Lost Abbey Gift of the Magi

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

2008 bottle. The pour is a murky, coppery-dark amber color with an average, dense, frothy, yellowish head which is mostly lasting, leaving plenty of lasting froth and tight, Belgian lace. Nose is interesting, first noting floral and perfume almost creating a potpourri note, toasted caramel, coriander, lots of spice notes of nutmeg and ginger, light wisps of alcohol, basementy yeast, dried orange notes, maybe even a faint sprucey note. Flavor is similar with a solid malt backbone of more toasted caramel, similar floral and perfume notes, some fresh herb notes (rosemary, sage), coriander, dried oranges, dry nutmeg, and again very faint sprucey notes. Palate is moderately full, round, lightly dry, nearly lively, almost chewy; not typical for a BdG but quite pleasant. Finishes spicy with a moderate bitterness and light dryness; notes of lingering caramelly sugars, similar herb notes, lingering perfume, light pepper, and still light notes of spruce. Unlike any BdG I ever tried, but whatever style you would like to characterize this beer, it was very good. The perfumey/potpourri notes took some getting used to but actually provided some interesting complexity to an already good beer. So many things to list about this one, but in the end, it was incredibly complex, very drinkable, and completely unique. The alcohol was apparent in the nose but the malt complexity just swallowed the alcohol in the mouth, increasing the drinkability. Maybe it was the time I let it sit before popping the cork, but the hop notes were nowhere near overpowering as I have read in some ratings; moreover, the tart aspects of the beer seem to be very mild. Another winner from LA/PP.

750ml bottle at a tasting. nose is quite sweet with some hops and some peaches. Taste is hoppy, quite fruity and spicy. Maybe a slight hint of brett also.

Medium amber hue with a quickly dissipating head. Nose hints at unique spices, a bit of Brett funk, and some yeast. Flavor reveals much the same with added ’flat’ cola nut notes, but is unbalanced and drowned in alcohol. I typically welcome unique spicing and/or something new in general, but I seriously doubt I will ever bother with this one again. Too thin and medicinal at 10%. 10% is fine for barely wines and imperial stouts ... I prefer a biere de garde to be full-bodied and hang around 7%, but that is certainly just my opinion.

A 22oz bottle. The beer poured a soda and orange juice mixed color with a nice cream head. the small is a wet blanket and spices. the taste is very good with a seasonal spice and heat going down. Good carbonation. 6pk

750 ml bottle from Binny’s (Orland Park, IL) shared with some friends. Pours a nice coppery red, a bit hazed, with a moderate offwhite head that dies to a film and laces pretty well. Aromas are a nice caramel malt base, some dark fruit like raisin, light spiciness from a sorta Belgian yeast influence, but muted, maybe a touch of cinnamon instead. A nice sweet fruitiness, faint peachy apricot. This is interesting. Initial takes on a mellow medium boy, some caramel and toffee malts underneath, with a good cereal, fruitiness is pretty strong, a touch of dark fruit but some decent peachy apricot that is mellow. A nice light warming alcohol, a touch of light bread, fruit. Very nice with a good sweet finish, light bitterness

[2008] Brown amber color with a small, light tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of caramel malts, spices, toasted dough, , and light fruit. Taste of sweeter caramel, toffee, pepper, and alcohol.

So I had this fresh on tap awhile ago at the brewery but I decided to rate it from the bottle. Caramel pour with active carbonation but no real head. Sweet aroma of pale malts mixed with an earthy funk. Smooth mouthfeel with flavors of light hops and almost belgian-like yeastiness. There was a bit of a sweet alcohol flavor towards the end. A pretty nice beer overall.

750 ml corked and caged bottle purchased mail order from South Bay in Imperial Beach, California. Cork is tough to remove, but when it gives it eases out quietly. Pour is murky ruby, copper, brown with only a few tan soapy bubbles. Aroma of alcohol hot slight sour and some earthy black white pepper spiciness. Taste is dry white pepper, some earthy dark fruit maltiness - more grainy sour, than sweet. Straw, hay, barnyard. There is a spice, clove garlic thing going on that is not real smooth. Finish has some bright alcohol heat. Palate is thinnish, dry, lowish carbonation. This was ok, but really not by deal. Not sure on the age of this, maybe when the Brett kicks in more, it gets more interesting?