Lost Abbey The Angels Share (Bourbon Barrel)

Thanks for the opportunity to try this one Dennis! The controversial Lost Abbey, which for the record has been pretty good to me so far. Pours a very dark red/brown, looks black without light. Head produces a belgian loking foamy goodness, mocha in color. Scent is strong bourbon up front. Smell some chocolate, rasins, and caramel in there. I’d like to try a non barrel aged version of this, the sheer strength of the bourbon overshadows what smells pretty damn interesting, but I digress, it still smells very good. Taste is not nearly as boozy as the smell, and actually makes for a nice concoction. I believe this is from the 2008 batch, and the little bit of age has taken the booze to the back, some very nice roasted and chocolate malts in front. Damn great tasting drink. I didn’t expect to like this one as much as I do. Mouth is a slight issue, while the body is adequately thick at around a medium on the scale, it is a tad too bubbly. I may actually prefer the "flat" brandy version from this year. I rank just above average because while it is distracting, it doesn’t ruin the drink by any means. I curve this one high and will seek out some more.

2008 bottle shared by Rogueone at my refrigerator reduction tasting on 8/15/09. Opaque brown pour with a thin tan head. Boozy aroma that is almost peaty with some sugary malt. Sweet and full bourbon flavor with a slight bitter hop presence and a caramel finish. Good, but I prefer the original brandy version.

2008 bottling: Creamed caramel. Creamy voluminous froth. Refined and seriously decadent aromatics of Bananas Foster, muscovado sugar, marzipan, sherry, milk chocolate, and cakey malt. Hint of iron complements the richness. Spirited carbonation condenses as it hits the palate. Immediately rich and sharply sugary with caramelized-oak which mirrors that of the sugary grit. Not overly soft in the malt department early on, and the somewhat stark cola-like sweetness briefly hampers further development. Oak is fairly fuzzy rather than clearly defined. Alcohol is masterfully concealed. Sturdy cassis and liquefied licorice is pillared by sherry-drizzled cake and thickset, welll-developed malt which soothes the throat as it glides down the gullet. Coconut and aged leather slyly emerge to complement the port-steeped plum succulence. Exhibits good restraint given the immense weight. Vanilla remains merely suggestive, and the malt vivid while the high level of attenuation makes for a semi-airy exit. I must say this is one of the few beers that seems to have benefited, or at least did not suffer, from (minor) oxidation. I find that the sherry character beautifies the polished malt complexities and also echoes the candyish qualities. Enjoyable.

375ml caged and corked bottle (2008 vintage) served in a snifter. Cork came out with a nice pop. Dark, ruddy brown pour with some ruby and mahogany highlights. A rocky, two-finger thick head of tan foam slowly settled into a lasting cap. A small amount of slippery lacing was left around the glass. The aroma had smooth bourbon, vanilla, sugary caramel, a hint of chocolate, and also some dark fruits. The flavor included chocolate, a ton of dark fruit, warming bourbon, caramelized sugar, tobacco, and also some light vanilla/oak. Definitely a sipper...very warming. Medium to full-bodied mouthfeel with a good dose of prickly carbonation. Fairly aggressive on the tongue. I enjoyed this more than the brandy version, but for my money, there are plenty of other barley wines I would rather drink (bourbon or otherwise).

2009 375 ml Bottle from Hophead22- Thanks again Tim! cork removed with a nice pop. Pours a dirty coca cola with some tiny tan bubbles on the edge of the glass. some mahagony shining threw. Carbonation seems just right to me. aroma is an awesome bourbon, very nice. vanilla, This beer is just fucking sweet. Flavor is more smooth silky bourbon, chocolate, some oak, vanilla, and figs. This was better than I expected with all the shit people are talking about this beer. Bourbon flavor is extremely smooth. nice sticky chewy mouthfeel. Some nice chest warming midway through the bottle. This beer is quite a treat. Utterly amazed at how smooth and drinkable this is for how much of a bourbon presence this beer has. This beer hit the spot.

Recently opened an ’08 bottle of this that I purchased last year at By the Bottle in Vancouver, WA. I heard that quite a few bottles of this had little or no carbonation, so I was a bit concerned about how it’d come out. PLENTY OF CARBONATION HERE!! Colour... very dark brown with a frothy maduro head. Nose... my gosh, it’s the next Bond girl and her name is Bourbon Galore! Plenty of dark brown sugar and vanilla to boot. Palate... the C02 calmed a bit but is still evident with a gently frothy feel, brimming with bourbon, treacle sirup, turbinado, gentle oak, chocolate, black currants, dark raisins, a dollop of molasses and a finish that glides gently and coatingly all the way down. Truly a heavenly brew!

Vanilla and oak on the nose. Pours dark brown with a thin off white head. Oaky with vanilla, an old wood flavor, somewhat bitter, with hints of chocolate and molasses.

Cask Stillage at the GBBF Earl’s Court, London 08/08/2008 Bourbon and fruit aromas. Dark red coloured a little rich on the palate and strong in alcohol. Fruity and smooth. A little bitterness in a lasting whisky finish.