Feature Craft Beer: Allagash Hugh Malone

As the story goes, Hugh Malone was an Irish immigrant in the 1800s who loved to brew. Hugh was the son of a shepherd and kept a pet falcon as a boy. He moved to the United States at the fine age of 66, and settled into Portland, Maine. It was there he began brewing his excellent beers. Hugh’s secret was the strategic addition of hops to the boiling kettle, for at this time hops was known as a reliable preserver but not as a flavoring agent. Since then hops flavored beers have become extremely popular.

The Real Hugh Malone

While entertaining, the story of the immigrant Hugh Malone is fictitious (though it is popular). In reality, his name is wordplay on “humulone” (the name of a chemical compound found in hops). The production of Hugh Malone beer does begin in Maine with grain selection of native (to Maine) grown barley, imported Pilsner, and raw wheat malt. A technique known as “first wort hopping” is used. This is a technique which requires hops to be added to the kettle during the first run off. While the boil begins, a healthy amount of Chinook hops are added, which have a bittering affect. During the whirlpool, a blend of Centennial and Amarillo hops are added, for aroma sake, and are added again, post fermentation, just to make sure additional hop character is present in the finished beer. With all these hops you can see why legend has it that Hugh’s hands were larger than normal allowing him to add extra handfuls of hops. This is a beer for true hopheads.

Who Makes Hugh Malone

Hugh Malone is made by the Allagash Brewing Company, a 20 year old brewery, owned by founder Rob Tod. Working as a one man shop, Rob sold his first batch of beer in the summer of 1995 as has continued on his quest of producing fine Belgian style ales ever since. Rob became interested in the Belgian style after enjoying many unique samples of these beers in his travels. Allagash now has six beers which they produce year round and seven yearly releases, in addition to many one-offs and keg only releases. They are not only the original Belgian-style brewery in New England, but remain one of the most distinguished brands of Belgian-style beer on the American side of the Atlantic.

The Hugh Malone Experience

No matter how slowly Hugh Malone is poured, it will explode with a powerful head of foam into the glass. Out of that original rush of foam will come aromas belonging to tropical fruit and little pockets of foam clinging to the sides of the glass and floating on the surface. The complicated brewing process results in a malty palate, strong hop aromas throughout, some evident bitterness and a nice, dry finish all while small bubbles shoot to the top of the hazy, light golden liquid. This is a strong beer with a fascinating romance between the Belgian yeast and the oft-added hops.

If you love craft beer, you will love the beer shop at Julio’s Liquors in Westboro, MA. We have an excellent selection including Allagash Hugh Malone, Boulevard Funky Pumpkin, and many others. In addition to some of the autumn’s best craft beers, Julio’s Liquors is the home to an excellent selection of liquors, wines, cigars, and spices. Contact our knowledgeable staff with any questions regarding our many products. We are proud of our staff’s expertise and our shop’s welcoming atmosphere.