Lost Abbey Red Poppy Ale

Brewed by Port Brewing/Lost Abbey
Style: Sour Ale
San Marcos, California USA

12.7 OUNCES, corked & caged, 2008 version – sampled 4 September 2008: Loud cork removal…my bottle was very cold, so I let it breath for a several minutes…a light, reddish-tan foam creeps out of the top of bottle. Pours a fairly clear light brown, with a small creamy head that quickly diminishes into a thin film. Slightly musty, sour cherry-vanilla aroma. Hints of grape skins and wet wood. Tart, puckering flavours of metallic cherries, strawberries, and limestone. Fairly thin palate, lacking carbonation and depth of flavour-strong on the sourness, but missing the complexity of some others from the Lost Abbey stores. Tasty no-doubt, but the Red Poppy doesn’t deliver on all fronts (palate, flavour, aroma).

Bottle 375ml. @ Amerikaner blindsmagning @ Papsoe, Bottle #09.]
Unclear hazy medium orange amber color with a small to average, frothy, fair lancing, mostly diminishing, off-white head. Aroma is light to moderate malty, caramel, grapefriut, moderate to heavy yeasty, barnyard acidic, wood, berry - cherry notes. Flavor is moderate to light heavy sweet and moderate acidic with a long to average duration, and a dry finish. Body is medium, texture is oily to watery, carbonation is soft. Very nice ;o)) (190608)

Reddish color with a medium head. Aroma is thick with wood, sweet cherries, and a wonderful funky mix. Flavor is cherry dominant, but has some nice wood, funk, wine, and citrus. Very good - the only "down side" (if you could call it that) is that Supplication is just a tad tastier IMHO and I had hoped this would beat it (either way, both are great). I finally got to reap the rewards of my sinners membership this week and every beer has been great.

On tap at Lost Abbey before RBSG on 08/02/2008. Clear amber body with a thin off-white head. Sour red aroma, some vinegar, cherry hints. Gentle sour flavor, more cherry, fruit, light dry vinegar. Medium light body with nearly no carbonation.

Rating #500! I was expecting a gusher, but no problems here. Pours a murky plum color with minimal head and zero lacing. Lots of yeasties floating around in this one. Nose is sour cherries, vinegar and some funky cheese. Taste is sour cherries and funk upfront, but gets a touch sweeter with ripe cherries, grapes and malt before finishing with a tart oaky lemon juice that fades pretty quickly. Medium mouth feel. Overall, this is a nice, enjoyable sour.

RBSG 2008. So we just had the Sinners Blend and I was blown away and yet this just repeated my amazement. Pours red/mahogany, tan head. Tart cherry nose and acidic. Lots of earthy wood come through with a nice sourness in the end.

Bottle at RBSG tasting at the brewery. Pours muddy reddish amber with no head. Aroma of malt, funk, and cherry. Flavor of doughy caramel malt with an accent of cherry and plums. Moderate tartness and not overly acetic on the finish. I would have like more cherries. This is a good beer, but I had much higher expectations on this one.

Bottle: Muddy brown with a big beige head. Aroma is intense with fruity sweet and sours, woodiness, and cherry tart. The impact from the tartness on my tongue is incredible, but it remains smooth and quaffable. Barrel aged notes are soft as well. Fruity sweetness and tart comes through in the end. Still amazing how smooth the transition is. Thanks Seth!