Allagash Black - Bourbon Barrel Aged - Allagash Brewing Company

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes.

Pours black, of course. A bit of of a tan head and some lacing. Nose brings roasted malt, wood, vanilla, some barrel characteristics, and hints of dark drugs. Taste adds in some molasses with all he flavors melding well. Feel is nice and slightly boozy. Drinks quite well; one of the better Allagash beers ai have had.

Serving type: on-tap

10-07-2010 11:25:44 | More by Thorpe429

mdfb79

New York

4.22/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From 08/21/10 notes. Had on tap at Monk's Cafe in Philly.

a - Pours a dark, dark brown color with light carbonation and very little white head.

s - Smells strongly of bourbon, as well as cocoa, oak, and hints of vanilla.

t - Tastes of bourbon, oak, chocolate, coffee, roasted malts, and vanilla.

m - Medium body and light carbonation.

d - I thought this was a very enjoyable barrel aged beer. I liked it a little bit better than the normal Allagash black and thought there was a good level of bourbon in the nose and taste. Would try again.

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2010 00:25:18 | More by mdfb79

yourefragile

District of Columbia

3.5/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served in a goblet at Max's.

Color is dark cola brown, opaque and thick with a creamy light tan head that produces thick sheets of lacing. Aroma is mild in strength and dominated by bourbon, vanilla and oak. Very smooth and subtle, but a little boring. Flavor is bourbon forward without being overly boozy or sweet. Finish is slightly bitter and astringent, with a mild dark fruit flavor and oak sweetness. Body is thick and silky smooth with minimal carbonation. Overall this isn't bad but was disappointgly boring and the base beer is overwhelmed by the barrel aging. Yawn.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2010 23:20:03 | More by yourefragile

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

very happy to be able to try this one. one liter swingtop growler was enjoyed tremendously between me and my brother in law. served chilled and poured into a pint glass, this one was consumed on 08/20/2010.

nice dark brown and bordering on black pour but some light and brownish colors could be seen peaking out through the sides. a nice head of tan, maybe two fingers high comes up and over the top, settling down with some nice lacing.

aroma is nice bourbon right up front. vanilla, hints of oak. a nice blend of cocoa and light roasted malts underneath really coming through nicely, bourbon is not too heavy, damn near perfect actually and this carries over very well into the flavor. smooth and rich flavor, a touch lighter on the feel then i would have hoped but still nice. huge notes of vanilla and bourbon just drip off the tongue an each sip becomes more and more involved. final sweet drops are as delicious as the first with smoooth oak and vanilla easily coming though long after i was done..

overall very, very happy with this one, would love to do it again any day.

Serving type: growler

08-21-2010 17:27:52 | More by mikesgroove

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.9/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Max's today.

The beer pours a blackish brown color with good head retention and considerable lacing. The nose is attractive, showing coffee, chocolate and noticeable bourbon. The flavor profile replicates the nose pretty closely, though the chocolate and bourbon seem to dominate in this attractive beer. It's a bit thinner on the palate than I expected, but it has an impressive, long , drawn out finish. Drinkability is pretty good considering the abv., and the beer is not at all tiring or heavy on the palate.

Nothing mind blowing here, but this is a solid beer from Allagash, and will be especially attractive for those who enjoy a splash of bourbon in their beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-15-2010 17:50:56 | More by johnmichaelsen

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a snifter at ChurchKey.

Come for the Founders goodies, stay for the other goodies they've got assembled for your enjoyment. This one pours a very dark opaque black-brown topped by a half-finger (at best) of ecru macro-foam. The nose comprises bourbon, oak, dull chocolate, roasted malts, toffee, and a hint o' vanilla in there somewhere. The taste is very similar, with more chocolate and roasted malts and the inclusion of newcoming molasses. The body is a solid medium, with a slightly biting carbonation and a spitefully smooth feel. Overall, a very nice Belgian stout; doesn't overdo it with the bourbon barrel influences, and everything melds together very nicely.

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2010 06:00:00 | More by TMoney2591

malloyca

District of Columbia

3.93/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

For what it is, this was a very pleasant surprise and not gimmicky at all. Served in a snifter; black in appearance, with a thin white head. Strong aromas of bourbon, oak and vanilla go along with roasted malts. It tastes very much like it smells, with the high alcohol content and the bourbon barrel flavors combining to give the impression you are, in fact, drinking bourbon. But this is not a harsh drink, because there are also complementary malt flavors and a rich, smooth mouthfeel. This works well in small quantities, with dessert or as a digestif.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2010 21:31:12 | More by malloyca

Casey10

Maine

3.78/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at Lion's pride was pleasantly surprised but at the same time was not really blown away with this at all.

A dark beer that had minimal head served in a appropriate glassware and at room temperature.

That being said the beer was good, it definately had the flavors of the barrel with the burbon shining through although for me the brew felt somewhat thin and a little boozy.

I would have again and this was not bad again did not overwhelm or surprize me worth a try though !

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2010 03:23:25 | More by Casey10

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Sunset Grill & Tap into a tasting flute.

A: Black body with a small brown head that settles into a ring fairly quickly and doesn't leave any lace. Ok, but far from spectacular.

S: Bourbon, bourbon, and more bourbon. Nothing but whiskey, oak, and vanilla. Enjoyable, but entirely one-dimensional. Still, what a dimension!

T: Not surprisingly, the flavor is again that of overwhelming bourbon. No traces of the original Belgian stout remain - the barrel has completely taken over. Good thing I like barrels.

M: Full bodied with abundant soft carbonation. Lovely.

D: Just a bit too boozy to be really drinkable. 5 ounces is enough.

Notes: Great tasting beverage, but not nearly as complex as regular Allagash Black. Barrel aging really robbed this beer of all its individuality, which is a bit of a pity.

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2010 22:04:07 | More by woosterbill

ToasterChef

Maine

4.28/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Reviewed from my notes, served in a tulip glass at the Great Lost Bear. The beer is a black liquid with a tan foam head. I can see foam and small bubbles rising within the dark liquid. There is a great layer of foam coating left behind as I drink the beer. I can distinguish some sweet malts in the aroma. There isn't much bourbon character here, it is more of an oak aroma. The taste of the beer begins with a a little sweet caramel up front. I can also taste creamy chocolate. A roasted coffee bitterness comes through in the finish. There is a little bit of the bourbon, but not much. What is there is present throughout. Based on the casked version of Curieux I have had in previously, I expected a lot more bourbon flavor--I'm slightly disappointed the bourbon isn't stronger. It has a medium body and feels creamy. There is just the right amount of foamy carbonation. This beer feels like a great example of a stout and a great example of a casked beer. For a Bourbon barrel-aged big stout, this beer is remarkably drinkable. Each sip is satisfying, but leaves me excited to have another. The 7.5% ABV is completely masked. I could easily drink a number of glasses of this beer.

Serving type: cask

07-06-2010 14:14:34 | More by ToasterChef

BretSikkink

Mexico

4.08/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On cask at the Great Lost Bear. According to their literature, this one was aged in bourbon barrels with vanilla beans. Served in a cold tulip glass with a half-finger dark brown bubbly head. This runs off quickly, but there is lacing all the way down.

Nose is lightly roasted, with hints of those vanilla beans and bourbon casks. Slightly soapy as well, lowering the score a half tick. The taste profile is great - the vanilla and bourbon mix seamlessly with the roasted malt. Some chocolate notes emanate from the roast, along with a hint of espresso. Plenty of boozy notes, along with a lighter tropical hint. The cask engine has left this one extremely smooth and creamy. Finish is so silky, and the booze barely registers in the taste. Outstanding beer.

Serving type: cask

07-04-2010 21:15:38 | More by BretSikkink

TommyW

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Black body with a thin tan head.

S- Roasted and burnt malts with a strong touch of bourbon.

T- Lots of roasted/burnt malt flavors mingling with some dark fruits. Bourbon notes come in the middle but transition to a very clean, vodka-like alcohol on the finish.

M- Medium body with a smooth feel.

D- A nice barrel aged beer; the finish was a little too hot I think, but aging this would be very interesting.

Serving type: on-tap

07-03-2010 02:55:04 | More by TommyW

SteelerChris

California

4.78/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I am sommelier and have worked with fine wines for 10 years. I never could quite appreciate beer until after I developed my palate with wine. From my wine knowledge came my love of craft beer and intelligence to recognize the flavor profiles that are omnipresent in beer, translating to bliss on my palate. This beer to me was like sipping a '65 Margaux, only cheaper and more fun to evaluate. The bottle/label itself screams drink me and when you start to pour it you are overwhelmed with a rich, bourbon-chocolate aroma. The aroma also included a sweet cream of coconut and butter. I poured mine into a lightly chilled snifter because I wanted to evaluate the beer at different temps, and as the beer warmed the better it got. The appearance is rich chocolate brown with a steady lacing and thick toffee head. The flavor is impressive, but a little hot at first. The vanilla tones really help balance the beer on the palate, while the roasted citrus, oak, chocolate, plum, and coffee complete the journey around the tongue. Very rich and creamy, almost enough so serve over ice cream. For being as dark as it is I was expecting more body but was incredibly satisfied with its medium body and velvety smoothness that lingered delightfully for a while. Very rounded, full, and balanced beer, truly remarkable. I decided to pair this beer with a dry-aged prime rib eye, which turned out to be the right choice as the rich fatty meat complimented the deep flavors of the beer and the aged authentic balsamic I used brought out the sweetness of the brew. I highly recommend this beer and am now spoiled by yet another fantastic Allagash creation.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2010 17:16:28 | More by SteelerChris

deltatauhobbit

Maine

3.45/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Had over at Novare Res, says it was aged in Jim Beam barrels. On-tap, not the cask version they sometimes have.

Pours a very dark brown with a good sized tan head that fades at a really slow rate, some patchy lacing.

Smell has a huge bourbon aroma that overwhelms everything else, although there is some roasted malt in there too.

Taste is overly controlled by the bourbon and doesn't meld with the Allagash Black too well, it's like they just pours Jim Beam in there, the subtle complexities of the regular version is lost on this although vanilla makes decent appearance on the taste buds, maybe it just need some time to mellow outside of the barrels because it's also much hotter than it should be.

Bit disappointed, if I wanted to drink Jim Beam, I'd order that and just have the regular Allagash Black as a chaser.

Serving type: on-tap

06-13-2010 19:49:27 | More by deltatauhobbit

Brez07

Maine

4.75/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

On cask at Novare, Bourbon Barrel aged with vanilla beans. 8oz pour into an Allagash 25cl glass

A: Dark with a quickly evaporating head. Spotted lacing is left all over the place

S: There are a ton of scents here. Sweet vanilla, toasted coconut, slight hint of caramel, cocoa nibs and of course some bourbon. About halfway through the glass I detect something very similar to those buttered popcorn jellybeans

T: Exactly like the nose, minus the popcorn. Just a lovely combination of vanilla, chocolate and a slight hint of bourbon

M: Super creamy and goes down smooth. Small amount of roasted flavor in the after taste

D: This is a phenomenal beer. I wanted another glass, but I had to get going. Dangerously drinkable at 9.3%. I hope to see this again sometime in the near future

Serving type: cask

05-12-2010 23:25:46 | More by Brez07

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Had this on tap @ Stoutfest @ Armsby Abbey.

A: Pitch black with a light creamy head.

N: Some sweet malts, a little fruity, quite a bit of bourbon aroma. Little hop spiciness, biscuit malts, vanilla and oak.

T: Lots of fruit, like juicy almost berry fruit. Some wild brett like funk and dry yeast characteristics. Some sour fruit, malty biscuit and barnyard dry funk. It's very much like a dark saison, and despite being dry it still hides the booze pretty well. All that tags along a slight oaky vanilla taste, and a strong bourbon flavor. Not quite Bourbon County Stout, or even KBS, but has its own bourbon charm.

M: Semi thick, little syrupy, and little carbonation.

F: Long bitter finish, saison bite with dryness, and more lingering funk. A little boozy and more like a touch of bourbon on the finish. Malty flavors linger, pretty dry and spicy even.

Lots going on here. It has some nice flavors, but they don't seem to belong and don't contrast well. Its basically lots of great beers blended, not always the best thing. At EBF I blended PtY, Supplication, CBS, and a touch of Utopias, they're all really REALLY great beers on their own, but tasted bad together. Much like this one.

Serving type: on-tap

04-19-2010 17:45:04 | More by jlindros

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Draft pour into a 10 1/2 oz tulip, batch #1345, $7.50. The ABV is listed as 8.?. I'm guessing the barrel aging provides varying ABV results.

A: Pours with a light brown head, that is small to begin with and quickly vanishes without a trace. For only 8% ABV, the head could have lasted a little longer and some lacing would have been nice. This brew rolls clean off of the glass. The body is an opaque black but thin ruby edges are visible when held to light. I'm looking for something to justify a better appearance rating but there is really nothing exceptional regarding its look.

S: Bourbon dominates the nose but it isn't assaulting. Dark toasted malts plus grains of wheat and oats. Aroma subtleties include chocolate, spent coffee grounds and star anise.

T: Barrel aging is evident on the palate too, as this brew spent 10 months in bourbon barrels, but the subtlety is most impressive. The perfect amount of bourbon contribution for my taste.

M: The mouthfeel is my favorite aspect of this brew. The Black uses a Belgian yeast strain and is bottle fermented with great results. Light to medium body, leaning toward light. The texture is lush and buttery smooth when the effervescence subsides. Fine carbonation with small and productive bubbles, prickling the tongue all over. Semi warm on the exhale.

D: This is another high-quality brew from Allagash. Although I have to say I prefer the non barrel aged version of the Black. I had it on cask in the same sitting and it was much fruitier and had more nuance. Big plum and red grape, semi sweet. As subtle as the bourbon was in the -bbl aged, it hindered the complexity.

Serving type: on-tap

04-09-2010 16:12:46 | More by FeDUBBELFIST

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.78/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a .25cl Allagash tulip. Poured the color of cola with a mere swirl of foam comprising the head, and a tight band around the perimeter of the glass. Nose is very subdued; some brewer's licorice - nose seems closer to a baltic porter. Taste reveals a little bourbon, a hint of a medicinal quality and black licorice; there's also a slightly vinous quality (once again reminiscent of a baltic porter). Mouthfeel was light/medium with a fairly subdued background effervescence. Happy to try this, but I'm a bigger fan of the standard Black. Certainly worth a try if you have the opportunity, but not the best example of barrel-aging from this brewer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-20-2009 00:27:05 | More by Jwale73

thequeen711

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I am just a sucker for these stouts...Poured deep, rich, black into the snifter, thick beige head that eventually became the lacing. Aroma of roasted malts, dark chocolate, oak and bourbon. Taste was the same as the aroma, with a full-bodied, full-flavour mouthfeel. What makes this different from other stouts? Probably the fullness of the flavours, highly drinkable...if I can find any more!!!

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2009 18:55:36 | More by thequeen711

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Finally getting around to the Philly Beer Week notes...
On tap at Capone's...
Appears a dense black with a small tan head that slowly fades into a mild cap and collar. Spotty bits of lacing are left around the glass.
Smell is of light oak(becomes more evident as it warms), black grapes, roasty grain, and cocoa.
Taste is of the mentioned aromas with a cocoa, and vanilla flavor dominating the flavors with just a touch of steeped espresso beans.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, roasty during the finish, with a mild astringency found while sampling.
A rare treat that I was glad to enjoy in the company of Rob Tod from Allagash.

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2009 01:23:56 | More by weeare138

AltBock

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This wonderful beer was on tap during Capone's Allagash promo on 3/14/2009. They served it to me in a little 9 oz. Snifter.

The beer's color put the word black into "Allagash Black." It poured a solid coal black color with a decent 1/2 an inch head of light tan colored foam. This small head of foam had pretty good retention that only left behind a hand full of tan spots of lace.

The aroma was lightly sweet and smoky with dark candi sugar, dark chocolate, a hint of roasted coffee beans, a pinch of vanilla, a touch of roasted malts, and a subtle whiff of bourbon and oak. All the roasted flavors before the bourbon and oak did a great job not letting them get out of hand and completely take over the aroma.

The first thing that I immediately noticed in the taste was that the dark chocolate was more prominent in the Barrel Aged Black than in the regular Black. Behind the dark chocolate were all the flavors that I had just smelled. That means I got to taste dark candi sugar, roasted coffee beans, a touch of roasted malts, a pinch of vanilla, a splash of smoke, and then this roasted/sweet/lightly smoky beer finished up with a strong, but not overwhelming taste of bourbon and charred oak. In other words, it was a great well balanced barrel aged beer.

The mouthfeel was slick. Even though it was chock full of dark roasted flavors, this beer didn't show it's high ABV of 10% till after the bottom of the second glass. Barrel Aged Black is a full bodied beer with a full flavored aftertaste of dark chocolate, roasted coffee beans, roasted malts, smoke, bourbon, and oak. I originally thought that some of the alcohol would move over from the bourbon, but it didn't. All the roasted probably had something to do with that.

If you're a fan of the original Black, barrel aged beers, or just a fan of Allagash, then you need to try this beer. I was told that this was only a one time beer. That's too bad because I would certainly love another glass of this wonderful beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-15-2009 18:18:18 | More by AltBock

hopdog

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Capones.

Poured a dark black color with a smaller sized off white/tan head. Aromas of roastiness, woody, smoke, vanilla, and a trace (if any) of bourbon. Tastes of vanilla, woody/oak, dark fruits, roasty, chocolate, the same smokiness, and vanilla. If I wasn't told this was done in a Bourbon Barrel, I would have just guessed Oak Aged.

Serving type: on-tap

03-15-2009 12:10:54 | More by hopdog

rye726

Colorado

4.22/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is Black aged for 10 months in bourbon barrels. Pours a near black color with a thick brown head. The nose has dark roasty malts, peppery Belgian yeasts, chocolate and whiskey. The barrel aging for sure added another layer of complexity to the nose, but I'm not sure it had much of an affect on the flavor profile. The taste is however a bit more rounded. Not quite as roasty as the regular Black. The body is not as full as I expected, but still drinks well.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2009 18:28:46 | More by rye726