Allagash FV 13 - Allagash Brewing Company

PatriotsRule

Massachusetts

4.98/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Incredibly delicious sour ale from Allagash!
A: Clean and a pale amber, clear with stupendous carbonation
S: Berries, citrus and honey
T: Floral grasslands of meadows with many flowers and wild sour fruits growing, pollenated constantly by some of the hardest working bees I can imagine. I'll tell ya, these be some bees.
M: Crisp as can be, super sour, yet somehow not overwhelmingly sour. Like an orange or lemon
O: One of the better special releases I have ever had. Well worth the fifteen bucks. Thank you Allagash for a balls to the walls American sour alike none other before it. Bien sur le foudre!!!

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 03:01:55 | More by PatriotsRule

smcnulty1981

Rhode Island

4.93/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

A: slightly hazy amber color lots of carbonation streaming up the glass1 finger of an off white very light brown head that goes away after a few moments with a good ammount of lacing

S: very complex lots of funk light oaked with some red wine notes may be from the sherry yeast no alcohol on the nose

T: very tart followed by spicy red wine characters with a touch of vanilla and oak no alcohol on the taste

M: highly carbonated with a very dry finish

O: great beer very complex lots of different flavors well done multiple yeast strains and the oak aging contribute to a great sour ale

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 06:34:42 | More by smcnulty1981

smakawhat

Maryland

4.79/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Poured from the bottle into a tulip glass. Big pop off the cork when opening.

A very sudsy and foamy head, with lots of snapping carbonation coming off the pour, and a nice faint tan color. Head falls quite fast, but settles to a thin fairly tall collar and simple puck. Body is a real nice copper red slightly cloudy with lots of vertical carbonation. While settling the beer even had a whirlpool like effect in the middle, with a giant hurricane in the middle and a faint ring outside for the collar. Very nice looking brew.

Even off the pour the funk is all over this one. Lots of funky pepper yeast aromas. Hints of cherry/raspberry red like fruit and sweet malts mixing in. There's a sense of density to this. Some sweet oaky wood comes out a bit too this is very nice and balanced also. It smells great.

Palate is a big surprise. This is wonderfuly tart and full of giant hits of lemon and grapefruit rind. Dried out lemon zest and wonderful bitterness. A great mix of malt sweetness balances it out with large funky brett and pepper. Pepper and lemon is all over this beer, with a lively carbonation and oak density. There is a lot of depth, but also a light character with only a hint of barrel feel hinting out, the tradeoff is that it is very juicy.

Overall though this is just a fantastic beer to be drinking, it's like a bretty Rodenbach filled with wonderful bittern lemon and grapefruit. Fantastic stuff.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 18:17:27 | More by smakawhat

jrstamp

Connecticut

4.71/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Bottled: 12/21/2012
Russian River Tulip

A: Hazy amber/red with a big, two finger white foam head.

S: Very Flanders Red / wine like sweetness on the nose. There is a funkyness that mingles with some cherry sweetness. Smells like its gonna be sweet and tart.

T: Tasted alot like I thought it was going to taste. Alot of Flanders like delicate tartness with a distinct cherry. I feel like this has alot of the same layers a Rodenbach classic has, maybe a little more with a little more time in the bottle. Kinda surprised it is 8.9% abv, not picking up any heat or alcohol flavors.

M: Smelled and tasted like there was alot of leftover sugar but finished pretty dry so thats probably just a perceived sweetness.

O: Really liked what I got out of this, nice Flanders type flavors with a mellow funkyness layered in there. The cherry / wine nose and flavors were great for not having added anything like that. I hope eventually the price comes down, I would definitely we willing to pay $12-14 for a 750ml, but for a 375ml it feels kinda steep.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 00:49:54 | More by jrstamp

teromous

Virginia

4.65/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: Slightly hazy but mostly transparent dark tea-colored body. A short white head fades down to a sliver. Patchwork of lacing.

S: Sour smelling grapes, tree bark, a little bit of alcohol comes through, and a funky musky scent.

T: It starts out with a sour tart flavor that has a bit of cherry and grape-like flavors. It fades out quickly and there is an earthy quality that starts to take over. It seems like I get a bit of hop flavor in there as well. At the end it has a bit of smoky or charcoal quality that is very faint. Some caramel sweetness in the end that counterbalances the sourness. Some musky flavor at the end.

M: The mouthfeel starts off with a puckering sensation, but it trails off very quickly to a mellow presence. It's very pleasant to drink because it doesn't stay tart through the whole sip. It is lightly carbonated, and has a medium mouthfeel.

O: Overall I really enjoyed this beer. I would recommend it and would buy it again. I think that everything I have to say was said before. I really don't have any negatives for the beer. It is a very impressive beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 02:55:16 | More by teromous

nquigley16

Massachusetts

4.65/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a wine glass from the bottle.

Pours a dark orange brown with a finger of head, pretty much the same color as the label. Smells extremely winey (in an amazing way). Sour, orange, oak, tannins, grapes, sour cherries. Tons of delicious dry fruity notes coming through on the nose. Taste is perfectly tart with lots of fruitiness and a slightly dry tannic finish that compliments the tiny bit of sweetness coming through. This is one fantastic beer, amazing balance and very complex. The yeast did an incredible job, but doesn't overpower the other flavors at all.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 22:19:59 | More by nquigley16

Beerenauslese

California

4.56/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Lost Abbey Teku style glass.

Reddish brown color, topped by a nice sudsy head with excellent retention and lacing.

Smells complex, with notes of sour cherry fruit, vanilla, wood spice, and some caramel sweetness.

Tastes of mildly tart cherries, hint of lemon and plum, but also sweet with some caramelized sugar. There is quite a bit of oak presence and a mildly tannic finish.

Body is medium with a silky, creamy mouthfeel. Very smooth.

This is an interesting, complex sour in the Flanders red ale style. The alcohol is noticeable at around 9%.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 03:19:11 | More by Beerenauslese

montrealbcr89

Quebec (Canada)

4.56/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A bit pricey at 15$ for a 12oz bottle, but thought I'd give it a try.

A: Pours a murky copper/orange with nice red highlights. A finger and a half of slightly off white soapy head. Not particularly attractive.

S: Wow, is this thing pungent. Sweet fruit notes, tart cherries, some definite delicious funk. Tropical fruit notes are accentuated by the subtle yet present sour notes.

T: The sweet fruits (apple, cherries, pineapple) hit you immediately up front. Some oak towards the mid pallet. The beer finishes with a very nice tartness. This beer would be cloyingly sweet to me if the sourness was not there to balance it out. Nice wine notes present as well.

M: Perfect. Medium with an appropriate amount of carbonation.

O: I wish this beer was cheaper. At almost 9% ABV, this is so drinkable. So refreshing. I could sip on it for a while, or drink it quick on a hot summer day. A really nice beer that wine folks could get into. Love it, glad I have another bottle. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2013 03:54:30 | More by montrealbcr89

Seanniek91

New Hampshire

4.53/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Served from a 12oz bottle into an Allagash Coolship glass.

Appearance- Almost clear amber with no head and some yeast floating around.

Smell- Tons of apples and lemons. Vinegar, oak, earth.

Taste- Cherry, vanilla, caramel, light lemon sourness, earthy herbaceousness.

Mouthfeel- Smooth, reasonably carbonated, light tartness.

Overall- I tried it on tap at the brewery and loved it and I'm happy to say it's great out of the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 22:47:50 | More by Seanniek91

yankeepride

New Jersey

4.53/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

As I'm new to sours, I keep discovering new and subtle little differences in them. Poured this one into a tulip, and was instantly greeted by that newly-familiar tart odor. It has a touch of sour cherries, but was muted by a bit of an oaken, burnt smell as well. I started drinking it slightly chilled in the fridge, where the sour notes were prevalent, allowing the slight effervescence to play on the tongue. As it warmed, though, the wood started to become a lot more dominant compared to the base tartness. It took on a bit of an edge to it, with the oak getting aggressive. Really a terrific, complex sour!

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 01:42:17 | More by yankeepride

wyatt13

Illinois

4.51/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

MegDuf32 very generously gave me this bottle a couple weeks ago. Bottled on date of 11/29/2012. Poured from a 375 ml bottle into a tulip glass.

A – Pours the color of Autumn leaves, like a deep ruby red/orange/brown mélange. I poured the bottle pretty carefully, but a good amount of dark sediment still collected in the bottom of the glass. A thin off-white head was contrasted nicely with abundant carbonation. Lots of stringy lace all over the glass.

S – A nice tart sourness immediately hits the nostrils. Some nice funk is all mixed up with the oak and vanilla character of the barrel. There is something in here that definitely reminds me of a light red wine.

T – Wow, very complex. A prominent tart cherry note is met with a deep oak character. A bit of vanilla and caramel are also present in the mid-palate. The finish is all sourness, with a nice lingering vinegary aftertaste.

M - Great amount of carbonation, with a nice creamy mouthfeel. A bit drying on the mouth that encourages quick drinking.

O – I really enjoyed this complex brew. This is the first beer of this type that I have tried from Allagash, but it certainly has me interested in trying as many as I can. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 02:53:38 | More by wyatt13

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled 12-21-2012. Picked up a bottle at the brewery tasting room. Served in a snifter, the beer is a dark, vibrant, ruby-brown coloring with a thin, filmy, off-white surface coat of head. Some very small bubbled carbonation activity throughout the body. Aromas of tart berry and cherry sweetness, with a touch of booze, some woody characteristics, and a sour highlight. Very balanced and robust nose. Flavors are rich and tart cherry on the forward tongue, with a sour tang throughout. Wood character balances more as the beer travels the palate, ending with an almost wine-like feel at the end of each drink. The carbonation and thin body lead to an effervescent feel in mouth, with a crisp, almost bubbly finish. The tartness builds slowly in mouth, with an underlying cherry sweetness. Very fruity and very crisp, with bold notes of sour and tart. Tremendous representation of the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2013 02:50:42 | More by GarthDanielson

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.49/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

375ml bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: Pours a clear, deep crimson-brown body under an inch of dense off-white foam that recedes slowly but only leaves light, spotty lace. Attractive.

S: Very attractive. Prickly tartness, cherry skin, green apple, underripe plum, and peppery spice. Light vanilla and peach. Excellent.

T: Sweeter than the nose, but still more tart than sweet: vanilla, caramel apple, tart cherry, spicy alcohol, and lactic tartness. Some dry, tannic oak on the finish, with more tropical fruits filling in on the aftertaste. Really complex, decadent, dessert-like flavors. Delicious.

M: Soft, creamy medium body. Great.

O: Wonderful American Wild. The interplay of malt sweetness, fruity sourness, and vanilla-tinged oak was really top-notch. I'll take the sharper funkiness of a Coolship brew over this one's more mellow character any day, but this is a world class sour in its own right.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 04:14:29 | More by woosterbill

owend

New Hampshire

4.46/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A-Off white head and a slightly hazy amber body.

S- Strong aroma of tart cherry and oak and a bit of vinegar and barnyard funk

T- upfront tart fruits and some vinegar balance nicely with lighter sweet fruit notes and a bit of malty sweetness. A hint of oak in the funky, slightly medicinal finish. A very nice tartness lingers on the palette

M-light bodied and nicely carbonated

O-An very enjoyable sour from Allagash. Would try again without hesitation.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 22:45:46 | More by owend

larryi86

Delaware

4.46/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

375 mL bottle poured into a snifter

A- A reddish copper with a two finger off-white head.

S- Sour cherries, oak, some spices, some vinegar, smells like a nice Flanders sour.

T- Sour cherries, touch of red wine, some lactic acid, some sweet raspberries, oak, vanilla, nice balance of flavors.

M- Smooth, medium body, slightly creamy, nice carbonation.

O- This is a great sour from Allagash and I am very happy that I was able to get a bottle. This is sour and all the flavors work together and are balanced. Easy to drink and quick to drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 21:58:45 | More by larryi86

RichD

Rhode Island

4.44/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Corked and caged 12.7 oz bottle dated 11/29/2012 poured into an Allagash glass.

A: Initially when I poured this it appeared that it was going to be a dark blonde color. As the glass filled up it became a reddish brown color. Looks nice.

S: Smells of oak and some tart. I pick up some green apple and maybe some pear. I didn't really pick up any alcohol, no real hop presence and maybe a little bit of malts.

T: Man, this is delicious. Some tart and green apple are the stars of this show. Some pear is picked up as well. The oak and vanilla really add another dimension to this brew. As someone who is just getting into wild ales, this is a very solid beer. I get the tart from the yeast, as well as the fruit and wood character.

M: A pretty medium mouthfeel. The carbonation is ideal and the finish is dry and crisp. The lack of alcohol present really makes this an enjoyable experience.

Overall: As my first full bottle of the American Wild Ale style, I can truly say that I'm extremely impressed. I'm a supporter of Allagash and everything they do, so it was only natural that my first experience with my style would be brewed by them. Their coolship program is definitely paying dividends and I really can't wait to crack open the Cerise I have.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 00:53:42 | More by RichD

lordofthewiens

Maine

4.44/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I had this on tap at When Pigs Fly, initially at a beer dinner, then later for a more in depth tasting.

In a snifter the beer was the color of a dirty penny with a small tan head. There was a little bit of lace.

Aroma was tart and fruity, and vinous.

Great taste. Sour apple and red wine. A little vanilla.

This beer was tart and sour and dry. The alcohol was well-hidden.

I hope this stays in the lineup for a while.

Serving type: on-tap

06-08-2013 21:21:34 | More by lordofthewiens

deltatauhobbit

Maine

4.43/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice amber color with very little head, hardly any lacing.

Smell has a nice woody oak aroma and is the star to the nose, decent vinegar sourness.

Taste starts out with a vinegar sourness with a well rounded oak character, cherry presents a touch of fruity tartness, acidic content is on the high side but I like that, carbonation is close to perfect with a decent body, alcohol is very well hidden making me believe this closer to 4.5% than 8.9% so very impressive.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 03:17:27 | More by deltatauhobbit

Pinknuggets

Vermont

4.41/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

On tap into sniffer glass

A:golden honey in color but rather cloudy and almost completely opaque. There is a little but if tab head that settles to a average lacing.

S:the first thing that comes to mind is that familiar barnyard funk there is a sweetness in there too maybe cherries

T: so there is definitely a sour tart flavor with some fruity sweetness it is hard for me to pull and spesific flavors out but it is delicious

M:smooth and very oily which allows it to go down easily with no traces of alcohol. It has a nice light crisp carbonation/champagne feel that makes it an enjoyable feel

O: really enjoyed this beer easy drinking nice light sour/tart flavor with a great feel I highly recommend this

Serving type: on-tap

02-28-2013 00:49:39 | More by Pinknuggets

BEERMILER12

Maine

4.41/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled 10/28/2012; Consumed 4/30/2013

A: Pours a murky brown color with nearly no head. Expected

S: Lots of funky sour notes with a hint of barnyard and plenty of lactic presence. Fruitiness and a hint of oak also come through

T: Very complex. Starts off with a bit of lactic acidity and sourness, along with fruitiness and a long oak presence. Finishes lightly sweet with some barnyard notes. Alcohol hardly noticeable

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Slightly harsh from the acidity

O: Great American wild from Allagash. Not overwhelmingly sour or funky, but the brett and lacto work extremely well together to create a great balance of funk/sour and barnyard. Not overwhelmingly pricey for an American wild either, especially by Allagash standards. Get some if you still can!

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 00:09:04 | More by BEERMILER12

davey101

Connecticut

4.4/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Date Bottled: 12/21/2012. 375ml bottle into a tulip. This bottle was a bit of a short pour which makes the $17 price tag a bit harder to swallow, but props to Allagash to getting one of these cool sours out into distribution.

A - Pours a hazy brown/red color, holding it up to the light yields a really cool burnt orange color that looks like a pumpkin. There are some floaties in here even with a careful pour. Plenty of sudsy off white foam with clingy lacing. Foam filled the glass after pouring but settles into a solid fingers worth. Looks pretty damn impressive for a beer that was aged for 4 years.

S - Flanders. Bruin. Yup, this is totally in that style. Just a great blend of sour cherries and acetic vinegar. It does deviate from its Belgian counterparts by way of a huge barrel presence full of smooth vanilla and oak. The end has a touch of berry flavored vodka...weird and slightly boozy but not in a bad way.

T - Sour cherries, vinegary acetic acid, raspberries, and oak and vanilla. Again very flemmish-esque, but the fruit is just represented in a juicier and riper form. Very delicious beer. Mouth feel is lively and well carbonated. Certainly sour...very mouth puckering.

O - This is a very impressive beer. Very much so brewed to the Flemish bruin/red style but with a nice little American twist. Pretty unreal levels of fruit flavors considering there was no fruit additions. I wish the beer wasn't so damned limited or expensive because this is just excellent.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 05:05:40 | More by davey101

Bowdoinbeerboy

Maine

4.4/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at Allagash Brewery during their tour session.

This poured a lovely, clear red color with almost no head.

The nose on this was very interesting, it was very acidic smelling, but not in an unpleasant or harsh way, more like how wine can be. The tour guide said that this beer was brewed with both Brett yeast as well as Lacto yeast. This combination really seemed to create a very complex beer with lots of vinous characteristics but with a really solid "sour" bite from the lacto. This beer also fermented for 4 years in a giant oak barrel, so it has some very unique characteristics.

Overall this was a really interesting and tasty beer. Very vinous and pretty sour. It is also a little acidic, perhaps overly so. Definitely worth a try if you want to get into the world of sour beers.

Serving type: on-tap

04-17-2013 20:11:57 | More by Bowdoinbeerboy

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

On tap at Churchkey earlier this evening. Served in a snifter. Pours a reddish-brown color with a thin off-white head that quickly falls down and away into a collar.

The nose carries really nice notes of cherry, oak, and light vanilla alongside a touch of sherry-like oxidized malt. Very similar to a high quality Flanders Red. Especially as it warms, there's some backing red wine character, especially through to the flavor.

Flavor has all of the components of the nose, and is even more well integrated with the addition of a great acidity level. Mostly lactic with just the right touch of acetic carrying through the finish to offset the mild creaminess and vanilla character of the wood. Vinous through the back end and carrying to the finish.

Medium body and fairly-light carbonation. Expertly done. One of the best Flanders-style beers that I've ever had, especially considering that it's from the U.S.

Serving type: on-tap

01-23-2013 01:14:52 | More by Thorpe429

WankelEngine

Illinois

4.36/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 375ml corked and caged bottle into a snifter

A: Pours a ruddy golden brown color. There is a small, light tan head which fades quickly to a ring of foam. Very light lacing.

S: A lemony tart vinegar aroma is the first thing I pick up, followed by some barnyard funk. Wet hay and cotton round out the smell.

T: Less tart than the aroma. The focus is instead on the funky flavors. Horse blanket and wet hay are prominent. A little bit of apple vinegar and lemon-citrus provides a tart counterpoint to the funk. Light notes of cider lend a sweetness to the beer. The finish is medium-length and dry.

M: Fairly dry, especially in the finish which is reminiscent of champagne. Carbonation is both sharp and foamy.

O: A fantastic beer. More funky than tart, but a good amount of both.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 01:05:28 | More by WankelEngine

yamar68

Minnesota

4.36/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to Hugonaut13 for this one!

Dark copper body with loads of beading and a thick milky off-white head. Great lace.

Tremendous, vinous nose... red grape, the booze bill catches me off guard.

A creamy sense of tartness, sour grains... surprisingly wet on the palate. Extremely palatable with bits of astringent oak. Reminiscent of Supplication in some ways - strong red wine flavors that compliment a subtly tart flavor profile.

This is the real deal.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2013 03:39:42 | More by yamar68