Allagash Old HLT - Allagash Brewing Company

thagr81us

South Carolina

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

Big thanks goes out to sincereNc for sharing this one at a recent tasting! Served from growler into a Boulevard tulip. Poured a ruby red-orange with a one finger white head that subsided to a minimal amount quickly. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, cherry, sour, tart, and subtle funk. The flavor was of sweet malt, tart cherry, sour, and tart. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was a fairly good brew. Everything going on in this one was really quite well balanced and enjoyable. All of the right flavors and aromas were there for the style without being overwhelming to the point where you couldn’t drink this in large quantities. I could probably drink this one all night long given the opportunity. Unfortunately, I have not had the chance. A definite must try.

Serving type: growler

07-03-2012 10:59:33 | More by thagr81us

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

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.83/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

10 ounce pour - $6.00 at Leon’s Full Service in Decatur, Georgia as part of their Allagash Takeover event.

Appearance: Hazed, amber-esque body with a smallish, ivory-hued head fed by little streams of bubbles.

Smell: A moderate aroma of tartish whole cherries forward of the faintly sweet-scented, toasty malts and thin wafts of phenols.

Taste: Tastes of, well, cherries, as one might imagine. Some toasted bread and muddled caramel maltiness. Lightly sweet, lightly spicy. Brightly tart and with modest lactic touches popping up here and there. Drying, well-carbonated finish with lingering tart cherries accents.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-plus carbonation.

Overall: Old HLT is a likable cherry brew. I was going to liken it to a more lively carbonated Quelque Chose, but, it's been nearly eight long years since I last had it, and, with all the many brain cells I've outright killed since then, perhaps I should leave the comparison alone.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2013 18:57:24 | More by ChainGangGuy

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

wedge

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

@ Milltown

Served a clear amber color with a small white head. Tart, airy clean, cherry aroma - only a trace of dry funk. Very interesting having this right after FV-13. It's tart and fruity, but the absence of a wood element is striking at first. Clean, smooth cherry flavor on a simple malt base. Easy-going, extremely drinkable, glossy, and crisp. Not terribly wild or acidic or anything, just pretty refreshing, mellow, and neat.

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2013 14:35:26 | More by wedge

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

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

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

corby112

Pennsylvania

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

Draft at the Pour House in Westmont, NJ.

Pours a hazy dark amber/copper color with a one finger frothy off-white head that slowly settles into a lasting ring.  Spotty lacing left behind.

Earthy, funky aroma with good lactic funk, oaky barnyard/musty horse blanket character.  Also a but vinous with dark fruit, musty, funky bugs and earthy oak.  Strong acetic solvent quality appears when it warns.  Smells similar to real lambic.

Medium bodied with a strong puckering, sour mouthfeel.  Very tart with strong lactic funk and acetic solvent character.  A bit too stron in the acetone character but has nice sourness and funk along with dry earthy oak and subtle vinous fruit.  Kind of one dimensional with only subtle flavors balancing out the funk and strong solvent presence.

Serving type: on-tap

07-31-2012 02:01:14 | More by corby112

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

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

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

First had: on tap at Teresa's, Wayne, PA

Poured a reddish-copper color, hazy, with a puff of fizzy tan-red head that quickly sank to a persistent ringlet. Aroma of ripe cherries, lactic and acetic, sugary malts. Similar to the nose, nice taste of sugary malts and cherry pie, lactic with slight twinges of acetic acid, with a notable yeastiness in the background. Medium body, smooth and gently carbonated, a bit tart, and some alcohol warmth. A nice beer, and very good for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2012 14:17:44 | More by Rifugium

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

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