Allagash is one of the breweries the West Coast crowd talks about and is certainly jealous of. Regardless of their deep portfolio and being available year around in our market, having them at SAVOR is a treat.
There isn’t a whole lot to say about this east coast Belgian-focused brewery that hasn’t been said before. Their Belgian inspired beers have been a staple at better beer bars in our area for a long time now, and that is certainly for good reason. Allagash consistently brews traditional Belgian ales while creating creative one-offs that challenge those same traditional styles. For many, Allagash White served as a gateway beer that opened the door to the world of craft beer. Allagash is one of the breweries that the West Coast crowd talks about and is certainly jealous of. Even though their deep portfolio is available in our market year-round, having them at SAVOR is still a treat.
Location: Portland, Maine
Type: Production brewery
Available in DC Market: Yes
Beer #1: Allagash Confluence (Wild Ale/ 7.4 % ABV)
Beer Advocate: A- (142 Reviews)
Rate Beer: 98 Overall, 100 Style
Notes: For those who are not completely sold on the Wild Ale style just yet and are looking to ease into the funk, this is a great way to do so. Mild tart notes with green apple and slightly spicy clove and some nice honey notes on the finish. Medium carbonation and a medium body make this one highly drinkable.
Beer #2: Allagash Black (Belgian Strong Dark Ale/ 7.5% ABV)
Beer Advocate: A- (431 Reviews)
Rate Beer: 98 Overall, 98 Style
Admittedly this style is not one of my favorites. Belgian stouts, or the like, just don’t do it for me. My fiancé has different ideas and defines my opinion as “just wrong.” I can accept that. Not sure I have a choice. For those of you that prefer the style, Allagash Black is one of the best. The malt and coffee notes work well with this Belgian yeast and play nice together throughout the palette. Creating this balance is such a delicate task given the subtleties of both the malt and yeast. A slight sweetness and higher end ABV make this a perfect one to let breathe and enjoy slowly.
Notes:
Allagash is definitely one of my favorite breweries. Their 2009 Fluxus, a saison brewed with sweet potatoes and black pepper, is one of my all time favorites. DC continues to be a favorite market for Allagash. We are constantly getting special one-offs and are the beneficiaries of many beer dinners and special events. This is particularly important in a time of unprecedented growth for our craft beer scene. Be sure to check out the Allgash table at SAVOR, thank Rob, and demand another batch of the 2009 Fluxus, which is sadly something I’ve been assured will probably never happen again…
Be sure to check out our interview with Allagash founder Rob Tod: Have a beer with..
This profile is a part of the DCBEER.COM SAVOR Brewery Profile series. For more information, follow the link to see profiles of all 2011 SAVOR participants.
Beer Review Disclaimer: The beer reviews found on Beer Advocate and Rate Beer do not represent the opinions of this site. We provide these in the hope that they will serve as a resource showing what some craft beer fans have thought of the beers. These reviews can be a helpful guideline, but are not the be-all end-all about a beer’s strengths or weaknesses.
