Mybeerbuzz .com Highlights Allagash Brewing Ganache (Review)

Ganache (ga·nache) /ɡəˈnaSH/ – a whipped filling of chocolate and cream, used in desserts such as cakes and truffles.  Maybe I’m watching a bit too much of The Great British Baking Show, and maybe I love sweets as much as I love beer, but I honestly can’t wait to try Allagash Brewing’s Ganache Dark Ale.
This returning Allagash favorite is inspired by chocolate cake and for 2018 it will be hitting Allagash’s full distribution footprint.  This is good news if you didn’t get your hands on a bottle last year (like me)…and if the artwork on the label doesn’t make you drool a bit, someone needs to check your pulse.  OK I can’t resist any longer, so off we go.
Allagash Ganache pours pours a deep reddish-black color and it has some really pleasant aromas of dark chocolate and tart berries.  The mouthfeel is sturdy and satisfying and we really liked the cocoa flavors up front and how they are nicely followed by a bit of roasted dark chocolate and a touch of dry coffee at the end.  You’ll be surprised to find that there is no chocolate in this beer.  The deep chocolate flavors come from a grain bill that features Special B, caramel malt, raw wheat, oats, Allagash 2-row base malt, Midnight wheat, and black malt.  This lends a really nice complexity to the beer as well as some really pleasant vanilla and cocoa flavors.  The beer is fermented with Allagash’s house yeast as well as brettanomyces; and aged on fresh local raspberries.  This imparts a really nice balancing tart flavor to the sweetness up front and overall it creates a really drinkable dessert beer.
I paired up Allagash Ganache with a raspberry truffle and the pairing was really delicious.  I wanted to do more, but quite honestly I couldn’t resist drinking this beer long enough to bake an actual ganache iced chocolate cake with raspberry filling (Yes I watch too much baking on TV).
Overall, Allagash Ganache is a really pleasant, complex and drinkable stout that nicely balances sweet chocolate and tart berry flavors.  The beer is available now in 375ml bottles so be sure to get some while you can…and when you do try this beer, be sure to let us know what YOU think.