Lost Abbey The Angels Share (Bourbon Barrel)

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

Bottle @ jbrus. Aroma of vanilla, brandy, bourbon, varnish, malty. Bit malty taste, fruity, liquor. Great stuff again.

Sample on a one year aged bottle at JaBier’s refrigerator reduction tasting on 08/15/09, courtesy of Rogueone. The beer is a rich dark brown color with a medium thin and bubbly light beige head that disappears quickly. Stringy lacing on the glass. Aroma of burnt malt, caramel and subtle bourbon. Full, smooth body with flavors of oak, vanilla, malt and dark fruit. There is a boozy quality but it is not overpowering. The finish is oaky with a warming alcohol presence and a dark malty finish. Very good overall.

I had this on draft at Lost Abbey’s first Anniversary party. The first thing that hits you with this beer is the fantastic aroma: vanilla, oak, bourbon and I don’t even have a good sense of smell. The flavor is lush, complex & tasty

Cask at the GBBF 2008, gravity dispense. Nearly black colour (very dark reddish brown). Intense and lovely aroma of various subtropical woods, winey notes. The mouthfeel has lots of alcoholic warmth as expected. The flavour has notes of oak and fortified wine. Very good.

Bottle from Mashmaster, shared with good friends @ jbrus’s place. Corked bottle, opens with a loud bang. Vanilla, oak and bourbon in the aroma. Fruit confit, a hint of oak, cherry, alcohol, bourbon and vanilla in the flavor. Good complexity. World class.

Bottled at Papsoes Blind tasting 19th. June 2008 no 15:Very dark reddish brown coloured. Light brown head. Prunes, spice, vanilla in the aroma Quite dusty and notes of barrel. Very balanced aroma. Flavour of brown sugar, alcohol, fruits, prunes, raisins, light liqourice. Medium to full bodied. LIght bitter end with a nice sweet touch. Alcohol burns slightly on lips and palate. complex and balanced brew.

Bottled @ Jbrus’. The aroma has intense fruitiness, cognac/bourbon, oak. Dark coloured beer with an off-white, lasting head. The taste is sweet with vanilla, a lot (dried) fruitiness, bourbon, chocolate. The taste is better than the aroma. Very full body. Explosive taste sensation. Slightly burning. I liked the ’normal’ version better. but hey... You may also wake me up for this one.

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.