Lost Abbey The Angels Share (Bourbon Barrel)

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

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.

Tasting session at jbrus. Bottled. Very dark brown coloured, big brown head. Extremely complex nose, malts, raisins, fruit, really nice. Very well balanced flavour, malts, chocolate, vanilla. Perhaps not as good as regular version, but still absolutely world class.

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.

Tap at EBF 08. Pours the same as Brandy AS- deep murky woody brown with ruby highlights and a thin beige head. Aroma is syrupy sticky sweet with tons of dried fruits, raisin, plum, some apple, figs, along with sharp dark crystal malts- caramel- toffee and some light tar and chocolate- while as it warms the modest bourbon comes in - perhaps a bit stronger in character than the Brandy version. Flavor is strong, full, and syrupy like the original, has all the full malty character- fruity esters, figs, dates and smooth woody oaky bourbon- light maple syrup hints with lots of fruity dark sharp malts and malt syrup. Velvety smooth on the palate with a nice lingering woody bourbon character and some warming action from the alcohol. I probably liked this about the same as the Brandy version.

Poured a deep hazy brown with a thin beige head. The aroma was of aged fruity malt with a medium sweetness. Vanilla and bourbon stood strong but not over powering. Some sugary caramel mixes with the fruit and bourbon. The flavor was also semi-sweet and fruity with a good back bone of bourbon. Notes of vanilla, raisin, and wood. Medium to full bodied with a little warmth. Very nice.

Bottle gushed all over my lap. Deep mahogany in color with a tan, foamy head. Stringy lacing. Lots of vanilla and alcohol, mostly bourbon. Toffee or caramel come out in the malts. Bitter and a bit acrid from the alcohol. There is a big note of brown sugar that comes out in the flavor. Raisins mix in with the vanilla. Creamy, and full bodied with a finish that is just as complex as the rest of the beer. Delicious.

Rating #996. Pours dark brown, with a light brown head. Aroma is bourbon, wood, vanilla, and dark fruit. Flavor is bourbon, dark fruit, malt, vanilla, wood, and caramel. Fantastic!!

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.