hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Little Sal

Allagash Brewing Company
Tap to rate
🌍 United States · Sour Ale · One of 36 Sour Ales in hopIQ

Little Sal is a barrel-aged sour red ale that Allagash ages on wild lowbush blueberries from a small farm in Windham, Maine. Lactobacillus and pediococcus sour the beer in oak red wine barrels. It pours dark violet with a pink-tinged head. Blueberry and oak dominate the nose with an earthy edge; the palate is juicy and vinous, with blueberry-pie fruit, moderate tartness and a biscuity malt note, before a long, dry finish.

ABV
6%
Bitterness
Mild
SRM
golden5
See all Sour Ale alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
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 trim frame with a clean break — the beer says what it needs to and moves on.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Sour Ale.
Hop character
juicy
earthy
Fermentation & yeast
sour
fruity
tart
Distinctive notes
berry
oak
Malt character
malty

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Little Sal

◎ Appearance

Little Sal presents a striking dark violet hue with a delicate pink-tinged head that settles into fine lacing. The clarity is translucent rather than bright, revealing the depth of color imparted by both the barrel aging and wild blueberries. The carbonation is moderate and refined, appropriate for a sour ale of this profile.

dark violetpink-tinged foamtranslucent clarity

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with ripe blueberry and toasted oak in equal measure, followed by an earthy undertone that grounds the fruit. Secondary notes of wood tannins and subtle vinous character emerge, suggesting the wild fermentation and careful barrel selection. The overall impression is of a wine-inspired fermentation rather than a traditional hop-forward beer.

blueberry, oak-forwardearthy, vinouswild fermentation notes

◐ Taste

The palate opens juicy and fruit-driven, with blueberry-pie character providing immediate sweetness before a moderate tartness emerges mid-palate. A subtle biscuity Malz note anchors the beer and prevents the fruit from becoming cloying, while the wild cultures add complexity and depth. The interplay between fruit acidity and structured Malz gives the beer both vivacity and substance.

juicy blueberrymoderate tartnessbiscuity Malz backbone

◑ Finish

The finish is long and decidedly dry, with the tartness lingering pleasantly without harshness. The aftertaste leaves a faint oakiness and a clean, mineral-like quality that invites another sip.

dry, extendedclean mineral quality
85
hopIQ score
Aroma
86
Taste
84
Appearance
82
Finish
85
+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Little Sal

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 Little Sal

About Sour Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Sour Ale?

Sour 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 Sour Ale

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

Other Sour Ales in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →Explore all Sour Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →