Allagash Fluxus 2012 - Allagash Brewing Company

chinchill

South Carolina

3.28/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.25

on tap at Duckworths (NC)

Pour is golden, lightly hazy, with a moderate size off-white head that is exceptionally durable and leaves fine lacing.

Clear Belgian yeasty note in both tasting and the aroma. After a minute of adjustment to the initially unpleasant but limited Brett.

M: very smooth with ample soft carbonation.

O: American version of this Belgian style that exaggerates the Belgian features. I found this slightly challenging.

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2013 17:46:57 | More by chinchill

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.13/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a clear, rich golden yellow with a fluffy white head that doesn't lace. The nose is mildly peppercorny with a touch of yeast and honey sweetness. As the beer warms a bit there is a great Belgian yeast presence, a honey sweetness, and a lightly biting peppercorn in the taste. This beer is definitely a medium bodied, drinkable Belgian brew with subtle, yet distinct peppercorn presence. I like this beer and think it's a worthy consideration as an Allagash seasonal because it's a very drinkable Belgian pale that relies on the subtle, earthy, spiciness provided by the green/pink peppercorns.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 02:21:15 | More by ThePorterSorter

ngeunit1

California

4.28/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Hazy golden-yellow with a big finger of frothy white head. Fades very slowly.

S - Sweet grainy and bready malts, Belgian yeast, coriander, peppercorns, other farmhouse character, lemon zest.

T - Sweet grainy and bready malts, Belgian yeast, peppercorns, coriander, other spices, tart lemon zest, fruity esters, and some light floral flavors.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a dry, peppery finish.

D - Great balanced BSPA. Nice amount of spices.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 04:09:30 | More by ngeunit1

Mantooth

North Carolina

3.61/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

On draft at Duckworth's, Charlotte, NC, 8.5 oz pour for $3.

Golden pils colored pour with a tight little head and oil-slick lacing. Nicely bittered by the hops, good bit of citrus in the nose and mouth. Loads of fresh lemon and bitter fruit-flesh, a little grassy in the finish. The mouthfeel is quite nice, bravo on the viscosity. Solid brew.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2013 22:32:55 | More by Mantooth

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.61/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5

11 ounce goblet - $8.75 at Taco Mac in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Appearance: Hazed, pale golden body with a half-inch of finely-textured, white foam fed by thin but steady bubble streams.

Smell: Sugary influences atop notes of pils malts, spelt, with very light touches of craggled grain. Floral-type hints along with the peppercorn hints. A bit of alcohol. Unripened pears, apples.

Taste: Bolstered pilsner-like maltiness, though I'm told spelt (forgot about him, didn't ya?) is also present. Some grainy touches, a goodly pinch of table sugar. Floral, spicy augmentations from the added peppercorns aided, one would imagine, by the pilfered yeast strain, maybe a bit by the alcohol. Orchard fruitiness, something a little lemony as it warms. Crispish, malty, dry finish with a hint of alcohol warmth.

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium-plus carbonation.

Overall: It's okay. I liked it, didn't love it.

Serving type: on-tap

01-23-2013 17:31:43 | More by ChainGangGuy

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Picked this up at the Allagash Brewery. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

A - Pours a clear light golden hue with a one finger fizzy head that fades to leave a light fizzy blanket and minimal lacing.

S - Aromas of light Belgian yeasts and subtle fruits along with a nice peppercorn spice. Quite enjoyable.

T - Same as the nose. nice fruitiness and peppercorn spice notes. Very nice Belgian yeast esters intermingling throughout the beer.

M - Mouthfeel is highly carbonated like a handful of good Allagash beers. Super drinkable.

O - Overall this was a solid beer. Not a bad fluxus, think I liked it better than 2011's batch.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 17:24:01 | More by rudzud

gr0g

New Jersey

4.15/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Orange-amber in color, moderate haziness. The head measures 3+ fingers tall and shows good retention, but lacing is only sparse. The aroma leads with chalky yeast notes that give way to a spicy fruitiness. Notes of citrus peel, green apple, pear, and cracker-like grain. Very aromatic and enjoyable.

The flavor profile is very much like a Saison. Yeasty phenols are prominent and the finish is nice and dry. There's a slight honey-like sweetness at first, then progressively more dryness. Malt profile is light and pilsner-like. There's an overall vinous quality imparted by notes of apple and white grape. A smooth, soft mouthfeel helps to make this exceedingly drinkable, though a bit more liveliness to the bubbles wouldn't hurt. Excellent texture overall.

My first taste of the Fluxus series has me wishing I'd tried previous releases. 2012 is a very nice strong saison that should not be missed while it's available.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 19:23:46 | More by gr0g

BeerManDan

California

4.14/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

The color when poured into a tulip glass was a hazy golden yellow with s little white foam and a fair amount of lace on the side of the glass. The smell had a yeasty, spicy aroma with a hint of sweet citrus. The taste was a creamy balance of sweetness/bitterness spicy/fruity flavor well balanced. I could still taste a creamy sweet yeast with spice without the over bitterness. This could be one of my favorite but expensive Belgium Strong Ale. Yum!

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 23:12:36 | More by BeerManDan

smakawhat

Maryland

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a wine taster glass.

A real nice solid yellow lemon orb glowing body, with clear carbonation rising. A creamy bright white head shows up, but settles and falls at a normal pace. A light bubbled collar remains while drinking.

Sweet smelling Belgian like candy. Slight dry spice. Light malts and airy. Solid. Not so much peppery. Hints of thick butter but not movie popcorn diacetyl angles.

However, palate brings the pepper nicely. Mild pepper in the mid palate, mixing with a Belgian classic sweetness. Crisp finish, with a large malt tripel like density. A nice prickly sensation after each sip on the tongue, with good carbonation. Green like peppers come out a bit more as it warms up.

Overall, a nice simple take on a good Belgian big ale. Very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 00:16:01 | More by smakawhat

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A-cloudy golden with a sticky white head

S-sour apples. Belgian white spices. Good funkiness going on here. Medium strength

T-comes in with a taste of green apple and pale Belgian spices. The wit aspect and funkiness has gone away. There's a pretty strong bitterness that sticks to the tongue. There's a fruity after-taste.

M-medium dry carbonation with a super dry finish

O-I was expecting more. This is not too great. The flavors present aren't terrible but they don't mesh well together, and it's not very well balanced. Tastes like a mediocre home brewed Belgian. Smells like a masterpiece though!

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2012 22:10:29 | More by AdamBear

Halcyondays

California

3.58/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Beachwood I,

A: Pours a light orange with a medium frothy white head leaving some good lace.

S: Yeasty with notes of peppercorns and bread.

T: Has a unique peppercorn flavour that ends with what tastes like a hint of mint. Nice malt character throughout out with notes of coriander like spice.

M: Medium-bodied, soft easy carbonation. A delicate beer.

O: An interesting beer with an intriguing flavour. At the end of the day though, it didn't really stand out for me though it was certainly fun to try.

Serving type: on-tap

11-24-2012 20:04:58 | More by Halcyondays

UCLABrewN84

California

3.63/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Boneyard Bistro in Sherman Oaks, CA.

Pours a clear orange-yellow with a foamy bone colored head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Thick patches of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, yeast, spices, and peppercorns. Taste is much the same with a sweetness on the finish. There is a mild yeast and spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that has a better smell than taste in my opinion.

Serving type: on-tap

11-22-2012 07:04:27 | More by UCLABrewN84

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.98/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was served from the tap at The Blind Tiger in New York, NY. It arrived in a generic tulip glowing a pale golden coloring. The glass was filled to the brim, so no head was noted. Spots of lacing were left as the liquid disappeared. There was a soft cloudiness to the beer’s clarity, but no sediment was noted. Carbonation appeared average. The aroma gave a strong malty base, with generous notes of citrus and wheat, much like a tripel. Coolness of vanilla, a light peppery depth, orange peel, and clove helped to keep things spicy, while rounding the nose out. Our first impression was that the flavoring was sweet and inclusive, with strong Belgian esters of bubblegum. As we sipped, a spicy grain bill, sweet vanilla, a hint of clove, and spicy plastics hit the palate. These moved to the peak, where grapey sweetness, soft grain of lemon, and the citrus and wheat of a tripel or wit soured the palate, with pale bitters and toast. The finish gave biting peppercorn, which added to the blackness of booze. We also noted raw vanilla bean, hints of souring and bittering lemon, and a final wash of sweetened, sugary grain. The aftertaste breathed of raw peppercorn, charcoal smoke, and sweeter toasted grain. The body was medium, and the carbonation was high, with a bite. The mouth was initially cooled and coated with a soft graininess, but the dryness of booze acted to quickly clean and pucker the palate. There was soft slurp and cream, with nice froth on each sip. The abv was appropriate, and the beer drank easily.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was the cleanliness. The nose was spicy, warming, and enticing, while the taste really brought forward some pepper and some heat. This inherent spiciness really helped to enhance the booziness of the beer. The feel was equally as inviting, with softness and creaminess to each slurp. This was a great beer, but we would be interested to see what they could do if they really pulled all stops on the raw peppercorn, to burn your taste buds out of hiding.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2012 14:49:12 | More by TheBrewo

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

3.18/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured into a snifter.

Appearance
Slightly hazed straw/gold with 1 finger of white head that dissipates rather quickly. Moderate carbonation.

Nose
Potpourri, barnyard and pear.

Taste
Potpourri and horse blanket are at the forefront of this beer. Lighter notes of pear, splashes of apple juice and dashes of pink peppercorn. As much as I love a good barnyard funk, the massive flavors of potpourri are really killing this one for me.

Mouthfeel
Light-medium bodied, crisp and refreshing.

Overall
Extremely yeast and spice driven beer. Again, the potpourri really killed this for me.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2012 14:44:07 | More by justintcoons

PeterIngemi

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Split a 750 ml poured into a dfh snifter.

A: pours. Nice hazy slightly golden orange with two finger of white head after an aggressive pour, leavs a ton of sticky lacing... Nice looking brew.

S: sweetness, honey, Belgian yeast, a bit of citrus, not really much peppercorn in the aroma here. The yeast seems to be the list prominent part of the nose, giving biscuity notes.

T: reminds me of a Belgian golden more then a Belgian pale... A touch of citrusy sweetness blended with Belgian yeast and a touch of sweetness. I get notes of apples and pears and caramel... Along with some earthy spice md biscuity yeastyness.... I don't get a lot of peppercorn.

M: medium mouthfeel with medium carbonation, the poet iron comes through in the finish giving it a touch of dry spicyness.

O: a pretty good brew, overall I thought this brew was very well balanced and tasty, I could imagine if you enjoyed Belgian styles you'd find this even more delicious, info not typically enjoy Belgian styles....

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 04:05:11 | More by PeterIngemi

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.05/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap 10/14/2012 at Track 84 in Warwick, RI, served in a tulip glass.

A: The beer is a light gold color, with a large white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

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

T: The taste starts out sweet with flavors of spice, citrus and bananas. Then some breadiness comes in from Belgian yeast and a hearty but not too heavy malt character. The hops presence is mild but complementary and brings a good balance. The after-taste is slightly bready and slightly sweet.

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

O: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, good kick, good representation of style, this is a solid beer with good complexity making it worth drinking for a long time.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2012 17:55:23 | More by TheManiacalOne

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

4.23/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap, served in a tulip

A slightly hazy golden body with a creamy, two finger paper white cap. Excellent retention with some sticky spider web lacing. Some streams of bubbles find their way to the top. The nose is spicy and phenolic with earthy hops and a wild berry fruitiness. The flavor profile follows the nose for the most part. Spicy, peppery notes up front with an earthy mellowness through the middle. Medium body with firm carbonation. This is a nice BSPA with some saison-like tendencies, which is perfectly fine in my book. The peppercorn spice balances out the fruity and earthy flavors of the hops pretty well. Solid, full flavors. This is a tasty beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2012 02:01:02 | More by ColForbinBC

kojevergas

California

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750ml brown glass bottle with hood and wire cap over a cork served into a Uinta brewing pilsner glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are high given the brewery, which I quite like. 7.70% alcohol confirmed.

Served straight from the refrigerator and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

Pulling the cork yields a satisfying pop but no upsurging or other issues.

A: Pours a five finger beige colour head of pleasant rolling foam, great uniform thickness, nice cream, and great retention. Frothy and appealing. Lacing is also good. Colour is a hazy nontransparent pale yellow. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Non-opaque.

Sm: Luxurious Belgian biscuit malts, peppercorns, some spice, and light bretty goodness. Very soft and intriguing. Reminds me a bit of confluence, which I had last night. I get some honey and floral hop notes. All around a good aroma. Mild in strength, but nicely subtle. I'm looking forward to trying it.

T: Clean biscuit malts comprise the foundation. Well handled pale malts give it a solid refreshing body. Background floral hops emerge throughout in a balanced, deliberate manner. Spice comes on the climax - there's the peppercorns and a bit of spice from the yeast. Somewhat brett-evocative. I think I even get a bit of wheat grains. It gets more floral as it approaches the climax. One unexpected effect is the warming sensation of the alcohol in the stomach; it's surprisingly notable for Allagash. Maybe that's just something weird with my personal physiology tonight, but it's a nice effect. A subtle and balanced brew, but I admit I'm a bit disappointed about how little is going on. It's very nectary which I love, but there's not a whole lot of layering here. Could use some more spice. In any case the yeast hardly comes through. I like it, but it's not as special as Allagash's better beers. Nicely sweet on the climax.

Mf: Smooth, light, and wet. A bit too thick for the lack of flavours. It could be thinner and lighter still, like Confluence. It's refreshingly wet, though. Suits the flavours well.

Dr: Very drinkable, except for that pesky ABV presence. I could drink this all night; it's really lovely for the style. A tasty brew that doesn't quite live up to high expectations. Best reserved for more serious fans of this style specifically. It's priced too high. That said, it's refreshing and enjoyable.

B-

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 02:42:09 | More by kojevergas

smcnulty1981

Rhode Island

4.5/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: golden hazy color with a bright white head that lasts with some lacing with a good amount of carbonation

S: lots of bubblegum spicy yeast with some orange

T: very yeast forward and finished with pepper spice kick

M: fairly light very easy to drink

O: this years version is very good the taste reminds of their white ale based in the yeast used and the look of the beer instead of the typical coriander using pepper corns great job as always

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 18:36:09 | More by smcnulty1981

orsulacp

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap today for lunch. White bubbly head on top of a slightly hazy light orange body. Very distinct smells, citrus, pepper, a little yeasty, a little bit of berry. The taste starts with pepper corns, a little bitter, then some citrus, then some berry, then more pepper. Everything is layered nicely, nothing is overwhelming. It has a light body and is pretty refreshing. This a must try if you see it on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

10-20-2012 20:07:14 | More by orsulacp

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.93/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a snifter, the beer is a bright, hazy, orange-gold coloring with a thin, filmy, uneven, white coating of head. Aromas of citrus, pepper, bubblegum, and berry sweetness. Very light and inviting on the nose. Flavors are light initially, with an astringent hops presence that comes through shortly after the beer hits your tastebuds. Sweet and light overtones of a fruity blend, with a citrus and berry character once again. The pepper components are there, but remain in the background until the end of the palate, where they help to clean up the flavors and keep the finish tight and crisp. Spiced and sweet aftertaste transitions into the sharper, crisp finish. Very tasty, and very unique.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 20:16:44 | More by GarthDanielson

deltatauhobbit

Maine

3.95/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a pale yellow color with a very small hint of orange, white bubbly head that quickly dissipates, no lacing on the glass.

Smell has a sweet malt backing with a musty funk upfront with the musty being stronger than the funk, slightest hint of grassy hops, I'm looking for a peppery aroma and I looked hard, a couple times I think I found it but I'm not really sure so I'm not expecting a strong peppercorn presence.

Taste is sweet at first, the sharp carbonation lends a sweeping dryness that helps keep the sweet malt in check, some light fruit aspects dance around along with a citrus note, the peppery flavor does come into play in the aftertaste but I've had other beers with a larger pepper presence so I'm a bit disappointed (yet relieved at the same time as peppercorn can sometimes be too overwhelming).

More subtle than I thought this year's Fluxus would be but it's well-rounded.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 02:25:14 | More by deltatauhobbit

billab914

Virginia

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle poured into my Allagash glass. Amber in color and moderately hazy. A thin white head barely covers the top, but maintains nicely.

The aroma showcases the belgian Yeast nicely. I get some nice earthy spices along with a little bit of the peppercorns. Some crisp, slightly tart fruits are there as well. It comes together well and feels nicely balanced for the style.

The taste shows a little more of the crisp fruits with more of a tart grape flavor up front and some sweeter apple in the finish. The earthy yeast spice is very complimenting and the peppercorns are subtle, but good. The peppercorns are most evident in the finish leaving a lingering peppery spice.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with carbonation being a little above average. Overall, it was a very nice beer. It was bold and flavorful, but also balanced and pretty easy drinking. The peppercorns were thankfully very subtle and complimenting. I really liked what they added to the finish as well. The DeDolle yeast was also very well utilized in it. Very solid beer all around.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 22:44:27 | More by billab914

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.23/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Prime 16 during their Allagash tap takeover; served in a 25cl Allagash goblet.

A: Slightly hazy gold body under a thin, fine white head that settles into a persistent ring. Not much in the way of lace. Pretty average for the style.

S: Spicy phenols, fresh-ground peppercorn, and a lovely overlay of fruity tartness. Really fresh, crisp, and aromatic. Excellent.

T: Opens with some slightly tart green apple esters, then quickly becomes heavily peppery and slightly medicinal with its major phenols. The finish extremely spicy, dry, and lively. Quite complex and enjoyable. Different in a very good way.

M: Almost ludicrously frothy. Nothing but bubbles. Way overcarbonated, even for an effervescent style.

O: Last year’s Fluxus sucked. This doesn’t. Highly recommended if you can get it on tap, although I’m not convinced I’d shell out $20 or whatever for a 750.

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

09-28-2012 22:34:10 | More by woosterbill