Try?
So I had this
bottle of Allagash Tripel Reserve that I had been saving for a
special occasion. I was thinking about popping the cork on it when Georgia’s
antiquated beer law restricting the alcohol content of beer to 6% is
repealed early in 2004. I had showed remarkable restraint, too. The bottle
remained undisturbed for about nine months in my closet. To be sure, I went
in and stared at it more than a few times. On a few occasions, I came very
close to opening it. But I didn’t. I’ll let it age just a bit more, I would
tell myself, and drink something else instead. After all, this is a beer
that only gets better with time.
Then I decided that I could celebrate repeal with one of the beers that hits the market, the first one I happen to come across. That would be more appropriate, I decided. But I still needed a special occasion to celebrate my Allagash Tripel with, because make no mistake, Allagash Tripel Reserve is no everyday beer. Sold in 750ml corked bottles and packing a considerable 9% alcohol by volume, this isn’t a beer you will pass a Sunday of football with.
Then it happened. A new job came along, I went for it, and I got it. How often does that happen in life? So, I finally popped open my Allagash Tripel and celebrated. The beer proved well worth the wait. Portland, Maine based Allagash has been brewing award-winning Belgian-style ales since 1995. In fact, that’s all they make, and their beers most certainly make New England proud.
Launched by brewer Rob Tod, Allagash caters to a unique market and stands alongside brewers the likes of Unibroue, Ommegang, and Victory as producers of exceptional Belgian-style ales in the United States. Not many brewers produce these styles, fewer still brew them exclusively. It is this dedication and commitment that makes Allagash, in my estimation, a microbrewery that stands out as one of the finest in America.
Belgian style abbey ales vary in strength, body, and flavor. The three most common styles are single, at about 6% to 7% alcohol by volume, with a pronounced yeast character and full malt body; dubbel, which is darker in color, a bit chocolaty, and also fairly yeasty, and slightly stronger at about 7% to 8% by volume, and finally tripel, which is golden in color and fruity with about 9% alcohol by volume. Spices are sometimes added to these beers for added complexity.
Allagash makes a dubbel along with its tripel. These beers are called Belgian-style ales, since they aren’t actually made in Belgium. Some Belgian brewers bristle even at this, and have taken American brewers to court over the names they have used for their beers.
Allagash Tripel Reserve pours to a bright golden orange color with a thick cauliflower head formation and a rather yeasty, slightly musty smelling nose. The beer is full bodied with a rich mouthfeel of slightly sweet malt. There are strong notes of yeasty flavors typical to Belgian ales, a hint of licorice, cotton candy, crystal malt, and fruity pineapple. The musty yeast flavors intensify into the finish where they are joined by a pleasant alcohol warmth and a touch of hop bitterness.
This is not a beer you will want to drink large quantities of. Instead, it’s a wonderful sipping brew perfect for sharing with someone special on a special occasion. Best served as a before or after dinner drink, Allagash Tripel Reserve and beers similar to it can also be paired with desserts. I paired a bit nicely with Key Lime Pie.
Then I decided that I could celebrate repeal with one of the beers that hits the market, the first one I happen to come across. That would be more appropriate, I decided. But I still needed a special occasion to celebrate my Allagash Tripel with, because make no mistake, Allagash Tripel Reserve is no everyday beer. Sold in 750ml corked bottles and packing a considerable 9% alcohol by volume, this isn’t a beer you will pass a Sunday of football with.
Then it happened. A new job came along, I went for it, and I got it. How often does that happen in life? So, I finally popped open my Allagash Tripel and celebrated. The beer proved well worth the wait. Portland, Maine based Allagash has been brewing award-winning Belgian-style ales since 1995. In fact, that’s all they make, and their beers most certainly make New England proud.
Launched by brewer Rob Tod, Allagash caters to a unique market and stands alongside brewers the likes of Unibroue, Ommegang, and Victory as producers of exceptional Belgian-style ales in the United States. Not many brewers produce these styles, fewer still brew them exclusively. It is this dedication and commitment that makes Allagash, in my estimation, a microbrewery that stands out as one of the finest in America.
Belgian style abbey ales vary in strength, body, and flavor. The three most common styles are single, at about 6% to 7% alcohol by volume, with a pronounced yeast character and full malt body; dubbel, which is darker in color, a bit chocolaty, and also fairly yeasty, and slightly stronger at about 7% to 8% by volume, and finally tripel, which is golden in color and fruity with about 9% alcohol by volume. Spices are sometimes added to these beers for added complexity.
Allagash makes a dubbel along with its tripel. These beers are called Belgian-style ales, since they aren’t actually made in Belgium. Some Belgian brewers bristle even at this, and have taken American brewers to court over the names they have used for their beers.
Allagash Tripel Reserve pours to a bright golden orange color with a thick cauliflower head formation and a rather yeasty, slightly musty smelling nose. The beer is full bodied with a rich mouthfeel of slightly sweet malt. There are strong notes of yeasty flavors typical to Belgian ales, a hint of licorice, cotton candy, crystal malt, and fruity pineapple. The musty yeast flavors intensify into the finish where they are joined by a pleasant alcohol warmth and a touch of hop bitterness.
This is not a beer you will want to drink large quantities of. Instead, it’s a wonderful sipping brew perfect for sharing with someone special on a special occasion. Best served as a before or after dinner drink, Allagash Tripel Reserve and beers similar to it can also be paired with desserts. I paired a bit nicely with Key Lime Pie.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
