Allagash Little Big Beer - Allagash Brewing Company

jongullotti

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

02-19-2012 21:06:29 | More by jongullotti

Patrickbrusil

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -11.1%

12-25-2012 15:32:28 | More by Patrickbrusil

polishkaz

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

03-30-2012 03:59:40 | More by polishkaz

UCLABrewN84

California

3.63/5  rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap for Allagash night at Boneyard Bistro in Sherman Oaks, CA.

Pours a hazy super light yellow with a white head that settles to a film on top of the beer. A foamy curtain of lace lines the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grain and some sour/tart grape-like fruity aromas. Taste is of grain, spices, and some fruity flavors. There is an earthy/herbal bitterness on the palate after each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer but it's slightly watery and not very wild in the flavor department.

Serving type: on-tap

03-22-2012 05:26:41 | More by UCLABrewN84

clord717

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -5.2%

03-03-2012 23:37:52 | More by clord717

THECPJ

Delaware

4/5  rDev -5.2%

02-20-2012 20:21:19 | More by THECPJ

mdaschaf

Washington

4/5  rDev -5.2%

02-19-2012 19:01:08 | More by mdaschaf

djrn2

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -5.2%

01-13-2012 22:36:41 | More by djrn2

BeerThursdays

Delaware

3.5/5  rDev -17.1%

12-29-2011 03:43:16 | More by BeerThursdays

kornkid8600

California

4/5  rDev -5.2%

12-19-2011 23:41:24 | More by kornkid8600

MaineMike

Maine

4/5  rDev -5.2%

12-18-2011 00:25:14 | More by MaineMike

waiting4lunch

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -5.2%

11-23-2011 14:31:27 | More by waiting4lunch

Pamola

Vermont

5/5  rDev +18.5%

11-22-2011 16:26:40 | More by Pamola

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

11-20-2011 05:13:48 | More by xnicknj

Annesemj

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -5.2%

11-16-2011 00:07:16 | More by Annesemj

SaintNathaniel

Georgia

5/5  rDev +18.5%

11-15-2011 20:46:16 | More by SaintNathaniel

nmann08

Maryland

5/5  rDev +18.5%

11-15-2011 17:03:33 | More by nmann08

JAHMUR

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -5.2%

11-15-2011 00:42:40 | More by JAHMUR

sideshowe

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +18.5%

11-14-2011 13:43:58 | More by sideshowe

mdfb79

New York

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

From 09/10/11 notes. Had on tap at Belgian Beerfest up in Boston.

a - Pours a hazy golden orange color with two inches of white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of sour apples and fruits, citrus hops, hay and earthy notes, light funk and light brett. Smell is definitely sour with onyl a hint of funk, but very nice.

t - Tastes of citrus, brett, some funk, sour fruits and apples again, light bread. More brett than the nose, and nice sour fruit and funk again. Great taste.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation evident. Pretty easy to drink.

o - Overall I thought this beer was fantastic, and one of the highlights of the festival. Probably had 5-6 pours of this one and would love to have it again sometime. Some definite sour fruit and brett here, really great.

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2011 19:34:10 | More by mdfb79

craytonic

District of Columbia

3.43/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On tap at Churchkey DC

Appearance: Golden yellow with a hint of orange, decent white head

Smell: Wheat, bread, lemon citrust, tea

Taste: Similar, wheat, light farmhouse bread, lemon, not very intense. Not really sour at all

Mouthfeel: Medium/light body, didn't feel like 10.5%

Overall: Not really sour or funky, not very impressive.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2011 02:15:19 | More by craytonic

rudzud

Massachusetts

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

On tap at the BBF

A - A nice orange slighly hazy pour with a thin head that left very nice lacing and retention.

S - Lightly sour but with big tropical fruit notes. Excellent mango and pineapple notes. Incredibly inviting.

T - Superb. More of those tropical fruits and light malt. The ABV isnt present at all. First bit was mango but the end was so much pineapple.

M - Excellent mouthfeel for such a big ABV. Super tart and acidic and very drinkable.

O - Loved this beer, one of my favorites at the fest. Would love to have multiple pints of this delicious offering.

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2011 23:48:26 | More by rudzud

beauweaver

Massachusetts

4.72/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Wow! Just attended the Boston Belgian Beer Fest and this was one of my very favorites. Well, I love Rodenbach and any Flemish Sour Red Ales, so it is sort of a given. Nevertheless, I had been tasting another winner at The Lost Abbey brewery stand and the guy sent me to Allagash to taste this marvelous brew.
Outstanding colour and taste with an amazing finish. This beer is now on my top five favorites with Rodenbach and Anit Ox (from The Lost Abbey brewery).
I have never been too fond of extremely hoppy brews and Flemish Sour Red Ales are on the top of my list.
If you have never had one, try the Little Big Beer. It's not that little, trust me. It's a big wonderful and rather BIG offering.

Serving type: on-tap

09-10-2011 19:43:06 | More by beauweaver

kkipple

South Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On draft on the Crazy Field at Charleston Brewvival, where I consumed WELL more than was healthy, and then again! at the Brick Store Pub's 14th Anniversary bash, which was about as brilliant as you can imagine. I love this beer, so here goes, unashamedly:

Two .25 liter pours into an Allagash goblet at the Brick Store. Reviewed from copious notes taken at the bar, God bless it.

A. Little Big is a thick orange gold. Wonderful solid, finger tall head fades to 1cm or so, lace included for no extra charge! A pretty beer, but who is looking for long?

S. Simply amazing. Comparisons with New Belgium's La Terroir will come to mind, which is good, but this does indeed have the edge. Wonderfully pungent, loads of tropical, pineapple and mango esters, tangerine, lactic, wild, tight and explosive. Difficult to fully take in, seems subtle and shifting. I love this nose, and will gladly claim it to be one of the BEST in an American sour to date. Not the sharpest, or most complex even, but simply delightful and running on all cylinders.

T. Again, this is very much a more sour, funky, less hoppy and more carbonated La Terroir - which is high praise. Comparisons will also come to the Allagash / De Proef dual brett collaboration from a few years ago. This has that expressive "house" funk-sour that the best Allagash sours have (Victor Franc) but is really working out well. More yeast notes, some phenolics, 'unfiltered' taste, lemon-orange citrcks, and absolutely no trace of 10.5%... personally I would really question the claimed abv... but it wouldn't stop me from drinking it if you kept putting it in front of me.

M / O. Little Big Beer finishes stupendously, with a long, long, acid-tart bite and just when it should be too much, behold! All turns soft and the sweet notes begin to hum. The one fault I have with this beer is the acidity is a touch too high for my tastes, leaving a minor burning note on the palate, which is a flaw in my opinion. No one is perfect... but this is good. No, it's actually great, and rated accordingly.

Little Big Beer was my favorite beer at Brewvival, and my second favorite of the day at the bar. It is both one of my favorite Allagash beers and in the top 5 commercial beers I've had in 2011. Hawk-eyed readers, if any get this far, may note that I have given this the exact same score as Isabelle Proximus. Yes, it is earned.

Please, seek out Little Big Beer. You will thank me when you do.

Serving type: on-tap

08-31-2011 03:28:15 | More by kkipple

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.3/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A very nice surprise at the Brick Store Pub's 14th anniversary bash. Had on-tap. I had heard it was a sour, and it definitely delivered. Poured a murky golden amber with a thin head that settles to a ring. Smells quite sour and acetic with dusky notes of preserved lemons and some apricot. Quite savory in the nose, not sweet at all. The taste is awesome. Quite sour with citrus and apricot flavors, a hint of tropical fruit, a touch of barnyard notes, some oak, and red grapefruit. Very tart in the mouth, but smooth without being slippery. Quite a nice package overall, and it sounds like it has evolved quite a bit for the better since the early reviews, becoming more sour and complex.

Serving type: on-tap

07-17-2011 19:39:48 | More by Georgiabeer