Allagash (2021)

It was going, but it was just a continuation of the Allagash 2020 thread.

 

We spent last week in Portland and visited a number of breweries. I think our visit to Allagash was our favorite experience. We scored a beautiful outdoor table among the trees. The lobster rolls were delicious. My favorite pour was the "From Maine With Love #4" Lemon Verbena Saison - light and dry with a beautiful citrus/herbal aroma. Brought home some of the House Beer. Can't wait to get back there.

 

My one regret from our day in Maine a couple weekends ago was exactly that beer. I don't regret the oysters at the Shop, which led to the decision on Novare Res & Slab before Bier Cellar and Bissell Bros (all four of which would not have happened if we opted to head over to Industrial Way when we were going to).

 

Definitely the nicest of the breweries in that spot to visit and I love the lobster there as well. Was bummed last fall when it was the only one (I think) on Industrial Way without being at least open outside.

 

Those one-off beers are amazing. 1,000% agreed. Last summer getting those one-offs in growlers was absolutely awesome. Those are gone, I see. I understand why, but it was one of the few things covid-related that was any good. Speaking of Allagash growlers: does anyone know if they are taking them back? I'd love to get rid of them, even if I don't get a redemption.

 

The lobster “flight” is clutch.

 

Worth noting, in my opinion, that Allagash is big enough a name that it attracts casual or even non-beer fans. So you have hardcore weirdos like me who enjoy the off-beat shit Allagash crushes, but also the group of people just trying to do something fun on a Saturday. This is outside the norm, I think.

 

Yup. I’ve been in the beer garden by myself, privately geeking out over some eccentric beer no one else cares about while members of a bachelorette party dressed for a nightclub complains that the beer all tastes weird. Gash actually makes for fun people watching. And the staff is so kind, friendly, patient...it’s like they’re in a cult that has conditioned them to be so.

 

I've gotten the sense from the staff that they are actually treated very well by the company, decent pay, great benefits, and they are treated with respect. Its amazing what happens when a company treats their employees well, the employees actually do a great job

 

I have heard this directly from an employee during a VIP tour.

 

My wife and I have suspected that it was something like this. And it makes perfect sense.

 

Coolship Pomme getting the special treatment -

 

Wow…

 

Never heard of a wild fermentation in a cask before. That’s some seriously next-level stuff right there.

 

I think Hobo served some of the Zwanze day lambics on cask FWIW.

 

The Referend Bier Blendery in NJ has been serving spontaneously fermented beer in casks since they opened in 2016. It works very nicely.

 

Oh yes, you’re right. I had Cantillon on cask there one year. It actually wasn’t good at all, really flat. Maybe it was because I was there at the end of the event?

 

depends, if it was the Bruocsella, well that's flat to begin with.