Pungent yeast scent provokes white-breaded sourdough palate up-front. Polite wheat-grained sweetness neutralizes water-crisped crystal malt essence. Those delighted by cloy Rolling Rock would do better to discover this Dutch light-bodied delight.
All posts by John Fortunato
ALLGAUER TEUTSCH PILS
Lemony floral-hopped light body gets honeyed wheat sedation before silky sugar malts deplete dank yeast sourness and straw grass waft by dry toasted barley finish.
ALLGAUER BUBLE
Swift citric-hop softness agitates sugared malts and dry rye snip of musty lemon-wafted medium-bodied pilsner. Grassy barnyard-hay astringency encumbers minor herbal spell.
ALLGAUER BLUES LAGER
Unique translucent blue bottle contains middling oats-flaked wheat-chaffed dry malt lager with prissy barley roasted sweetness stifling soft-textured yellow-paled moderate-bodied triviality.
ALLGAUER BAYRISCH HELL
Malted barley-wheat palate sweetens polite hop bitterness in a straightforward manner, remaining light-bodied, smooth, and watery, but lacking discernible character. Musk-y yeast aroma typical of German brews. Drink ice cold for true briskness.
ALLAGASH WHITE BEER
Deliciously appealing flagship ale conquered the Eastern seaboard by 2010. Sourdough yeast sinew clouds this otherwise clear-hued wheat-fortified ‘interpretation’ of light Belgian-styled witbier. Zesty lemon-juiced Curacao orange tang entangles floral-hopped coriander-clove-chamomile-peppermint tingle, dried banana chip sweetness and white-peppered lemongrass herbage. Tempting for open-minded drinkers or fans of Hoegaarden White Beer.
ALLAGASH TRIPEL RESERVE BELGIAN STYLE ALE
Soft-tongued amber-clouded thickheaded wheat beer essence aided by honey fruited sweetness, caramelized barley-oats subtlety, and soft candi-sugared Belgian yeast pleasantry. Splendid white-peppered pineapple, grapefruit, banana and apricot tropicalia reaches nirvana. Extremely light ‘triple’ ale considering diffidently cool 9.7% alcohol content.
ALLAGASH SUMMER ALE
Friendly moderate-bodied Belgian-styled white ale overlays up-front coriander-clove spicing and floral hop tease with steadfast orange rind bitterness. Husked wheat, dry hay, and fresh grass provide earthy touch to oncoming candied malt gloss and apricot-quince ascension, though phenol aspect disrupts herbal tea hint.
ALLAGASH SPECIALE RESERVE ALE
Copper-toned foamy-headed Belgian knockoff with splendid wheat-backed wine-like white ale essence and loud minty herbaceous clove spicing firmly backed by sour yeast sinew. Very relaxing, but a tad predictable and less complex than the real deal. Softhearted American pilsner fans will enjoy, but others may be put-off by inconsequential fruited lightness.
ALLAGASH ODYSSEY ALE AGED IN OAK BARRELS
Illustrious 10% alcohol-warmed full body aged in oak barrels makes perfect medicinal dessert beer. Ripe raisin waft emanates from creamy liquid. Judicious prune-plum continuance and gruff fig-date souring saddle wood-smoked molasses malting. Chocolate cake, vanilla bean, and bruised black cherry illusions come forward ahead of vinous burgundy-bourbon finish. A certain Cabernet Sauvignon subtlety strengthens over time. On tap at Copper Mine, anise-influenced mocha finish allows sugar-caned cardamom and allspice seasoning to gain strength as waxed crayon illusion occupies prominent dried fruiting.
ALLAGASH INTERLUDE 2005
Stimulating oak-barreled Saison-styled celebrator retains ester-y white grape expectancy, red wine sweetness, and cork-y horse blanket musk. Sly mandarin orange dryness thins out tangerine-peach-strawberry tang and unripe banana stint before acetous candied tartness fades to pleasingly pithy Merlot finish. Faint peppery spicing and herbal-geranium tinge scatter about.
ALLAGASH HUGH MALONE ALE
Vigorously fruited, tan-laced, amber-hued, Belgian-styled India Pale Ale brings floral-teased citric spicing to lightly pine-hopped bittering. Easily consumed despite shrewd 8.5% alcohol content, its sugary grapefruit tang and peachy orange sweetness entangle lilting pomegranate trifle.