Curieux is what happens when a brewery known for doing Belgian styles properly decides to give one of them the bourbon barrel treatment. Allagash has been brewing this one since 2004, and the formula has barely changed: age the Tripel in bourbon barrels, then blend some of it back with fresh Tripel so the barrel never steamrolls the beer underneath. The result is a strong golden ale with real depth and real restraint.

The basics

• Brewery: Allagash Brewing Company (Portland, ME)
• Style: Belgian Tripel (Bourbon Barrel-Aged)
• ABV: 10.2%
• IBU: 30

What to expect

Curieux pours golden with a creamy white head. The aroma layers classic tripel character, banana, clove, and pear-like esters, with vanilla, caramel, and oak from the barrel, plus a gentle hint of bourbon. On the palate it stays surprisingly bright for a 10.2% beer: the Belgian yeast spice and soft malt sweetness lead, the bourbon and vanilla fold in behind, and a touch of coconut rounds out the finish. The blending with fresh Tripel keeps it from turning heavy or tannic, so it drinks more like a strong golden ale than a barrel bomb.

Serve it a little warmer than fridge temperature in a tulip glass and give it time to open up. This is a slow sipper, built for dessert, a cheese board, or the end of a long evening.

Our rating

8/10

Rated by Nick (8). Nick puts this one at a flat 8, and it earns it. The barrel aging adds vanilla, oak, and warmth without burying the tripel underneath, and the balance is exactly what barrel-aged beer should aim for. If you like Belgian beer and bourbon, this is one of the easiest recommendations in the style.