Allagash Haunted House Hoppy Dark Ale 6Pk

Allagash Haunted House Hoppy Dark Ale 6Pk is a fall-seasonal hoppy dark ale from Portland, Maine, brewed at 6.66% ABV and sold in a six-pack of 12 oz bottles. Scoring 91 on BeerAdvocate across more than 340 ratings, this hybrid of American IPA and dark ale has earned a devoted following since its debut as a limited autumn release.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.66% | Origin: Portland, Maine | Style: Hoppy Dark Ale (Fall Seasonal) | Brewery: Allagash Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Allagash Brewing Company, founded in 1995 by Rob Tod in Portland, Maine, built its reputation on Belgian-inspired ales before expanding into boundary-pushing seasonal and limited releases. Haunted House draws on a complex grain bill of Allagash 2-Row Malted Barley Blend, Victory malt, Carapils, raw wheat, roasted barley, and Blackprinz malt the last two responsible for its deep, near-opaque color and roasted character. The hop schedule layers Tettnang, Chinook, and Saaz varieties, bridging Old World herbal notes with American pine and citrus resin. The playful 6.66% ABV nods to the Halloween-season release window and the beer’s dark, moody identity.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark chocolate and roasted coffee dominate the nose, followed by spicy, herbal hop character and a faint whiff of soft leather and tobacco. The combination reads like a stout at first breath before the hop aromatics reveal themselves.

Taste: The entry is balanced, with roasted malts meeting a grassy, earthy undertone. Mid-palate, chocolate and coffee flavors emerge alongside a vague maple-molasses sweetness, while raw wheat lends a smooth, medium-to-full mouthfeel. Pine resin and grapefruit zest build steadily toward the back of the tongue, pulling the beer firmly into hoppy territory.

Finish: A pleasing, resinous bitterness from the Chinook and Saaz hops lingers with a soft roast backdrop. The finish is moderately long, drying gently without turning astringent, and leaving traces of dark fruit and charred grain.

How to Drink Haunted House

Pour into a tulip glass or snifter at around 4550F to open up the interplay between roasted malt and hop aromatics; this beer rewards a slightly warmer serve than a typical IPA. For cocktail-style mixed drinks: try a Black Velvet float by layering Haunted House over dry cider for an autumn twist; use it in a Beer Shandy with fresh-pressed apple juice to amplify the malty sweetness; or build a Michelada Negra with lime, hot sauce, and Worcestershire, where the roasted grain and hop bitterness stand up to bold spice.

Best For

• Halloween gatherings and autumn dinner parties where a thematic pour adds atmosphere
• Craft beer enthusiasts who enjoy the intersection of stout and IPA styles
• Pairing with hearty fall dishes like braised meats, chili, or roasted squash
• Gifting to a dark-beer lover looking to explore hop-forward alternatives

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Haunted House taste like? Haunted House delivers roasted coffee and dark chocolate up front, transitioning into pine resin and grapefruit zest bitterness with a smooth, medium-bodied mouthfeel. A subtle maple-molasses sweetness bridges the malt and hop characters.

How does Haunted House compare to Firestone Walker Wookey Jack? Both occupy the hoppy dark ale space, but Wookey Jack uses rye malt for a spicier, drier profile while Haunted House leans into roasted barley and raw wheat for a smoother, more chocolatey body. Some reviewers consider Wookey Jack slightly more hop-aggressive, whereas Haunted House favors balance between its dark malt and resinous hop elements.

Is Haunted House good for sipping on its own? Yes the 6.66% ABV is moderate enough for a relaxed session, and the layered malt complexity rewards slow, attentive drinking from a proper glass.

Where is Haunted House made? Haunted House is brewed at Allagash Brewing Company in Portland, Maine, a brewery founded in 1995 that is widely respected for Belgian-inspired and experimental American ales.

What foods pair well with Haunted House? Smoked brisket or pulled pork, where the roasted malt echoes charred meat flavors; sharp aged cheddar, which contrasts the beer’s sweetness; dark chocolate desserts that mirror the cocoa notes; spicy black bean chili, balanced by the malt body; and roasted root vegetables, whose caramelized sugars complement the molasses undertone.

What sizes does Haunted House come in? Haunted House is primarily available as a six-pack of 12 oz bottles, released seasonally each fall.

Is Haunted House worth the price? Haunted House positions as a mid-range craft seasonal, and its 91-point BeerAdvocate score and complex grain bill deliver strong value relative to other limited fall releases in the hoppy dark ale category.

Why Haunted House?

The 91-point BeerAdvocate rating places Haunted House among the better-regarded hoppy dark ales available on a seasonal basis, and its grain bill six malts plus three hop varieties is unusually elaborate for the style. The 6.66% ABV hits a sweet spot: strong enough to carry the weight of Blackprinz and roasted barley yet restrained enough to keep the Tettnang and Saaz hop nuances legible. As a fall-only release from one of New England’s most respected independent breweries, Haunted House fills a niche that year-round porters and IPAs cannot a genuinely dark, genuinely hoppy ale built for the season.