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The Grand Season

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The Grand Season is Allagash's holiday ale, a dark Belgian-style strong ale at 10% that has returned each winter since 2023. Munich and Special B malts, a dark wheat malt and brown sugar form the base, and it is spiced with sweet orange peel, fresh ginger and Ceylon cinnamon before fermentation with the house yeast and a champagne yeast. Caramel and toffee lead, with raisin and plum from the dark malts, warm cinnamon and ginger spice, a touch of orange and a light roast, carried by a full body and a gentle alcohol warmth.

ABV
10.0%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
caramelspicydark fruit
caramel
spicy
dark fruit
malty
roasted
orange
Aroma
The nose opens with caramel and toffee, followed by dark fruit esters of raisin and plum from the Special B and dark wheat malts.
also:fruity,bready
not found:hoppy,chocolate,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for The Grand Season

◎ Appearance

Deep mahogany brown, almost opaque, with a dense and persistent head that clings to the glass with excellent retention. The body is full and viscous, suggesting the substantial alcohol and malt backbone. Carbonation is gentle, allowing the rich color to dominate.

deep mahoganydense headfull-bodiedlow carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with caramel and toffee, followed by dark fruit esters of raisin and plum from the Special B and dark wheat malts. Spice layers emerge distinctly—warm Ceylon cinnamon and fresh ginger notes rise alongside a subtle bright orange peel accent. A light roasted note lingers beneath, grounded by the house yeast character.

caramel, toffeedark fruit esterscinnamon, ginger spiceorange zest

◐ Taste

Entry is rich and malty, with caramel and toffee establishing the foundation, followed by plum and raisin complexity from the dark malts. Mid-palate brings warm spice—cinnamon and ginger assert themselves clearly—while orange peel provides a bright counterpoint. The bitterness is restrained (25 IBU), allowing the malt sweetness and spice to remain in focus; alcohol warmth builds gently without harshness.

malty sweetnessdark fruitwarm spicerestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is moderately long, with lingering caramel, cinnamon, and ginger fading into a dry, warming aftertaste. Alcohol presence is evident but balanced, leaving a gentle heat that complements the spiced character.

spiced warmthdry finish
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
81
Finish
79
Serve at 12–16°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 The Grand Season

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About Belgian Strong Dark

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Belgian Strong Dark?

Belgian Strong Dark 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 Dark

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same caramel, spicy, full-bodied character as The Grand Season will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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