Lost Abbey Isabelle Proximus

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

Wow this one really lived up to expectations Tasted from three bottles this poured a beautiful hazy yellow to golden in color with a thin head and lots of bubbles continually rising to the top The nose was conplex with aromas of tart underripe citrus fruit herbs charred wood and a funkiness running throughout In the mouth this was wonderfully tart but also packed with flavor including lots of funk from the nose This was very well-balanced and appears as if it should age gracefully for many years Great stuff

<b>Bottle 75cl.</b>
Hazy medium yellow orange color with a small, fizzy, fair lacing, fully diminishing, white head. Aroma is moderate sour, acidic, grape, citrus, horse, wood notes - lovely ;0) Flavor is moderate sweet and moderate to heavy acidic with a long duration, and a dry dry finish. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. Very very nice .. ;0)) (100908)

Bottle generously provided to me by someone, I can not remember whom but mucho thanks! 1st pour is crystal clear golden hue with a fizzy head and spotty lace. The nose detects a nice wild micro funk, lots of "cellar/cobwebs" esters, leather, , mineral water, herbal hops, grainy malts, and some noticeable oak vapours. Brilliant sour versus mild malt play going on here. It bites the palate and says" u r mine bitch" yet still has the gracefulness to allow a self submission. Lemony and grassy, vibrant and utterly refreshing, dry oaky finish yet mouth watery too. A beer that is simply every bit an equal to the classic world class gueze of Belgium. BRAVO TOMME! A beer truly worthy of the hype.

Pours a medium golden color, with little head which dissipates quickly. It has a classic ’gueuze’ color and aroma, although the aroma is much less pronounced than typical beers of the style. The taste is outstanding. The spritzy lactic twang of a authentic gueuze. Lime and grass, the flavor reminds me most of Girardin gueuze and its lemony, fresh-mown grass attack. The lactic acid is certainly in the forefront, the acetic is there, but very subdued. A slightly astringent finish, probably from the barrels, though this is pleasant. As it warms the sharpness of the acids really cut through though the beer’s mouthfeel becomes more cask-like. Amazing! The mouthfeel is exceptional: light, fluffy and refreshing; spot-on for the style. This beer is extremely drinkable, if you can drink a lot of soured ale. I can, but seeing as I only have a few bottles, I don’t think I’ll have this again for a few years. Well, well worth trying if you like gueuze or other American wild ales like RR’s Beatification. Note: I compare this beer to gueuze, although it is technically an American wild ale. Gueuze is an appellation that should only be used for spontaneously fermented blended ales from Payottenland, Belgium.

Clear, light gold with a vey thin, fine white head and a steady stream of Champagne-like bubbles flowing through it. Deep, pure, sour brett aroma with intense light fruitiness: light berries--fresh and bright--yellow fruits, tempered by an acetic/lacto fermentation characterisitic. There are some secondary cheesey aged hops and soft oak-aged characteristics here as well rounding out this complex, heady aroma. The flavor is full of completely clean, vibrant sourness that splashes across the palate and washes away clean in the finish with a brief hint of spicy hops bitterness. The body is dominated by super acidity, mouth-watering, tastebud-cramping tartness that actually leaves a little physical rawness in the mouth--a very physical beer--and leaves you with a fresh lemony puckering quality. Really fantastic, complex, pure, game-changing American sour beer. This redefines the possibilities of the style for me.

Bottle: Yellow gold color with a small white head. Tart and oaky nose. Fruity. Son of a bitch this brew has some serious pucker factor. Tartness is beautifully done with some nice oaky notes. Fruity, sour, and dry. This is crazy good stuff. I must thank my cousin Seth for securing this great brew for me! Thanks!!!

Sampled more than one time at GABF 08, slight hazy golden hue, with an off-white head, nice sour lemon, funky, barnyard nose, with a vanilla oaky accent, some green apple tartness, and citrus zestiness in the aroma follows through on a medium-bodied palate with a very good sour, funky, fruity character of rhubarb tartness, with a hint of vanilla oakiness, some acidic citrusy accents, hint of musty grapes, leading towards a tart, fruity green apple sourness finish.

Bottle: Thanks Jake65! Yellow goldish copper with light white head and nice lacing. Nose of sweet tart cherry, sour yeast and muddy musky deliciousness. Sour flavor with a puckering lovely malty goodness. Beautiful tart richness. Amazing aroma, nice tart flavor, slightly vinous though. A gueuze-like american ale. Sweaty!