Allagash Old HLT - Allagash Brewing Company

TMath524

New Hampshire

4.93/5  rDev +20%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had on tap at When Pigs Fly Pizzeria in Kittery, ME. Tapped just over a week before the bottle release!

Poured into a 10.5 oz glass with a perfect bubbly head that dissipates quickly. Appearance is reddish brown.

Nose is deliciously funky. Tart with just a touch of cherry sweetness. I wish my pillow smelled like this.

Taste was tart and just sweet enough to not get buried by my mushroom and fried eggplant pizza. Earth, oil, funk, and ricotta are making a flavor love-child in my mouth.

Mouthfeel is a touch compromised by the accompanying food, but actually serves as a pretty good palate-cleanser.

Overall I'd say that I'm terribly disappointed that I'm working during the bottle release, but I'm truly glad I could have this beer in its completed form on-tap at When Pigs Fly!

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2012 03:04:54 | More by TMath524

DanK4

Maine

4.73/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Scored a few of these at the brewery today at the Old HLT release party. Got to meet Rob Tod and the staff of the brewery- one hell of a group of people. Out of a 12.7 capped and crowned bottle into an Allagash Coolship glass.

A: A nice golden ruby color- definitely rich in hue. pours with an off white/coffee 2 finger head that disappears quick. A nice touch of carb but nothing streaming from the bottom. Cloudy and intense looking- definitely looks like a bottle fermented beer.

S: It's got the funk. Great cherry aroma with a grain warmth. Vanilla notes, but smells like a humble country brew.

T: Perfect sour funky bite. Seriously everything I imagined it to be, finishes smooth but that initial cherry tartness is delicious. Not so much vanilla here, but it leaves a silky bite. Awesome beer.

M: Medium-light bodied. The finish is perfect for the density and taste of this brown ale, any heavier and it would almost seem too funky, but any lighter and it would be a tease.

O: Oh yea, it's the good stuff. Definitely worth seeking out, not too partial to brown or cherry ales before but I feel like that is going to change rather quickly.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 20:00:58 | More by DanK4

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

$7.50 for the pour, served in a small Allagash tulip.
Sampled 10JUL12

The beer menu indicates 7% - but doesn't indicate "old" [HLT] either. From the menu: "This is a wild brown ale aged on cherries for two years..."

[A] A finger and a half of off-white foamy bubbly head, semi quick to deflate. The color of the body is between brassy orange and burgundy brown - something like a weathered copper. Decent transparency. No lacing. Barely a film or collar. The beer comes clean off the glass after each sip - no lacing.

[S & T] Dark natural cherry aroma throughout. Initially a little bit of buttery diacetyl, but that has faded away at this point. There is an extremely subtle balsamic vinegar aroma and flavor that creeps in just under the sweet/sour cherry and is, quite honestly, masterfully incorporated. Wow. Pretty amazing... Screw the upfront diacetyl, the aroma and flavor right now is basically perfect.

[M] The mouthfeel is wonderful. No complaints. Effervescence is lively, providing the relentless tongue biting experience that wild ale lovers crave.

[O] What a fantastic beer. My experience was a lot better than others apparently...

Serving type: on-tap

09-16-2012 22:42:47 | More by FeDUBBELFIST

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.58/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

375 ml cork and caged bottle poured into a Bruery tulip.
8.0% ABV, Date Bottled: November 2011, "Open cautiously, contents under pressure."

Huge thanks to Wisrarebeer for bringing this back for me on his latest trip! Thanks Mark!

A - Pouring a hazy, muted peach skin orange in color, Old HLT is capped by an effervescent off-white head that lingers for quite some time considering it's acidity. A thin ring of foam floats on the beer, but no lace is left on the glass.

S - Old HLT bursts fourth with a bold and evocative wild ale aroma, seeping with cherries. Tart cherry skin is expertly blended with the acidic level of the wild bugs which impart a beautiful bouquet of mild barnyard funkiness. Wildflower honey dribbles a touch of sweetness in with some caramel malt while, what I can only assume to be the hop additions, adds a fragrant floral aromatics to the finish. But the most unique part of this aroma, which gives it character unlike any other wild I've had, is the musty old ale-like smell which suggests wet wood and old basement. Incredible!

T - Unlike any other American Wild out there, this is very malt-driven, showcasing sweet caramel and pilsner notes with a robust, round feel. Barnyard flavors gather afterwards; wet hay and horseblanket are subtle but add incredible depth. Floral aspects emerge again with a wildflower honey taste and light cherry skin tartness finishes out.

M - Heavy effervescent while pouring suggested strong carbonation and sure enough, it's champagne-like! Medium bodied, the alcohol is masked, but the bigger maltiness gives the feel some heft as the acidity and dryness creeps in for a tart and sour finish that's not too overpowering.

O - Allagash has created an American wild ale that seems to be quite a melange of styles, blending a malty old ale with fruit and wild yeast and bacteria for an earthy, floral beer that seems to open itself up to different depths with each sip. Pretty incredible.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 13:19:33 | More by BeerFMAndy

AutumnBeerLove

Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: Highly carbonated, a thin white head, and looks a pale orange.

S: Tart cherry smell overpowers this beer.

T: A nice fizz with the taste of cherries and mixed fruits. Almost a wine aftertaste.

M: Nice initial bubble feel with a sweet aftertaste.

O: A very good wild ale. I'll gladly enjoy this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 20:56:10 | More by AutumnBeerLove

vandemonian

Maryland

4.43/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Allagash Old HLT is a really nice sour beer. The best sour I've had from Allagash.

A: Orange colour and decent head that fades fast. 4

S: Delicious sour smell. Reminds me a lot of the RR sours. 4.5

T: Sour with some subtle Maltiness. Really fresh and sour. 4.5

M: Good and foamy. 4

O: 4.5

Serving type: on-tap

07-16-2012 02:33:52 | More by vandemonian

TerrenceOBrien

New York

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep orange, with a slight reddish-brown hue. Slightly cloudy with a thin pale head that dissipates quickly, almost like a soda. The scent is light on the nose, only a hint of cherries and a solid (but hardly overpowering) malt aroma. Flavor continues along the same line. The backbone is a pleasant malty sweetness, but the cherries add their own fruit sweetness along with a pleasant dose of sourness. The sourness is far from overbearing, just enough to highlight crisp and slightly dry flavors.

Serving type: growler

04-16-2012 11:52:45 | More by TerrenceOBrien

craytonic

District of Columbia

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On Tap at Pizzeria Paradisio

Appearance: Light orange-hay pour, nice head
Smell: very intriguing, lots of fruit with a touch of funk and sour, some vanilla notes as well
Taste: Not particularly complex but very enjoyable, a playful sourness with some raspberries and other lighter fruits
Mouthfeel: Very creamy body, great carbonation
Overall: Extremely drinkable, very easy to put this away despite the 8% ABV. Hope they bottle it.

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2012 19:22:04 | More by craytonic

lordofthewiens

Maine

4.35/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Pigs Fly. The 10 oz serving was rust colored with a small off-white head.

Nice aroma, mostly sweet and cherry. A little bit funky.

Beautiful taste. Crackers, sweet and tart cherry. A little more sharpness at the end of the sip.

I thought the sweet/tart aspect worked really well, and made this a wonderful beer to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

04-07-2012 10:06:57 | More by lordofthewiens

WanderingFool

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Old HLT pours a hazy amber, with a small fizzy head. The foam disappears quickly leaving behind no lace.

The aroma is very tart with notes of cherry and barnyard funk.

Each sip of this medium bodied beer has moderate carbonation and a dry finish. The flavor is tart cherries, sugary sweetness, mild fruit (apple) and a touch of wheat. Lingering tartness when gone.

This beer has a nice funky aroma and tart flavor. The flavor really comes out as it warms.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 00:50:31 | More by WanderingFool

ToasterChef

Maine

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed form my notes. This was a one time only keg tapped as part of Novare Res' Allagash-aganza. The beer has a translucent red color. There was a white foam head about two fingers in thickness. No rising carbonation was visible. Good, even lacing was left behind after I swirled my chalice around. This beer doesn't resemble a brown ale at all. The aroma wasn't too strong, just some mild cherry and musty yeast. No brett-like smells. Right away the beer tastes tart. It's a little sweet and dry. The cherry flavor is like that of real cherries, not the "cherry flavor" many products advertise. There is a touch of sour in the finish. It's very tasty, and again, tastes nothing like brown ales I am familiar with. It has a medium body and low carbonation. There is a slight coat left behind and some stickiness. This is pretty drinkable. My chalice holds a large pour, and that will be enough for me. Once this is aged a bit longer, I think it will really shine.

Serving type: on-tap

05-13-2010 14:34:09 | More by ToasterChef

CloudStrife

New York

4.23/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12.7oz bottle poured into a chalice. Bottled Nov. 2011. From the brewery.

A: Pours a slightly hazy golden ruby with a 1 finger white head. Tons of visible carbonation, this looks like a champagne. Some sediment visible in the glass. Head sticks around for a while, no lacing.

S: Tart smell with hints of cherry, spice and vanilla. Some wheat and belgian yeast makes up the backbone.

T: Mildy sour with cherry overtones. Some belgian yeast and wheat. A cranberry like sour. The tannins provide a nice bitterness at the end. Almost like a lambic on steroids.

M: Light on the palate with heavy carbonation. Tart and effervescent.

Overall not a ton going for a wild ale but nonetheless very tasty and drinkable. Even without liking cherries I can enjoy this brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2012 02:40:20 | More by CloudStrife

mdfb79

New York

4.23/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From 05/04/12 notes. Had 2 glass of this at Pizzeria Paradiso in Dupont, Washington, DC, and then a third glass at the Big Hunt later on as I really liked it.

a - Pours a deep, purple-reddish color with one inch of off white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of brett, sour grapes, sour cherries and dark fruits, spice, light oak. Awesome sour nose; I really loved it.

t - Tastes of sour red grapes, cherries, and other sour dark fruits, brett, light funk, oak, spice, vanilla. Not quite as sour as the nose, but still very nice.

m - Light to medium body and moderate carbonation. Some nice acidic notes and super easy to drink; doesn't feel like it is 8% ABV at all.

o - Overall I thought this was a great beer. Not the sourest or funkiest beer in the world, but some really nice brett and sour dark fruits, and very easy to drink. Was very awesome to have this on tap at multiple places in DC, and had no problem having a few glasses in one night. Hope to see it again!

Serving type: on-tap

05-08-2012 01:12:31 | More by mdfb79

rfgetz

New Jersey

4.23/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a reddish tinted amber color, bubbly off-white head, decent retention and some sticky spots at the top of the glass. Scent leads with ripe tart berry, tangy and earthy funk, fresh milled grain, light herbal charachter. Taste follows suit, solid tart fruit from raspberry to cherry, faint wine, tangy and tart, earthy and herbal. Medium bodied, prickly on the tongue, dry. Quality and flavorful brew that balances a lot of its flavor components nicely.

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2012 21:50:20 | More by rfgetz

PeterIngemi

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Grabed one of these at the publick house in Brookline

A: served with a film of white head and a golden ruby body very minimal lacing.

S: the smell is delicious sour funk with a nice sour cherryness, if I didn't know better I'd say I could smell the oak.... But it spent two years in an ild stainless steel hit liquor tank. Sony must be a blend of the sour cheery skins and the Brett. A very well rounded and pleasing aroma.

T: spurt cherry mixes with brett and this wild ale has a perfect mix of funk and brett and tart cherry, very well rounded.... Tannins from the cherry skins... And almost raspberriness on the finish.

M: medium mouth with lower carbonation, not effervescent, but very very nice, very drinkable

O: a great sour, that has a lot of very well rounded features and complexities... I am so fortunate to have been able to try this.

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2012 23:47:19 | More by PeterIngemi

Richard33

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

After it gushed onto my carpet, poured into a Unibrue Tulip.

Poured with little to no head. Copper in color with orange hues.

Smell is great! Tart cherries and apple abound. Smells a little metallic with some nice leather like funk.

Cherries up front bite at the cheeks. Green apple and bready crackers. Again, a little metallic flavor as well.

Mouth is super smooth with a minor alcohol warming.

A really interesting mix of sweet and tart. Hope my gusher was an isolated issue. Haven't seen many bottle reviews yet. Overall, a really enjoyable wild ale. My only issue is with the slight metallic taste that seems to last long into the finish.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 03:07:27 | More by Richard33

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Pizzeria Paradiso.

Pours somewhat cloudy with tons of visible carbonation. Color is a pinkish-red with a bit of a copper hue to it. Think head of fizzy pink-tinged bubbles that go away fairly quickly, leaving a thin collar.

The nose has a light fruity presence. Red fruit, to be a bit more specific. As it is served, it is hard to pick out anything specifically. Some lactic character behind that along with a bit of earthy funk.

The flavor is quite nice. It starts out with a hefty hit of fresh, tart raspberries, following that up with some additional acidity. Lactic all the way with some from the fruit. Nothing acetic. Pretty good Brett character. Seems like Brett B and L, though Allagash claims to have a house Brett, so who knows.

Bottle is light with carbonation that is quite lively. Effervescent to say the least. Dry finish, with a moderate level of acidity hanging onto the palate for just a bit, yet it's not bracing to the point where I feel like I need to rest between sips.

Overall, this is really quite nice and I'm glad that I stopped in for it. The fruit and acidity are extremely well balanced and the beer itself is very drinkable. Highly recommended. Now I need to find a bottle of this.

Serving type: on-tap

05-03-2012 21:54:23 | More by Thorpe429

aasher

Indiana

4.15/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This beer was shared by muskabeatz, thanks Evan!

This beer pours a light bodied cherry red in color, looking very similar to Founders Cerise. The nose is nice and tart. It is full of spicy cherry. It's intriguing. The flavors instantly stimulate your palate. It features mellow cherry with a nice tartness. It also has a yeasty mustiness to it that is different. It's almost like a musty Kriek. It drinks light and slightly tart with nice cherry characteristics. I like it. The nose brings me back in every time. Overall this is a nice sour. If this were available I would make sure to snag at least a few bottles.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 02:17:35 | More by aasher

cfrances33

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle thanks to WhereTheWildBeersGo. Served in a HF tulip.

Pour: Completely hazy burnt orange. Would go so far to say this is murky. Fizzy off-white head that recedes to a rim. Light carbonation bubbles.

Smell: Lots of cherries with a mild funk in the background. Damp hay, but not the extreme barnyard notes you might expect. Light honey and some pear hang around in there but choose to take a serious back seat.

Taste: Malt forward with some caramel. Really interesting because the caramel and funk play around and intertwine to create a flavor profile I've never seen before. Cherries aren't too strong, and provide a nice sweet tartness. Some green apple and pear sneak around in the shadows.

Mouthfeel: Really nice. Can't decide if I want to sip or drink more quickly. Nice carbonation.

Overall: This beer really threw me for a loop. I don't know what to make of it, and I really like it. Even though it has a strange combination of flavors that I can't compare to any sour I've had before, they work great together to make something that's very unique. Overal score is high than the individual scores would lead one to believe because I appreciate this beer's complexity and uniqueness. I would give taste a 4.25 if I could.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 20:58:42 | More by cfrances33

mdaschaf

Washington

4.15/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks to unclejazz for this one!

A: Pours a hazy pinkish/peach color with a fizzy one finger head on top. Nice head retention lasting for the duration. Lacing forms and subsides quickly.

S: Very light cherry aroma mixed with a little bit of funk and a hint of tartness right at the end. A little bit of vinegar.

T: Very nice, some red fruit upfront, a bit of cherry, raspberry, a little stone fruit. Some lactic acidity with faint oak and a nice level of funk.

M: Light to medium bodied with some active carbonation. Easy drinking with a nice level or tartness.

O: Very nice, another solid wild ale from Allagash. Each of their small bottle sours has been great thus far.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 01:59:34 | More by mdaschaf

Etan

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12.7oz bottle into a Maine Beer Company stemmed glass.

A: Pours a blood-orange color with a small white head. Head retains nicely.

S: Nicely balanced nose of mildly lactic funk and juicy, sour red fruit. Fragrant sour cherry flesh, lactic acid, hay.

T: Taste is very balanced as well. Briefly puckering tart red fruit (sour raspberry, cranberry) laced with some rich cherry sweetness. Earthy and slightly lactic yeast underneath, which evolves into hay, sweet caramel, more cherry, wheat, and a bit of a lactic note in the finish.

M: Very highly carbonated (probably from the bottle conditioning), almost annoyingly so. It calms down after a few minutes.

O: This is a pretty interesting wild ale - decently complex, and unique because of the lack of oak in the aging process.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 04:01:46 | More by Etan

zaphodchak

Virginia

4.13/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big white head, medium brown body, hazy.

Massively tart nose, maybe sour cherries.

Surprisingly light, some apple cider vinegar, and a trace of cherries. Very Cantillon-seque, but balanced. Not too sour.

Quite bright, which keeps it from being overwhelming.

I think I was expecting a thick, sweet oud bruin (maybe Kasteel Rouge but dialed back). This was more like a Cantillon twin!

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2012 01:08:43 | More by zaphodchak

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle from November 2011 poured into a flute

A burnt orange/red color with a bubbly off-white cap that fell to a thin collar and left some random dots of lace.

The nose is of sour cherries, sea salt, vinegar and some pear/green apple tartness.

Loads of cherries on the palate. Tart, sour cherries and balsamic vinegar with a touch of sea salt. Some dry wheat through the finish before more sweetness comes back in.

Medium body with high carbonation, but it doesn't really hinder the experience in any way.

This really reminded me of a gueuze soaked in cherries. Delicious.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 21:53:14 | More by ColForbinBC

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.08/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

375ml bottle into an Old Engine Oil snifter. Big thanks to Dan for sharing this one. A new Allagash sour is always cause for celebration.

A: Yeasty amber body with some off-white froth on top. Ok.

S: Deep, robust sourness, with a nice balance of tart cherry and lemony, grassy funk. Simple, and simply awesome.

T: Cherries are prominent without being dominant, with some funk and bitterness building on the finish. Some nice earthiness. Really good, but not quite as fresh and deep as the nose.

M: Medium body, full of creamy froth. A bit too airy, but good.

O: Excellent beer, plain and simple. It lacks the vivacious sourness of the Coolship brews (not to mention their depth of complexity), but it's worth seeking out in its own right.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 01:36:25 | More by woosterbill

pmlondrigan

New York

4.05/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

At first I worry, then a sigh of relief, there is the carbonation. Quick, fleeting. Just awful retention and no lacing. Rudy, reddish brown and translucent. The aroma is so subdued, but what is there is brett and cherry pie crust like. I also detect some washed rined cheese on the nose...nice.
Cherry pie, faint / light lactic twinge and some brett like hay. The washed rined cheese shows up again here but more prominent. The flavor is soft and very pleasant. Phenols, bretty phenols on the end. Prickly carbonation, not thin, but light, lemonaid like. While the component parts of this beer are not amazing by themselves put together they create a wonderful beer. To often we look for big flavors instead of nuance. Truly enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 01:59:46 | More by pmlondrigan