Discover the Secrets Behind Allagash Brewing’s World-Champion Wheat Beer: A Deep Dive into Award-Winning Craftsmanship

Rob Tod, founder of Allagash Brewing, never expected his beer would win medals—yet that’s exactly what happened. His popular beer, Allagash White, has recently snagged a gold medal at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival in the Belgian-Style Witbier category. This latest award brings the total to an impressive 10 Gold, 3 Silver, and 5 Bronze medals across major competitions like the Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup, and European Beer Star. This makes Allagash White the most decorated wheat beer globally.

“I never thought about winning medals,” Tod shared in an interview. “My dream was simply to brew beer for a long time.” Allagash White was the first beer Tod created when he opened the brewery, which is now celebrating its thirtieth anniversary. He was inspired by the uniqueness of Belgian beers, which often feature special fruits, spices, and yeasts. Initially, Allagash White was tough to sell; it was draft-only and available only in and around Portland, Maine, where the brewery is located.

Despite these early challenges, Tod didn’t give up. “I was proud to craft a beer that created a great experience for people,” he said. His determination paid off as Allagash White eventually became the backbone of the brewery, representing about 80% of the sales. Today, Allagash Brewing is recognized as the 15th largest craft brewery in America.

The recipe for Allagash White has remained true to its roots, delivering the same flavor as it did back in the day. Modern brewing equipment has helped in maintaining consistency. The key, as Tod put it, lies in making small adjustments to keep quality high based on changing ingredients and equipment. “We want to meet the expectations of our fans,” he explained.

In an effort to support local agriculture, Allagash Brewing committed to using 1 million pounds of Maine-grown barley by 2021, a goal they met and exceeded. By 2024, they were using 1.7 million pounds of various grains sourced from Maine, including barley, wheat, and oats. All beers produced by Allagash now feature local grains, emphasizing the brewery’s commitment to the community.

Allagash Brewing is also proud to be one of the few breweries in the U.S. certified as a B Corporation, reflecting its dedication to social and environmental responsibility.

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