Allagash Sixteen Counties 750ML

Allagash Sixteen Counties 750ML is a Belgian-style pale ale brewed exclusively with Maine-grown grains, bottled at 7.3% ABV in a 750ml format. Earning a 96 on RateBeer, this release from Allagash Brewing Company stands apart through its radical commitment to local sourcing — every grain in the recipe comes from one of Maine's sixteen counties.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.3%  |  Origin: Portland, Maine, USA  |  Style: Belgian-Style Pale Ale  |  Brewery: Allagash Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Allagash Brewing Company, founded in 1995 in Portland, Maine, built its reputation on Belgian-inspired ales. Sixteen Counties takes the brewery's philosophy a step further by sourcing all of its grain from within the state — the mashbill combines Maine Malt House 2-row malted barley, Blue Ox Malthouse 2-row malted barley, raw wheat from Maine Grains, and oats from Aurora Mills & Farm. Hops follow the same ethos, featuring Aroostook Hops Cascade alongside Hop Yard Nugget, Northern Brewer, and Cascade varieties. In 2022 alone, Allagash brewed with over 1.5 million pounds of Maine-grown grain, underscoring the scale of their local agricultural partnerships.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Lemon rind and candied grapefruit greet the nose first, followed by floral notes and a gentle honeyed sweetness. A faint cereal grain character rounds out the bouquet.

Taste: The entry is bright with herbal hop notes and wheat cracker, quickly giving way to citrus, apricot, and a subtle spiciness at the mid-palate. Hints of rye and yeasty depth keep it layered without becoming heavy.

Finish: Balanced and decisively dry, with lingering citrus bitterness and a clean, crackery fade. The medium body and bright carbonation leave it refreshing through the last sip.

How to Drink Sixteen Counties

Pour into a tulip glass or Belgian chalice at 45–50°F to let the aromatics open fully; this beer rewards deliberate sipping. For cocktail-curious drinkers: try a Bière Royale (topped with a splash of cassis liqueur to complement the citrus and floral notes), a Shandy (mixed with fresh lemonade to amplify the bright citrus character), or a Snakebite variation (blended with dry cider to play off the apple-adjacent fruit and dry finish).

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who values farm-to-glass brewing
• Pairing with a seasonal charcuterie board for a dinner party
• Sharing with friends exploring Belgian-style ales beyond the basics
• Celebrating Maine's agricultural community and local craft

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Sixteen Counties taste like? Sixteen Counties delivers bright citrus and herbal hop notes upfront, layered over wheat cracker and apricot, finishing dry and clean with balanced bitterness.

How does Sixteen Counties compare to Allagash White? Both share Allagash's Belgian-inspired DNA, but Sixteen Counties brings noticeably more hop character and a higher ABV (7.3% vs. 5.2% for White). Reviewers frequently describe it as "Allagash White with more hop character and alcohol content," making it a natural next step for White fans seeking more complexity.

Is Sixteen Counties good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — its medium body, bright carbonation, and layered flavor profile make it an engaging standalone pour, especially when served at cellar temperature in a proper Belgian glass.

Where is Sixteen Counties made? Sixteen Counties is brewed at Allagash Brewing Company in Portland, Maine. All grains used in the recipe are grown and malted within the state of Maine.

What foods pair well with Sixteen Counties? Soft-ripened cheeses like Brie or Camembert complement the beer's creamy mouthfeel. Grilled white fish or shrimp echo its citrus brightness. Roasted chicken with herbs mirrors the floral and herbal hop notes. Stone fruit desserts like apricot tart amplify the mid-palate fruit character. A simple arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette matches its dry, peppery finish.

What sizes does Sixteen Counties come in? Sixteen Counties is available in a 750ml bottle, a format consistent with Allagash's tradition of packaging Belgian-style ales for sharing.

Is Sixteen Counties worth the price? Sixteen Counties positions as a premium craft ale, justified by its entirely Maine-sourced grain bill, 750ml large-format bottle, and the agricultural partnerships required to produce it — it sits above everyday pale ales but remains accessible within the specialty beer category.

Why Sixteen Counties?

What separates Sixteen Counties from the broader Belgian-style pale ale field is a production constraint most breweries would never attempt: every grain in the recipe must come from within Maine's borders. That commitment shapes the beer's flavor in measurable ways — the combination of two distinct Maine malthouses' 2-row barley, local raw wheat, and Maine-grown oats creates a cereal backbone unlike any nationally sourced equivalent. A 96 rating on RateBeer confirms that the approach yields results, not just a compelling story. For drinkers who care about provenance as much as what's in the glass, this is one of the most transparent farm-to-glass ales produced in the Northeast.