Lost Abbey The Angels Share (Bourbon Barrel)

Brewed by Port Brewing/Lost Abbey
Style: Barley Wine
San Marcos, California USA

Bottle sent to me by one of SoCal finest ratebeerians, Jon (WeeHeavySD), mucho thanks bro!

A deep brown with russet hues topped by a surprising frothy head which left good lace upon my Duval snifter, I expected little head from this beer honestly. Some oily legs as well with a swirl of the glass. The aroma has a big kick your ass Bourbon character at first. Lots of oak, vanilla, charcoal, molasses, fig, heavy brown sugar, aromatic pipe tobacco, star anise and a leafy peaty earthy yeasty ester... yes, quite the run on sentence but so what.

The taste profile opens with a heavy amount of malt and sugar overtones with a nice supportive twangy fruit background. Much like the other Angel Share, this has some strong port like characteristics but seemed to be more tannic and charred, therefore a tad rougher around the edges. The finish has a splash of vanilla and rye-like malt, slightly smoky and peaty too which rocks. With some age and a reduction of the somewhat aggressive booze, the finish could become glorious.

The mouth feel is lush and sharp at the same time with each sip a slightly different experience. I do seem to enjoy the brandy barrel version more, however I see this one aging better. Either way, I could do a lot worse that to sip and enjoy these treats from the hands of Tomme Arthur.

375 ml bottle - foaming off-white head slowly foams out of the top of the bottle; pours thick and dark brown w/ suspended haze; overall, the aromas are very delicious and sweet - sugar, dates, molasses, vanilla, wood and alcohol; flavors along those lines and seems to change with every sip as each characteristic takes a turn standing out ; creamy texture and just a mouthful on every level; very sweet and remains drinkable; flavors mix together to form a very rich and desert like brew; lots of expectations, but it fits the bill and then some; it feels (and tastes) good to be a sinner

Bottle shared by nolankowal! Pours a hazy garnet color with a smallish tan head. Aroma is bourbon, sweet malts, oak. Flavor is massive blast of bourbon, tobacco, dark fruits, caramel. Palate is medium to full bodied, medium carbonation, finished way hot and sweet. Just didn’t live up to they hype for me. I like a little more beer with my bourbon, this is a joke compared to Old Stock Brandy.

Tasted side by side with the Brandy Barrel AS, so I think my notes are skewed a bit as I compare them to each other. I plan a re-rate on this one, tasting it all alone.

375 bottle. Quite a bit different than the brandy barrel release. More tart fruit notes. More wet wood presence and surprisingly less alcohol. Vanilla and a non abrasive bourbon hotness. Tart fruit skin. Pours dark, rich ruby/brown with a sustained thin khaki head. Flavor is dominated by tart fruit and toffee malt. Big barrel presence, but doesn’t compliment the beer quite as much as the brandy barrel. Almost too much carbonation for this style of beer. Woodsy alcohol on the finish.

375 ml bottle shared by jimmack, thanks Jim for sharing this one. Aroma of vanilla, bourbon, oak, alcohol and slight toffee. Pours a super murky muddy brown, I did have the last bit of the bottle so maybe it was slightly extra murky, and a small off white creamy head. Nice creamy medium to full body with light carbonation. Flavor of bourbon, vanilla, oak and alcohol. I really enjoyed this one and thanks to the fight night drinking crew being slefless my bottle wasn’t even opened and can be shared at a later date.

Beautiful dark amber brown pour with a nice creamy tan head that lasts forever and leaves wondeful lacing. Sweet malt, caramel, fruit, chocolate and vanilla in the aroma. Also a bit of some woodiness. Smells fantastic. Wonderful flavor as well. All of the above with smoke and cherry. Creamy medium body, with a nice warming sensation on the finish. Truly a great brew.

Thanks for sharing Yaniv! Heavens to Mergatroid, what a lovely beer! Dark reddish brown with a creamy tan head. Sweet round malty nose. Vanillay bourbon. Fruity chocolate. Caramel, toasty oak. All flavors fused seamlessly. I think there might be some alcohol in here, but it smells like fumes from heaven. Full creamy body. Full soft mouth. Big ass flavor attack in my mouth making magic happen all the time like it is its job. Alcohol is there, no doubt. Sweet round malt. Chocolate. Vanilla. Fruity oaky cherry. Toasty charred up bourbon goodness. Alcohol again. Lingering toasty fruity. Some chocolate in the finish. Full rich and yummy. I’d love to get my hands on some of this magic!

Bottle courtesy of Immy. Thanks Tim! Corked and caged. Dark bronze. Nose is vanilla, bourbon, wood, caramel, and maple syrup. Taste is wood/oak, vanilla, sweet malts, bourbon, caramel and sweet syrupy notes. Very tasty! Body is creamy with soft carbonation. Medium overall feel. Ends with more caramel, bourbon, vanilla, sweet malts, toffee, and syrup. Yummy!