Allagash White - Allagash Brewing Company

Sudcutter

Massachusetts

4.66/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

This is the lemonade of beer.
The appearance is very pale yellow.
The aroma is citric.
The taste is essentially lemonade with a splash of beer.
The mouthfeel is fairly carbonated but smooth, a little watery.
Overall, I thought this beer was the most refreshing I've had and is perfect for summer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-12-2013 15:00:14 | More by Sudcutter

ckollias

Maryland

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

Enjoyed this 12oz bottle out of a standard pint glass.

A: Pours a cloudy straw yellow with a thin white head that quickly dissipates.

S: Wheat and biscuit malt aroma.

T: Tart Belgian wheat biscuit and bread flavor.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: Decent wheat beer – no my favorite style but worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 03:47:30 | More by ckollias

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

4.24/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass, light yellow straw colored with a big white foamy head that dissipates leaving some lacing, hazy

S: yeasty, banana, clove, spice, corriander

T: flavors of grain, banana, clove, cinamon, orriander, nutmeg, fruit

M: soft with good carbonation, gentle on the palate, thinner

O: nice American version of the style that stays true to the roots

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 01:15:38 | More by M_C_Hampton

MarkQ617

Massachusetts

4.65/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

This is legitimately one of my favorite beers to drink come summertime. I put pen to paper (actually it was on my phone notebook) at the Westin in Boston on this review in May of 2011, but I had my first Allagash in college and have never looked back. The fruity crispness, corriander, slight spice, and hazy appearance make you long to be sitting on your deck in July. The only small qualm I have with this beer is the mouthfeel, which is awfully soft, even for a witbier. Absolutely outstanding.

Serving type: on-tap

05-06-2013 18:00:45 | More by MarkQ617

EthenWithAnE

California

4.18/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25

Aroma - Medium sweet grainy (pils malt) character with a subtle wheat aroma. Medium high citrus (orange peel) aroma. No noble (earthy) hop aroma, ok for style. A very light peppery phenol. Otherwise clean.

Appearance - Pale straw color, hazy as appropriate for style. White thick and moussy foam; head retreats slowly, but quicker than style dictates.

Flavor - Medium grainy malt flavor gives way to moderately high bitter and zesty orange character. No hop bitterness detected. Very low noble hop (earthy) flavor. Well balanced between malt sweetness, spices (orange peel, coriander), and peppery phenols. Moderate notes of clove just before a dry crisp finish. Very slight lactic acid character lends itself to the crisp finish. No DMS, Diacetyl or harsh alcohol notes.

Mouthfeel - Medium body, slight creaminess; high carbonation, prickly on the tongue; very spritzy. Moderately low lactic finish lends a tartness to the feel. No astringency or alcohol warmth.

Overall - Wonderfully refreshing. Body makes this a somewhat substantial and nourishing beverage. Perfect for summer. For more head retention, try a larger percentage of wheat in the grist OR simply carb with more priming sugar or co2. Nearly outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 01:15:00 | More by EthenWithAnE

THANAT0PSIS

Wisconsin

4.55/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Allagash White

Appearance: Allagash White, the first witbier to pass these lips, pours a very pale, cloudy, straw-like yellow capped with a nice two-and-a-half fingers of snow white head. Retention was good overall, but average for a Belgian-style beer. The carbonation is evident and active, streaming in droves off the bottom of the glass. The lacing is very impressive, leaving sheets of suds all over the glass like a freshly washed car or snow after an avalanche. In a word, “refreshing” describes the appearance of this beverage.

Aroma: Lots of nice, bready baking yeast comes through immediately, but clove honey, orange peel, lemon zest, and the witbier’s calling card, coriander, all come through in a very balanced and subtle manner. There is also a lovely wheat sweetness/creaminess that underscores the rest of the aromas. This is a rather simple, but masterfully done beer, and, at a meager 5.1% ABV, smells much better than it has any right to. Amplifying these notes somehow would really benefit the beer, however, as the nose has to do some digging to discover the subtleties of the aroma.

Taste: Unlike most beers in which the taste is very nearly a carbon copy of the smell, Allagash’s aroma actually complements the taste, and vice-versa. All the notes from the aroma are there, but they are downplayed by great Belgian yeast character in the form of a tame bubblegum and a nice spiciness. Furthermore, the spices that the label states the beer is brewed with come through wonderfully here, where they were almost entirely absent from the aroma. There is an extremely minimal amount of clover honey, wheat and banana sweetness that is cut nearly as it starts by the coriander and clove spiciness. The aftertaste is extremely dry and refreshing with an exceedingly delicate hop presence. Again, taking into account the ABV on this beer, there is almost more flavor here than can be believed.

Mouthfeel: This may be the weakest part of the beer, but it is still easily above average. The body is a bit thin, but it wrings every bit of body out of the minimal alcohol it has to work with. The wheat gives the expected creamy and smooth body, which works wonderfully with all the flavors. Like the body, the carbonation is a little less than this reviewer would like, but considering the bottle-conditioned nature of all Allagash products, this is a minor gripe. The mouthfeel certainly accomplishes what it sets out to do: complement the flavor and refresh the drinker, and it does both with flying colors.

Overall: Given one of the first really nice days in Wisconsin, this beer was perfect to just relax on the porch with and watch the city live and breathe around me. This beer is what all other summer beers should strive to be, but it is also great enough that it could be enjoyed at any point in the year. Now the only problem is how I am going to get my hands on another bottle, since Allagash does not distribute to Wisconsin, yet. 17/20

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 23:00:48 | More by THANAT0PSIS

HabiMendes

Rhode Island

4.63/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Beautiful Witbier made by Allagash, with a charming orange-peel aroma, honey, coriander seeds, and, in a smaller scale, pepper and wheat ideas. The spiceness is more evident in the taste, that besides bringing the other elements of the aroma, displays a slight hop bitterness that is well-paired with the other characteristics. The light, relatively well carbonated body leaves such subtle hop bitterness at the end. I am absolutely fascinated by the quality of the Allagash White - I love it.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 02:39:50 | More by HabiMendes

Auraan

Arizona

4.55/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.75

Poured a beautiful cloudy yellow with a fluffy one finger white head that receded to a quarter finger and left plentiful lacing. Scents of citrus, banana, and spices. Flavors of citrus, coriander, a bit of clove in the middle and on the finish. Hints of wheat. Quite dry, lacks agood deal of sweetness. Mouthfeel is light bodied with moderate carbonation, a bit low on the carbonation for the style, but not bad. All told, when rated
to style it is the best witbier I've had to date. Far better than Blue Moon and Hoegaarden.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 05:36:28 | More by Auraan

AmitC

Indiana

4.21/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a snifter.

Color is pale white. Very hazy and cloudy. Opaque. About a couple fingers thick white head that has decent retention. Excellent lacing left on the sides. Some bubbles.

Aroma is of wheat, yeast, little sweetness, some tartness, spices. Cinnamon and clove. Strength is moderate.

Taste is just about the same. Tartness is low. Not sweet either. Clove, cinnamon and some other spices. Wheat and yeast texture. Silky and smooth. Finish is semisweet to slightly dry.

Mouth feel is medium to light bodied. Very smooth and easy texture. Velvety touch. No astringency. Drinks rather easily. Sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 00:52:45 | More by AmitC

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.16/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Beer is cloudy yellow with a moderately-sized white head.

Banana, clove, coriander, wheat and orange in the nose. Classic wit scents. Good.

Taste is similar. Banana, clove, coriander, wheat, nutmeg and some orange. Crisp, balanced and tasty.

Medium bodied, highly carbonated. A bit irritating but true to style.

Overall, very tasty. A straight-up good example of a witbier.

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2013 02:02:31 | More by jrenihan

Roguer

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A - Looks very good for a Witbier. Not particularly cloudy, which might be the only thing that would give it more points in my book. Beautiful color; head residue was surprisingly clean on the glass.
S - Clean, but unremarkable. I couldn't detect any specific Witbier notes; a general aroma of citrus, that was about it.
T - Bright, forward on the tongue. Citrus, of course; no typical banana flavors, though. Honestly, this is probably the simplest Allagash I've tried. That's not to say the taste isn't bad at all; it's a very price-accessible example of the genre, just nowhere near the best.
M - Forward on the tongue and in the mouth. A little light.
O - A very good beer, but not the best example of its class. If you like Witbiers and Weissbiers, try it out. I often keep a Bavarian Weissbier on hand, and this ranks above some of them, below others.

I've tried this both in Spiegelau tulip and wheat beer glasses. I recommend the wheat beer glass - but I also recommend drinking this in the Summer (preferably on a porch or deck).

I'm going to have to retry this beer in the Summer, because in a CT "Spring," it just isn't what I want. That shouldn't be a slam on the beer; I want something thicker, slower, maltier. It's still a very tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 21:22:10 | More by Roguer

MadScientist

New York

3.9/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A: A pale golden beer with some haze. The white head has a rocky texture and is long lasting.

S: Moderate wheat and orange aromas with moderately-light black pepper notes. There is a light earthy hops aroma.

T: The flavor is mainly Belgian yeast characters of citrus and spice with the fruit character tasting like it was yeast derived, maybe from orange and lemon peel additions but no from hops. The wheat malt comes through as well. The hops bitterness is low but the overall bitterness is moderately-strong giving a balance that is bitter. The aftertaste is of citrus peel and spice.

M: Kind of soft and fluffy with a medium-light bodied beer and a strong level of carbonation. A light astringency that dries the palate.

O: A good Belgian Wit with a lot of citrus peel character and some spice. The balance is slightly too bitter. Worth trying but not worth tracking down.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 00:02:46 | More by MadScientist

Treyliff

West Virginia

4.05/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

A- pours a faint yellow color, just a bit hazy, carbonation bubbles shoot to the top creating a thick and creamy white head that retains long after the pour, seems like a oemanent head, leaving beautiful lace behind.

S- mineral-like Belgian yeast provides a bit of light fruit with just a hint of banana and some sugary sweetness. All of the classic witbier aromas are there, but a bit subdued

T-yeasty and light, notes of clove & banana, earthy and mineraly. Mid-palate gives an acidic citrus tartness, then transitions to a dry finish, leaving mineral and earthy notes on the palate

M- light-medium body, moderate but spritzy carbonation, pure velvet mouthfeel with a silky finish. By far the creamiest mouthfeel I've experienced from a Wit.

O- a solid example of the style, mouthfeel was near perfect. Perhaps the best outside of Belgium.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 22:58:29 | More by Treyliff

socon67

New York

4.08/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A - Cloudy white pour with a yellow tint. There is some lacing noted on the glass. Foam is a frothy white that retains pretty well.

S - Spicy notes of corriander and ginger lie above a citrusy smell of oranges. Some scent of light grain is present.

T - Initial tartness of orange is faded by a pronounced spice flavor. Actually I think it is a bit too much. But the notes are all there and a crisp taste of wheat rounds this out.

M - Easily sessionable and great for the warmer months. Balance is solid (again the corriander could tone done a notch) and minimal carbonation.

O - Not sure if this still the leader of the style but clearly a solid beer. A perfect beer to show those breaking in to craft beer that even the lighter styles can be eye opening.

Serving type: growler

02-24-2013 18:16:10 | More by socon67

boesesfleisch

California

4.01/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Cloudy, white ale with a foamy head that dissipated quickly. Left a slight lacing on the glass. Had a nice clean aroma where the spices really came through with a light fruity note in the background. Tasted matched the aroma only the citrus was more prominent. Overall this is a great, prototypical witbier that everyone can appreciate.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 07:35:46 | More by boesesfleisch

oline73

Maryland

4.34/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a standard pint glass.

Pours a cloudy golden yellow color with a half finger of creamy white head. Good retention. Smells like Belgian yeast, banana, and mild lemon. Taste follows. I like the spice with the light fruity flavors. Quite refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 21:38:29 | More by oline73

Chaney

District of Columbia

4.39/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

The #1 ranked Witbier here on BA... also on the "Beers of Fame" list.

Served in a Delirium Tremens shaped glass.

A: Poured a very soft, yet saturated dirty linen (yellow) color, with a spritzy finger or so head that looked very champagne-like.

S: Smell of banana and clove, without being too overpowering in the sugar department.

T: Oh yes, very clean and crisp, yet still maintaining the aforementioned spice profile. Wheaty, without being too bitter. As a matter of fact, I was stunned at how disciplined this one was in the bitter department.

M: Infinitely drinkable and bubbly on the palate. Sure, there was a sheet of lacing left on the glass, but that didn't stick around on the palate for long. Excellent!

O: One of the best wits available in my local area. I could easily pop a couple of these without putting a big dent in my sobriety. Excellent all around!

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 15:08:42 | More by Chaney

Jonada

New Jersey

3.91/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Pale golden color, very cloudy, less than a finger of white head that dissipated quickly to a thin white collar and left little to no lacing.

Smell: Lemon, banana, dry powdery yeast, coriander, spice.

Taste: Spicy yeast character is the most prominent flavor. Also getting orange and lemon citrus, coriander, and wheat. There's a very slight tartness in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Light/medium soft mouthfeel. Medium carbonation. Crisp, refreshing and very easy drinking.

Overall: Really refreshing and flavorful witbier. One of the best I've had in the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 09:24:54 | More by Jonada

AlexFields

Tennessee

4.46/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Incredibly hazy, super light yellow color with a frothy white head.

Smells of bright lemon and orange, lots of spice. Wonderful classic wit nose.

Tastes much the same--lots of bright zesty citrus up front, heavy on the spices, some wheaty character in the finish. I also get a hint of sweetness, honey or vanilla maybe. Excellent.

Very well carbonated, full mouthfeel, refreshing and very drinkable, creamy too.

Definitely one of the top few witbiers brewed in the US.

9.0/10

PS This is even better with an orange squeezed in!

Serving type: on-tap

01-11-2013 23:32:40 | More by AlexFields

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.86/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Not typically a style I go for, but what the hell I'll give it a shot.
Pours a clear golden straw color with a decent sized white head that quickly dissipates. Smells of lemon and pepper, a bit of spicy wheat, and a bit of yeasty esters. The flavor is light lemony wheaty yeasty and refreshing. Medium to thin body with a moderate level of carbonation and a sweet slick mouthfeel. Nice light easy to drink beer that would make a great lawnmower ale.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 23:24:34 | More by johnnnniee

deebo

Minnesota

4.41/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

I was lucky enough to get a few of these over Christmas, really enjoyed the first few. Time for a proper review of this 5.1% ABV brew.

A-Poured into a tall glass this beer gives 3 fingers of a fluffy marshmallow white head which is lacing the glass as the foam recedes. Fairly cloudy with that characteristic pale yellow color with a greenish tint. Lots of tiny bubbles.

S-Characteristic Belgian White aroma. Fruity esters, orange peel, spicy wheat all in delicious harmony.

T-Upfront wheat, herbal and spicy with a tart endnote and slight bitter orange bite.

M-Fairly high carbonation, a smoother creamier body than most whites. Very nice.

O-The best American version of one of my favorite beer styles that I've had the pleasure of trying. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 02:26:57 | More by deebo

Etan

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz.

A: Slightly murky pineapple yellow with a big spongy white head.

S: Lightly herbal and spicy (cloves, cardamom, a bit of coriander), some soapy yeast, sweetish pale malt.

T: Soft, bready yeast, white cake, coriander, raw wheat, slight citrus.

M: Light-bodied with low carbonation.

O: This is tasty and balanced, although it could use more carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 21:25:10 | More by Etan

Greywulfken

New York

4.15/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: hazy lemon-colored beer; finger of white foam that didn't persist

S: floral and fresh, of some pale malts and aromatic hops

T: some citron, bright yeast, slightly sweet malt, lightly tart and crisp

M: light-to-medium body, smooth, creamy, and soft

O: a very enjoyable beer, albeit one that didn't blow me away

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 01:47:29 | More by Greywulfken

nlmartin

Ohio

4.48/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Special thanks to my 2012 Secret Santa Montrose! The beer was chilled and served in a pint glass.

A- The body of the beer is a hazy light yellow coloration. The head was thick white and desolved to a ring of foam.

S- Lots of yeasty esters floating around the glass. Bubble gum, cloves, corriander spiceyness, rides along a gentle lemon kissed wheat aroma.

T- The flavor of the beer is lightly sweet lemon, cloves spiked with corriander nice gentle wheat flavors.

M- The body of the beer is light but not watery. The carbonation of the beer is spritzy and works well with the beers character.

O- This is an interesting and delicious American version of a witbier. Honestly getting this beer in this box makes me miss Allagash all the more.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 14:11:29 | More by nlmartin

lovindahops

New York

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

An allagash white was brought home for me from the girlfriend!

A- white pours a hazy yellow that is very light and faded in color. A strong head that quickly recides

S- pears, tartness, citrus, with the Belgian yeasty scent. Very appealing and mouth watering

T- delicious ripe corrieander and wheat shine with a refreshing fruit taste that meshes well with the yeasty flavors. So refreshing that I could drink this all day

M- smooth and crisp flavor

O- best witbier I have ever had. Crisp and tart with flavor and completely on point with the bready yeast flavor that coincides

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 02:54:05 | More by lovindahops