Lost Abbey The Angels Share

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

Serve in Snifter

Very sweet cotton candy taste that is almost overwhelming. Let it warm up a little bit and it develops great sour notes that really enhance the complexity of the beer.

on tap @ Wade’s Wine’s. Massive chocolate, black liquorice and toffee notes on the nose, accompanied by a light breadiness. Pours a very dark, reddish color with a moderate foamy top. Flavoring is dominated by chocolate malt and an enormous taste of alcohol. Thick texture on the palate and a heavy blast of malt on the finish. Overall, a spicy, alcohol-filled brew with lots of black liquorice and chocolate flavor. A little too much alcohol and malt presence for my taste. I’d give this a C rating.

Sample at Eurostash III tasting on 01/12/2012: 2009 bottle. The beer pours a dark mahogany color with a medium tan head that dissipates quickly to an outer ring. Small patches of lacing on the glass. Aroma of dark fruit, caramel malt and chocolate. Rich and smooth body with a nice raisin and date character and notes of chocolate malt, caramel and vanilla. Brandy lends a nice warming boozyness in the background. The finish is sweet caramel and molasses with a lingering oak and dark fruit aftertaste. Very good all around, guess I lucked out!

While I’ve had more flat bottles than carbonated, this is still a very solid beer. I personally think of it more a an American Strong Ale as it has some Stout like tastes to me. Pours a dark murky brown with an off white head, when present. Great woody and sweet caramel/vanilla notes on the nose and taste. For the big price tag this beer is a risk in the bottle, but if you every run across it on tap its a must try!

2009 vintage 375 ml bottle. This pours a muddy, reddish chestnut brown color and barely topped by a few scant bubbles at the head that quickly rejoin the body below leaving a sudsy wash behind. Just no carbonation at all, which is a bit disappointing for sure. The aroma is very boozy, but deeper notes reveal caramel, toffee, chocolate, and dark fruits. The brandy barrel lends a distinct sweetness while offering loads of oak laden vanilla. The flavor follows suit with the caramel and toffee playing a huge part along with ample amounts of stewed dark fruits and vanilla from the oak. The brandy barrel lends its signature fruity sweetness well. There isn’t much in the way of hops to balance out all the malt sweetness though. Nearly full bodied, but the palate lacks some due to the lack of carbonation, which doesn’t help in covering up the sticky sugars. The finish is long, fruity, and boozy. This is certainly a very good beer, but one that is hindered due to no carbonation. I do enjoy the bourbon barrel version quite a bit more though. I’ll definitely rerate if I come across a carbonated bottle.

Thanks to pushkinwow for this at the Ottawa Tasting. 2008. Pours a brownish amber with no carbonation whatsoever. Aroma is sweet caramel, slightly floral, oak and dark fruit. Taste is a pleasure, the only thing that holds back is the lack of carbonation.

Bottle. Pours brown with a red tint and a thin beige head; spare lacing. Aroma is sour fruit, brown sugar, and molasses. Flavor matches the nose. Medium body, carbonation, and warmth.

750mL courtesy of riversidea... i mean Secret santa (Thanks), 2007 Vintage only gold lettering, Aged in Oak barrels on the label. 11.5%ABV noted on label. Pour is a dark dark brown with limited head, nose is belgian style and malty, but the barrel has faded a bit, taste is interesting having never had the beer fresh there is now a bit of acidity developed, which really adds to the beer. Straight forward belgian strong taste of malt then acidic middle with a sweet note on the exhale.. pretty good stuff.