Allagash Brewing Emile Ale Aged in Wine Barrels
Allagash Brewing Emile Ale Aged in Wine Barrels is a 7.2% ABV wild ale from Portland, Maine, aged in oak foudres that once held Pineau des Charentes — the French aperitif made famous by the man whose name graces the label. Brewed with 2-row malt, local oats, local raw red wheat, Special B, and Midnight Wheat, hopped with Northern Brewer, then fermented with Allagash's house yeast and aged in the foudre with Lactobacillus and Pediococcus, it's roasty, vinous, and gently tart. Order it online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 7.2%
- Size: 12.7oz (375mL) bottle
- Style: American wild/sour ale, foudre-aged
- Barrel: oak foudres that previously held Pineau des Charentes; aged with Lactobacillus and Pediococcus
- Origin: Allagash Brewing Company, Portland, Maine
Part France, Part Belgium, All Maine
Emile is Allagash doing what it does best: Belgian inspiration filtered through Maine craft and French oak. The Pineau des Charentes foudres lend a mature-rosewood color with ruby highlights and a vinous depth — black currants and elderberries with hearty, earthy undertones, dark chocolate and dates on the taste. It's a beer for wine lovers and a wine-barrel beer for beer lovers. Explore Allagash Brewing or browse spirits for its barrel-mates' inspiration.
Tasting Notes
Nose: black currants and elderberries, hearty earthy undertones. Palate: roasty and vinous — dark chocolate, dates, gentle tartness from the mixed culture. Finish: dry, fruity, and lingering.
How to Enjoy
Serve at 45-50°F in a chalice. Pairs with soft cheeses, charcuterie, and fruit desserts — or pour alongside a meal the way you'd pour a red wine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are foudres? Large oak vats used for aging; Emile's once held Pineau des Charentes, a French fortified-wine aperitif, lending vinous character to the beer.
Is Emile a sour beer? It's a wild ale with gentle tartness from Lactobacillus and Pediococcus — complex and vinous rather than sharply sour.
A wild ale worth cellaring — buy Allagash Emile online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.