Lost Abbey The Angels Share (Bourbon Barrel)

375ml bottle from the Sinners Club. A vigorous pour, dark brown to burgundy, with a fast rising but quickly diminishing head. Crisp carbonation makes the complex nose even more rich, with not only a nice balanced wood and bourbon aroma but a subtle, vinous character that’s extremely appealing. Hard to ignore the nutty aroma and flavors in there too, a nod to the glories of the English style. It all blends together sumptuously. There are lovely hops in there, making the barrel presence light rather than syrupy and cloying. The malts are also not too sweet, but just there to add depth. Dark fruits and bourbon mellow out into something with a full, smooth mouthfeel but with a liveliness and zest that you wouldn’t ordinarily expect. So much going on with this beer. It’s truly awesome and I’ll be very curious to see how it ages.

Big thanks to Ken for this one. Dark brown to black body, tall gushing tan head. Aroma of warm brown sugar, caramel, vanilla, strong bourbon character, noticeable alcohol. Flavor has an overwhelming bourbon note, cola, coffee bitterness in finish. Effervescent body. Bourbon is boring.

375ml bottle sampled at Noog4 thanks to the generosity of John C. Big lacing on this one. Murky chestnut pour with a lasting head. Plenty of wood barrel to this. In fact, too much IMO. Buttery bourbon and light fruit (date?) is also present. The flavor is not as bright and fruit as the regular Angels Share. It certainly is complex but it is overtaken by lots of wood and buttery bourbon. I still note some dark fruit but it is nearly swept away by the bourbon barrel. Full mouth feel, creamy and slick. Good, but I preferred the original.

Bottled. Surprisingly nice. Overrun by bourbon, but it is a sweet, mellow bourbon, like baby corn, backing up a pretty pungent barleywine. Deep and complex, with notes of fine caramel, smoke, and buttery cookies. With its huge head, one of the best looking barleywines I’ve seen. Very well done.

Not nearly as good as the regular Angel’s Share, in my opinion. Pours a dark cola color with light tan colored super fizzy head. Bottle gushed upon opening too. Smell is vanilla, raisin, bourbon and sweet malt. Taste is similar, but much more mild than the standard angel’s share which was really rich and strongly flavored. The carbonation was way too high in this body and it just foamed in the mouth, which drives me nuts. Overcarbonated and underflavored. 2009 - Completely flat.

So good. This is a crazy brew. A bit hot from the alcohol but such smooth flavor. Sweet with vanilla and bourbon and oak and even some dark rich fruits like figs and maybe plum or cherry flavor. Something I would like to age.

I really enjoyed this beer! Splitting or having a full bottle at night after dinner, or at the end of a party is recommended...This beer is highly complex and delicious, yet very drinkable and not to sweet..just the right blend of malt and wood...

Sampled at HotShotz Indy tasting May 24, 2008 - Aroma is bourbon, caramel, earthy hops, oak and vanilla. Pours a very dark brown with no head or lacing. Flavor matches aroma with a little raisin and other dark fruits sneaking in. Palate is very smooth and what separates this from other BB brews. A lot of the time, the bourbon overpowers the base beer. Tomme is able to find just the right balance. I am starting to tire of bourbon in my beer and would have probably given this a higher rating a year ago. Very tasty nonetheless.