Lost Abbey The Angels Share

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

’08 bottle thanks to kegbear!
Murky mahogany, and yes, absolutely no carbonation. Sweet but pleasant nose of brandy, vanilla, some alcohol. Flavor has some brandy, caramel, and alcohol burn. Palate is a total washout. When I read "no carbonation," I didn’t picture this. Absolutely nothing, strains the flavor out and makes it alcoholic. Absolute failure, and I was really hoping to like it. Can’t imagine how anyone would rate this above a 3, even Tomme himself.

The controversial 2008 version. As promised, this beer pours flatter than any beer I have ever had. Not even a trace of head forms after a fairly aggressive pour. The liquid is brown with some red highlights. Aroma is actually quite enticing, even surprisngly subdued compared to it’s bigger bourbon brother. Caramel, Vanilla, tobacco come out. Can the flavor survive the mouth? I’m dying to find out...The answer is yes and no. The flavor, showing similar hints of the scent characteristics, is clearly good, quite great even. It certainly is there, but it is not enough to overpower the water-like level of carbonation. I like my big beers thick and nearly flat. This isn’t nearly flat, this is still. This is an example of pushing that too far. I have to give the palate a 1 for the fact that I can count on one hand where mouth made or broke a beer. This is one such example, and LA should be ashamed for releasing it as it is.

Bottle. Deep brown pour with nice head. Sweet boozy aroma. Tastes of dark fruit, vanilla, toffee, sweet, strong. Also had this on draught at GBBF 2008. A typical American Belgian style clone. Nice beer but unimaginative really, perfectly drinkable though.

2008 bottle from Malt & Vine. The aroma of this one fills the room, and makes me wonder, "where have I smelled this before?" And then it hits me, this smells almost exactly like 3 Floyds Dark Lord! Carbonation is almost nonexistent, but the beer does cartwheels on your tongue. Body is dark and sticky. Almost zero lacing, but leaves "legs" like a fine wine. Had me heading for the humidor for a well conditioned Cuban. Bravo Lost Abbey!

No shocker as far as appearance goes, the barleywine division is pretty well established as a headless horseman of sorts, making you wonder where is the head of this dark beast, seconds later splitting your head in half with its weapon, melting through your tongue 1st and then splitting your corpus callosum. Your head writhes with agony and yet adulation. This nightrider comes at you with a very dark brown body that is totally opaque. The head long disappeared likely in the wort many months ago. Well the first taste is surprising I expected to be split in half, I am writing so let me tell you what I found. The initial taste is a combination of pinot noir, roast, and scotch very softly melded together to form an amalgam of beer majesty. The figs also shine, the dark fruits are tied to the roast with a licorice and vanilla accent. This beer is flavor rich as your going to find. Not for the novice, and yet open enough for a beginner with red wine or whiskey leanings could sample. Initial aromas range from soft vanilla to dark anisette licorice in between lies a dark port wine intensity, a deep dark roasted malt, a well hidden bit of fig also lurks, as it warms burnt sugar emerges. The feel is very complex, a nice richness that is velvety, alcoholic sting is vouchsafed by the intense flavors, but be sure its the real deal. Your not going to not get laced, its spirits quickly consume at a heady 12.5%, and if you age it be even more prepared. If your out somewhere that actually has this, be prepared to get a ride. It is surprisingly smooth, I usually cringe when I hear barleywine. This is warming and yet not too alcoholic or sweet to the taste. This is really a splitter or for rebottling and used only as a complimentary beverage. It’s character and alcohol allow it to sit provided you have the means to recork Nightcap as well, works here.

Bottle at RBESG 08 ... Deep red copper ... toffee malt nose ... Sweet and woody ... rich toffee and spirity ... brandy ... bit rushed :-) 4.0... GLAD its gonna be on TAP at GBBF and ive got a bottle :-)

Bottle at Fins ... Deep brown ... cheesy slight sour ... plum and cherry nose ...coconut bourbon ... meaty toffee ... quite rought ... just not great... Its not Sour Sour ... so dont know if this bottle one of those to have gone ... but its just not great at all ... very disapointing. 2.9

Luscious charred browned head with scrapes of oak barrel atop a deep scotch pool of beer. Intensely wood-aged aroma of brandy, oak, vanilla, and lactose off-sweetness. The nose is under assault. Almost sickening, yet entrancing as it changes, chameleon-like. Flavors of of intense candi and caramel sugar leave a flourish on the tongue.

Stop being g.y. This is a great beer but.... Darker than a black steers tookas on a moonless prarier night their was no bottom. I hear it’s a little flat it’s totaly flat. I’m glad I knew that going in. Aroma of fig date and paper. Drinks better nice finish with booz and sweet sassy mo lassy. Great beer but never again... By choice.