Lost Abbey The Angels Share (Bourbon Barrel)

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

Courtesy of Immy at the 6th Richmond Gathering. Deep brown, nice head. Bready with some raisins in the aroma. A touch of vanilla as well. Flavor matches, but I am not adequately expressing the depth and richness of these flavors. Some slight bourbon notes on the finish perhaps, but this is a beer where the barrels simply accentuate as opposed to dominate. Excellent stuff.

On tap at Bistro’s 2nd BA Festival. Even though this was listed as 2007, it was clearly the 2006 version. I had about 4 samples that were 3-4 ounces a piece. Somewhat fruity, light bourbon aromas are present to start. Unfortunately, there is a definite ethanol presence in the nose. A bit of vinousness is present, too. Moderately hazy ruddy amber body with an oily, light tan/orange head. Fair lacing. Attractive stuff. Starts a bit sweet before some bourbon flavors make a presence. Becomes vinous, roasty, malty, caramelly in the middle. Finishes with a lightly bitter hoppiness. Smooth, velvety, warming, extremely drinkable. Great stuff.

bottle, thanks to mar, muddy brown pour with raisin, caramel and chocolate aroma and flavor, maybe some roast, seemed off a bit

sweet bourbon aroma with raisins and caramel. Light smooth aroma. Dark brown body with massive brown head. An amazing light body with just a hint of fire. A nice light finish with smooth caramel malt flavor.

Bottle via trade with toncatcher. Deep murky sediment-laden red-brown body, thick, puffy tan head. Nose of prune, soy, and molasses, salty and leathery, with hints of oxidation. Dark fruits (especially raisin and prune) and oak feature prominently in the rich, creamy body, which also features notes of soy and dusty oxidation. Vinous. A complex, rich beer with a dense flavor profile. Although this was a fine beer, I prefer the brandy barrel 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.

Courtesy SoLan, he rocks for sharing this! Big oaky aroma, touches of vanilla and musky sweaty locker room. Deep brown color. Fuzzy carbonation overtakes the palate at first but further in a big oakiness takes over, with some deep dark caramel and touches of bourbon. Finish is sem-sweet. Heady aroma, some sweet alcohols waft here and there. Deep raisiny character becomes apparent. The more I smell this the more it infects my soul.

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.