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Coolship Red

Allagash Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · Wild Ale · One of 19 Wild Ales in hopIQ

Coolship Red is a spontaneously fermented ale from Allagash's coolship program, aged on raspberries grown in Maine. The wort of Pilsner malt, 40 percent raw wheat and aged whole-leaf hops is inoculated overnight by the open air, then ferments and matures in French oak wine barrels for more than two years before the fruit goes in for another four to five months. It pours bright red, with raspberry and oak in the nose. Tart raspberry carries the flavor, joined by dried apricot and a light funk, and the finish is sour and dry.

ABV
5.6%
Bitterness
Mild
SRM
golden5

AWARDS

Gold · 2016
European Beer Star
Silver · 2013
Brussels Beer Challenge
★Gold — European Beer Star
★Silver — Brussels Beer Challenge
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Lean body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

Crisp and dry.

A direct pour that closes clean — trim and sharp, working together to keep things moving.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Wild Ale.
Fermentation & yeast
sour
tart
fruity
funky
Distinctive notes
berry
oak
peach
Hop character
earthy

FEATURED IN

#1 of 50The Best American Sours→Featured inThe Best American Beers→

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Coolship Red

◎ Appearance

Coolship Red presents a bright, translucent ruby hue that catches light with clarity and vibrancy. The carbonation is gentle, producing a delicate mousse that settles into fine lacing along the glass. The pale, wispy head reflects the beer's two-plus years of barrel aging and its wild fermentation character.

bright rubyfine lacinggentle carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with vibrant raspberry fruit, cut with subtle oak complexity from extended barrel maturation. Beneath the fruit sits a light, earthy funk characteristic of spontaneous fermentation—neither overwhelming nor absent, but present as an underscore to the primary stone-fruit notes. Aged hops contribute a dry, papery quality rather than any assertive bitterness.

tart raspberryaged oakwild fermentation funk

◐ Taste

Entry brings tart raspberry immediately to the palate, establishing the fruit-forward character that carries through the mid-palate. Dried apricot and subtle oak notes develop alongside a light, ambient funk that adds depth without dominating. The beer's low bitterness and drying acidity work together to create a refreshing, almost wine-like progression.

tart fruitdried stone fruitdry acidity

◑ Finish

The finish is notably sour and bone-dry, with lingering raspberry acidity and subtle oak tannins. Aftertaste remains bright and clean, with no cloying sweetness—only tart fruit and a whisper of fermentation character.

sour, dry finishlingering acidity
87
hopIQ score
Aroma
88
Taste
86
Appearance
85
Finish
87
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Coolship Red

Serve at 6–9°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 6–9°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Coolship Red

About Wild Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Wild Ale?

Wild 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 Wild Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same tart, sour, dry character as Coolship Red will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Wild Ales in hopIQ

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