Lost Abbey The Angels Share (Bourbon Barrel)

12.7 bottle trade with Dchmela :). Dark as night when pored. Small brownish head. Make sure you are sitting for this tatste for it knoked me out of my pro keds! Deep cheery chocholet malt and vanellla. Way to complex for my big mouth. Try it if you get a chance. Bewwwwwww.

My angel descended upon me on late evening to share with me her bourbon-barrel blessings. Her murky earthen brown depths hide darker glimpse of midnight black while a tiny halo rests atop her head. Like a sprinkling of star, lace twinkles mischievously as I bask in her rich aroma of chocolate covered cherries, soft pie-crust, and bourbon-soaked raisins. A soft presence of ginger and spice linger in the background. Enthralled by my angel’s song, we meet in a sinfully sweet kiss of rich cinnamon, ginger, and spice with brown-sugar sweetness leading to dates, plums, prunes, and raisins. Permeating all of her bounty, bourbon exudes warmth with faint vanilla notes. Further on in our relationship, green vegetal notes such as asparagus and broccoli along with dry spices perch atop my tongue, adding dryness to her finish. Ever growing warmth mingles and soothes while softer notes of ginger, spice, and booze-soaked raisins leave the longest lasting impression. I haven’t had the original Angel’s Share yet, but every mouth-watering quaff of Lost Abbey’s Bourbon-Barrel Angel’s Share has been heavenly. The bourbon does not overwhelm, instead exuding comforting warmth with a hint of wood, spice, and vanilla while the rest of her bounty speak for itself. As is with all good things though, we must depart and say our farewells, until next time.

I really want Lost Abbey to make it to Florida, if not in 2009, I can settle with 2010. If anyone is ever out their way, do not miss an opportunity to visit the brewery and to savor their brews. If you’re lucky, or have amazing self-control, you may even be able to bring a few bottles home with you. Exquisitely delicious.

First time from a bottle. Pour is awesome; very deep ruby cloudy red with a huge light brown head. Aroma is banannas up front, then vanilla, wood, cinnamon, and a faint hint of alcohol. As it warms, sweet malt aroma comes through. Flavor is huge and very true to the nose except with a bit more alcohol. Finish is a lot of wood. Bourbon is not overt at all, very subtle and well-integrated. Mouthfell is a bit bubbly, but still nice. I really like it.

Cask @ GBBF 2008. Pours a dark reddish brown color with a small tan head.Has a sweetish malty raisin and dark fruit aroma with some hints of vanilla and some hints from the wood. Sweetish warming malty caramel flavor with lots of dark fruit and vanilla. Has also some hints of boubon. Has a long warming malty vinous and dark fruit finish with some hints of vanilla in the aftertaste. Very nice.

’07 bottle: Pours a dark amber color with a massive white head...bit of a gusher upon opening. Aroma was pure overkill in the oak/woodsy dept. Some notes of vanilla and toffee were apparent along with a strong alcohol note. WAAAAYYY overcarbonated...flavor is ridiculously hot, big on the whiskey and wood. Not much else to note. Big disappointment.

Bottle @ jbrus. Aroma of vanilla, brandy, bourbon, varnish, malty. Bit malty taste, fruity, liquor. Great stuff again.

Bottle... Poured hazy ruby with a light brown head. Aroma of bourbon and barley grains. Smooth palate with noticeable bourbon and malts that helped balance the alcohol. A little tangy with a tickle from the alcohol in the finish.

Near black in colour with a large and lingering beige head, excellent lacing. The aroma is of chocolate, alcohol, bourbon, oak, some butterscotch, wood and vanilla. The flavour has some light alcohol in it but it never overpowers anything, chocolate, some caramel, oak, quite smooth for the size of this. Warming mouthfeel, medium body, mild carbonation. Finishes long, sweet, warming with a light bitterness.

Wow, this is quite nice. Much better than the alcoholic mess of the regular Angels Share. Many layers of complexity.

375ml bottle obtained in a trade with TheCheeseMan, thanks Dan.
Opened on December 2, 2008.
Vintage 2008.