Vagabond Ale
Allagash Brewing Company

Vagabond AleVagabond Ale
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From:
Allagash Brewing Company
 
Maine, United States
Style:
Wild Ale
ABV:
10%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.15 | pDev: 11.08%
Reviews:
70
Ratings:
104
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 01, 2021
Added:
Oct 19, 2009
Wants:
  212
Gots:
  19
With only 500 bottles made, this beer is from one of the only barrels to move with us into our new brewery three years ago. Aged four years in American oak barrels, it boasts a complex aroma of maple syrup and port, with background notes of marzipan, plum and dill. Flavors of tart, unripened plum and caramel give way to a warming, toasted almond finish.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Jmoore50:
Photo of Jmoore50
Reviewed by Jmoore50 from Nevada

4.03/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
jh1982 was nice enough to share this one with me. A very interesting brew that was very enjoyable. Served into a Lost Abbey tulip on May 24 during the Celtics vs Orlando playoff game.

The appearance on this one is beautiful. The color is so amazing, in the deep heart of the glass is a deep ruby red color that has a gradient out to lighter rose edges. With a medium strength pour it produces a one finger crisp khaki head that doesn't stick around for very long.

The smell is of fruits that include strawberry, raspberry, sour cherry. It also has some green apple sweetness with an acidic earthy wood smell. Tart and sharp, just a hint of wet sock funk.

The taste is good, but something is lacking. There is a nice tart berry taste that is very upfront, with some dry earthy tastes. The wood or oak tastes in this has to come from the barrel, and it is pretty strong. Notes of cranberry, raspberry, some lactic cheese, and a sour funk. I think this one would of been better when it was first released, the fruit flavors would be stronger and more pronounced.

The beer overall is good, but I believe when this came out it was gathering a fair amount of hype. Like I said earlier, when it was first released it might have been better, but as is this doesn't deserve the value it's at. Its a good Wild Ale, but nothing spectacular.

J
May 27, 2010
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.5 by blisscent from Rhode Island

Jun 01, 2021
 
Rated: 4.29 by edthehead from Maryland

May 30, 2021
 
Rated: 3.96 by SadMachine from New Jersey

May 15, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by iRun2Beer from Minnesota

Sep 01, 2015
 
Rated: 4.16 by Mike from New Hampshire

Jun 07, 2015
Photo of dc55110
Reviewed by dc55110 from Minnesota

4.06/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours an uneventful burnt mahogany. A slight effervescence reveals minimal carbonation. A still bright cherry nose, with hits of wood. The taste is tart, but not overly acidic. Overall not an amazing beer, but a great aged example of a fairly early foray into the American Wild Ale style.
Mar 09, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by zestar from California

May 16, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by CheapBeerBuzz from California

Apr 13, 2014
Photo of emerge077
Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

4.06/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Thanks to Joe for sharing this one!

Paper wrapped with a simple card illustrating a hobo's bindle sack. Cork popped with little fanfare, and the beer poured placidly into a small stemmed tulip glass. It appeared nearly still with a sanguine copper color a few trace bubbles around the edges.

Aroma of wet wood, dark cherry skins, port, musty, light oxidation.

Tastes rich and lightly tart with dark cherry skin flavors coming to the forefront. Fairly substantial feel despite the very low carb level. Caramel and prunes in the periphery. Overall it's unique, though the long aging period makes me more curious what it was like in the early stages.
Mar 09, 2014
 
Rated: 2.5 by kscaldef from Oregon

Nov 05, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by CityofBals from Illinois

Sep 12, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by Gonzoillini from Illinois

Apr 13, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by spycow from Illinois

Jan 17, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by acurtis from New Jersey

Jan 06, 2013
Photo of cosmicevan
Reviewed by cosmicevan from New York

4.08/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Notes taken from 9/29 from the craziest bottle share that i have ever been a part of. Thanks so much to the NYC and Hoboken crew for letting me participate in this incredible day of drinking long time wants and insanity.

Thanks kindly to Mark for sharing.

a - maroon brown, very thin head if at all
s - brown sugar and oak
t - taste is nice. nutmeg. soft chocolate notes.
m - smooth, easy drinker.
o - overall, really nice. very enjoyable.
Dec 06, 2012
Photo of Huhzubendah
Reviewed by Huhzubendah from District of Columbia

4.17/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Shared by Thorpe429 alongside several other Allagash sour/wild ales. Thank you very much, Mike!

The beer appears a dark, reddish copper hue with a small, fletting head. The aroma brings maple syrup, booze, overly ripe dark fruits, caramel. The flavor follows suit. Complex and tasty. Notes of earth and nuts. Not especially tart or sour. Medium to full bodied with fairly low carbonation. Overall, I enjoyed this and am thankful to have tried it.
Nov 16, 2012
 
Rated: 3.25 by t0rin0 from California

Aug 18, 2012
Photo of brokensail
Reviewed by brokensail from California

3.16/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Pours amber in color with a short lived off-white head. Smells just terribly buttery. Lots of diacetyl overall. Butterscotch and maple syrup are also present, maybe some over-ripe fruits. A bit of spicy oak and a light herbal note. The flavor is really no different from the aroma. A bit more oak and herbal character, however. But still a lot of butter, butterscotch, caramel, and maple syrup. Just really odd. Not a fan.
Jul 16, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by thewimperoo from Illinois

May 23, 2012
Vagabond Ale from Allagash Brewing Company
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 104 ratings