Allagash Blonde - Allagash Brewing Company

metter98

New York

3.9/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

On-tap at Thirsty Monk, Asheville, NC

A: The beer is relatively clear yellow in color. It poured with a finger high bright white head that died down, leaving a patch of bubbles on the surface and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of sweet malts are present in the nose.
T: The overall taste has slight hints of malts sweetness along with hints of Belgian yeast and pilsener malts.
M: It feels medium-bodied and slightly smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer goes down smoothly and is quite easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

05-29-2013 12:36:13 | More by metter98

UCLABrewN84

California

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

On tap at Verdugo Bar in Los Angeles, CA.

Pours a murky yellow with a foamy off-white head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, yeast, and slight spice aromas. Taste is much the same with grain and yeast flavors on the finish. There is a very mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

05-05-2013 06:24:06 | More by UCLABrewN84

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

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

From notes sampled Aug 19 2010 at Eb's
Pours a fairly clear straw yellow color with a smallish white head that shows some stickage. Smells grainy and bready with a bit of sweet honey light pomme fruits and an earthy funky yeast edge. The flavor is light fruity and refreshing. Lots of bready and sweet honey like malts with light sweet fruits and an earthy peppery yeasty flavor. Medium to light body with a crisp bubbly mouthfeel. Great easy drinking light fruity Belgian brew.

Serving type: on-tap

08-26-2012 17:50:35 | More by johnnnniee

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

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

On-tap 4/25/2012 at Julian’s, in Providence, RI served in an Allagash tulip glass.

A: The beer is a pale gold color, with a thin white head that fades slowly and leaves a thin on the glass.

S: The aroma contains light caramelized malts, Belgian yeast, citrus, some spices and some hops.

T: The taste starts out with a burst of light breadiness from a hearty Belgian yeast backbone and malt character followed by sweet flavors spices and citrus. The hops presence is mild but complementary and brings a good balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet and slightly bready.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sweet.

O: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, decent kick, good representation of style, this is a solid lighter Belgian-style beer to drink for a while.

Serving type: on-tap

05-22-2012 00:50:18 | More by TheManiacalOne

tigg924

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at New World Tavern, Plymouth

Appearance: 1/4 head, medium carbonation, bright straw yellow in color, cloudy

Smell: light wheat and honey--not an overly strong smell

Taste: first taste is a big dose of Belgian spices--then comes light wheat and grapefruit

Mouthfeel: bitter but not overly so, moderate-high carbonation, light bodied

Overall: I love the light body on this. It is soft and subdued, yet flavorful. That said, I have had better in the style flavor wise. Not a bad beer, but there are others from Allagash I would get first.

Serving type: on-tap

05-16-2012 14:46:05 | More by tigg924

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

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

A-Pours a murky hay color. Light creamy head retains well. Head leaves loose lacing.

S-A bunch of scents here. Spicy pepper laces over the yeast and ester. Belgian hops and green apple slices. Grassy with some baked bread components.

T-The flavor boasts all the components found in the nose and then some. Spicy, supremely yeasty, hoppy, fruity, and finishes with plenty of bite. Great flavor.

M-Light with tons of bubbles. Plenty sessionable. The feel is one of the beer's strongest components.

O/D-Makes me want to put more of my money towards trying Allagash brews. Could drink this all night and have trouble losing interest. A good time in a glass.

Serving type: on-tap

05-11-2012 03:02:39 | More by VelvetExtract

matjack85

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this on tap at Quencher's Saloon in Chicago. $6 for an 11oz serving. This beer is only sold on tap, so don't go looking for it on your store shelves. You can only get it at a bar or restaurant that decides to put it on their menu.

The beer poured a straw yellow color but I could only coax just a ½-finger of white head out of it. The head only lasted about a minute but it left behind some decent lacing.

The beer smells like a mix of hard candy sugar, a little wheat, and some citrusy fruit.

This is more complex than most blonde ales. Bubblegum sweetness and funky Belgian yeast flavors hit first. Grassy hops add some mild bitterness while citrusy hops give it a lemony flavor. The wheat adds the final touch. I liked it.

Smooth, medium bodied beer with medium carbonation.

Haven't had a bad beer from Allagash yet and this one will keep that streak going.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2011 05:34:22 | More by matjack85

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

On Tap at Kite & Key.

Blonde looks the part but more of a dirty blond with some yellow around the edges. A flimsy cap of white stuff that leaves no stick. Smell is mad grassy from the noble hops. It opens up to some slight citrus and orange with a biscuit malt presence. Not to appeasing to me. The taste is kind of off. The noble hops make this a grassy sonofabitch while the malt kind of muddles that. Not a grerat mix IMO. Slight floral tastes as well. Feel is on point, less than medium with light carb and a crisp finish. This just did not do it for me, not my favorite in the style and this is on a hot summer day. I just wanted it to be done. I kinda question the age on this keg, but im going off my experience in the present time. I have faith that Rob and the boys at Allagash meant well, hopefully I can try this super fresh sometime.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2011 06:48:57 | More by onix1agr

ehammond1

California

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

On Tap

Churchill's Pub & Grille
San Marcos, CA

Hazy golden color. Limited lacing, but definitely a pretty beer.

Malty, sweet, bready aroma. Some sweet fruits as well.

Sweet, bready, citrusy, and thick in the mouth. Far different than I expected, though I expect Allagash to make great beer, and this is just that.

A sweet and relatively thick, almost wheat-like mouthfeel--it's very good and inviting.

A delicious and complex blonde--like none I've ever had before.

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2011 02:53:47 | More by ehammond1

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.22/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Brick Store Pub. Poured a hazy golden with an absolutely beautiful pillowy head. The aromas are half way between a tripel and a blonde, not as sweet smelling as a tripel, but a bit more oomph than a blonde. Quite a nice herbal hop aroma complements the yeast notes. The taste is similar- somewhat assertive on the hop front for the style, but restrained in sweetness and with some clean yeasty notes. The beer is reigned in somewhat by the soft mouthfeel and the persistent herbalness. Overall a very nice offering.

Serving type: on-tap

06-08-2011 20:41:12 | More by Georgiabeer

axeman9182

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz pour into a teardrop shaped glass. First beer of the night at Rattle n Hum's Allagash night.

Blonde pours a radiant yellow, tasting notes from earlier tonight read "lemon and sunshine". There's just a bit of haze, enough for me to say it's not totally clear. The beer's got just a thin (maybe half finger) layer of white foam on top, but that may be due in part to the pour. Lacing is pretty solid. The nose was of lemony citrus and sweet pale malts (granny smith apples). I was a bit disappointed not to find any contribution from the yeast. That shows up a bit as I sip (in addition to tasting the aforementioned aromas), predominantly in the form of a hint of black pepper at the end. I'm still left a little bit let down by the lack of a large yeast presence though. Blonde is a little bit chewy, yet the body is surprisingly light. It's an odd combination, but this brew pulls it off. Carbonation is a bit lifeless for a Belgian Pale Ale though. Allagash Blonde is a solid, if unspectacular beer that just falls short of excelling in any category.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2010 03:36:52 | More by axeman9182

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.28/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Prime 16 into a Weyerbacher Tulip. Thanks to John for giving me the heads-up!

A: Fully hazed orange-yellow body with a finger of dense white foam that slowly settles into a ring and leaves light lacing. Nice.

S: This ain't no American Blonde Ale - bready malt, peppery yeast, and a huge wave of fruity Belgian esters - lots of lemon, apple, and grape. So much citrus yeast as to smell a bit sour. There's even some acidity reminiscent of white whine, almost like the beer has lacto in it. Does it? I don't think so, but, regardless, it smells divine.

T: Not quite as crazy as the nose, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Beautifully melded, traditionally Belgian flavors: smoothly sweet, bready malt is central, mixed with light clove, pepper, and plenty of fruity yeast. Very dry, slightly bitter finish with just a bit of light alcohol. Straightforward and delicious.

M: The smooth, medium body simply explodes into a cascade of soft, miniscule bubbliness. Very fun, but just a tad over the top.

D: A little boozy for being sub-7%.

Notes: This was a great brew, and I'm thankful I got the chance to try it. I definitely liked it way more than either Allagash White or Tripel, as the malt largely got out of the way to let the rich, spicy, fruity yeast shine. Not the best American Belgian Pale I've had recently (that honor goes to NEBCo's 668: The Neighbor of the Beast), but definitely very high on the list. I really wish Allagash would simply replace their Tripel with this recipe, or at least brew the Blonde more regularly. Excellent beer.

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

09-10-2010 04:06:37 | More by woosterbill

glid02

Georgia

4.1/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Brick Store.

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

Smells of crisp light malts with good amounts of pears and lighter amounts of indistinct spices.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Light malt flavors kick things off and are joined quickly by good amounts of syrupy pear flavors. Midway through the sip the sweetness is tempered a bit by earthy hop flavors. Right before the end of the sip very slight amounts of tropical fruit hop flavors work their way into things before carrying through to a crisp and lightly bitter ending.

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

Drinkability is very good. I finished my glass quickly and could easily have a few more.

Overall there was nothing that stood out about this beer except how easy it was to drink. A solid beer for the style and worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2010 01:13:54 | More by glid02

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

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

On tap at Max's today.

The beer pours a pale gold color with head retention and considerable lacing. The nose is pretty nice and is spice ladened, with clove, honey and a hint of nutmeg. The flavor profile replicates the nose pretty closely, and the moderate sweetness is nicely countered and balanced by the spice in this beer. There's a slight skunkiness in the finish, which doesn't bode well for how well this beer will hold up over time, but at least for now, the beer is pretty tasty. Mouthfeel is fairly light for he abv., though the beer otherwise delivers plenty of flavor. Drinkability is very good, and I get no sense of the 8% abv. in this beer.

Good stuff. Another good beer from the folks at Allagash.

Serving type: on-tap

08-15-2010 17:20:29 | More by johnmichaelsen

gtn80

Maine

4.43/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

On tap at Great Lost Bear in Portland.

Appearance is great, clear with a nice white, lacy head.

Smell is slightly fruity, typical Belgian yeast nose, but restrained.

Flavor is great. Crisp and clear, very true to style. Almost like a higher end, better made Leffe Blonde.

Very balanced, neither the hops or malt are incredibly obvious. Drinkability is amazing, would be a great year round beer for Allagash alongside the Wit.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2010 14:17:01 | More by gtn80

Brez07

Maine

3.98/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Novare Res. Brewed by one of their bartenders. Served into my chalice

A: Translucent straw yellow pour that left a small amount of fluffy white head. This receded quickly to a thin ring around the glass

S: Candied sugar, yeast, some wheat and lemon

T: Reminds me of the smell. Starts sweet, like bubblegum. Then a touch of barnyard/mild funk. Ends with a dry wheat taste

M: Light to medium, crisp and refreshing.

D: Impressed as usual by this great local brewery. Alcohol is hidden extremely well as most Belgians do. Was surprised to see this as I had no idea they were coming out with a blonde. Hope this gets bottled

Serving type: on-tap

08-06-2010 02:24:15 | More by Brez07

ToasterChef

Maine

4.47/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This special limited Allagash released was served in a tulip glass at the Great Lost Bear. The beer is a translucent golden yellow with a good sized white foam head. The head settled down to a skim, but left a bit of lacing on my glass. It looks like there is plenty of rising carbonation in the glass. I'd like to see a bit better head retention, but otherwise, this beer looks outstanding. It has a very nice aroma. For the most part, it is a slightly sweet nose, made up of Belgian candi sugar. I can also pick up some grassy hops and the mustiness that is common to Allagash's house Belgian yeast. The flavor is very interesting. It's like a combination of a strong Belgian Pale and an American Blonde. It has the sweetness of Belgian sugars and an estery, bitter finish. There are light grassy hops throughout each sip. It is very refreshing; I like that it is served fairly cold. I notice that I've used the descriptor "sweet" a few times in this review. The sweetness is intentional and very well done. It does not feel like excess malts left over from the fermenting process. This tastes like an exceptionally well-crafted beverage. The beer is full-bodied, but also very smooth and not too sticky, despite the sweetness of the flavor. There is a lot of carbonation that plays on my tongue. Considering the strength and full-bodied characteristics of this beer, I find it incredibly drinkable. I could easily drink a 750ml bottle of this, if it were ever released that way. For now, I'll just have to hope that there are a number of kegs in circulation in the area. If you see this available in your area, don't pass it up!

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2010 19:38:50 | More by ToasterChef

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.9/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from growler into a Mikkeller oversized wine glass. Poured a hazy golden yellow with a one finger pure white head that subsided to a minimal amount slowly. Maintained phenomenal lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, banana, fruit, and earth. The flavor was of sweet malt, earth, banana, and fruit. It had a light feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this was a fairly good brew. While this one wasn’t overly complex, it didn’t need to be. It got its point across with nice flavors and great drinkability. I could have drank plenty of this on a long day by the pool, but alas, I was just lucky to try it this one time. Bummer. Definitely worth trying if you get the opportunity.

Serving type: growler

04-06-2012 15:24:10 | More by thagr81us

jsanford

Georgia

3.98/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

One of the counter-filled growlers from CBX's Rare Growler Thursday, poured into a Unibroue tulip

A - Pours a slightly hazy straw yellow with a thin layer of white head. No lacing.

S - Crisp sweet malts, banana, pears, clove

T - Very similar to the nose. Reminded me quite a bit of a good tripel, I'm somewhat surprised to see it classified as a Pale ale. ABV is hidden nicely.

M - Creamy medium body with medium prickly carbonation. Exceptionally smooth.

D - Quite drinkable, despite the ABV. Tastes like a jacked up version of Allagash White.

Serving type: growler

09-13-2010 21:07:01 | More by jsanford

avalon07

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a growler to a pint glass. Had a pale yellow color and a hazy consistency. There was an inch of creamy, long-lasting head. Pretty good lacing.

S: A different smell than I expected. Malt, yeast, spices, maybe a little hops.

T: Tasted of Belgian yeast, malt, pepper, and a touch of citrus. Much more complex and flavorful than most American Blonde Ales.

M: A highly carbonated beer with a slick finish. Light-bodied.

D: One of the most drinkable, well done examples of a blonde ale I've had.

Serving type: growler

09-10-2010 12:13:29 | More by avalon07