Along The Way (25th Anniversary)
Allagash Brewing Company

On tap at the Blackback Pub. Smells of oak, whiskey, vanilla, stone fruit acidity. Tastes of oak throughout. Whiskey is prominent. Moderate stone fruit sourness. Red wine in the back end. Medium heavy. It opened up a lot as it warmed and became delicious.

 

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar from the aluminum growler filled at Beer on the Wall - Arlington Heights.

Pours a clear amber-brass topped by a finger of dirty white foam. The nose comprises wild onion, funky wheat, honey, sweet biscuit, apple, and vague stone fruit. The taste holds notes of funky soursop, apple cider vinegar, wet wheat, orange zest, and sourdough. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a nigh slick feel. A bit of an odd duck of a beer, but one I could see having more of later on down the road.

Crowler filled 2/26/22; drank 2/27/22 @ the Yarchives.

See-through dull orange rust appearance.

An even pour yielded a small, off-white head; almost no lace.

Tart strawberry, apricot & faint nail polish notes in the nose.

Medium mouthfeel.

Tart strawberry & apricot flavors up front; there's a hint of nail polish & booze heat on the finish.

I realize nail polish is a strong descriptor, but it's overall not unpleasant; it's not my favorite wild ale, by a long shot, but it's not the worst either.

Bottled 2020/03/05
Pours a mild fizzy head with med retention, touch of lacing, mostly clear slight hazy orange amber color

Nose is great, fair funk with some bright acidity with bacteria souring, a bit of Brett funk, plenty of buttery oak, Chardonnay like oak and light white wine notes, lots of various fruits like pear, apple, apricot, some berry, touch of malt softness,

Taste brings more funk, some Brett funk with lots of bright souring acidity, tartness with a bit of a citrus lemon lime like, little hay and grassy funk, touch of farmhouse, a bit of bitterness in there, plenty more oak, buttery chardonnay like oak again with some white wine again, plenty more various fruits, berry, pear, apricot, some plum even, some alcohol warmth on the back end, mild flemmy finish with more alcohol and funky acidity

Mouth is med bod, higher frothy slight effervescent carb, light warming alcohol, and fair acidity with a touch flemmy

Overall quite a nice beer, it's own sour funky beer on it's own, but nice blend and nice barrel, good fruits, nice sour funk without much of a flemmy character

Bottled on March 5, 2020 and served in my Allagash chalice. Pours a lovely honey-gold hue with a rocky, one-inch, off-white head embedded with ringlets and pinpricks. Clarity is mostly translucent. Nose expresses hints of stone fruit and oak tannins. Taste consistent with nose the addition of some spirits (perhaps whisky). Mouthfeel is light in body with a lively carbonation and an assertive astringency that stimulates the salivary glands. All and all, a solid wild from Allagash - nice complexity and drinkablilty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bottle from yllib.