Beers included: Allagash Lager, White, Hazy IPA, Tripel
Purchased: 24 April 2025
Purchase Price: $20.99
Initial Impressions
When I saw a couple months ago that Allagash was releasing a new pack I decided I would need to review it in this space as soon as I could find it. Allagash is a brewery that has always embodied everything that is right about craft beer. Allagash White is a beer that still transcends craft in that it attracts drinkers who aren’t beer geeks.
That doesn’t mean the Belgian-focused brewery hasn’t had to adapt. After COVID, the once draft-heavy brewery made a big push in off-premise by packaging core beers into cans and brewing more non-Belgian styles. This sampler has two such beers: Allagash Lager and Hazy IPA. For years as IPA-focused brewers sprouted literally on Allagash’s block they resisted making a hazy IPA, only to finally relent in 2024.
White as the flagship had to be included. Tripel as the fourth beer is an interesting choice. At 9%, it’s not what I would call a garage beer.
Beer Reviews
Allagash Lager
Packaged: 19 February 2025
Aroma: Grainy and toasty malt, air-popped popcorn
Appearance: Yellow with a little haze - looks centrifuged and unfiltered. Huge rocky head with good retention and lacing.
Flavor: Way more hop flavor than aroma suggests - lots of citrus (Cascade? Crystal?). Firm bitterness which along with flavor tilts balance towards hops. Malt flavor is clean, grainy and plays a supporting role. Fermentation is fairly clean with low esters in the background; clean but not quite as clean as say a German pils.
Mouthfeel: Medium body with medium-high carbonation. Clean and crisp finish.
Overall: Not at all what I was expecting. I didn’t read up on this beer at all and was expecting something boring and inoffensive. This isn’t as hoppy and bitter as Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, but it has a lot more flavor than many lagers craft brewers are now cranking out. Maybe reminds me a little of Zero Gravity Green State Lager. I don’t know if my dad would like this, but I enjoyed it.
Allagash White
Packaged 4 February 2025
Aroma: Mostly coriander - fresh and spicy, not hammy. More citrus after a couple minutes.
Appearance: Straw with lots of haze, almost but not quite opaque. Thick, rocky head with excellent retention and lacing.
Flavor: Creamy wheat up front, then the citrus and coriander comes in. Some yeast phenolics, but doesn’t feel as much as commercially available Belgian wit strains throw off. Hop bitterness is low but sufficient and to style.
Mouthfeel: Medium full body and quite creamy. Medium carbonation, just enough to dry finish.
Overall: White manages to be smooth, flavorful and refreshing all at once. I described White as a “God-tier” beer to someone recently and I absolutely stand by that.
Allagash Hazy IPA
Packaged: 19 February 2025
Aroma: Lots of stonefruit hop aroma and big floral esters.
Appearance: Yellow, hazy if not opaque or murky. Frothy white head with fair retention.
Flavor: High hop flavor - melon, candied citrus, hint of licorice. Hop bitterness is moderate, doesn’t feel high but does dry out the finish and linger a touch. Low grainy malt is just there and lets hops drive flavor. Fermentation is quite floral and complements the hop flavor. Reminds me of Verdant strain.
Mouthfeel: Full bodied and creamy. Moderate carbonation. Smooth into finish. Suitably soft.
Overall: Perfectly solid hazy IPA. Definitely better than gas station hooch like Voodoo Ranger, curious how this would compare to Hazy Little Thing or whatever Sam Adams is calling their hazy at the moment. Forget nationally-distributed hazies, this compares favorably to more regional versions as well. It might not be on par with Trillium or Tree House, but if this was on tap at restaurant or sports bar, and I was in the mood for something hoppy I would happily order this.
Allagash Tripel
Packaged: 23 January 2025
Aroma: Tart fruit, apple skin. Some hay and straw as beer warms
Appearance: Deep yellow, somewhat clear with a little haze. Thick rocky head with good retention.
Flavor: Light, grainy malt up front. Medium low citrusy hop flavor - could also be fermentation throwing off citrus. Hop flavor medium low but sufficient with alcohol also providing balance.
Aroma: Medium light body and surprisingly creamy, before pleasant alcohol warmth in finish.
Overall: Dangerously smooth. Alcohol is present in flavor and finish without being harsh at all. Flavor is at the lighter and delicate end of the range for the style. I feel like other tripels have bolder malt flavor or fermentation flavors, which isn’t a knock, but tripel not a style I drink often so it’s hard to say. The barrel-aged variant Curieux is one of my favorite beers, so it was interesting to try the regular version.
Overall Impressions of 12-pack
Allagash White is always great to go back to. The Hazy IPA was solid. Allagash Lager was the biggest surprise in the sampler. I give Allagash credit for making something a little more unique as their flagship lager. Reading the description after tasting, Allagash Lager is their “take on a classic Pilsner”, while Surfhouse Lager is Allagash’s American Lager.
Tripel with it’s delicate flavors should hopefully open the door to Belgian styles for new drinkers. I’d love to see other Belgian-styles worked in like Dubbel, Saison or maybe even a comeback for Allagash Black.
I thoroughly enjoyed this sampler.
12x12 is a new series dedicated to reviewing 12-packs of 12 ounce cans or bottles. Inspired by my guide to garage beer, 12-packs are often the workhorse of the beer fridge. The beer you bring to a cookout or grab on the way to a party. This series honors craft flagships, seasonal classics, and imported examples of classic styles.
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