Lost Abbey The Angel’s Share Grand Cru

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

Serve in Snifter

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375 mL bottle purchased at the brewery on release day (February 13, 2010) for $20. I tried the 2009 brandy barrel Angels Share last night, so I was eager to see how good this might be. The bottle opens with a considerable pop, more than the one last night. Pours into tulip glass a dark brown with...wait for it...two full fingers of brown head with great retention. Yes, it appears to be generously carbonated! Same excellent aroma (caramel, wood, maple syrup, chocolate, vanilla, and booze), but it’s somewhat muted -- could be because of that thick layer of foam that was not there in the much flatter 2009 brandy barrel I had last night ;-) Flavor is richer and more complex than the normal Angels Share -- the wood and booze (both brandy and bourbon are there) stand out more while the caramel and chocolate are more subdued. And I almost didn’t expect to be able to taste the grapes, but there’s a hint in there. Though the brandy/bourbon flavors are more noticeable, this actually has less "booze" in the flavor and finish than the normal Angels Share -- very smooth. Really, the carbonation is not a big issue for this beer which is a sipper any way. Though the bottle I had last night was flat, I have to say that the much improved carbonation in this bottle does not really add to the flavor or the overall experience. $20 is too much for a 375 mL bottle but I do have to say that I was very impressed with this one. (15, 234)

From notes. First reviewed 2/23/2011. Poured from a 300 mL bottle into a pint glass. The pour is molasses brown, with a small cocoa colored head. With the ABV what it is, I am not surprised at the quick disappearance of the head or lack of lace. The aroma has some tart cherry notes. Molasses, caramel, and brown sugar all provide a sweet aspect to the aroma, and some roasted malt, vanilla, oak, and dark fruits add some serious depth. Even knowing how sweet this is going to be, I am still turned off by how overwhelming the sweetness actually is. Brown sugar and molasses really overpower the medium roasted malt. Some plums, brandy, vanilla and oak add complexity, but unfortunately add to the sweetness as well. A bit of oak later on helps a bit toward the end. This is clearly a dessert beer. This full bodied strong ale starts off sweet and chewy and finishes a little bit dry from the oak. Light to medium carbonation. A bit of heat is apparent in a warming sensation that hits my stomach. I enjoyed the small glass I had and thought it was very well-crafted, but I would not really be able to handle much more of this outside of a dessert setting.

Sampled at a tasting last year sometime. Dark murky brown pour, little head. Lots of dark candy malt and bourbon on the nose. Big beer here, lots of bourbon, yeasty bread, oak, and mild caramel all over, given to you in a sticky palate coating that rocks. Big bourbony blended finish that lingers. Dank.

Big bourbon and wine aroma. Quite vinous, vanilla accented flavor. More complex than the brandy barrel, but not quite as hedonisticly pleasurable as the bourbon barrel.

Tasted on 12/2/11 from a corked and caged 375mL bottle purchased online from Beverages4Less. Pours an extremely thick dark brown, almost looks like molasses, with a thin tan head that slowly recedes to a thin collar of lace. The nose is super intense sweet raisin with tons of brown sugar, slightly oxidized port wine, actually quite vinous and fruity, balsamic, and some underlying tartness that becomes more apparent as the beer warms. The sourness is much more present on the flavor, showing with tart lemon and balsamic vinegar, but all of the raisin vinous fruit, brown sugar, caramel, and toffee flavors are in the background, along with the distinct note of black peppercorn. The body is very thick and somewhat syrupy with a good amount of tannin, light, but fizzy carbonation, and a very long finish that starts off with the sour notes and moves through the gamut of vinous and malty caramel flavors as well. I am not sure that this was intended, but this is an excellent beer, almost completely masking the high alcohol content.

375 ml cork and cage bottle thanks to boamr, thanks Ryan. Poured an ugly super deep slght reddish brown with the tiniest touch of beige head with some super serious agitation. Aroma of brandy, old honey, wet wood, sour cherry juice. The body was rather lifeless with only a hint of carbonation, medium body and a slight oily feel overall. Flavor is loaded with alcohol, vanilla and cherry juice, brandy, cardboard and more alcohol. I should of dank this one months ago, my bad.

Thanks to Dmac. Pours out a moderate rather still brown color with not much of a head. Aroma is dried fruits, strong alcohol notes, light oak, and light tartness. Taste is of light tartness, some dried fruits, light caramel port wine, oak, and some earthy notes, wine.

Bottle. Aroma has notes of bourbon, oak, leather, smoke, tobacco, alcohol, chocolate, vanilla and roasted malts. Very dark ruddy brown hue with no head. Flavor is heavy sweet. Palate is very heavy and oily flat. Overall a great smelling Barley Wine but with a huge amount of issues. Once again Lost Abbey fails to carbonate their Angel’s Share that now I’m thinking it’s on purpose. The result is one ugly beer with a gross palate. The bourbon is well blended and the aroma is just wonderful. Over rated bourbon BW as usual.

12.7 oz bottle. Poured murky medium-brown with a short-lived beige head. The aroma picked up warm molasses, aged caramel, biscuits, and vinous fruit, with sweet bourbon and brandy accents.. tangy oak and grape skins emerged with warmth.. alcohol was held in check by the lovely deep sugars. The flavor found tasty vanilla beans across the middle, joined by aged caramel and molasses.. tangy oak, fruit skins, and black peppery notes laced throughout.. very tasty bourbon, molasses, and vinous notes on the long, belly-warming finish.. loved it! Heavier-bodied with low (but some) carbonation on the palate.. spicy, well-balanced, and extremely tasty! This was awesome.

A: The beer pours a hazy amber color with a rather large off-white head. S: Very sour. Lemon, raspberry, and cherry with plenty of vinegar. Light bourbon and brandy notes with some mild vanilla and red grapes. T: The flavor is just as off. Tons of lemon and vinegar notes. Lots of red fruits, especially raspberries, almost like a framboise in a sense. Light bourbon and brandy, a little bit of vanilla, too. M: Medium bodied with very high carbonation. O: Obviously this one has gone off the deep end.

Red, brown, copper colored brew. Amazing smell, chocolate, cherries, acidic. Flavor has some sweetnjavascript: RadioSel(overall,17);ess, tart, cherries, wood, vanilla. Very nice sip beer.