Lost Abbey The Angels Share

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

Bottle, 2008 vintage. It was an exciting moment when the cork was out of the bottle. Would it smack or would nothing happen? The answer is that nothing happened, the beer was completely non-carbonated. The color was very dark but not completely pitch black. No foam. Not the prettiest of sights. The aroma reminded a little about wine with elements of nougat, oak, caramel and some heat from the alcohol. Interesting and different aroma. First sip was very special, a lot of flavors attacked the palate. Some burnt tones, licorice, vanilla, soy, fruit and a slight acidity was the first things I thought of. Complex, but certainly one might wonder how it would taste carbonated. Now it was a hell of a lot of flavors that did not really hang together. Good yes, but not world class. A strange and fascinating beer in many ways.

Thanks to savvy1982 for the share. One of the infamous flat abbey’s. Pours a rich mahogany with absolutely no head. The aroma is rich, oaky and roasty. Nice and complex nose. The flavor is very nice and complex, chocolate, coconut, walnut, and a nice lingering bitterness. Good... But I miss carbonation, it really needs it.

Bottle. Pours cola brown, completely flat, no head, no carbonation, nada. Nose is massive, reminds me of Older Viscosity; smoke tar, dark fruit, brandy, plums, oak, depth, cannot fault the nose in any way. Palate is big and expansive, rich and coffeeish, with plenty of tar and tobacco, nice dark fruit, plus a big, spicy finish. Loses points for being completely flat, but still a mindblowing beer.

2008. 375 ml. Courtesy of Jake65. Ok, I’m well aware of the carbonation issues with this beer but it’s one I’ve wanted to try for a while now so I was still looking forward to it. First of all, the aroma is amazing. Brandy, toffee, molasses, plums, red licorice, oak, blend to make a wonderful scent. Deep brown color with some red tint and no surprise pours out with no head at all, even with a vigorous pour (hey, I can try!). A few lonely bubbles float around the edges. The lack of carbonation doesn’t at all kill this beer, it’s very tasty, but man with just a little it really would be world class (and perhaps almost worth the price). Warming, soothing, with some alcohol burn to let you know it’s there but otherwise gentle. After all the negative stuff on this beer I really thought I was going to bash it but not the case. No carbonation it’s still very good. Properly carbonated, I’d like to find out!

Vanilla/wood notes but a barley intensity in the aroma. Looks a brackish-brown, like pond water. A very sweet barleywine with a walnut finish. Overall strong, smooth, and syrupy. Notes: 2009 release at the Pints for Prostates/Denver Rare Beer Tasting at Wynkoop Brewing Co, 2009 Great American Beer Fest

Shared by DrBayern (Thanks Matt!!) at Ed’s soiree. Poured hazy dark brown with a small light brown foam, reminded me of fresh maple syrup. Deep vinous and malty aroma of dried fruit, red berries, nougat, vanilla with subtle distinct hop notes. Feels very harmonies. Full bodied and creamy flavour of dried fruit, dates, pepper, nougat and small notes of vanilla tones. Long finish with extremely well-hidden alcohol of dark chocolate, nuts, almond and sweet red berries. Exceptional beer, truly meets the hype.

Really big beer, but, I just need more than the vaguest hint of carbonation to make this work right. Poured with zero head. Color is opaque dark brown/black. Aroma is so decadently rich whiskey, malty, coffee, cocoa, sin, fecund earth, worked leather, turkish tobacco. and sinful love. Flav’s about the same. heady. Roasty and chocolate too. Killer. Man, what an expression of beer.

On Tap at The Dog and Pony (Renton WA): Ar: The first thing I think upon smelling my beer is "wow". Dark Fruit Seductively whafting up with chocolate and roasted notes. Ap: Very little head, no visible carbonation, black in color although a bit of light makes it through when held up. Ta: A big chocolaty mouthfeel of medium sweetness that starts in with the dried fruit flavors and quickly fills in with a semi-sweet chocolate that slowly fades to bittersweet, coffee, espresso notes. Very complex, and a beer that is still unfolding a minute after I put the glass down. Pa: full body, creamy, soft carbonation, with a long finish. Overall: One of the top 5 beers I have ever tasted, I love this beer. It is wonderfully complex and a real joy to drink.