Lost Abbey Judgment Day

Brewed by Port Brewing/Lost Abbey
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
San Marcos, California USA

Poured from a bomber into a tulip glass. Thin, tan head that dissipates quickly to a rim around the glass. Nearly black body with tiny bubbles streaming up the glass. Dark and almost intimidating. Looking up through the beer, you can tell it is clear, despite the darkness, and this perspective shows a dark chestnut color. Warm fruity aroma with notes of prune, brown sugar, spice, and alcohol. Nice roasted malt with a hint of milk chocolate initial flavor with light bitter aftertaste that is relatively long lived with an alcohol finish. This brew comes across almost as a strong stout/barley wine cross. It is full bodied with slightly syruppy feel that coats the side of your tongue and the back of your throat. The lively, almost fizzy carbonation keeps it ffrom feeling too heavy. Overall, this beer has a nice subtle aroma that is reliatively complex and pleasant. THe taste is excellent and the mouthfeel is nicely balanced with a full body that is lightened a little by the carbonation.

This just might be better than Westy 12. I’ll give you all a moment to take that in and ponder a bit. Done? Alright then. I’m very serious about Westy 12 comment, though. This is one complex, delicious and enjoyable beer. And I can actually buy it here in PA! That alone gives it an edge over the Westy. The intense experience begins with a great pour. The color is almost pitch black, with only a dark reddish tint. The head is tan in color, massive, thick and clings to the body of the beer. The nose is fantastic and inviting, begging you to take that first sip. Notes of the aroma are of dark fruit, currants, red grapes, light bread, yeast, raisins, sweet malts and brown sugar. The body is incredibly smooth and dangerously drinkable. The flavors are so well-balanced and delicious, it’s almost overwelming. I have a hard time believing that a group of people could put something like this together. That a group of people could produce something so awesome. I get notes of very light chocolate, light cream, aged red grapes, yeast, brown sugar, bread, fruits and a great balance of just enough hops. There is also a slight hint of alcohol on the finish, but that is quickly washed away by those fruity and malty tones. This beer is a gift from above. Whatever higher power you believe in, (s)he provided this. Or at least (s)he provided the inspiration for this beer to be produced. Judgement Day has very quickly become one of my favorite all-time beers. I recommend that every single human on the face of this planet buy at least one bottle of this and give it a try. You won’t be disappointed. You’ll thank yourself. Then you’ll thank that higher power and the folks that made this beer! Gimme more! Damn, this great!

Dark ruby/purple body with a small but long lasting off-white head. Spotty lacing. Potent fig, rum and cake batter aroma with burnt brown sugar, caramel, oak, molasses, raisins and chocolate. The taste is oaky to start with lots of bourbon. The middle is sweet caramel and brown sugar. The finish is chocolate and molasses with tons of dark fruits - figs, raisins, plums, and dates. This beer is unbelievable and proves entirely why Tomme is one of the best brewmasters we have in America. Bold yet subtle, extreme yet refined, complex yet refreshing. I love it.

Vintage 2008 "Saints". 750ml bottle, caged and corked.
Very dark color, Solid black with a hint of a reddish hue. Rusty brown colored head. Whoa, what an aroma. Scents of caramelized sugar, dark sugar, deep malts, lots of dried fruit. The nose is all Raisin! Tastes of burnt sugar, lots of dark fruits, sticky sweetness, light cherry and plum. Finishes with a lingering taste of raisins. Very tasty, it is a meal in a glass. ABV is very well hidden, I sense no alcohol or heat at all. Drinks very smooth, creamy, and full of dark fruit. Somebody has been taking lessons from the Trappists...
My 2200th Rating, my 222nd California Rating & Happy 33rd Mattie!

Richmond "industry" gathering. Dark brown appearance. Huge caramel malt and cherry aroma. Flavor is thickly malty in the vein of a Thomas Hardy brew. Great depth of flavor. Hint of earthiness in the finish. Awesome brew. Another favorite from the tasting.

Draft at PP Belgian Beer Fest. My favorite of the entire fest. Aromas of dark fruit, plum, raisin. Some more of the same on the flavor. Touches of dust and alcohol. Nice hoppiness too. Very very good.

Pours a deep velvety brown color w/ a medium sized, semi creamy, spattered froth. Decent head retention. Residual lacing is complete and beautiful. Aromas of spicey dark fruits release themselves from the goblet. It’s a very nice, fresh scent w/ a touch of medicine. Full nectar w/ ample residual effers. Posseses a thin, velvety texture then goes creamy as she warms. Huge, deep seated dark fruit malts purge forward w/ a defined peach pit bittering component riding it’s back. Theres a very subtle yet defined spicey essence here. Almost like cinnamon and clove. Everything is black. Plumb, cherry, cocoa, leather, cassis, anise, clove, Angostura bitters. The sweetness factor is mild to moderate but the bitterness unit kills it quickly. This is a very serious brew amigos. The finish is bittered w/ peach pit leaving a partched feeling along w/ some residual fruits. Overall: I’ll say it again, this brew is huge and will benefit w/ some cellar time. These very strong flavors will continue to develope for years to come like a great first growth Bordeaux. I suggest buying two bottles. drink one now and hold the other for Judgment Day or at least 2012. I did...

Bomber, shared. Pours a deep brown color with those gorgeous ruby-red edges noticeable. Aroma is a gorgeous incantation of dark fruit, caramel, and a Belgian yeast strain. Flavor is the same, with the alcohol amazingly well-hidden and the flavors exploding and then dancing across your tongue. I absolutely loved this - one of my all-time favorites in my all-time favorite style.