine

4.63/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours black body with a finger of greyish foam and nice lacing .

S - Aroma is very roast centered.

T - Chocolate and roasted malt is overpowering at 1st, but this beer gets dramatically better each sip. This is like Guinness on Steroids, more alcohol and stronger roast flavor. The Belgian yeast is way in the background.

M - Mouthfeel is smooth without being slick, carbonation is perfect.

O - 1 is good 2 is better, this is an imperial stout in hiding, really good choice for a cool Fall day or during the cold Maine Winters.

I'll get this one again.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 01:53:14 | More by beyah

Addison

California

4/5  rDev -1.7%

06-14-2013 18:26:08 | More by Addison

Madubz

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -1.7%

06-13-2013 23:19:04 | More by Madubz

bdaggett

Vermont

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

06-13-2013 22:49:03 | More by bdaggett

Yummmmiller

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

06-13-2013 21:00:32 | More by Yummmmiller

doremite

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

06-13-2013 20:31:39 | More by doremite

Eazy28

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

06-13-2013 05:12:29 | More by Eazy28

JMUbrewz

Virginia

4/5  rDev -1.7%

06-12-2013 20:09:06 | More by JMUbrewz

TheRuss9585

Vermont

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

06-10-2013 17:40:30 | More by TheRuss9585

allenson21

New York

4/5  rDev -1.7%

06-09-2013 06:03:19 | More by allenson21

bolanrox

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

06-08-2013 17:33:47 | More by bolanrox

patrick802

Vermont

3.25/5  rDev -20.1%

06-07-2013 23:41:01 | More by patrick802

savagepm

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

06-07-2013 23:09:44 | More by savagepm

DeutschesBier

Maryland

4/5  rDev -1.7%

06-07-2013 15:19:50 | More by DeutschesBier

Doogermeister

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance is typical for a stout, black. The head is very tall and light, similar to other Belgian style beers.

Smell is very light. Nothing much to speak of. Has a light general Belgian style beer smell to it. It does not distinguish the fact that it is a stout.

The taste is a very smooth, light Belgian style stout flavor. Not major notes to speak of except for a light hint of dark chocolate bitterness. The ale says coffee-chocolate but the coffee is nowhere to be found in my opinion. Compared to a coffee stout, this has none of that.

Mouthfeel is very thin for a stout, has small bubbles reminiscent of the bubbles from the red chimay. Smooth drinking, with a mouthfeel that isn't too thick to enjoy more than one.

Overall this beer is pretty decent, but I have a hard time finding anything about this beer that I would dub as special. It's surprisingly light for a stout which makes it easier to drink than most American stouts but comes up short in the flavor category. Overall a great beer for those looking to make a stout a session beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2013 05:28:01 | More by Doogermeister