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Stories Told

Allagash Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · Sour Ale · One of 34 Sour Ales in hopIQ

Stories Told blends two soured dark ales: a strong sour ale matured in bourbon barrels and a Flemish-style sour brown ale. After more than a year of conditioning, the blend rests on locally grown cherries and blackberries. It pours reddish copper with a thin tan head. Tart cherry and jammy blackberry come first, backed by plum, raisin and date, then caramel, toffee, brown sugar and a roasty, lightly chocolatey edge. Oak, a touch of vanilla and an earthy tartness lead into a mostly dry finish.

ABV
7.5%
Bitterness
Mild
Roasted bitterness
SRM
golden5
See all Sour Ale alternatives →
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
Medium 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.
Malt character
caramel
roasted
chocolate
Fermentation & yeast
sour
tart
Distinctive notes
berry
dark fruit
oak
vanilla
Hop character
earthy

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Stories Told

◎ Appearance

Stories Told presents a reddish copper hue with excellent clarity and a thin tan head that settles to a delicate collar. The color reflects the blend of bourbon-aged dark ale and Flemish brown ale, while modest carbonation supports a fine, persistent Schaumkleiden along the glass.

reddish copperthin tan headclear, bright

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with tart cherry and jammy blackberry from extended fruit conditioning, layered beneath plum, raisin and date complexity. Oak and a whisper of vanilla from bourbon maturation weave through, complemented by earthy tartness that frames the fruit-forward character without overpowering it.

tart cherry, jammy fruitoak, vanillaearthy acidity

◐ Taste

Entry brings bright cherry and blackberry tartness balanced against caramel, toffee and brown sugar sweetness from the soured ales. Mid-palate develops roasty, lightly chocolatey notes with plum and dried fruit depth, while restrained bitterness (10 IBU) allows the fruit and oak to remain center stage through a mostly dry conclusion.

tart fruit, balanced sweetnessroasted, chocolate edgedry, clean finish

◑ Finish

The finish is mostly dry with lingering cherry tartness and subtle oak tannins that fade cleanly. Earthiness persists on the palate without astringency, leaving a pleasant, fruit-forward aftertaste.

dry, tartgentle fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
79
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Stories Told

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 Stories Told

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 sour, oak, tart character as Stories Told 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 →