Lost Abbey Avant Garde Ale

Brewed by Port Brewing/Lost Abbey
Style: Bière de Garde
San Marcos, California USA

750ml bottle, thanks to bartzilla for sending this extra to me a long time ago, great extra bart! pours a slightly cloudy, pale golden with white head. nose of yeast, pear, apple, apricots, oats, slightly sweet biscuit. flavor has pear, light fruits, yeasty, somewhat musty, softly crisp and refreshing with a spicy hop finish. nice rich body. not as funky as La Bavaisienne, but still tasty, very well crafted, and great example of the style.

Citrusy clove-studded orange/lemon aroma. Subtle spiciness in this beer. Nice, but pricey for what you get.

Thanks to awaisanen for the trade. Pours a translucent golden copper with a medium foamy/rocky off white head that left lacing. Aroma of bready malts, various grains, honey, various spices, some tart wheat and various citrus. Flavors of the bready malt, some grains, citrus, same mix of spices ane honey. On the dry side with just the right touch of malt sweetness. Just a touch of hop bitterness.

750ml bottle in a wide wine goblet. Pours clear copper with lasting head. Head fizzes initially from carbonation. Aroma of very slight tartness, spice, and very sweet honey. Flavors of caramelized honey followed by a slight bitter spice bite. Medium body. Decent mouthfeel as most of what could have seemed excess carbonation has escaped. Not my idea of farmhouse ale (should be hoppier, spicier, dryer, earthier, grassier, more acidic/refreshing) but a pretty good beer nonetheless.

750ml bottle from MrBendo. Aroma: Lots of bready maltiness with a light sourdough tartness. Light caramel, citrus, and a healthy dose of spiciness. Appearance: Light orange in color and hazy. Ivory colored head was full and frothy with good retention. Good lacing. Flavor: Breadiness continues into the flavor with a strong helping of yeasty sourdough. A little more biscuity in the flavor than the aroma. Light lemon, spice, and some herbal hoppiness. Light hop bitterness into the finish. Finishes medium dry with a bit of astringency. Palate: Medium bodied. Medium-high carbonation. Light alcohol warming in back of mouth. Overall: This was a nice beer. I didn’t drink it with food like the label says, but I imagine it would go nicely with some bread and cheese.

Bottle. The label says to enjoy this beer with oven fresh bread, soft cheese and a tree ripened apple while watching the sunset. I almost pulled this off without even reaading the lable first: only I don’t have bread or an apple (hey, its only May) and I have an Irish cheddar- oh, well. Rich copper color with a white head that dissapates quickly but leaves nice lacing, especially directly over the ’’D’’ on the bottom of my Duvel glass. Sweet, biscuity malt aroma with fruity notes of apricots and apples. Much more body than I expected. Tons of malt, pleasantly fruity with a hoppy finish. Nice.

After years of planning and months of waiting, I cannot describe how gratifying it was, for me, to finally be able to review the Bière de Garde style. Appearance: Pours a deep, orangey-copper body with a foamy, snow white head. Smell: Sugary breadcrusts, honey, dried fruits, rolled hay, maybe some lemon in there as well. Taste: The taste is an array of delicate, elegant flavors, light caramel, fruitiness, buttered sourdough bread, and a splash of Lady Grey tea. Lighty bitter finish, with some alcohol popping in right at the end. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Light carbonation. A slight stickiness on the palate. Some alcohol warmth, too. Drinkability: There were times where AndoBrew and I thought "What did we get ourselves into? This is never going to come together!!" But when those wonderful smells start coming from the beer, when the flavors begin the meld, when the obscenities start flying, and the smiles start shining, we knew that it was all worth it.

Spicy aroma, with bready malts and yeast. Pours golden blonde. The flavor is smooth, malty and spicy. Finishes nicely with hints of spice.