Allagash Brewing Company

Allagash Brewing Company is an American craft brewery renowned for its pioneering and influential work with Belgian-style ales. Founded in Portland, Maine by Rob Tod in 1995, the brewery initially focused on a single beer, Allagash White, which became a definitive American example of the witbier style. Through its dedication to traditional Belgian beer techniques, innovative barrel-aging programs, and a deep commitment to sustainability, Allagash has grown into one of the most respected and award-winning craft breweries in the United States.

History

The company was founded in 1995 by Rob Tod, a former Otter Creek Brewing employee who identified a gap in the American market for authentic Belgian-style ales. Operating initially from a small space in an industrial park in Portland, Maine, Tod brewed and packaged the first batches of Allagash White himself. The early years were challenging, but the brewery gained a dedicated following in New England and gradually expanded its distribution. A significant turning point came in 2005 with the introduction of the brewery's spontaneous fermentation program, utilizing a traditional coolship to produce wild ales inspired by those from the Pajottenland region of Belgium. This commitment to experimentation, alongside the core success of its flagship beer, fueled steady growth, leading to multiple facility expansions over the following decades.

Beers

The brewery's portfolio is anchored by its flagship Allagash White, a cloudy, spiced witbier brewed with coriander and Curaçao orange peel. Its year-round lineup also includes beers like Allagash Tripel, a strong golden ale, and Allagash Saison, a farmhouse-style ale. Allagash is particularly celebrated for its extensive and innovative specialty offerings, which include the Coolship series of spontaneously fermented beers, the Curieux bourbon barrel-aged tripel, and various limited releases within its Reserve Series. The brewery also maintains a robust pilot program, producing small-batch experimental beers often available only at its Portland, Maine tasting room, and collaborates frequently with other breweries, such as Russian River Brewing Company and Jester King Brewery.

Brewing process

Allagash employs a blend of traditional Belgian beer methodologies and modern brewing technology. For its core Belgian-style ales, the brewery utilizes specific yeast strains imported from Belgium and often employs techniques like multiple fermentation and bottle conditioning. Its most distinctive process involves the use of a dedicated coolship, a shallow, open-top fermenter installed in 2007, for inoculating wort with wild yeasts and bacteria native to Maine to create spontaneously fermented lambic-inspired ales. The brewery also maintains a extensive barrel-aging program, utilizing French oak, American oak, and previously used spirits barrels like bourbon and rum casks for aging sour and strong ales in its specialized cellars.

Sustainability and community involvement

The company has integrated environmental stewardship into its operations, achieving certification as a B Corporation in 2016. Key initiatives include a robust spent grain program, donating tons of used grain annually to local Maine farms for animal feed, and operating a on-site wastewater pre-treatment facility. The brewery offsets 100% of its electricity use with renewable energy credits from Maine-based wind power and has implemented extensive recycling and composting programs. Its community involvement is channeled through the Allagash Brewing Company Charity Fund, which supports local non-profits, and programs like "Allagash Day" where $1 from every pint sold in its tasting room is donated to a rotating local cause.

Awards and recognition

Allagash has received widespread critical acclaim and numerous industry awards. Its flagship Allagash White has won multiple gold medals at the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup. Founder Rob Tod was honored with the Brewers Association's prestigious Russell Schehrer Award for Innovation in Craft Brewing in 2009 and was named the James Beard Foundation Award winner for "Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Professional" in 2019. The brewery itself has been repeatedly ranked among the top craft breweries in the United States by publications like *Draft Magazine* and has received accolades for its philanthropic and sustainable business practices from organizations including *Inc. Magazine*.

Category:Brewing companies of the United States Category:Companies based in Portland, Maine Category:Belgian-style beer Category:Breweries established in 1995