Before the hazy IPA era made fruit-forward, cloudy beer the dominant craft style, Allagash White was the beer that introduced a generation of Americans to the idea that wheat beers could be complex and spiced. Since 1995, it has been one of the most consistent things in American craft brewing.It pours a pale, hazy straw-gold with a frothy white head. The aroma is immediate and distinctive: orange peel, coriander, a faint wheat tartness, and something almost floral underneath. The mouthfeel is soft and round — wheat malts contribute a silkiness that barley-only beers rarely achieve.The flavor follows the nose faithfully. Orange and spice lead, but neither overplays its hand. The finish is dry and lightly tart. At 5% ABV, it’s a genuine session beer in terms of drinkability even if it’s not technically session-strength. You can drink two of these with a meal and feel like you ate well.What separates Allagash White from cheaper witbiers is restraint. The orange isn’t citrus Pledge. The coriander doesn’t taste like a kitchen cabinet. Everything is dialed back just enough to let the wheat character breathe. That’s harder to achieve than it sounds.🍺 Style: Witbier / Belgian White Ale📊 ABV: 5.0% · IBU: 13🏭 Brewery: Allagash Brewing — Portland, ME★ Rating: 4.3/5Serve it cold, without a lemon wedge (the orange peel is already in there), and appreciate how much craft went into making something this approachable.
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