Lost Abbey Gift of the Magi

Brewed by Port Brewing/Lost Abbey
Style: Bière de Garde
San Marcos, California USA

Clear copper progressing to opaque amber as I worked through the bottle. My inability to type now suggests 9.5 to 10% alcohol. Sweet caramel and malts, fruit in the nose, and matched in the flavor, along with some strangely disconcerting notes that resolved into Brett ... why would I ever be surprised to find Brett in a Lost Abbey or an Allagash. Citrus from the Brett. Spice? But from where? A really nice beer and, paradoxically, among my least favorite from Lost Abbey, which is usually magical. No bonus points ... I’d have been happier with this if it came in at 5% like their Ne Goeien, And yet, the hops kept it interesting, and were as intense as the alcohol, and I did finish the bottle.

Poured from a 750ml caged and corked bottle (2008 vintage) and served in a tulip. This beer poured a dark, caramel amber with a one-finger thick head of beige foam that settled into a lasting cap. Very nice lacing. The aroma contained caramel, pear, citrus, sour apple, coriander, and clove. The flavor had sugary caramel, spices, a subtle funkiness, dry fruit skins, and a light alcohol warmth. Big and full-bodied, but with a bretty dryness. Lightly carbonated. While not as refreshingly tasty and drinkable as Avant Garde, this was still pretty decent.

Bottle courtesy of the Cal Ripken of Beerdom, Matt Capone. Pours turbid muddy copper with 1-finger well-retained off-white head. For a 10% brew, the head stays clingy in this. The nose is grainy malt, funky X-mas spice, tart fruit, a lot of Flemish soury malty fruity mashy shit. The flavor is very malty up front, withbrown sugar, peaty brown sugary cognac and scotch whiskey, funky fruit. Rich, very complex palate, that becomes drier and more spirity as it warms. This one is like mix of 33% barleywine, 33% Flemish sour, and 33% X-mas ale, and make old ale the final 1%. Complex, unique as hell, and a damned fine and entertaining libation that I thoroughly enjoyed Christmas eve night 2008 with Santa Claus.

Bottle from fordest. Pours dark/amber copper color with nice off white head. Good head retention. toasted malt and spiced aroma at first but after a moment could pick up some brett. Could not pick up any brett in the flavors but the same toasted malt with spices were there. thought could not tell which spices. Bitterness is somewhat pretty strong and mouth feel is smooth with carbonation that could be a tad higher. Overall it is well brewed but far from the Bière de garde I have tasetd so far. Thanks Sean!

Bottle. Pours a dark hazy, golden coppery color with a small bubbly off white head. Nose is biscuity and grassy, some nice light sweet malt. Palate is fairly thick with a nice carbonated mouth feel and a resiny finish. Flavors are biscuity and sweet.

Bottle of the 2008. Pours a cloudy copper with a nice head. We’ve got a funky, cheesy aroma with hints at pineapples in a barnyard, caramel, tart fruits, and banana. Lively mouthfeel. It seems authentically European if I didn’t know any better. Notes of banana, pineapple, funky cheese, and peppers are in the flavor. . .Lost Abbey pulls this one off with finesse. Oh, and the Alcohol is very well masked.

When popping the cork there really wasn’t much in the way of carbonation. Aft pouring it there is a bit of a small head the forms. Some bubbles in coating the inside of the glass. Amber color body. Nice spices in the aroma. Not sure if it’s traditional Belgian spices or the frankincense and Myrrh they included. Really like the aroma. It’s suddle, but it’s there, dissipating after a few minutes in the glass. Very unique flavor! Flavors of rubbing alcohol from the get go which pretty much drown out the hop character. Forget there being any malt profile to this. Trying to decide if I like it or hate it right now. The flavors linger on the palate for quite some time. Frankly a little too long for my taste. Good body. Not too heavy, not too thin. Thick layer of brown sludge on the bottom of the bottle, which must be the Myrrh. Feeling a little "buzzy" after drinking a 22oz. bottle. Granted it’s 10% but this is not normal so wonder if the frankincense and Myrrh have anything to do with that?

Bottle. Poured a clear dark orange color and had a sticky, lasting off white head. Attractive spicy and fruity nose that included the likes of clove, citrus rind, and flower blossom. There were also whiffs of alcohol and brown sugar. Medium to full bodied and slightly sweet with a warming alcohol effect. There were hints of orange peel and lime interwoven between spicy clove and fruit cake flavors. A pleasant mild to moderate bitterness emerged and some alcohol flavor was evident at the end. Nice beer.