Lost Abbey The Angels Share (Bourbon Barrel)

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

375ml bottle. I had this in the truck for about 5 hours but let it settle for a couple when I got home because I know how much the Lost Abbey yeast can negatively affect the beer. Let’s just say it’s one of the many reasons I’m not such a huge fan of this brewery. They do have some winners, though, namely the Brandy Barrel Angels Share, which I absolutely love. So on to the rating... out of the bottle it’s foaming and overcarbonated and lands in the glass under about twelve feet of thick brown foam. Okay, I can wait. The nose is primarily semi-sweet bourbon, complete with the maple and vanilla that seems to be the norm in bourbon aged strong ales or barley wines, something that doesn’t come through so dominating as with a stout or porter due to the roast and chocolate. But this one smells nice enough, with some spicy charred malt, some boozy alcohol, some barrel tannins and some tobacco/plum/date/nut notes, which is pretty nice but doesn’t impress me as much as the brandy barrel version. Texture is overcarbonated but sticky, with a resinous nut and dried, spiced plum flavor that’s most prominent. The finish has a hint of alcohol, not completely transparent but not overpowering at all, and as a whole it comes off heavy with the nut character. There’s some sweet maple-flavored bourbon for sure, and also some peppery wood and graham cracker flavors hidden a little deeper. Overall it’s a fine beer, has a lot going for it, especially the dried nuts and wood, but it doesn’t measure up to the brandy barrel version, but then I’m a whore for brandy and wine barrel barley wines (bourbon belongs with stout, brand and wine with barley wine). Quite good, but dare I say overrated a bit?

Wow this girl is really coming along nicely. First couple were a bit harsh, but smooth and tasty now. Great bourbon kick to a nice tasting barleywine. Burnt wood smokey sweetness, vanilla all compounded into this little 375 vessel of liquid delicousness.

First of all, what a wonderful aroma. Probably the best I have ever smelled. Lots of vanilla, oak (bourbon) and sweet esters. Deep brown mahogany with a huge tan head. Flavor of wood and sweet fruity esters. Bold, but not alcoholic. Beer finishes well. An excellent beer. Thanks again to cbkschubert for a great share.

On draft at the Bistro’s BA fest 07. Dark garnet pour. Woody, dark fruit aroma with bourbon notes. Sweet malty goodness with pronounced bourbon and wood notes. Tons of caramel. Somewhat hot but it’s really young right now. Dark fruits, especially raisins fill it out nicely.

Dark brown pour with thin head. Nose of bourbon, sweet malts, figs and caramel. Flavor is somewhat oaky with chocolate, vanilla and roasted malts. Very nice.

375 bottle. Very carbonated on opening. Black with a fluffy brown head. Nose is whiskey/bourbon/boozy which overwhelms any "beer" nose. Taste is overly bourbon/whiskey and alcoholic. Also hints of raisins, chocolate, sugar. Very sweet and tasty but the bourbon overwhelms everything in this beer. A sipper for sure with a full rich body.

Huge pop! out of the bottle. Frothy head intially, really well sustained. Very dark, more than I thought it would be. Body is lively yet quite substantial; very few beers pull this off to this extent (HotD Adam is one). Alcohol is a good bit hot. Intense dark plummy, raisiny fruit, bourbon is around but not too heavy (veers close though) -- intense sugary cake flavors, vanilla is gigantic. This beer is a diabetic’s nightmare.

Thanks to bu11zeye for the trade. Pours a deep brown with ruby/amber notes and a medium off white head with spotty lacing. Oh I forgot to mention...the cork jumped off the bottle like a shotgun, seriously lucky lose an eye. Aroma of dark fruits, caramel, whiskey, vanilla, nuts, oak, lightly roasted malt, molasses, tobacco and a little sugary. Flavor of dark fruits, toffee, nuts, whiskey, like oak, caramel, nuts, vanilla, a bit of alcohol and light roast.