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Confluence

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Confluence, first released in 2009, is a strong golden ale that Allagash ferments with both its house yeast and its own Brettanomyces strain. Imported and domestic Pilsner malt with a little caramel malt give a rounded malt base; Tettnang and East Kent Golding balance it, and a late dry-hop of Glacier adds a fruity nose. After long aging in stainless steel it shows pear, banana, apricot and orange alongside clove and coriander-like spice, a light tart edge and a silky body, with the Brettanomyces most noticeable in the dry finish.

ABV
7.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
amber10
PaceSipper

AWARDS

Gold · 2011
Great American Beer Festival
★Gold — Great American Beer Festival
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
clovebananaorange
clove
banana
orange
fruity
coriander
spicy
Aroma
The nose opens with stone fruit notes—pear, apricot, and orange—layered beneath subtle spice reminiscent of clove and coriander from the dual fermentation.
also:tart,funky,bready
not found:hoppy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Confluence

◎ Appearance

Confluence presents a bright golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that leaves delicate lacing on the glass. The carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating a lively yet composed visual presence typical of the style.

bright goldenclearfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with stone fruit notes—pear, apricot, and orange—layered beneath subtle spice reminiscent of clove and coriander from the dual fermentation. A late addition of Glacier hops contributes a fruity character, while the Brettanomyces adds a gentle funky undertone without dominating the profile.

stone fruit, pear, apricotclove and spicefruity hop charactersubtle funk

◐ Taste

The palate is round and balanced, with imported and domestic Pilsner malt providing a soft malt foundation, accented by a touch of caramel sweetness. The modest bitterness from Tettnang and East Kent Golding hops (25 IBU) integrates smoothly, while a light tartness from the Brettanomyces emerges mid-palate, adding complexity without sharp edges.

rounded malt charactermoderate bitternesslight tartnesssilky body

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and lingering, where the Brettanomyces character becomes most apparent, leaving a subtle funky and spicy aftertaste. The silky texture persists to the end, creating a memorable and refined conclusion.

dry finishfunky aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
82
Appearance
80
Finish
80
Serve at 9–12°C

Warmer than most — 12–14°C. The fruity esters, spice and warming alcohol need room to breathe.

Goblet

The wide mouth and heavy base promote head formation and channel rich aromatics toward the nose. Traditional for Belgian strong ales.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Confluence

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About Belgian Strong Golden Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Belgian Strong Golden Ale?

Belgian Strong Golden Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Belgian Strong Golden Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same clove, banana, orange character as Confluence will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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