Lost Abbey Gift of the Magi

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

2008 vintage bottle. Making room in the cellar and decided to pull this one out. Poured at around 50 deg F into a Lost Abbey tulip glass. The head receded really quickly and left no lacking on the top. Right away I get some crazy funk coming on the nose always can tell that aged Brett. The mouth feel in this bottle is no existent. The funk I first smelled has calmed down into a nice fruity complex but does not come across on the taste. The copper color is really nice and the tannins from the oak of the other range of flavors keep this a relatively calm beer. I’m probably going to pop my 2009 vintage and see how it compares in this style of" keeping beers". Over all a very nice beer.

Draft Dec. 2008, softer & sweeter malt character than bottled version. Also more bready and sugary. Pours hazy amber/orange with slight neon quality, generous white head retains well Nose is musty lighter fruits. Palate is tangy fruit, rich malt, alcohol, and hops at the back of the palate. Finish is long and again tangy fruit with some alcohol warmth.

On tap at the Bavarian Lodge, Lisle,IL., toward the end of it’s tenure. Stemware served with a cloudy, orangy amber color, very modest, off white foam that was mainly a small ring and film, and some light spots of lacing. The aroma showed some alcohol presence, spice, light toastiness, with malt and fruit sweetness as currants/figs. The alcohol warmed up in the flavor, along with good malt and brown sugar type sweetness. Medium bodied, but low carbonation dulled my impression a bit.

pours a flat copper brown with slight head. slight malty aroma. taste is very subtle but there is alot going on - the full taste comes very quickly but is very complex and short in the palate. very good. would love to age this.

Poured from a chilled 2009 bottle. Nice foamy head, straight forward taste, though at this temperature it seemed to be a bit bitter. Definitely worth trying.

A Mes rate. Bottle at Chris O’s Night of the Gaylords.
Semi hazy dark gold with a very good white head. Very fruity and yeasty. Lots of fresh citric character, good supporting chewy malt and a glorious dry citric finish. Reasonably straight forward but very tasty indeed.

’08 bottle pours fierce red-amber with a thin yellow head. Creamy nose has light spice, a note of lipstick, also some tart fruit, mainly cherry. The flavor is heavy yeast, ginger, orange, and cinnamon. Overly spiced body grates on the palate. Silky body, low carbonation highlights the oppressive spice weight. It doesn’t taste natural with all of the spices, and its a mix at best.

Bottle of the 2009 version. A dark brown tea color with a tan head. A malty, cider, raisin, nut and flowery aroma with a nice touch of spice. It is more assaulting on the palate with a slight astringent character, spiced, mint, and peppery.