Lost Abbey The Angels Share

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

Bottle at the RBESG08 Grand tasting. Alround rating: Huge malt character, caramalt, sweet with peppery hoppy alcohol, still manages to hold itself together and not become too alcoholic. Perhaps a bit too big and bold and sweet for me though.

2006 edition: Eclipsed garnet. Thin light-beige head slowly diminishes into a jagged-edged collar. Fabulously aromatic notes of fresh-cut wood (sawdust, clay), blackcurrants, candied plums, meaty molasses, vanilla, nougat, and old leather entice the senses. Soft pricks of carbonation. Viscous barrel extractives evoke thoughts of blackstrap molasses and liquefied raisins as they lap the palate. Clean but pervasive alcohol disperses some of the tackiness from the tongue while the relaxed tannins lend balance by simultaneously stinging the palate gently. Exquisitely balanced despite the overall intensity of each component. Seamless interplay between the bright fruity esters and dense concentration of brandy. Takes on a tolerable blackstrap molasses, leather, and lightly medicinal astringency toward the center. Very tacky and sugary, though never remotely cloying or nauseating in its unbridled richness. Gorgeously textured, core-bolstering malts gradually intensify to reveal deeply rooted vanilla-cake accents which harmonize with the understated, yet vibrant, vanillin oakiness. Although a hint of cardboard exudes, it is surprisingly minimal, and the faint remnants of oxidation are mostly absorbed by the dizzyingly complex and sophisticated medley of malt, esters, and sappy brandy. Absolutely supple beyond compare. Tongue-coating and tooth-clinging on up to finish which features a sweet and salty fusion of tannins and red licorice coupled with undercurrents of leather and coffee. Didnt expect to be all that fond of this, but theyve clearly outdone themselves here. Beers of this nature are rarely so refined.

Bottle from JohnC, most likely an 07 vintage. Pour was deep brown with orangey type hues. The aroma was strong oak and sawdust, light bourbon. The flavor was oak, bourbon, sour lactic cherries w/ some bret?, caramel, very light maple, vanilla, with a touch of a lightly bitter chocolate dryness in the end. The mouthfeel was surprisingly light for the style, far from sticky, drinks pretty smooth. With warmer temperatures, the sourness blended in with the more standard bwine flavors was quite nice. Top 50 beer in the world? I don’t think so. Quite nice: indeed, as with most of the LA products! Thanks, John, for hooking me up!

Thanks to eaglefan538 for generously waiting forever for me to get around to share this with him. Dark ruby brown, some white head. Hard to describe the aroma, but this beer really didn’t smell good. The flavor started out as overly sour but this settled into an outstanding brew as it warmed. Oak and whiskey from the barrel were overwhelming, but in a welcoming way. The dryness and sourness on the tongue just dared me to keep on sipping. Another unique and memorable experience from Lost Abbey.

Tried on tap at the London Beer Festival. Extraordinary complexity, and a wonderful marriage of yeast and whisky flavours. Demands to be imbibed slowly. One of the best beers I’ve ever tried.

Thanks to iowaherkeye for bringing this bottle to his ’farewell to Iowa’ tasting. 2007 vintage. Poured a clear garnet color with a khaki head. Smelled of booze, brown sugar, toffee, and a hint of anise. Full bodied, sweet, and boozy. Tasted predominantly of brown sugar, vanilla, and booze with dashes of cinnamon and distinct salt. I also got a bit of sassafras. Good beer, but somewhat overrated, IMO.

Bottle from Iowaherkeye - thanks Joey. Light oaken aroma and some dried fruit. Rich malty and hops flavors with a touch of alcohol, cream cheese, caramel and dried fruit. Good strong flavors. Creamy and rich palate with a bourbonesque duration. Very good.

Bottled at RBESG. Brown with a small light brown head. Aroma has oak, toffee, malt and a slight note of hops. Rich malty flavour with vanilla and oak, some hops and warming alcohol.