Lovely red hues and hazy appearance. Salty aftertaste finishes nicely. Very smooth for a 10abv quad.

Tap @ Blind Tiger. Pours a deep brown with an off-white head. Aroma is very sweet with vanilla and oak notes detectable again. Taste is the same, very sweet up front with vanilla and oak notes on the end. Very sweet throughout, but a very solid beer. I have to tell you, though, this is a sipper if there ever was one.

Draught @ GLB. Dark brown with tan/bone head. Sweet sweet sweet, Vanilla and molasses. Oak and whiskey. Really too sweet for me. A bit much for a full pint.

Tap @ Barcade. Poured a hazy brown color with an off-white head. Vanilla in the aroma and flavor but the bourbon is light. Some brown sugar notes along with yeasty esters and browned apple flesh. Medium body.

Tap at Barcade: Deep ruby copperish pour with a fading tan film. Nose is heavy on the oak. Not much else to say. The flavor is the same. Body is a bit boozy and heavy on the oak. It masks anything else, but it’s still kinda tasty and warming. Reminds me of a nice oakey bourbon.

(Draught) Pours a cloudy amber body with a small creamy beige head. Aroma of caramel, vanilla, raisin, dates, and oak. Flavor of sweet dark fruit, caramel, wood, some chocolate, and nuts with a dry finish.

UPDATED: JUN 2, 2008 very great wood flavor tried a two year old last night. i would love to have more

Extreme Beer Fest 2/15/08: After really enjoying the regular version of this beer, I was excited to try the bourbon barrel-aged version. However, all the things that I liked about the Four (Belgian fruits, lightness) just did not mesh with the bourbon and the bourbon completely dominated this beer.

Sample at the EBF Night of the Barrels. Aroma of apple, yeast and bourbon; some wood as well. The flavor was really smooth and the alcohol was well hidden. After really liking the original version, the barrel aging added some different elements. Some good sweentess too.

EBF V NOTB. This was basically the regular Allagash Four being smothered by bourbon. Everything in my rating on the regular Four still applies, except there’s bourbon in the way. I didn’t really think it was a pleasing addition and came away thinking that the Four just wasn’t hearty enough to stand up to the liquor.