This was the quote from my son after he drank a sip of the Allagash White that I had poured last night. I think I know what he was saying. Now I know it is strange to be comparing anything for babies with beer, but there is a fruity fresh clean quality to this brew that might fit this description. Think about it. Now I’m not talking about the mashed up meat paste that they feed to babies, but the really yummy pears and apples. It has a very fresh, fruity, and clean flavor, and mixed with baby saliva it must be delicious, because it is half of what they eat when they go onto solid food!
This beer on its face was remarkably simple. It tasted sort of like a pilsner. It was sweet and had a mineral quality to it. But as you continue to drink this brew you come to appreciate that it is simple, but at the same time remarkably complex…
The White is Allagash’s version of a wheat beer that is bottle conditioned and uses Belgian yeast. I must complement the folks here for making a very good wheat beer with Belgian yeast strain. Many times the yeast is a dominant flavor in Belgian beers, and one that I don’t particularly care for unless it is well crafted. These brewers take a very light approach that created a beer that was complex while at the same time clean, crisp, and refreshing.
The pour was a hazy straw color with almost no head. It did, however leave a lot of lacing on the sides of the glass as I drank it. The nose was a little like a Belgian with the yeast smell coming through, but you also get a hint of the spice that they use in the brew, as well as a whiff of mineral smell. Not off putting like a metallic smell, but like the smell of mineral water.
The flavor is complex but at the same time very subtle. This is why it is simple too, because it has a very pilsner quality to it, and if you weren’t trying to search out nuances like us beer geeks do ( yes, I have resigned myself to the ranks of beer geek) you might miss all the wonderful nuances and complexity this beer has to offer.
It begins with a sweetness that emphasizes the Belgian yeast quality, again not overstated but very artful in the use of this powerful yeast strain. This then gives way to a fullness in the middle where undoubtedly the malt back resides. The brew then transitions yet again into a mineral and very watery mouthfeel with a kick of spice. It doesn’t say what spices are used but I think I picked up on coriander and rosemary. It was very good, finished clean, and crisp, and would go great with a summer barbecue. A burger some potato salad and an Allagash White, the perfect meal.
Go get some and try it! You’ll love it.
-Don
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
That’s an awesome quote, and I entirely see his point. I tasted some of my 7 month old son’s baby food the other night. Based off the smell you think it were rich and sweet, but upon tasting it it was mild but bore the characteristics of the fruit.
I think Allagash’s mild is pretty decent. I don’t drink it often but enjoy it when I do.
I was hoping you would stop by Nate, I thought you would appreciate the picture up front. I actually thought you might want to try a similar shot with your little guy this summer. I really liked this brew too, Nate. I really appreciated the way it changed mouthfeel mid stream. It went from a rather full-bodied brew, but finished watery and a little runny. Not typically what you would want in a beer, but for this one it works.
Allagash makes some nice beers. I haven’t had the White yet, but I’ve got a good idea about it now!
Babies already love beer: http://babieswithbeer.com/
I bet they’d love a baby-food-brew!
Ha ha! Love your site – it shows just what great parents we all are!