Allagash Grand Cru - Allagash Brewing Company

chinchill

South Carolina

3.3/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

on tap at Duckworths (NC)

Pour is a bit light for the style. The clear amber body is covered by a bone head that has great retention

Mouthfeel: near medium body with appropriate, medium carbonation.

Taste and Aroma: Plenty of alcohol esters and Belgian yeast. Also rather sweet. Wild yeast in the flavor that is not apparent in the nose.

O: unusual for style, this Belgian ale was disappointing but should appeal more to folks who like wild yeast in their beers more than I do.

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2013 18:29:58 | More by chinchill

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Batch 20. I don't have a date, but I believe the bottle is at least approaching two years old.

The beer pours a hazy brownish-red color with a white head. The aroma has a ton of brown sugar and dark fruit, as well as some caramel and toffee. There is also a little spice and some alcohol. The flavor has a ton of toffee and caramel, as well as some cherries and grapes. There is a bit of pepper, as well as some alcohol and candy sugar. The carbonation is fairly light and the beer is soft on the palate. The age has definitely not hurt the beer, although I can't say if it improved it.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 01:19:39 | More by Mora2000

UCLABrewN84

California

3.93/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle I brought to share at AndrewK’s tasting.

Batch # 15.

Pours a murky honey orange with a foamy beige head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, brown sugar, spices, and yeast. Taste is much the same with a slight honey flavor as well. There is a mild spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that has aged well in my opinion and is still quite tasty.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 00:59:12 | More by UCLABrewN84

superspak

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle into chalice, batch 19(probably a few years old). Pours a hazy reddish orange color with a nice foamy 1 finger off white head with great retention that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Some spotty lacing on the glass, with nice carbonation streaming up. Aromas of big prune, golden raisin, pepper, coriander, clove, caramel, candi sugar, and spicy yeast. Nice and well balanced aromas with good strength. Taste of big caramel, prune, raisin, apple, pepper, molasses, biscuit, clove, roasted nut, candi sugar, and yeast spices. Lingering notes of caramel, dark fruit, molasses, biscuit, and yeast spices on the finish for a bit. Great balance of flavors with the spiciness. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a slightly creamy and slick mouthfeel. Drinks really smoothly despite the slightly prickly carbonation. Alcohol is nicely hidden with only a slight warming after the finish. Overall this is an excellent Quadrupel style offering from Allagash. Great balance of flavors with a high amount of complexity; and is super smooth to drink as well given the 7.2%.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2012 06:03:49 | More by superspak

Chico1985

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazy light reddish color, small head sticks around for a bit before turning to a ring.

Nice scent, fresh fruit, yeast, spices, good strength.

Taste has lots of red grape, plum, berries, Belgian spice and yeast kick, toasty malts, a bit of funky twang to it. Good amount of sweetness and a bit tart.

Very smooth mouthfeel, no hint of the ABV, pretty easy drinking and interesting.

Glad to see this make a 'comeback', as always Allagash puts their own spin on an authentic Belgian ale.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2012 15:09:21 | More by Chico1985

jondeelee

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pleasant fruit and spice aroma, which continues into the palate. Peach/apricot flavors mix with spices, producing a nice, light beverage (but still full on flavor!) that nicely complements the colder fall days. Hops are kept to a minimum, so the bitterness is subtle, and grain flavors tend more towards lightly-toasted Grape Nuts. Drink this one while staring at the New England foliage in October, when the leaves turn red and golden-brown.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 16:20:42 | More by jondeelee

rfgetz

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dulled copper color, cap of frothy off-white to khaki colored head, decent sticky lacing. Smell is quite sweet and bready, followed by notes of fruit - both dark like plum and faint citrus, holiday like spicing, a light musty eathyness is present. Taste dominated by the sweetness - carmel apple, plum and citrus, bready and lightly toasted malts, holiday like spicing more muted then the nose, slight notes of booze. Quite hefty for the style, muted carbonation, lingering sweetness. A nice, full flavored quad.

Serving type: on-tap

06-13-2011 13:23:01 | More by rfgetz

kawilliams81

Illinois

2.95/5  rDev -28%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap at Finnegan's.

A- Light honey gold color. 1-finger foam with some lacing.

S- Some sweet malts with toasted malts

T- Sweet malts, roasted toast/biscuit with a slightly bitter finish.

M- Medium body, light carbonation, and a dry finish.

O- Nothing spectacular. Expected a little more from a "Grand Cru"

Serving type: on-tap

06-05-2011 16:43:44 | More by kawilliams81

ToasterChef

Maine

4.1/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from my notes.

A: Opaque peach w/ tan (nearly white) foam head. Lots of rising carbonation.

S: Nice Belgian sugar smell. Some peach fruit. It's malty and appealing.

T: It's a little sweet, but warming. Peach and plum flavors, with some mild spices. There's a kiss of bitterness in the finish. It's yummy.

M: Medium body and high carbonation. A touch sticky, but not much coat is left behind. Drinks well for 7.2% ABV.

O: I'm so glad this is being made again. I used to drink it when I first got into craft beer. This is a welcome return.

Serving type: on-tap

05-06-2011 13:29:09 | More by ToasterChef

Halcyondays

California

3.48/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at The Bruery Provisions,

A: Pours a deep amber colour with a full white head, leaving good lace.

S: Banana, sweet malt, not particularly aromatic though.

T: The banana esters come through in the flavour with a hint of pear and sugar cane. Sweet malt flavour overall, a tad cloying at times.

M: Medium-bodied, very smooth, soft carbonation.

O: A solid beer from Allagash. Very low ABV for the style, but still feels bigger. Worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2011 22:55:38 | More by Halcyondays

brystmar

New York

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: hazy amber-orange; off-white head and moderate lace -- our first hint that this isn't a quad. Tons of yeast at the bottom of the glass.

S: spicy in the nose with malts, earthy notes, hints of nutmeg / pumpkin pie, and plenty of booze. Reminds me of a winter ale.

T: sweet malts and fruit hit first. followed by spices, more complex malts, yeast, and alcoholic warmth. Definitely not a quad -- it's more of a super complex Belgian strong ale.

M/D: creamy and full-bodied; well-matched for the brew itself. This might be the first time I've ever been surprised to learn the ABV of my beer in hand was _lower_ than expected. It honestly smells / feels like a 10-11% brew, though it doesn't bite *too* hard.

O: another solid offering from a great brewery. This is what I've come to expect from Allagash.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2011 03:52:38 | More by brystmar

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tap at Armsby Abbey

Big fluffy head fades semi slowly with sticky lacing, hazy golden pale orange.

Nose nice Belgian malts, light fruits, light citrus, orange peel, light saison like spices, light sweet candi sugar.

Taste is semi sweet, lots of Belgian malts, fluffy, semi bitter orange peel, zest, citrus, light candi sugar, very light booze, light spices light spices coriander, etc. finishes a bit drier, somewhat bitter, light slices and Belgian fruity yeast.

Mouth is med to lightly heavier bodied with good carb.

Overall great, I think the bottles were better years ago but those are long gone, but a great beer

Serving type: on-tap

04-02-2011 17:36:20 | More by jlindros

Brez07

Maine

4.13/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer hasn't been sold/made for a while, but all of a sudden random kegs started popping up in the last week or so. Drank last night at Novare Res. 10oz pour in my chalice

A: Dark peach color. Very cloudy appearance. Initial pour left 2 finger white colored head. Look a few minutes to die down and left behind very limited lacing

S: Right off the bat, I'm reminded of that distinct aroma from Unibroue beers. Some belgian yeast, some spice. Not a huge nose

T: Starts with floral and fruit (light, like artificial peach) flavors before transitioning to a dry, almost saison-like beer. Some malt adds depth. Spice from the yeast in the finish. This beer seems more like a triple than anything else

M: Medium bodied. Pretty active carbonation, tingles the front of the tongue. Coats the mouth similar to a saison (soapy)

D: Glad to have tried this because Allagash stopped making it before I got into the beer scene. Certainly tasty, but I'm not sure what it's supposed to be. Try this before it disappears again

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2011 14:01:50 | More by Brez07

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

It's been so long since i've had this and so glad to see it back, this was one of my first and I totally forgot about it.

Allagash Grand Cru looks like your average beer, brownish shades with mahagony hues and tree bark edges. Just a whiff of tan/white suds on top creating a loose cap, no stick. Smell is berries up front and not fake berry either, a pleasant whiff of toasted malts with bread, some caramel, and than with warming a disgusting scent that reminds me of a basement. Taste is nice though and not so in your face and sugary like alot of quads, more should be made in this vain IMO. Berry forward, plum over apple, caramel sweetner, fruity over sugar, my type of quad. No alcohol interference. Feel is superior and medium making for at least two goblets to go down the hatch, I can't say that with any other quad. Carb ios minimal, smooth is the word with the slightest bit of heat towards the end. This is a winner except for that awful smell with much warmth.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2011 06:29:49 | More by onix1agr

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a nice, ruby/gold color with beautiful, tight carbonation and a creamy, single layered head.

S - Some citrus, spices, herbs, spices, and bready malt.

T - Dominated by herbs, spices, and bread. The overall taste is somewhat tart and sour in flavor. Honey, apples, pears, and a grassy earth touch to add to the layers of flavor. Has a Belgian yeast presence as well.

M - Somewhat thick, and a heavier side of medium body.

D - A nice sipper and something that's different and welcoming for a change.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2011 03:50:55 | More by jzeilinger

sk8man121

Maine

3.9/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at the Great Lost Bear in Portland, ME. Out of retirement?

A: Golden orange with little head. Zero lacing on glass.

S: Belgian yeast, fruity esters, maybe a bit of mint and alcohol.

T: Typical quad but subdued. Raisins, dark fruit; nice but not exceptional.

M: A bit thin. Could benefit from more carbonation as well.

D: One is enough. Not a bad beer, but also not Allagash's best. There are better quads out there but this is a perfectly acceptable take on the style.

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2011 22:35:25 | More by sk8man121

carolinahophead

North Carolina

3.73/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served on Brewery Nite at Flying Saucer Charlotte (3/3/2011)
The beer has a golden color with a typical belgian cloud white head ...
Nice spice and licorice aromas almost anise like . Bouquet comes alive as it warms. One thinks of hard candy with white flowers.
This so called Grand Cru does have some interesting flavor. I do get the belgium style for sure and did like the finish. Can we say white spice with licorice. Its almost liquid candy sugar.
A medium mouthfeel with some good carbonation. Its well balanced and well made for sure .
Not a big belgium fan here but a different change from Chimay. Thanks Allagash for this winter brew and looking forward to springtime...

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2011 00:41:32 | More by carolinahophead

ehammond1

California

3.7/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On Tap

Churchill's Pub & Grille
San Marcos, CA

A bright and clear pumpkin orange with a thick and luscious bubbly head that goes nowhere. A sight to behold, a truly beautiful beer, even if it doesn't look like any quad I've ever seen before.

A sweet nose of honey, berries, caramel, and spicy yeast. Interesting and evolving.

A sweet quad heavy in yeast and sugary fruits. A bit of peppery spice.

Medium bodied. Moderate carbonation. Relatively smooth.

An enjoyable and simple quad. Not nearly as layered or complex as others in its style, but a very good beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2011 01:24:48 | More by ehammond1

glid02

Georgia

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Brick Store.

Pours a slightly hazy golden color with a 1.5-finger white head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of crisp light malts with good amounts of ripe pears. Also present are moderate amounts of candied citrus and lighter amounts of clove and floral hops.

Tastes very similar to how it smells. Light malt flavors kick things off and are joined quickly by syrupy pear flavors. The flavor profile dries out a bit midway through the sip with mild amounts of orange peel. Finally, light earthy hops and clove come into play before fading out into a mildly bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a smooth thickness with active carbonation.

Drinkability is also good. I finished my glass without a problem and could have another.

Overall this was one of Allagash's offerings that was slightly underwhelming to me, and it is still a fine beer. Not Allagash's best effort but a solid beer that's worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

02-18-2011 03:15:48 | More by glid02

ThatWineGuy

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Cellared for some time now, enjoyed from a Maredsous glass. One finger beige head has some viscosity, sits atop a murky, dull orange brew with large bubbles suspended on top and smaller bubbles below the surface slowly and steadily demonstrating moderate carbonation. The head eventually shrunk to a large centre cloud with a solid ring.

Smell is of yeast, sweet malt, spicy thyme or nutmeg. Taste of over ripe fruit, slight sourness with sweet flashes of pitted fruit, caramel, malt, passion fruit. There is a sweet yet cleansing peachy mouthfeel with nice balance and a pleasant aftertaste that lingers. Heck, I could drink several of these ... a very pleasant experience, too bad it looks like this beer is retired, it belongs in your refrigerator and mine!

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2011 04:22:24 | More by ThatWineGuy

FosterJM

California

3.88/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

119th review on BA
C/C 750 ML Batch 19
Bottle to tulip

App- A hazy orange with sunset looks to it. With soft golden and yellow highlights. A nice 2 finger head that lasts quite a long time.

Smell- I get some citrusy fruit with some yeast and some wet bread scents.

Taste- I'm actually suprised by the flatness here. It's a bubbly brew for sure but it has such a flat taste. This had to be better fresh.

Mouth- Its a tad bit thin for me, I really don't see how this could be a Quad at all and I am sure it's not.

Drink- I'll give it 3.5 because it's tasty. Not too bad but fresh probably would've been better and this didn't deserve and A.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2010 02:01:18 | More by FosterJM

jibbyvonjibb

California

3.78/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Batch #21

A: cloudy, amber color, yeast sediment settles to bottom

S: herbal phenols, apple cider, raisins

T: candy sugar, biscuity malt, spicy phenols, apple cider, raisins

M: medium-bodied, high carbonation, creamy

D: intriguing multi-dimensional flavors. The silky texture really improves drinkability. Sweetness not overbearing, but might seem cloying if not the first beer of the evening. Would try again, but not a favorite.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2010 05:09:41 | More by jibbyvonjibb

Gambrinus1184

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750 ml bottle marked "Batch 19" into a Thomas Hooker pint glass.

A: Deep, golden honey color with some suspended yeast and a great, big, three-finger head of dense, white foam thick enough to hold the bottle cork's wire cage. Left great sheets of lace.

S: Complex, fruity ale esters, yest and wheat aromas and a bit of allspice, coriander, nutmeg and liquid smoke.

T: Powerful bouquet of fruity malts lending flavors of pear, apple and berry to the caramel malt sweetness. Spicy, slightly alcoholic malt flavors lead into a creamy, bitter and warming finish which taps back with a nice, slightly spicy and minty, dry hop finish.

M: Full-bodied, clean, creamy yet dry mouthfeel with minimal wheat malt and yeast chewiness.

D: A very good, complex, Belgian winter sipper. Aside from the spices noted in the nose and a bit supplementing the hop profile, I don't get why Grand Cru is a winter seasonal, as its dry, floral and honey qualities would endear it to the spring as well. At any rate, the 7.2% ABV Belgian dark ale is a nice brew to have on hand for the impending winter months, if you can still find some on closeout in your area.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2010 22:12:43 | More by Gambrinus1184

beancounter

New Hampshire

4.1/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pored beer into a glass. Bottle was in the fridge. About an inch or so at the top was frozen. Not sure why, as other beers in the fridge did not contain ice. When i open the beer (very carefully, a bunch of it gushed out as foam.

A- Golden amber with a substantial head. Slow, small bubles.

S-Light caramel, otherwise no distinctive smell

T-camel and smoke flavors.

M-Medium body

D- Very drinkable. There is a good balance between alcohol and (only 7.2 ABV) and the malty flavor. It goes down easily

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2010 20:39:12 | More by beancounter

deltatauhobbit

Maine

3.53/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a golden/amber/orange color with a sizable head with a slight tan color, fades fast and doesn't leave any lacing along the glass.

Smell is mostly candied sugar and malt, slight banana presence.

Taste is surprisingly disappointing, the flavor just isn't there, at times it just seems downright watery, the carbonation is solid for the style, very slight banana taste, the rest is just candied sugar that is way too muted, the strength on the other hand is very well hidden.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2010 22:26:07 | More by deltatauhobbit