I’m finally finishing up articles related to my trip to Maine, which is now over a month ago. As part of the trip my group registered for a tour of the beautiful Allagash brewery on Industrial Way. While I’ve visited the brewery many times I had never done the tour, and I highly recommend it, there is a lot to learn and many parts to the facility. On the tour I learned that Allagash is discontinuing their flagship Dubbel and that any employee could propose a beer to brew on the pilot system. This led me to suggest a beer to the tour guide, send Dubbel out in style by brewing a final batch and aging it in port barrels. I’ve always liked the idea of mixing dark Abbey styles with wine/port/cognac, and I know I would buy a beer with that combination in a second. I don’t really expect them to brew the beer, but it would be really cool if they did!
Coincidentally, the day that I was visiting the brewery was also a bottle release day, in this case they were releasing Coolship Red. This beer is part of Allagash’s wild fermented Coolship series, which are brewed in the tradition of Belgian lambics. After the standard boil the wort (unfermented beer) is added to the Coolship, an open fermenter, and wild microbes from the environment ferment the beer while it ages in barrels for an extended period of time. After the aging process is complete the barrels are blended and then bottled. I’ve always been interested in this process, and I was really excited to try one of these beers, especially the Coolship Red which is aged with raspberries (my all time favorite fruit). Allagash Coolship Red is available on a limited basis in 375 mL bottles.
Allagash Coolship Red pours deep pink-red with a small white head. The aroma is fruity and funky, lots of scents from the fermentation and barrel aging process. The wild yeast takes center stage in the flavor too, solidly tart with notes of pear, sour apple and barnyard. The raspberries complement this flavor, you get plenty of the fruit without overpowering the flavors imparted by the microbes. Coolship Red is light and easy to drink, not too boozy at 6.2% ABV. The finish has some acidity along with lingering fruit flavor. This is a really good beer, my taste for sour beers is a little slow in developing but this is complex and delicious. I am glad that I bought multiple bottles. Hoppy Boston score: 4.75/5.
Previous Allagash Reviews:
Allagash Hibernal Fluxus 2016, Allagash Sixteen Counties, Allagash Tiarna, Allagash Confluence 2015, Allagash Curieux, Allagash White, Allagash Dubbel, Allagash/Maine Beer/Rising Tide Prince Tuesday, Allagash Saison, Allagash Black
Allagash Hibernal Fluxus 2016 pours deep brown with a solid mocha head. The scent is a mixture of expressive Belgian yeast and roasted malts. The malt leads the flavor, notes of chocolate, raisin and coffee. This is complemented by plenty of flavor from the fermentation, hints of pear, clove and apricot. The figs add some complexity but are mild, I don’t know that I would have specifically identified them without reading the bottle. Hibernal Fluxus is a full bodied sipper, and packs a little punch at 8% ABV. The finish is dry with some lingering sweet malt and yeasty esters. This beer is worthy of a special occasion, and perfect for sipping on a cold winter night, grab some before it’s gone! Hoppy Boston score: 4.75/5.
Allagash Sixteen Counties pours a hazy copper with a huge off-white head. The scent is mostly the fruity esters produced by the expressive Belgian style house yeast strain. The yeast also leads the flavor contributing notes of apple, clove and pear. This is complemented by solid hop flavor, touches of grass, herbs and lemon. The malts round out the profile with hints of whole grain bread, crackers and plenty of body from the oats. Even with the medium to full body and 7.3% ABV the beer drinks very easy. The finish is crisp and dry with a complex mixture of flavors in the aftertaste that makes you want to keep exploring the beer. Sixteen Counties is a great example of what Allagash does so well, expertly melding diverse flavors from a number of ingrdients to create complex beers that are still approachable and delicious. Hoppy Boston score: 4.5/5.
Allagash Tiarna pours crystal clear pale yellow with a massive white head and vigorous carbonation. The scent is a little like a dry champagne along with a touch of acidity and some fruity hops. Like many of Allagash’s barrel aged beers the flavor is complex but everything seems to work together. The yeast adds some apple and pear along with funky Brett and a mild tartness. The hops are present with notes of pineapple, orange and white grape. Their is also a touch of bready malt and a little oak flavor from the barrels. Tiarna is light and bubbly and drinks very easy for 7.1% ABV. The finish is dry and crisp with lingering flavors from the expressive blend of yeast strains. If you are a fan of wild and barrel aged ales I don’t know that anyone does them better than Allagash, and this is another impressive offering. Buy some and drink it now! Hoppy Boston score: 4.5/5.
