Allagash Brewing Company
Allagash Brewing Company is a brewery from Portland, Maine, founded in 1995 by Rob Tod. They make Belgian-inspired beer, from the cloudy witbier Allagash White to a Tripel and spontaneously fermented beers. At Hoptimaal you'll find Allagash as Tripel and Stout in 35.5 cl.
- LocationPortland, ME
- Founded1995
- TypeRegional brewery
- Untappd 3.86 · 1.5M ratings
- At Hoptimaal1 in stock · 2 in total
In stock now 1
Previously at Hoptimaal 1
Sold out. If a new batch is coming, you can ask for a heads-up on the product page.
Sold out
A brewery in the corner of a warehouse
In 1995 Rob Tod opened a brewery in Portland, Maine. A year earlier he worked at Otter Creek Brewery, where he washed kegs, cleaned tanks and brewed beer. He rented a spot in the corner of a warehouse on an industrial estate and called it Allagash Brewing Company.
Over a few months Tod welded together a 15-barrel brewing system himself and drilled a few drains in the floor. According to Wikipedia, his starting point was that German and British beer styles were available everywhere in the United States, but Belgian styles hardly at all. His first and only beer was Allagash White, a Belgian witbier with coriander and Curaçao orange peel. Drinkers used to lagers didn't quite know what to make of it in 1996. The fact that the beer was cloudy didn't help.
The brewery is still in more or less the same place at 50 Industrial Way. In 2010 the brewing installation moved to a larger space next to the original building.
Belgian styles, with their own interpretation
In 1999 the Tripel was added, a golden abbey beer of 9% abv. The recipe is simple: one grain, two hop varieties, sugar and the brewery's own yeast, the same as in Allagash White. The sugar adds alcohol without making the beer sweeter, so it drinks dry and effervescent. The brewery describes the aromas as honey and passion fruit.
Brewmaster Jason Perkins helped build the broader range. In 2004 the brewery aged Tripel on bourbon barrels, which produced Curieux. In 2005 came Interlude, a mixed-fermentation beer on wine barrels and the first wild beer in a bottle. In 2007 Allagash brewed spontaneously fermented beer in lambic style for the first time on American soil. That became Coolship Resurgam, which they have kept making ever since.
Since 2008 anyone within the company can propose a pilot beer. Two Lights and Haunted House started that way. Allagash has been a certified B Corp since July 2019.
Allagash at Hoptimaal
With us you'll find Allagash as Tripel and as Stout, in 35.5 cl. The strength is between 9 and 11%. Allagash Gatherwell and Allagash Tripel are among the brewery's highest-rated beers on Untappd. The range changes, so check the page to see what's in stock now.
Drink the Tripel cool, not ice cold, so the fruity aromas come out well. The brewery itself names oysters and cheese as good pairings. With the Stout, take your time: let it warm up a little and drink it slowly from a small glass. With beers of this calibre, buying fresh and storing cool is the best approach.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Allagash Brewing Company come from?
Allagash comes from Portland, Maine, in the United States. Rob Tod founded the brewery in 1995 and it is still in more or less the same place at 50 Industrial Way.
What kind of beer does Allagash make?
Allagash makes Belgian-inspired beer. Well known are the witbier Allagash White, the Tripel, Curieux (Tripel on bourbon barrels) and spontaneously fermented beers such as Coolship Resurgam.
How do you best drink Allagash Tripel?
Pour the Tripel cool, not ice cold, into a glass with room for the head. The brewery mentions aromas of honey and passion fruit and recommends oysters or cheese as a pairing.
