Ghoulschip | Allagash Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Allagash Brewing Company
Maine, United States
allagash.com
Style: American Wild Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.90%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Allagash Ghoulschip is our version of a pumpkin beer. We brewed it, on Halloween 2008, with a monster mash that included shredded Maine pumpkin and toasted pumpkin seeds. After much toil and some trouble, molasses were added to the boil. The wort then spent the night outside, in our Coolship, possessed by the yeasts of beers past. In the morning, the cooled wort was racked into a stainless tank and pitched with our house yeast. After primary fermentation the beer is then transferred to oak barrels. Ghoulschip fermented and aged in the dark recesses of our cellars for almost three years. The resulting beer is light bodied and pumpkiny in color. Apricot dominates the aroma, with vanilla and caramel lurking in the background. The flavor profile is scarily clean, with a dry, tart finish that will haunt you. Boo.
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Reviews: 72
| Ratings: 305
4.49/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On tap at The Publick House in Brookline, MA.
This one pours a light clear orange-ish color, with a small head, and a little bit of lacing.
I don't get much actual pumpkin here, but I do get some spiciness and molasses in the aroma, along with big notes of creamy stone fruit, caramel, lemon, white wine, and oak. This smells incredible.
This is an oaky and spicy delight, with a great caramel and molasses malt backbone, with vanilla and oak playing off the sour apricot and lemon. As with most Allagash beers, the funk is well expressed and clean, with no crazy off-flavors at all. I love how much oak I get off of this, it almost adds a cinnamon spice sort of flavor.
This is light bodied and very clean, and very drinkable, with an acidity that doesn't linger all that long.
For almost any other breweriy, a semi-spontaneously fermented pumpkin wild ale would be a pure and unmitigated disaster. Luckily, Allagash is not like most other breweries.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On tap at The Publick House in Brookline, MA.
This one pours a light clear orange-ish color, with a small head, and a little bit of lacing.
I don't get much actual pumpkin here, but I do get some spiciness and molasses in the aroma, along with big notes of creamy stone fruit, caramel, lemon, white wine, and oak. This smells incredible.
This is an oaky and spicy delight, with a great caramel and molasses malt backbone, with vanilla and oak playing off the sour apricot and lemon. As with most Allagash beers, the funk is well expressed and clean, with no crazy off-flavors at all. I love how much oak I get off of this, it almost adds a cinnamon spice sort of flavor.
This is light bodied and very clean, and very drinkable, with an acidity that doesn't linger all that long.
For almost any other breweriy, a semi-spontaneously fermented pumpkin wild ale would be a pure and unmitigated disaster. Luckily, Allagash is not like most other breweries.
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4.02/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance - The beer poured a golden orange color with visible carbonation and a white head.
Smell - The beer smelled like an average sour but with hints dryness in back.
Taste - At the front, candy sugar collaborated with brown sugar. There was not much pumpkin or pumpkin seed amid the sourness, but it dried out in back. With each aftertaste, I wanted to drink more.
Mouthfeel - With fairly aggressive sourness came aggressive carbonation.
Overall - It was a good sour, but I did not get what the label promised.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance - The beer poured a golden orange color with visible carbonation and a white head.
Smell - The beer smelled like an average sour but with hints dryness in back.
Taste - At the front, candy sugar collaborated with brown sugar. There was not much pumpkin or pumpkin seed amid the sourness, but it dried out in back. With each aftertaste, I wanted to drink more.
Mouthfeel - With fairly aggressive sourness came aggressive carbonation.
Overall - It was a good sour, but I did not get what the label promised.
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3.65/5 rDev -12.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottled 24 Sep 2015. Thanks Tim!
Amber, clear color with great puffy head. Medium nose with characteristic American sour style. Traditional American-style sour, not as unbalanced and sour as others, but still more sour than balanced.
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look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottled 24 Sep 2015. Thanks Tim!
Amber, clear color with great puffy head. Medium nose with characteristic American sour style. Traditional American-style sour, not as unbalanced and sour as others, but still more sour than balanced.
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4.15/5 rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Sour, crisp, complex. Picked up a couple bottles from the brewery - enjoyed one within a couple weeks and the other a few months down the road (properly stored). I'm sure continued aging would impact the flavor profile but, as it stands, there's no noticeable difference between the two. Copper- burnt orange hue with a thin, puffy head. Aroma is pear, green apple, musty cellar and oak. I can't pick up any pumpkin on the nose. Taste follows right along with pear, dried apricot, roasted pumpkin seeds and green apple. The pumpkin seeds come into play by way of a light toasted-ness in the body but there's no pumpkin flesh. Cheek tingling-sour that's more restrained than pronounced, musty and funky but not spicy. Outstanding beer that drinks crisp and finishes dry.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Sour, crisp, complex. Picked up a couple bottles from the brewery - enjoyed one within a couple weeks and the other a few months down the road (properly stored). I'm sure continued aging would impact the flavor profile but, as it stands, there's no noticeable difference between the two. Copper- burnt orange hue with a thin, puffy head. Aroma is pear, green apple, musty cellar and oak. I can't pick up any pumpkin on the nose. Taste follows right along with pear, dried apricot, roasted pumpkin seeds and green apple. The pumpkin seeds come into play by way of a light toasted-ness in the body but there's no pumpkin flesh. Cheek tingling-sour that's more restrained than pronounced, musty and funky but not spicy. Outstanding beer that drinks crisp and finishes dry.
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4.48/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
If you like a good Oude Gueuze, you will enjoy this beer. A wonderful blend of sour and funk. If this had been a blind taste test, I would have identified it as a true Gueuze. The pumpkin flavors are subtle and not fully recognizable as pumpkin, but they do give it a unique flavor that makes this beer stand apart. Worth tracking down.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
If you like a good Oude Gueuze, you will enjoy this beer. A wonderful blend of sour and funk. If this had been a blind taste test, I would have identified it as a true Gueuze. The pumpkin flavors are subtle and not fully recognizable as pumpkin, but they do give it a unique flavor that makes this beer stand apart. Worth tracking down.
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3.5/5 rDev -16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This one missed the mark for me.
It tastes like a typical Allagash coolship beer with a subtle hint of pumpkin, which wound up adding a strange bitter finish to the beer.
Worth a try but not worthy of a revisit.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This one missed the mark for me.
It tastes like a typical Allagash coolship beer with a subtle hint of pumpkin, which wound up adding a strange bitter finish to the beer.
Worth a try but not worthy of a revisit.
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4/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had on tap at Allagash tasting room at end of the tour. Very nice sipper, but didn't exhibit any significant characteristics. Genuinely pleasant, but overall unremarkable. Not a pumpkin beer fan so was not disappointed that there was little pumpkin noticeable in nose or palate. Smooth feel.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had on tap at Allagash tasting room at end of the tour. Very nice sipper, but didn't exhibit any significant characteristics. Genuinely pleasant, but overall unremarkable. Not a pumpkin beer fan so was not disappointed that there was little pumpkin noticeable in nose or palate. Smooth feel.
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4.29/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Did a side by side of the September 2011 bottle and the September 18th, 2014 bottle of Ghoulship.
both bottles have a pretty hefty pop as the cork leaves the bottle neck.
approximately 6oz of each vintage poured into unbranded wine stem.
Appearance:
2011-deep orange body with white head that pours to a thick cap.
2014-yellow body with 2 white head that pours to almost 2 full fingers of head.
Smell:
2011- this one smells of moderate vinegar and has a hefty dose of Allagash signature funk. Hint of molasses. Not getting much pumpkin in this vintage.
2014- molasses and vegital pumpkin. Toasted sweetness and light sourness with light allagash funk. Smells bright, vibrant, and clean. Hint of citrusy character as well.
Taste:
2011-not at all like the nose. This one starts off sweet and without much sourness on the front end as the nose would suggest, but the beer has a nice sour kick on the back end of each taste that is less than moderate sourness. definitely more complex flavor, but I would have liked more sourness.
2014-much like the nose. molasses and vegital pumpkin. Light toasted malt sweetness and light sourness with light allagash funk. Maybe even a light salinity or salt character underneath the layers. Slight earthy presence as well.
Mouthfeel:
2011- medium light body with low carbonation levels. creamy and soft carbonation just a little bit less than the 2014 carbonation level. 2011 is slightly drier than 2014 vintage, but I think that the 2014 still has more overall sourness.
2014-light bodied beer with low carbonation levels. Carbonation is extremely well executed. Tiny bubbles that are creamy and soft. semidry finish. Outstanding mouthfeel.
Overall: The 2014 vintage is my preference of the two vintages. Even though the 2011 is much more complex, layered, and nuanced in the flavor profile. The 2011 has aged quite well and will probably continue to develop under proper cellar conditions. The mouthfeel is outstanding on both vintages. Interesting how this beer ages. My first experience with Ghoulship and only the 2nd or 3rd pumpkin sour beer that I have tried.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Did a side by side of the September 2011 bottle and the September 18th, 2014 bottle of Ghoulship.
both bottles have a pretty hefty pop as the cork leaves the bottle neck.
approximately 6oz of each vintage poured into unbranded wine stem.
Appearance:
2011-deep orange body with white head that pours to a thick cap.
2014-yellow body with 2 white head that pours to almost 2 full fingers of head.
Smell:
2011- this one smells of moderate vinegar and has a hefty dose of Allagash signature funk. Hint of molasses. Not getting much pumpkin in this vintage.
2014- molasses and vegital pumpkin. Toasted sweetness and light sourness with light allagash funk. Smells bright, vibrant, and clean. Hint of citrusy character as well.
Taste:
2011-not at all like the nose. This one starts off sweet and without much sourness on the front end as the nose would suggest, but the beer has a nice sour kick on the back end of each taste that is less than moderate sourness. definitely more complex flavor, but I would have liked more sourness.
2014-much like the nose. molasses and vegital pumpkin. Light toasted malt sweetness and light sourness with light allagash funk. Maybe even a light salinity or salt character underneath the layers. Slight earthy presence as well.
Mouthfeel:
2011- medium light body with low carbonation levels. creamy and soft carbonation just a little bit less than the 2014 carbonation level. 2011 is slightly drier than 2014 vintage, but I think that the 2014 still has more overall sourness.
2014-light bodied beer with low carbonation levels. Carbonation is extremely well executed. Tiny bubbles that are creamy and soft. semidry finish. Outstanding mouthfeel.
Overall: The 2014 vintage is my preference of the two vintages. Even though the 2011 is much more complex, layered, and nuanced in the flavor profile. The 2011 has aged quite well and will probably continue to develop under proper cellar conditions. The mouthfeel is outstanding on both vintages. Interesting how this beer ages. My first experience with Ghoulship and only the 2nd or 3rd pumpkin sour beer that I have tried.
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4.31/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Beautiful mead like look. Nose has a lot going on. The barrel really plays on the smell. It has a nice dusting of funk and sour. Sour is consistent but not overpowering on the tongue. Nice pumpkin based dry tannins. Wonderful overall.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Beautiful mead like look. Nose has a lot going on. The barrel really plays on the smell. It has a nice dusting of funk and sour. Sour is consistent but not overpowering on the tongue. Nice pumpkin based dry tannins. Wonderful overall.
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3.35/5 rDev -20%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
375 mL bottle poured into a snifter.
Appearance - Clear golden body. Medium white head and collar.
Smell - Acidic and musty. Some pumpkin comes through.
Taste - Sharp sourness up front. Woody here. I still get some pumpkin, but it isn't as strong as it is in the aroma. I get a lot more molasses, though.
Mouthfeel - Medium high carbonation. Medium body.
Overall - Eh. Don't love the combination of flavors so much.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
375 mL bottle poured into a snifter.
Appearance - Clear golden body. Medium white head and collar.
Smell - Acidic and musty. Some pumpkin comes through.
Taste - Sharp sourness up front. Woody here. I still get some pumpkin, but it isn't as strong as it is in the aroma. I get a lot more molasses, though.
Mouthfeel - Medium high carbonation. Medium body.
Overall - Eh. Don't love the combination of flavors so much.
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4.25/5 rDev +1.4%
Quick notes:
Really nice aroma, teasing sour notes and just a hint of pumpkin (not pumpkin spice).
This comes through on the flavor quite well. There's a mellow, organic pumpkin seed flavor, melding very well with a subdued sour note. Slight flowery sweetness; I don't get much, if any, molasses.
This is one of the more delicate sours I've had, and the pumpkin adds a nice touch without becoming just another spiced pumpkin beer.
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Quick notes:
Really nice aroma, teasing sour notes and just a hint of pumpkin (not pumpkin spice).
This comes through on the flavor quite well. There's a mellow, organic pumpkin seed flavor, melding very well with a subdued sour note. Slight flowery sweetness; I don't get much, if any, molasses.
This is one of the more delicate sours I've had, and the pumpkin adds a nice touch without becoming just another spiced pumpkin beer.
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3.5/5 rDev -16.5%
This beer pours with no head whatsoever. It is a bright new copper color and is opaque with fairly apparent carbonation.
This beer has almost no nose that I can detect, in fact, I really can't smell too much at all, maybe a hint of brown sugar?
The taste is a sugary sweetness up front that is moderate and is quickly tempered by a hint of funk . This said, the beer is NOT nearly as crisp, acidic, or funky as with a normal wild ale. As the beer warms I get a bit more funk, but really this is all brown sugar up front. No notes of pumpkin at all even though there is quite a bit in the brew.
Not a bad beer, a very unusual example of the style and one that is well worht a try. I definitely prefer their normal coolship releases though.
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This beer pours with no head whatsoever. It is a bright new copper color and is opaque with fairly apparent carbonation.
This beer has almost no nose that I can detect, in fact, I really can't smell too much at all, maybe a hint of brown sugar?
The taste is a sugary sweetness up front that is moderate and is quickly tempered by a hint of funk . This said, the beer is NOT nearly as crisp, acidic, or funky as with a normal wild ale. As the beer warms I get a bit more funk, but really this is all brown sugar up front. No notes of pumpkin at all even though there is quite a bit in the brew.
Not a bad beer, a very unusual example of the style and one that is well worht a try. I definitely prefer their normal coolship releases though.
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4.5/5 rDev +7.4%
I am not a fan of pumpkin beers. The only ones I touch at this point have the words "barrel aged" on the bottle, but I will try anything Allagash puts out, fortunately, this met both requirements.
Remarkably sour for a pumpkin, the pumpkin and molasses come out in the finish. This is a fine Nelgian-style offering, with the seasonal flavour adding to the beer without being the focus. The body was light and invigorating, and I was truly sad when it was gone.
I came by this bottle by accident, and I'm now sad I didn't know better to gather more,
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I am not a fan of pumpkin beers. The only ones I touch at this point have the words "barrel aged" on the bottle, but I will try anything Allagash puts out, fortunately, this met both requirements.
Remarkably sour for a pumpkin, the pumpkin and molasses come out in the finish. This is a fine Nelgian-style offering, with the seasonal flavour adding to the beer without being the focus. The body was light and invigorating, and I was truly sad when it was gone.
I came by this bottle by accident, and I'm now sad I didn't know better to gather more,
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4.35/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
It pours cloudy orange with quickly dissipating white head. The nose is pumpkin, tart apricot, squash, earth, wood, light vanilla, coconut and faint sulfur. The taste is tart apricot, tangerine, white grape, sour pumpkin, saltiness, mild acidity, wood, earth, faint mustiness, subtle vanilla and touch of alcohol warmth with a dry, tart finish. Medium body and fine, carbonation. Pretty smooth, mellow, good depth of flavor and very drinkable.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
It pours cloudy orange with quickly dissipating white head. The nose is pumpkin, tart apricot, squash, earth, wood, light vanilla, coconut and faint sulfur. The taste is tart apricot, tangerine, white grape, sour pumpkin, saltiness, mild acidity, wood, earth, faint mustiness, subtle vanilla and touch of alcohol warmth with a dry, tart finish. Medium body and fine, carbonation. Pretty smooth, mellow, good depth of flavor and very drinkable.
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4.62/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Served from a 375ml bottle into a Crooked Stave Tulip. September 2011 bottle date.
Appearance- Hazy brownish/amber with zero head, but some decent lacing.
Smell- Molasses, squash of some sort probably pumpkin, bretty funk, some lemon and mild oak.
Taste- Orange/lemon, molasses and honey, light pumpkin-like flavor, brett-style funk.
Mouthfeel- Medium carbonated, medium tartness, sweeter and not dry.
Overall- This is so good. It's a new permawant. Might even be my new favorite Allagash.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Served from a 375ml bottle into a Crooked Stave Tulip. September 2011 bottle date.
Appearance- Hazy brownish/amber with zero head, but some decent lacing.
Smell- Molasses, squash of some sort probably pumpkin, bretty funk, some lemon and mild oak.
Taste- Orange/lemon, molasses and honey, light pumpkin-like flavor, brett-style funk.
Mouthfeel- Medium carbonated, medium tartness, sweeter and not dry.
Overall- This is so good. It's a new permawant. Might even be my new favorite Allagash.
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4.07/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
This one pours a cloudy orange with small amount of head. The nose has a large amount of vegetal qualities with notes of squash and pumpkin flash, and wave of acidity throughout. The taste starts with a significant tartness and mellows into the vegetal qualities. Again, pumpkin flesh comethrough and a touch of fruity sweetness balances things out at the end. The carbonation is high with a moderate body. This is an oddity of a beer and it definitely wins points for originality. Not something that would keep me coming back.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
This one pours a cloudy orange with small amount of head. The nose has a large amount of vegetal qualities with notes of squash and pumpkin flash, and wave of acidity throughout. The taste starts with a significant tartness and mellows into the vegetal qualities. Again, pumpkin flesh comethrough and a touch of fruity sweetness balances things out at the end. The carbonation is high with a moderate body. This is an oddity of a beer and it definitely wins points for originality. Not something that would keep me coming back.
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4/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Drank an an Allagash tasting with all the others. Beer is brown with a mild haze but no real head to speak of.
Aroma is mild woody and some lactic sourness but overall it is rather mild.
Not my favorite of the bunch, the pumpkin seeds come through a little but not much. It is an interesting beer though. I'd have it again maybe in the future. Sourness is mild, mostly at the back of hte palate where the finish is dry.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Drank an an Allagash tasting with all the others. Beer is brown with a mild haze but no real head to speak of.
Aroma is mild woody and some lactic sourness but overall it is rather mild.
Not my favorite of the bunch, the pumpkin seeds come through a little but not much. It is an interesting beer though. I'd have it again maybe in the future. Sourness is mild, mostly at the back of hte palate where the finish is dry.
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3.95/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Thanks to jopais for the hookup with this one. 375ml bottle into a snifter. The brew appears a clear orange color with a white ring of lace holding across the top. Some spots of lace stick to the glass along with thin fingers.
The smells is tart and fruity. Cheese comes to mind along with footy funk and lots of it as it warme up. It has a hint of something along the lines of apple cider and some phenolics like plastic.
The tastes a also a bit reminescent of cider. Some sour fruit esters blend with funky cheese. Across the back it is tropical and earthy. There is a bit ofnresidual sugar and caramel grain inclusion to round things out.
This is a medium bodied brew with a light level of carbonation. It is easy drinking and a unique creation. At no point did I feel like I was drinking a pumpkin ale by any traditional stretch. However, I wouldnt hesitate to have this again. For what it is, I enjoyed it.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Thanks to jopais for the hookup with this one. 375ml bottle into a snifter. The brew appears a clear orange color with a white ring of lace holding across the top. Some spots of lace stick to the glass along with thin fingers.
The smells is tart and fruity. Cheese comes to mind along with footy funk and lots of it as it warme up. It has a hint of something along the lines of apple cider and some phenolics like plastic.
The tastes a also a bit reminescent of cider. Some sour fruit esters blend with funky cheese. Across the back it is tropical and earthy. There is a bit ofnresidual sugar and caramel grain inclusion to round things out.
This is a medium bodied brew with a light level of carbonation. It is easy drinking and a unique creation. At no point did I feel like I was drinking a pumpkin ale by any traditional stretch. However, I wouldnt hesitate to have this again. For what it is, I enjoyed it.
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4.05/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | 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 orange with a mild haze and a small, fizzy head. The aroma brings wild yeast, tart apples, oak. Nice flavor, though I couldn't pick out any pumpkin or squash character. Lactic finish with mild acidity. A bit of pucker. Fairly light in body and easy to drink. Another tasty wild ale from Allagash.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | 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 orange with a mild haze and a small, fizzy head. The aroma brings wild yeast, tart apples, oak. Nice flavor, though I couldn't pick out any pumpkin or squash character. Lactic finish with mild acidity. A bit of pucker. Fairly light in body and easy to drink. Another tasty wild ale from Allagash.
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3.88/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Mildly hazy dark orange in color. Forms a moderate sized, bubbly head that reduces to a bubbly collar. No lacing.
S: Aroma is rather sweet and floral along with notes of pumpkin flesh and a light bit of vinegar.
T: Taste is lightly sweet, floral, and pumpkiny, though not pumpkiny in the traditional beer sense. Mildly vegetal (in a good way) with a bit of pumpkin seed bitterness and a touch of lemon acidity.
M: Very dry. Bitterly dry. Light bodied with lower carbonation.
O: A rather different beer, though as someone whom is not a fan of either sours or pumpkin beers, I can say that I appreciated that this beer was neither a traditional sour nor a traditional pumpkin beer. Overall, I ended up liking this beer much more than I expected to.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Mildly hazy dark orange in color. Forms a moderate sized, bubbly head that reduces to a bubbly collar. No lacing.
S: Aroma is rather sweet and floral along with notes of pumpkin flesh and a light bit of vinegar.
T: Taste is lightly sweet, floral, and pumpkiny, though not pumpkiny in the traditional beer sense. Mildly vegetal (in a good way) with a bit of pumpkin seed bitterness and a touch of lemon acidity.
M: Very dry. Bitterly dry. Light bodied with lower carbonation.
O: A rather different beer, though as someone whom is not a fan of either sours or pumpkin beers, I can say that I appreciated that this beer was neither a traditional sour nor a traditional pumpkin beer. Overall, I ended up liking this beer much more than I expected to.
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4.06/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Wowcoolman for sharing this one at AndrewK’s tasting.
Bottled 9/2011.
Pours a hazy orange with a foamy beige head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace slowly drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is sour, tart, and funky with some slight spice aromas. Taste is much the same with a mild tartness and acidic finish. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp and prickly mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and easy to drink but I am not getting any pumpkin in the smell or taste.
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look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Wowcoolman for sharing this one at AndrewK’s tasting.
Bottled 9/2011.
Pours a hazy orange with a foamy beige head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace slowly drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is sour, tart, and funky with some slight spice aromas. Taste is much the same with a mild tartness and acidic finish. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp and prickly mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and easy to drink but I am not getting any pumpkin in the smell or taste.
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4.29/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Review is from a 1 year old bottle. Ghoulship pours a hazy amber with a small fizzy head. The foam fades quickly leaving only a few spots of lace on the glass.
The aroma is funky with notes of sour apple, oak, and a touch of vanilla.
Each sip of this medium bodied beer is smooth with mild carbonation. The flavor is tart with sour apple notes followed by some malt sweetness. A touch of citrus and a hint of spice is detected at the end. Once gone the tart fruit flavor lingers on the palate.
This is a very tasty funky beer. Not as tart as other beers and quite drinkable. After a year the beer held up very well.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Review is from a 1 year old bottle. Ghoulship pours a hazy amber with a small fizzy head. The foam fades quickly leaving only a few spots of lace on the glass.
The aroma is funky with notes of sour apple, oak, and a touch of vanilla.
Each sip of this medium bodied beer is smooth with mild carbonation. The flavor is tart with sour apple notes followed by some malt sweetness. A touch of citrus and a hint of spice is detected at the end. Once gone the tart fruit flavor lingers on the palate.
This is a very tasty funky beer. Not as tart as other beers and quite drinkable. After a year the beer held up very well.
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3.95/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Served in a stemless snifter.
Big thanks to Florida9 for sharing this bottle!
I feel this stuff went well with the spooky decor (wink! inside joke)... It pours a lightly hazy gold topped by a finger of off-white foam. The nose comprises lemon zest, brett, light powdered sugar, pumpkin shell, and sweet carrot. The taste holds notes of sharp, funky lemon, light gouda, toasted pumpkin seeds, cardamom, and a hint of clove. The body is a very light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sticky finish. Overall, a pretty tasty sour, though it comes across a tad thin to me. Beyond that, though, the complexity is very nice, if a bit oddball.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Served in a stemless snifter.
Big thanks to Florida9 for sharing this bottle!
I feel this stuff went well with the spooky decor (wink! inside joke)... It pours a lightly hazy gold topped by a finger of off-white foam. The nose comprises lemon zest, brett, light powdered sugar, pumpkin shell, and sweet carrot. The taste holds notes of sharp, funky lemon, light gouda, toasted pumpkin seeds, cardamom, and a hint of clove. The body is a very light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sticky finish. Overall, a pretty tasty sour, though it comes across a tad thin to me. Beyond that, though, the complexity is very nice, if a bit oddball.
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3.63/5 rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Had on-tap at Armsby Abbey last week, an Allagash rarity I've always been intrigued by.
Pours into an Allagash glass a hazy orangish-brown with a small white head, it retains pretty well leaving some lace.
Scent yields lots of lactic+bretty bug notes, tartness, bready notes.
Like the smell it's kind of a simple wild ale but it works. Lactic notes definitely stick out still with plenty of bretty bugs. Pumpkin seed, light spice and some toastiness come out with warmth adding some complexity. Medium amount of sourness, pretty easy drinking for the style.
Decent mouthfeel, highish carbonation, could be a bit more full.
Overall a pretty interesting beer. The pumpkin seeds give it a unique feel, but without them this may be just an average wild ale, could use more layers, but certainly worth trying.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Had on-tap at Armsby Abbey last week, an Allagash rarity I've always been intrigued by.
Pours into an Allagash glass a hazy orangish-brown with a small white head, it retains pretty well leaving some lace.
Scent yields lots of lactic+bretty bug notes, tartness, bready notes.
Like the smell it's kind of a simple wild ale but it works. Lactic notes definitely stick out still with plenty of bretty bugs. Pumpkin seed, light spice and some toastiness come out with warmth adding some complexity. Medium amount of sourness, pretty easy drinking for the style.
Decent mouthfeel, highish carbonation, could be a bit more full.
Overall a pretty interesting beer. The pumpkin seeds give it a unique feel, but without them this may be just an average wild ale, could use more layers, but certainly worth trying.
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4.18/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Enjoyed at the Armsby Abbey to kick off their anniversary week party.
A - Pours a rather nice crystal clear golden hue pour with a good one finger head that that leaves thin lacing.
S - Aromas of light sour and gentle funk with some roasty seed notes; alot more that I remember.
T - Taste is very earthy, lots of seed notes and good funk. Much morefunk than I remember. Isn't quite as one note/flat either. Slightly old pumpkin flesh too.
M - Mouthfeel is nice with solid carbonation for a wild. Super drinkable.
O - Overall this was a tasty brew. I'm really liking how it is coming along with age.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Enjoyed at the Armsby Abbey to kick off their anniversary week party.
A - Pours a rather nice crystal clear golden hue pour with a good one finger head that that leaves thin lacing.
S - Aromas of light sour and gentle funk with some roasty seed notes; alot more that I remember.
T - Taste is very earthy, lots of seed notes and good funk. Much morefunk than I remember. Isn't quite as one note/flat either. Slightly old pumpkin flesh too.
M - Mouthfeel is nice with solid carbonation for a wild. Super drinkable.
O - Overall this was a tasty brew. I'm really liking how it is coming along with age.
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Ghoulschip from Allagash Brewing Company
Beer rating:
4.19 out of
5 with
305 ratings
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