Allagash (2021)

Ah good to know. I don't remember, but it also wasn't good. And I've had my fair share of Cantillon, can't think of one I didn't like.

Oh, I'm a moron, I also had it on cask in Brussels at Moeder Lambic. So yes, sours on cask are a thing, albeit few and far between.

 

Aged Mamouche can be pretty terrible, pickle juice with a hint of scallion.

 

those casks are quite delicious

 

Upcoming Coolship + Two Lights Release -

https://www.allagash.com/event/triple-release-two-lights-coolship-cerise-coolship-cerise-estate/

 

The Allagash Collective -

https://www.allagash.com/collective/?ao_confirm

 

"If you live nearby..."

Does an hour count as "nearby?"

 

More importantly, does the philly area count as "nearby"?

 

Haunted House, I have not tried this one yet. Label states Hoppy Dark Ale, it is styled as a Black IPA.

Was this Beer always considered a Black IPA or was a Belgian Dark Ale?

 

Tom, just a few minutes ago I purchased a four-pack/16 ounce cans of Haunted House. I have never been able to purchase this beer in the past (always told: "We just sold out"). I am looking forward to drinking this 'new to me' beer.

Cheers!

 

These were my thoughts from another thread.

 

Haunted house is even better than last year

 

Haunted House is wonderful. But it's definitely not a Black IPA, at least to my palate. Despite being labeled a 'hoppy dark ale,' I find it has practically no bitterness, at least not of the piny/citrus variety that to me is necessary for a beer to fit the Black IPA style (classics of the style to me would include Stone's version, or Tree House's Raven). To me it drinks like a stout, and a good one at that, though without quite as much dark roastiness as one might get from other stouts.

 

The topic of Black IPA vs. hoppy Porter (or Stout) has been discussed in past threads. Below is something I posted in a past thread:

I think that the brewer of Kernal Brewery (London, England) has a good perspective on the topic of Black IPA vs. hoppy Porters.

“Black IPA (or more simply; IBA) versus Export India Porter

I know that the style, naming, etc. of these dark ales has been discussed to death on here, but hopefully a recent email that I received will add a little more information to the discussion. There may be others, but I could only find one brewery that brewed both an India Porter and a Black IPA and that brewery is the Kernel Brewery in London. So I decided to send off an email asking for some brewer's insight as to what they saw as the differences, given that they decided to brew both as distinct styles. They were more than courteous to explain it as they saw it. I thought that their reply was interesting enough to share here. Here is their reply...

Thanks for the email. We really appreciate the fact that you care enough to ask us about these beers, because for us that is partly the reason for brewing them.

I think that any brewery would have their own take on certain styles, and what one brewery calls style 'x' another would call style 'y'. So we can only speak of our own interpretation of the difference between a Black IPA and an Export India Porter. To put it simply, while both beers use dark malts and lots of hops, the Black IPA should be definitely dominated by the hops, while the EIP should be dominated by the darker malts. There probably is a point between these 2 styles where they may meet, but it is important to us to keep them distinct.

Our Black IPA keeps to a simple IPA recipe, with the addition of Carafa III malt, which is a dark roasted malt, but it has been dehusked or debittered, so it provides colour and a chocolate flavour, but not the roasted astringent flavour of more classic dark malts (roasted barley or black malt). It is not quite a Pale IPA coloured black, but the hops still dominate the flavour profile.

We brewed the first EIP partly to answer the question that was often thrown at us as to what the difference was between a black IPA and a hoppy porter. The recipe we used is from 1855. We kept the grain bill the same, but decided to change the hops to US varieties and have used them in a manner similar to a modern IPA. This is already moving the EIP in the direction of a Black IPA. But the malt still dominates. It is roasty, ashy, astringent, chocolatey, and then the hops kick in with some lighter notes.

Hope this helps. Have you managed to try both of these beers from us?

Let us know if you have any further questions.

All the best.

Evin”

 

It is most certainly hoppy—just not particularly bitter.

 

Haunted House is worth a look regardless of style, it's a hoppy and roasted Dark Ale.
Glad to see this baby getting the attention it deserves. Prost.

Haunted House

IPA - Black / Cascadian Dark Ale | 6.66% ABV

Allagash Brewing Company
Portland, Maine

4.18/5 rDev +2.5% | Average: 4.08
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A slow pour with a kick at the end released a finger of dark tan creamy foam with long retention and large blotches of lace. Deep dark brown color, almost black. Clarity is noticed when there's an inch left in the mug, deep dark ruby highlights.

Roasted malt greets the nose with baked dark bread and coffee. Mild hops are herbal and floral. Alcohol is faint and hard to detect until it warms a bit. Very faint charred grains and smoke.

Big taste of roasted malt, neutral at first with mild spicy bitterness. Chocolate is balanced under the coffee, the bready malt flavors are balanced under the roasted character. As it warms, a mild astringency and white pepper spicy bitterness rise yet compliment each other. The finish is drawn out and semi-dry, flavors drop off slowly. Hop bitterness, now mostly spicy with a hint of pine, rises to average and balances with the roasted astringency as the aftertaste lingers on.

At first the body is medium-light, this builds to a slick medium full body as it warms. Carbonation is soft and lasting. This is a blackened version of a Belgian Pale Ale yet it's too big and hoppy for that style. It's Porter/Stout like due to the coffee, chocolate and rich feel. It's missing the pine-forward big bitterness and lighter body of a typical BIPA.

I think it's an American Black Ale (remember that), not based on AIPA. A great example of a big and balanced Dark Ale.

 

Do thwy still make the regular Saison? Havent seen it in my area in ages. I still see the White, Triple around me.

 

Count me in as someone who is enjoying my Haunted House cans this year. I can’t remember if I had it before (I think I have) but was also surprised to see it labeled as a black ipa (which I love). Regardless, very good beer.

 

More than anything, I'm happy to see Allagash on the first page of these forums. For my tastes, their new stuff has been great. Scenic Way and Nocturna both home runs for me. Haunted House and Ghoulship always fun this time of the year.

Did you notice the ABV on Haunted House? So subtle/intentional they'd do that. So perfectly Allagash.