Allagash is a brewery that hasn’t had much showing so far on Passion Beer. We have only reviewed the Allagash White, but today we are adding another Allagash review to the mix. A Quadrupel called Four (who saw that one coming?), the label describes what you are in for: a 10% ABV beer with 4 malts, 4 hops, that is fermented 4 times (pattern much?). My beer is also from Batch 21, and from what I have read the batch can make some difference in flavor.

I’m hoping to get some good balance out of the Four and that it will mask the 10% ABV well, hopefully their balance in mathematics translates. The Four pours a hazy deep amber color with a good amount of carbonation. The well lingering head pours a full two fingers and is off white in color. The nose consists of darker fruits and caramel sweetness. No bite or spiciness to speak of, and the alcohol is not present at all in the nose which makes me optimistic about the flavors.

The taste pleasantly mimics that of the nose with sweeter flavors up front from the malt. The fruit hits you first, a lot of plum and raisin, followed by a hint of caramel. Unlike the nose there are a some hop notes coming through that nicely balance things out in the middle. While the alcohol is well masked it does come out towards the end, but it isn’t anything at all unpleasant.

Allagash has managed to produce a good Quad that offers some more interesting elements while maintaining balance and eliminating most of the alcohol flavor and aroma. The Four would be pushing the higher end of sessionability, though the flavors and ABV keep it out of the category and yet it’s very approachable for a Quad.

Overall: 8.5/10