Beer of the Week! 10/12/21

Allagash Haunted House

Regularly $12.99 / Now on Sale for $11.96
Hoppy Black Ale

For years, Allagash Brewing Company from Portland, ME has been dedicated to Belgian style beers. (Their Tripel remains a constant on our shelves.) However, recently, they’ve broken that dictum by brewing non-Belgian beers. (Gasp!) We know! We were disappointed about that break … but we’re not disappointed now!

Born out of Allagash’s self-professed love of “pitch-black Porters,” the Haunted House is a roasty-toasty-just-gotta-boasty-about-it hoppy black ale. It starts with roasted barley and Blackprinz malt — a black malt specifically designed to give brewers dark maltiness without the astringent aftertaste that other black malts can provide. They then hop it with Tettnang, Chinook, and Saaz hops.

Lighter bodied that it has any right to be, the resultant Black Ale has such a deep roast that it folds the hops into it only to let them out at the end to provide hints of clove and nutmeg. There’s a resilient char running through the brew that begs to be paired with spareribs, grilled hot dogs or sausages, or barbecue.

Get this beer really cold if you want a tight shot of Black Ale Goodness. Cool it just a little if you want to sink into the complexities of the malt.

Bonus Beer of the Week (‘Cause we need another beer while we wait for the dew point to drop!)

Ballad Citrus Lager

Regularly $13.99 / Now on Sale for $12.96
Lager with Yuzu and Oranges

Yuzu fruit is so ridiculously tasty, we respect any brewer who can keep themselves from letting it take center stage when brewing with it. Yet, that’s what Danville’s Ballad Brewing has done with this über-tasty fruited Lager. Starting with a Helles Lager in its base, the fun here comes when Ballad blends Yuzu and oranges with Cascade and Citra hops for a straight-up citrusy ride and also Mandarina hops for their tangerine notes. The thing is — as we’ve indicated — balance is what this beer is all about. You never lose the lightness and freshness of a Lager. It’s just sitting on a bed of complex citrus fruit.

Remember!

You can see our entire beer inventory on Untappd.com!