Allagash Coolship Resurgam 375ml

Allagash Coolship Resurgam 375ml is a spontaneously fermented American wild ale blended from one-, two-, and three-year-old beer, bottled at 6.3% ABV. Rated 99/100 by Craft Beer & Brewing and carrying a 98 on BeerAdvocate across nearly a thousand reviews, Resurgam stands as one of the most acclaimed American-made spontaneous ales ever produced — and a landmark in domestic wild fermentation.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.3%  |  Origin: Portland, Maine, USA  |  Blended Spontaneous Ale  |  Brewery: Allagash Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Allagash Brewing Company, founded in 1995 in Portland, Maine, installed its coolship in 2007 — reportedly the first American brewery to attempt the centuries-old Belgian method of spontaneous fermentation using wild, ambient microbiota. Resurgam is brewed with Pilsner malt, raw wheat, and aged hops, then cooled overnight in a large, shallow copper pan (the coolship) exposed to Maine's night air. Naturally occurring wild yeast and bacteria inoculate the wort during this cooling window, and the beer is then transferred into French oak wine barrels for the entirety of its fermentation and maturation. The final blend marries barrels aged one, two, and three years — a structure that directly mirrors the traditional Belgian gueuze process.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fresh lemon zest and dried apricot arrive first, followed by layers of candied fruit, buttery oak, and a subtle earthiness reminiscent of a dusty wine cellar. There is a pleasant tannic quality, like white wine barrels, with traces of white pepper and peach pit lingering underneath.

Taste: The entry is bright with lemon juice acidity and pear skin, transitioning quickly into bready malt and wildflower honey at the mid-palate. Lime zest, dried apricot, and tropical fruit funk build toward the peak, while dry oak tannins provide structure and keep sweetness firmly in check.

Finish: Bone-dry and tart, with fermented funk and cellared oak carrying through a long, clean close. The acidity is sharp but balanced, leaving a lasting impression of raw citrus and aged wood.

How to Drink Coolship Resurgam

Resurgam is best served still at cellar temperature, around 50–55°F, in a tulip glass or wine goblet that concentrates its complex aromatics. This is a contemplative sipper — pouring slowly and allowing it to warm slightly in the glass reveals additional layers of fruit and oak. For those inclined to mix, Resurgam works in a Wild Ale Mimosa, where its tartness replaces champagne alongside fresh peach nectar; a Berliner Shandy riff, lengthened with a splash of elderflower tonic to complement the floral funk; or a Sour Beer Sangria, blended with sliced stone fruit and a touch of honey to play off its apricot character.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates barrel-aged and wild-fermented styles
• Pairing alongside a curated cheese course at an intimate dinner
• Cellaring for special occasions — Resurgam develops further complexity with careful aging
• Sharing with wine drinkers curious about the intersection of brewing and winemaking traditions

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Coolship Resurgam taste like? Coolship Resurgam is bone-dry and sharply tart, dominated by lemon zest, dried apricot, and fermented funk, with underlying flavors of bready malt, dry oak tannin, and a hint of wildflower honey.

How does Coolship Resurgam compare to Cantillon Gueuze? Both are blends of spontaneously fermented beer aged in oak, but Resurgam uses wild Maine microbiota rather than the Senne Valley organisms native to Brussels. Jean Van Roy of Cantillon himself has called Resurgam "one of the best spontaneous fermentation beers" and "probably the closest beer, from spontaneous fermentation, to lambic."

Is Coolship Resurgam good for sipping neat? Resurgam is built for slow, contemplative sipping at cellar temperature — its layered acidity, oak tannins, and complex fruit character reward patience and attention in the glass.

Where is Coolship Resurgam made? Coolship Resurgam is produced at Allagash Brewing Company in Portland, Maine, using a traditional coolship installed in 2007 — the first of its kind at an American brewery for the purpose of spontaneous fermentation.

What foods pair well with Coolship Resurgam? Aged Comté or Gruyère, where the nutty richness contrasts the beer's acidity; fresh chèvre with honey, echoing the ale's subtle floral sweetness; raw oysters, which highlight the briny minerality against Resurgam's tartness; duck rillettes, whose fatty richness is cut cleanly by the dry finish; and stone fruit tarts, which mirror the apricot and peach notes in the beer.

What sizes does Coolship Resurgam come in? Coolship Resurgam is released in 375ml bottles, the standard format for American wild ales and Belgian-style gueuze.

Is Coolship Resurgam worth the price? Resurgam positions as a premium, limited-release wild ale requiring years of barrel aging and blending — its critical acclaim (99/100 from Craft Beer & Brewing, 98 on BeerAdvocate) and pioneering production method place it among the top tier of American spontaneous ales, making it a strong value relative to comparably rated Belgian imports.

Why Coolship Resurgam?

Resurgam — Latin for "I shall rise again" — is the product of Allagash's pioneering 2007 decision to install the first American coolship dedicated to spontaneous fermentation. Each bottle represents a multi-year blending process using wild Maine microorganisms, French oak wine barrels, and a patience-driven approach that few domestic breweries have attempted at this level. The endorsement from Cantillon's Jean Van Roy, who called it one of the best spontaneous fermentation beers outside Belgium, carries enormous weight in the wild ale world. With near-perfect critical scores and a production method that cannot be rushed or replicated identically from year to year, Resurgam remains one of the most significant American contributions to the centuries-old tradition of spontaneous brewing.