Allagash Victor Francenstein - Allagash Brewing Company

Jdiddy

Rhode Island

4.2/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A HUGE thanks to Chris Lively at Ebenezers's for the bottle. Pours a nice amber, reddish/brown. Smell is instantly of white wine, think chardonnay. Barnyard funk as well. Lot's of oak. Nice carbonation, but not too much.
Tastes similar to smell as the grapes are very present. This is a very dry beer. The finish is exceptionally dry but not in a bad way.
The sour element is not over the top. I found I liked more as it warmed up as the subtle flavors seemed to present themselves. (vanilla, grapes, oak).
Great beer. Mindblowing it is not, but I'd drink anytime I could find it.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2010 01:56:27 | More by Jdiddy

pperez38

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.7%

05-02-2013 10:37:32 | More by pperez38

spycow

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +3%

05-01-2013 03:21:06 | More by spycow

westcoastbeerlvr

California

3.75/5  rDev -14.2%

01-09-2013 18:26:51 | More by westcoastbeerlvr

acurtis

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev -2.7%

10-21-2012 03:07:53 | More by acurtis

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

4.28/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From notes sampled Aug 19 2010 at Eb's
Pours a fairly clear golden amber color with a decent white head that shows some retention. Smells of tart cherries, lemons, caramel, very vinous with a solid dose of tart and funk. The flavor follows the aroma quite well. A solid hit of sour fruits up front, lemons and cherries mostly, and a solid hit of grape skins. A bit of funk with some vanilla and caramel round out the flavor quite nicely. Medium to light body with a spirited level of carbonation and crisp bubbly mouthfeel. I like this beer a lot, too bad its nearly impossible to get again.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 18:07:03 | More by johnnnniee

t0rin0

California

3.75/5  rDev -14.2%

08-18-2012 12:50:16 | More by t0rin0

drewone

California

4.75/5  rDev +8.7%

08-06-2012 20:39:17 | More by drewone

leschkie

California

4/5  rDev -8.5%

07-16-2012 00:01:21 | More by leschkie

Cstromberg57

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev -2.7%

07-15-2012 03:36:04 | More by Cstromberg57

jlenik

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

corked and caged bottle poured into Cantillon tulip

a: launched my cork toward the ceiling after a nice pop! pours a clear light amber color. minimal head during the pour that quickly disappears.

s: reminds me of a somewhat sweet white wine. the funkiness this gives off definitely has some legs!

t: sweetness from the grapes comes through immediately. the alcohol is masked by the tartness and subtle oakyness. definitely reminiscent of a gueuze with a balanced sweetness.

m: a delicate balance between the sour and the sweet. there is a slight alcohol presence in the smell but it's rather undetectable. finishes dry.

o: Allagash really makes impressive sours. they may not always be as sour as a RR or Cantillon BUT they are incredibly delicate and balanced; Victor Franc is no exception. glad to have the opportunity to try it!

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 00:15:46 | More by jlenik

pmlondrigan

New York

4.65/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer is unmistakably Allagash sour all around. A light pop, a faint hiss, and a gentle pour reveals the following. A pale colored ale, slightly orange, slightly amber, snow white crystal head. The CO2 is audable, crackling and well taught. It recedes but a white ring is ever present. The aroma is heavy with oak, and funk, grape skins, and fleshy grape fruit. If you imagine a Bourdeux when drinking this the grapes pop even more. The aroma is earthy and complex. Fruity grapes meet the palate and are then married to wine barrel oak and funk. The sourness is tame here, tart if anything, but that is an allagash sour for you. More Brett then bugs. Really complex wine like charecteristics. Dry finish. Medium bodied but spritzy. This is a real fine beer, damn fine.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2012 00:33:39 | More by pmlondrigan

jsilva

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +3%

03-05-2012 02:24:53 | More by jsilva

BearsOnAcid

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Reddish brown pour; small white head

A lambic-esque aroma. Impressive. Bright grapeyness and Allagash funk.

Slightly sweet vinous flavor. Bretty and bitter(pithy). Some sharp cheese. Finish ends with a little acitidity and some tannins. The alcohol warms you up. Definitely the best Allagash has put out for special releases.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 20:11:01 | More by BearsOnAcid

Bendurgin

Maine

3.75/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a big Allagash chalice. Pours amber red with three fingers of a quickly receding white three finger head. It settles down to a thin layer of foam quickly.

The aroma has a nice sour grape aroma with some hints of oak and some lactic notes. Musky grapes on the pallet with lots of oak and some hint of vanilla. Mildly tart in the finish with a little bit of grape sweetness.

The body is light and crisp with soft carbonation. Overall a pretty solid brew here. Although I can't really taste the bugs.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 01:53:54 | More by Bendurgin

sincereNc

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +3%

02-14-2012 08:14:40 | More by sincereNc

ygtbsm94

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -19.9%

01-26-2012 07:22:02 | More by ygtbsm94

djrn2

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev -2.7%

01-13-2012 22:40:05 | More by djrn2

MaineMike

Maine

4/5  rDev -8.5%

12-18-2011 00:29:45 | More by MaineMike

jpmclaug

South Carolina

5/5  rDev +14.4%

12-13-2011 01:56:36 | More by jpmclaug

morimoto76

North Carolina

5/5  rDev +14.4%

12-11-2011 18:37:28 | More by morimoto76

jophish17

Georgia

4/5  rDev -8.5%

12-11-2011 06:35:16 | More by jophish17

daryk77

District of Columbia

5/5  rDev +14.4%

12-05-2011 22:35:55 | More by daryk77

clegolfski

Ohio

5/5  rDev +14.4%

11-26-2011 04:30:29 | More by clegolfski

Pamola

Vermont

5/5  rDev +14.4%

11-22-2011 16:23:55 | More by Pamola