Lost Abbey Sinners Blend 09

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

375ml bottle, courtesy jdubfl. The body is an extremely dark mahogany color, nearly black. A small, foamy, dark tan head settles to a thin, persistent layer, leaving scant traces of spotted lacing behind. The nose is drier than expected, no doubt the result of the wild yeast from the Gift of the Magi, very dry and woody overall. Cocoa powder comprises the malt base, offering a little sweetness, while vanilla, oak, vinous dark fruits, and dusty brett finish off the nose. The flavor is also cocoa driven, lightly chocolaty, with subtle red grape and black cherry notes. Tart barrel influences, old wood, and earthy leather lend a wild feel. Medium-bodied and tart, finishing dry, the palate is appropriately light in carbonation. Very good brew.

Pours dark brown with no head and no carbonation. Interesting brew and aroma. Funky aroma, I knew it was going to be sour right away. Heavy malt, dark fruit, caramel, sour cherries, and vinegar as well. Don’t really blend together as well as I would have hoped. Decent, but below expectations (which were high of course).

Incredibly funky nose with a still, headless pour. Credibly dark with a chewy, dark fruity body. tart cherry with brown sugar. Not the most refined or best sour from LA but still tasty.

Pours a dark, nearly opaque, chestnut brown with golden caramel highlights. Virtually no head and very little carbonation at this point. Aroma is full and thick with sourness, roasted malt, alcohol, and dark smokey fruit. Flavor is quite layered and multi-dimesional. The experience in the mouth shifts between lightly sour, heavy roasted malts, and bitter and sweet edges. Dark cherry, Bourbon, red currant, and soul "animal" fermentation flavers comingle with bitterness, toast, oxidation, and alcohol. Balanced on the palate despite the very soft carbonation and weighty flavors showcased. It’s quite an interesting, original take on an American sour ale. Very enjoyable and unique.

375 ml bottle courtesy of a trade with TheEpeeist. Thanks, Chris! Pours a very dark brown, near opaque, a bit lighter around the edges, a near non existent head, ends up as a tan ring of bubbles sticking to the edges.. LA’s carbonation issues still exist. Aromas are a nice malty base, coupled with light booziness, vanilla, and wet oak. Sour cherries and or subtle sourness come in underneath, a touch of vinegar, caramel, and a faint roastiness. Chocolate, a touch of roasty coffee. Initial mirrors this, a surprising sourness, sour cherries, vinegar, with chocolate, roasted malts, oak and wet wood, vanilla, a bit of syrupy caramel, solid bitterness on the backend. Sourness really sticks to the palate, good bitterness, roast and a touch of syrupy sweetness underneath. Vinegar, light bourbon dies off, is there port barrel in this blend? It feels like red wine tannins almost, and they start to get pretty dominant on my palate. Some oranges, nice fruity bitterness, tart and sour fruits, red wine tannins.. The bourbon really disappears from this blend. Pretty good, would like to drink again, but not their best blend and I feel like it lost its way overall.

Bottle thanks to Mashmaster. Thanks Tom. Pours a very dark brown with only a few bubbles of carbonation. Has a sour cherry smell to it I wasn’t expecting. Taste about the same as the smell but with a little sweetness on the finish. Nice brew even with out carbonation

Bottle from Kevin. Pours deep, thick brown with a wispy beige head. Aroma of sour cherries, some nice coffee dust, maybe light cedar. Good nose. Surprisingly sour, tart mouth, focused on chocolate covered cherries and light coffee. Very centered on a lactic cherry sourness. Very surprising. This is rich, deep, and it’s properly carbonated. Black Cherry Bomb-esque for sure.

Bottle courtesy Rollinhard. Pours dark brown with zero carbonation. What is up with Lost Abbey? This is three straight different beers I have had this problem with. Tart cherry, coffee, chocolate aroma with tartness. Smooth tart cherry, vinegar, chocolate and barrel taste. Good but disappointing.