Lost Abbey Carnevale (2008)

Formerly brewed at Port Brewing/Lost Abbey
Style: Saison
San Marcos, California USA

Pours an almost flat hazy deep yellow. The low level of carbonation is really surprising to me...very out of style. Aroma is very sulfury (somewhat uriny), some pils, and the merest hint of American hops. A strange progression indeed. Taste is a bit bitter for the style. The spice that is present seems to be more a component of the hops than the yeast as it should be. I like Lost Abbey and I’m all for their Americanizing of Belgian styles etc., but this is so far out of style it is hard to enjoy with that mindset. Higher carbonation would have helped quite a bit. This was a pretty disappointing beer that I had had high hopes for.

Pours turbid deep gold with 1-finger off-white head. Nose is spicy, floral, peppery, with caramel malt. Tastes candi sugary malty, with white peppery notes, florals, on the dry side, but complex. Not a great saison as it lacks horse blanket and female gymnast feet nose and tongue, but not as horrible as Ernest says, either.

March Houston Tasting. Clear gold color with frothy white head. Nose of honey, spices and sweet malts. Flavor is a basically a hoppy saison...spices, citrus, pepper and hops. Very flavorful beer.

750ml Bottle: Aroma of yeast, slight citrus, slight fruit nectar, slight pear, slight spices, and some hops. Poured tan/beige/flaxen in color with a small, white head that lasted throughout. Cloudy. Opaque. Flavor is slightly sweet and slightly bitter. Tastes of yeast, slight fruit, slight spices, slight white pepper, and a hint of citrusy lemon. Medium body. Dry texture. Average carbonation. Slightly sweet, slight citrus, heavy yest finish is dry.

I love Lost Abbey but was disappointed wih this. Color is light golden and beer is crystal clear. Pours with a significant head. Odor has citrus, yet has a distinct urine smell. This is even more intense in the taste, and the beer is therefore quite disappointing. Pretty sure this bottle was corked.

This bubbly blonde ale poured with a generous off-white head and a floral citrus aroma. This is a refreshing saison with typical spices, some banana ester and a nice dose of hop bitterness. It doesn’t have the flavor depth of some of the better Belgian saisons, but it is quite drinkable.

bottle. pours dark yellow with a tightly packed small head. lemony yeast nose that is a hint of things to come. taste is rubbery banana sweetness. spicey floral notes with a nice citrus hint. , finishes in a sulfur banana and apple lime that is more enjoyable than it sounds. 5 5 6 3 12

750mL bottle. Pours clear golden, capped with a huge, frothy off-white head. Nice, prototypical saison aroma, with earth, floral hops, wheat, bread, lemon and white pepper. Flavor is complex, but not quite as exciting as the aroma. Wheat and citrus hit the palate first and are soon joined by earthy hops, citrus, grain, and musty notes. Finish is a bit astringent.