Allagash Brewing

Posted in Allagash Brewing, Bell's Brewing, Casks, Heavy Seas, Now Tapping, Shmaltz Brewing

The Porter Beer Bar Hosts – Firkin Madness!

The Porter Beer Bar, nestled in Little 5 Points kicks off “Firkin Madness Week” starting tonight!  Owner Molly Gunn has set up a great lineup of firkins, each tapping at 6 pm, and flowing until gone.

Here’s the lineup —

Tuesday – (Note — Porter closes at 11 pm today)

Bells Two Hearted Ale — IPA, 7% ABV.  Lots of Centennial Hop flavors.  Pale & Caramel Malts.

Wednesday

Allagash Black — Belgian Stout, 7.5% ABV.  German 2 Row Barley, Torrified Wheat, Oats.  Belgian Dark Candy sugar. Hints of chocolate and coffee.

Thursday

Schmaltz Lenny’s RIPA – Double IPA, 10% ABV.  Boasts Warrior, Cascade, Simcoe, Crystal, Chinook, Amarillo, Centennial.  Dry hopped w/ Simcoe, Amarillo, Crystal.  Lots of malts too.

Friday

Heavy Seas Loose Cannon Hop3 Ale —IPA, 7.2% ABV.  3lbs hops per barrel, hopped 3 times.  Great on cask!

Aventinus Eisbock –  Eisbock, 12% ABV.  Highly rated bock.  Slightly boozy, with malts and caramelized sugars.  Dark fruit flavors.

Saturday

T’Smidje Reserve — Details forthcoming…

Again, it all kicks off Today (1/19/10) at 6 pm. New cask every night through Saturday.

The Porter Beer Bar
1156 Euclid Ave NE,
Atlanta, GA 30307
www.theporterbeerbar.com

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Allagash Brewing, New Releases, Victory Brewing Company

Allagash Brewing’s newest couple – Victor and Victoria!

Allagash Victor VictoriaThere are 2 beers that I am very excited to see finally find their way to Atlanta.   Just when I was about to give up hope, here they are.  It’s a couple — Victor and Victoria by Allagash Brewing.  When I think of the long list of beers I’ve had this year — these two are standouts.

Victor and Victoria each a little bit different, but they both have something in common — Grapes.  Over 100 pounds  were crushed and added to the mash (In making beer, soaking grains in water to release sugar.  Sugar will ferment to alcohol.)  Already, you might see this has something in common with wine.   A wine yeast strain is used in both also, adding to the wine like character of these beers.

Let’s look at Victor (9% ABV) –

Chancellor grapes  ( used for Chancellor red wines) were used here.   Hops include Hallertau and Fuggle.  Hallertau hops don’t have a strong smell, but bitter the beer.  Fuggle hops are a bit more aromatic.  Very versatile when brewing.   Pilsner malts and again a wine yeast strain.

Victoria (9% ABV) —

Chardonnay grapes. Over 150 lbs.  Belgian yeast (gives the beer a unique flavor.)   Victoria has a fruity smell, with hints of Chardonnay grapes.  The brewers at Allagash took references from Bacchus, Thracian god of wine to make Victoria.   It is a tribute to the Victoria Mansion in Portland, Maine — home to Allagash Brewing.   A dollar from each bottle purchase supports the landmark.

Couple of quick notes  –

Let me reiterate how excited I am for Victor and Victoria.  These were available at Brickstore during their anniversary celebration.  Instantly loved them.  Simplistically, they are beers with wine influences.  Almost a crossover beer.  Victor and Victoria have a great fruity pallete with grape finish that makes you want more.   Don’t take my word for it — grab the pair and see for yourself.    Don’t serve too cold, the flavors really pop at 40 — 50 degrees.

Hop City — 12.99 each

Tower  – Both in Stock! Price ??

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Allagash Brewing, Casks, Rare Opportunity

Allagash Curieux ’09 Cask, Tonight 6 pm!

Allagash CurieuxLet me start this off by saying, Allagash Brewing has always impressed me.  Furthermore, I can’t honestly think of a single offering by Allagash that I didn’t get excited to try, or have more of.  Today is no different.  Not only do we have an offering of the 2009 run of Curieux, but it’s a cask.

Curieux (French for curious) was the first release of a series of barrel aged beers by Allagash in 2004.  Curieux starts as Tripel Ale. (The term “tripel” comes from Belgium/Netherlands.  The theory is that it refers to strength as a series of marks.  X — Weakest, XX — Stronger, XXX — Strongest.)  The tripel is placed in Jim Beam barrels and cellar aged for 8 weeks.  The 8 weeks totally transforms the tripel in Curieux.  The oak transfers some of the bourbon flavor to the beer.  Vanilla, coconut, and bourbon become prevalent after aging.  11%ABV

For those of you that haven’t had this in the bottle or otherwise, its quite good.   Donald Munroe, managing partner of the Taco Mac Metropolis location sent this cask off to Allagash to have it filled.   Don’t pass it up.

Bottles of Curieux are at Hop City.  13.99.  (Bottles are corked and numbered.)

Taco Mac Metropolis, 6pm (11/13/09)
933 Peachtree Street N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 631-6526
@tmacmetropolis (on twitter)

by Reid Ramsay