Lost Abbey The Angels Share (Bourbon Barrel)

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

Serve in Snifter

2009 Version Reviewed 2010 - The smell of this beer is just simply amazing. It’s a assault on your nose. Huge amounts of bourbon, caramel, toffee, dark fruits, vanilla, and oak. I really can’t describe this smell. I mean I just did but it’s something that needs to be experienced first hand. Simply awesome. The taste is world class too but a little bit muted compared to the aroma. Maybe it’s the little bit of age I put on the brew. I don’t know but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a fantastic taste. The bourbon flavor is king here. It lingers in your mouth. Every other flavor is balanced perfectly between the caramel, toffee, dark fruits ,etc. Alcohol burn plays a big factor in the mouthfeel on this beer. It burns the mouth, throat, and stomach. Need a great beer on a cold night, here it is. It will keep you warm. The mouthfeel is also thick, syrupy, and coats the mouth.

This bottle was sent to me as a replacement for an infected, flat bottle of Brandy Angel’s share that I purchased. Poured into a snifter. A: Very minimal carbonation evident. Virtually no head whatsoever. It is not completely flat (like the infected bottle of Brandy Angel’s Share that I had to drainpour) but it is obviously lacking in significant carbonation. Some carbonation does appear upon swirling the glass. Otherwise, pours a dark brown with tinges of dark ruby red evident as well. S: Bourbon, vanilla, malt, booze, dark fruits. The aroma is enticing. I have smelled better but I have also smelled worse. I think the aroma would be significantly improved if the carbonation were present to a higher degree. T: I have to say, I do love the taste of this. Very smooth. Lots of vanilla and bourbon for sure. Also get some booze, raisins, figs, dates, brown sugar, and molasses too. Pretty strong malt backbone. A little bit of wood. Hints of chocolate as well. I really can’t knock the taste of this one despite the lack of appropriate carbonation. All of the tastes are pretty well balanced in my opinion and I enjoyed it. M: Again, very little carbonation evident. That being said, this remains a relatively easy drinker in my opinion. A little on the slick side. While some alcohol is evident, it is definitely not overpowering, offensive, or "hot" in the least. I just wish there were more carbonation there.

2011 bottle pours near black with almost no carbonation or head. A small whitish ring clings to the glass, but is nearly non-existent. Served around 55 degrees. Aromas are honeymoon vanilla, raisin and booze. Tastes are sweets caramel, raisin, bourbon, vanilla and toffee. A very complex ale that is for the boubon lover. Mouthfeel is not that heavy, more medium than I expected. Overall, an amazing beer if you like bourbon. Recommended!

32oz Growler, 2011 Bourbon. Served at around 45-50F to room temperature.

Pours murky dark brown, nearly black in the glass with a faint brown head that recedes to almost nothing pretty quick. Second pour was closer to room temp and produced a decent head with slightly better retention.

Aroma is strong bourbon and a lot of rich, complex malt. Tons of dark fruit, prunes, figs, raisins, dates, black currants, some molasses, nuts, dark bread/toast, vanilla and oak. Very good strength.

Flavor starts with a blast of bourbon, oak, vanilla, rich dark fruit and malt, prunes, figs, raisins, black currant, molasses, anise, hints of caramel and bread, dark tobaccos, strong warming alcohol on the finish.

Mouthfeel is medium-plus bodied, low carbonation, sticky.

Fantastic stuff. Huge and incredibly complex beer. You better love bourbon as it isn’t subtle at all. I think I like this a touch better than the Brandy Barrel version. While I can live with the near lack of carbonation, some bubbles certainly would ramp this up a bit in the appearance and mouthfeel categories. Letting this warm up to near room temperature really helped open this up a lot.

thanks Kyle! purchased in europe .. . small pop of the cork, light light fizz .. . not infected, which makes this a treat .. . pours a deep ruby molasses .. light foam .. . light bourbon, barrel, touch of vanilla, roast oak, and burnt caramel .. . pretty damn tasty! .. . .
Does anybody but me think the hat’s a little precious?

Bottle, thanks Jeff! Opaque dark brown pour, no head. Lots of bourbon in the aroma, rich vanilla, fresh cream, hazelnuts, tons of oak, rich malty nose and some alcohol. Taste is rich and bourbony, lots of vanilla. Nice malty flavor, rich caramel, toffee. Palate is almost flat, very light carbonation with a big heavy body, very spirit like. I really enjoyed this, despite the flatness, it’s a good winter warmer for sure.

2008 bottle. Pours a muddy brown but still has a nice bit of carbonation after 3 years. Aroma is - surprise - bourbon! Actually, this beer is bursting with bourbon. Some banana and butterscotch flavors run under the bourbon. It’s a mouthful and definitely a sipper. The aging has really improved (imho) the quality of this beer. If you like bourbon barrel aged beers and have a 2008 bottle in your cellar - crack it open!

Def worth trying, but the regular angels share is sufficient. I didn’t find any real noticeable difference in the bourbon barrel addition. Not enough carbonation, so it was a little too liquorish for me.