Lost Abbey The Angels Share (Bourbon Barrel)

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

First of all, I am amazed at how many people have sampled this one. Secondly, my methods of procurement will remain a closely guarded secret. Thirdly, I sincerely hope that all eBay prospectors die in a fire. On to my review: Pour: Hazy deep brown with huge 4-finger tan head, a gigantic cork pop, and lacing that sticks more than a Freshman college chick dating a senior linebacker. Nose: Oaky, plummy malt, brown sugar, spicy yeast, mild hops, bourbon, port, blackberry Flavor: Initially oaky malty and caramelly, with plummy, blackberry, port, brown sugar, fig, mild cacao, but not tasting sweet, rather as a very well balanced oaky boubony beverage with the added brown sugary, malty, fig, and cognacy notes as subtle additions, and not as entitites overtaking the beer. Palate/Overall: The palate was as complex as I’ve ever quaffed, with intermingling flavors and an amazing balance. As I poured the last dregs of this, I briefly considered going onto eBay for another, but then I regained my ratebeer confidence and realized that I will never become one of those bottom-feeding scumbags, and I remembered that with the proper where-with-alll, I would see this one again. Still, if that is too optimistic, then I will see this beer in my dreams, right next to Christy Canyon.

Bottle sampled with the Mad_indian. Pours dark with a large pillow of a beige head. Aroma of oak, bourbon, caramel, molasses, and vanilla absolutely perfect. The flavor is sweet, molasses, caramel, chocolate vanilla, bourbon, oak all perfectly blended. excellent body, alcohol is hidden quite well. Excellent brew.

Bottle from ebay purchase, sampled with stegosaurus. WOW !! Thats really all I need too say. Brown perfect pout with long lasting 1 and a half finger head. Aromas of heavenly wood, bourbon, caramel, vanilla and alcohol. The taste was all these things but blended to absolute perfection. Possibly the best thing I have ever tasted. I sported a woodrow wilson and the cerimonial bottle hump was done.

Wow all I can say is that I have a new favorite beer. This beer is incredible. Me being a fan of bourbon beers from the get go this beer does not disappoint. Oak,Bourbon,Vanilla,Carmel, all rolled into the smoothest palette drinkable beer i’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting.With that said i’ve never given a perfect 5 but this beer is totally worthy. All the flavors blend together so smoothly and perfectly that I recommend to anyone trying this rare treat at least once and deciding for themselves. But as for me this beer sits atop the throne!

I’m a sinner. Dark brown with a creamy tan head. Chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, and oak aroma. Initial taste of chocolate and bourbon, followed by molasses and vanilla, transitioning to a citrus and oak taste, and finishing with a brown sugar taste and alcohol warmth. Excellent.

On tap at Stumbling Monk in Seattle. Overall, this beer was perfect for a bourbon barrel barleywine.

375ml bottle, 2008 release, courtesy of Immy (thanks, tim) crushed with GandGKevin for rating #200! pours a very dark, slightly hazy, ruby brown with a big, bubbly light tan head. aroma is huge and jumps from the glass with big scents of toffee, caramel, raisin, and vinous fruit with a lovely hint of oakey bourbon. flavor can only be described as elegant yet huge with big, sweet, dark malts, prunes, cinnamon, a touch of sour red fruit, and smooth, smokey bourbon with hints of vanilla. palate is big, full bodied, slightly sticky with a perfect sweetness and a long, warming, bitter toffee finish. simply an unbelievable beer and certainly the best barley wine i’ve had the pleasure of drinking.

Cask at the brewery May ’06 Super rare treat at the May 06 Anniversary party. I think I spent all of my tasters on this and when my brother left, spent his remaining 4 tastes on it. Dark brown pour with no head. Huge bourbon nose and oak. Cask really helps this beer come alive. Brown sugar, cookie dough, figs and caramel. This is one of the best smelling beers I have had in a long time. Taste is the same as the smell. Bourbon jumps right out but unlike other bourbon aged beers, it is not over done. Figs, dark chocolate and brown sugar mixed with oak. Thick and chewy mouth feel accented by the lack of carbonation. This is the perfect example of what cask conditioned beer should be. Simply amazing in every aspect. I cannot think of anything that comes close to this. The fact that is was hand pumped took it to another level. When this comes out in bottles, I will be the first in line. AMAZING!