Allagash Old HLT - Allagash Brewing Company

claspada

New Jersey

3.59/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy, dark orange color with a small effervescent off-white head that recedes to leave a thin ring of foam and little to no lacing.

Aromas begin with a ton of pitted dark cherry flesh and tart cherry skin. The you get some acidic acid, oak and mild barnyard funkiness. There is a touch of sweetness with some caramel malt that emerges as it warms.

The tastes follow the nose but the cherries are much more medicinal and hard to palate. I next get some sweet caramel and pilsner maltiness followed by the oak and barnyard flavors more and more as it warms.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. Finish is more malty than I would have suggested but there is still plenty of underlying funk and acidic bite.

Overall for someone who was so in live with Allagashes earlier Wild releases, recently they have been quite dissapointing. Their coolship series was spectacular but this was no where near the quality of those. Too much medicinal cherry flavor and malt to be a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 15:29:51 | More by claspada

wisrarebeer

Wisconsin

3.63/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Purchased at the brewery.

A: ruddy brown, hazy, poured with a big bubbled one inch head that quickly dissipated
S: mild to medium nose, earthy, some funk and tartness noticeable
T: nice beer, mild malt, cherry tartness
M: medium bodied, well-balanced, tart but malt balanced

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 18:47:39 | More by wisrarebeer

rudzud

Massachusetts

2.95/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Received this from a friend up in Maine, cellared for a year and now poured into my Duvel tulip.

A - Poured a slightly hazy honeyed amber with a super fizzy half a finger head that faded to leave an incredibly thin halo. Fairly typical.

S - Fairly malt sweetness heavy, not so much sticky sweet but just well, malts. Cherries aren't quite that potent, some light barrel along with some alcohol. No real vinegar notes, just faint cherries. Some good Brett notes.

T - Super dry, which I dont mind. Its the slight metallic finish that hurts this one for me. Cherries are super faint. Some light tartness. It almost lives a cherry cough syrup (which makes no sense as this is lightly cherry) lingering taste.

M - Mouthfeel isnt bad. High carbonation at first fades to something much more drinkable. Slightly sticky though.

O - Don't really know what to make of this. Perhaps aging ruined this beer as it seems like all the aged reviews are negative due to off flavors and various other issues. Afraid this suffered the same fate. What a shame.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 01:19:24 | More by rudzud

drabmuh

Maryland

3.03/5  rDev -26.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Shared by Thorpe429, thanks! Served along side other Allagash sours, this is by far the worst out of all of them. It tastes like garbage.

Beer is brown, mostly clear, lazy tan head of small bubbles, low retention, looks fine.

Aroma is lactic, mild roast, something slightly odd.

Beer tastes horrid, solventy, odd finish, not good at all. I regretted drinking it and had to drink something else quickly. I would never have this again.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 19:25:02 | More by drabmuh

danedelman

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A-cloudy amber with huge carbonation throwing particles all around. 1 finger head that stuck around for the duration.

S-cherry, funk, lemon, grapefruit zest,

T-very dry, very dry. Not overly sour or flavorful. Get some cherry, malt and lemony tartness which quickly evaporates from the carbonation and dryness.

M-too carbonated for me and almost bubbles the flavor off your tongue.

O-the first one I had I remember being much better due to lower carbonation but this one sat for 6 more months. The dryness and extra carbing is due to the Brett in this one. Was better but rating now on this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 00:34:18 | More by danedelman

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.5/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Shared by Thorpe429 alongside several other Allagash sour/wild ales. Thank you very much, Mike!

The beer is dark brown and hazy with crimson highlights. The nose brings cherries, booze, yeast, funk. Notes of mushrooms and earth follow cherries soaked in oak barrels. The flavor is a bit odd and jolting. Booze presence is a bit too forward. Tart finish with moderately low carbonation. Overall, this was just OK.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 01:51:45 | More by Huhzubendah

portia99

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

375ml bottle received in a trade with hoppymcgee. Thanks Greg! Poured into an Allagash stemmed glass.

A - The cork escapes with a huge pop and wisps of carbon dioxide. Pours a cloudy ruby tinted amber body. Lots of yeasty sediment floats and churns its way throughout the body riding bubbles of carbonation. A finger of thick and fizzy white head that shows surprisingly good staying power.

S - Quite funky on the nose, dirt, mushrooms/fungus, moldy, sour cherries, musty damp basement, a bit nutty.

T - Lightly tart and sour with cherry fruitiness front and center. Nutty, woody, a bit buttery and creamy, earthy. Not much for funk in the flavor. Some mild malt backing things up.

M - Lightish to medium in body with a strong and fizzy carbonation. Nice tart cherry fruitiness complements. Alcohol presence is practically undetectable.

O - Overall another enjoyable wild ale from Allagash. Lots of good fruit presence, interesting wood flavors, mild funk with mid-level tartness. Well integrated and balanced flavor profile. Another winner.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 19:18:41 | More by portia99

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

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

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

merc7186

New York

4/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

LacingI had this poured from a 12.7oz bottle into a tulip glass.

A: Light Ruby Hue, Passes Some Light, White Head Ring, Minimal Lacing

S: Tart Cherries, Mild Red Plum

T: Tart Cherries, Red Plum

M: Mediocre Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Sour

Overall, a nice sour cherry ale with a good subtle barrel presence.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 02:29:25 | More by merc7186

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

jmarsh123

Indiana

3.3/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to jsilva for the bottle.

Pours clear orange with some red hues. Thin fizzy head with decent retention.

Lots of funk in the nose. Cherry is present, but not overwhelming.

Cherry is a bit more prevalent in the flavor. Tart cherries with that same funk from the nose. Not overly sour.

Light mouthfeel with high carbonation.

Not bad, but really not complex at all. Sort of like a funky cherry juice. Enjoyable, but not memorable.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 22:26:03 | More by jmarsh123

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

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

scottfrie

California

3.95/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750ml bottle into 3F stemware. Bottled in 11/11. Thanks a ton SneezyAchew!

A: Pours a fizzy iced-tea color with golden highlights. Bone white head is thin and quickly disappeared into a faint collar. Carbonation is very active, and a stream of bubbles shot to the surface until the glass was drained.
S: I get dominant notes of cherry pit tannins, cherry skin, lemon zest, musty earth and a touch of sweaty socks and brett.
T: Buttery and lightly tart notes of cherry skins and red fruits mixed with earthy, musty brett. The base beer is greasy and malty, and I wish the flavors were a tad drier and crisper. Sourness is toned down but nice.
M: Bubbly active carbonation but not frothy, greasy and smooth mouthfeel, not harsh, with a medium body.
O: A solid wild ale. I like them a little dryer but I would have no trouble drinking this again. Very mild tartness mixes well with solid red fruit flavors. Thanks again, Mike.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2012 01:03:05 | More by scottfrie

NuclearRich

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A 4.5hr 250 mile ride netted me 6 of these rarities, in addition to some Prince Tuesday and my favorite, Victoria.

Poured into an Allagash flute. Tasting notes from a scribble during a homebrew session.

A: Copper/Amber/Orange/Sunset. Mostly clear, just a little haze. Off white, dense head that thins to a solid cap. Minimal Lacing

S: Tart. Sour. Brett-like, and a tad funky.

T: Sour & tart, just as it smells, nothing more nothing less.

M: Full of bite, nice high carbonation leaves the mouth coated with that tartness.

O: Very interesting and fun to drink. Certainly holds up against sours, and while not something that I will drink everday, I am very happy to have it.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 00:51:47 | More by NuclearRich

ThePorterSorter

New York

3.85/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer pours a hazy amber with a thin head. The nose is a very subtle acetone with an almost syrupy, fruity undertone. The taste isn't much different with modest sourness and a sweet cherry aftertaste. Very sweet for a sour, but not cloying. There is also a nice burn on the back end. Overall it was a bit of a let down, but still tasty.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 23:00:33 | More by ThePorterSorter

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

jegross2

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Reviewing the Old HLT from Allagash Brewing Company out of Maine.
Score: 87

2012 vintage bottle from the 03/31/12 release. Served in a snifter glass and enjoyed on 05/06/12 while waiting in line for Great Taste of Madison tickets at the Steve's on University. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Sunset orange color. A layer of fizzy off-white head at pour settles to ring around glass. Very hazy appearance. There is a lot of sediment floating around in the glass, which ultimately settles into a chunk at the bottom of the snifter. Minimal lacing, poor retention. 3.5/5

Smell: Sour cherries, vinegar, pears and juicy granny smith apples. More vinegar as the beer warms. 4/5

Taste: Lots of tart cherry and sweet vinegar. Touch of red grape. There is a a bit of "earthy wheat" flavor too. Musty aftertaste. A touch of stainless steel sweetness. I like the upfront flavor, but the finish is not as good. Mild pucker, no funk. 3.75/5

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, high carbonation. Fizzy, almost soda-like, mouthfeel. Finishes dry and a little sweet. 4/5

Overall: A solid non-funky "tart lemonade"-like sour, but nothing too unique or complex. Very drinkable and hidden ABV. This kind of tastes like a jolly rancher.

Recommendation: Worth drinking, but not worth going out of your way to find.

Pairings: Pound cake.

Cost: $10 for a 375ml bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 16:49:59 | More by jegross2

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

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

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

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