Lost Abbey The Angels Share

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

750ml bottle. 2007. I drank a bottle of this about a two months ago at my wedding. I had never had it before and thought it was excellent. Was going to save this for a year or so because I thought it could stand the time and possibly improve. After reading numerous reports that this was infected/went bad I figured I better open up my second bottle in case I wasn’t so lucky. Thankfully this one is not infected.

Pours dark brown/black, certainly the darkest ’Barleywine’ I’ve ever seen. A small off-white head is small and has pour retention. A circle of bubbles and some inner swirls remain but carbonation is on the low end. Red hues around the rim are visible in front of the light but this very dark. Aroma shows chocolate, graham crackers, smore. Graham cracker sticks out the most and is probably the most intense graham cracker I’ve ever encountered in a beer. A toastiness/freshly baked bread component is also noticeable in the nose. Very interesting and unique aroma. Vanilla and oak incredibly subtle in the smell, Brandy I’m not sure is there at all. Chocolate bread is about the best I could describe this smell, though it is more appetizing than that description implies.

The flavor is fruity, a teeny bit tart, vinous, wine-like with some oakiness, and a touch of alcohol flavor and some brandy/caramel sweetness. Wood notes in there as well though they are faint. The fruit is cherry and red grape, slightly tart and interesting, could be from the brandy. Though the flavor has a sweetness to it the beer itself is not very thick or chewy, it goes down well and is certainly not cloying. A nice alcohol warmth is present and pleasant. If there were no worries of infection or anything of the like I hold by my opinion that this could age for at least another year or two. I would like to try the 06 version and the bourbon barrel version as well. From the two samples I’ve had of this vintage I am impressed.

Bottle courtesy MrBunn. 1 year old bottle that I agree with him may be infected. Smells like apples and trash or maybe a beer bottle return in the grocery store.Flavor is ass-bad. Notes of malt prunes and apple cider. sweet and syrupy and a lot of notsogood.

Bottle. Pour is a beautiful mahogany brown with bubbles on the surface but little head. Aromas are thick with apples, grape jelly and junk... so I begin to wonder if this is infected. Pushing on, though, there are slightly sour fruit flavors from apples and raisins, but things fall apart from here. Alcohol and flavors don’t match, barrel aging is detectable, but seems out of place, strange sour notes are not good... But this all makes me wonder... is this infected or is this not for me?

2008 Bottle pours dark brown with a tall light brown head. Aroma is semi-sweet with hints of roasted malts and vanilla, slight barnyard smell. Taste is slightly sweet and malty with way too much alcohol that hides most flavors that this one may have. Lots of roasted grains maybe even slightly burnt but that again may be the alcohol. Finishes slightly bitter. Mouthfeel is thick and coating and burns from the alcohol.

Dark brown with beige head. Sweet aroma with roasted malt and caramel notes. Sweet aroma with roasted malt, caramel, flavour has signs of infection though hoppy and malty with alcohol notes. Finished sourish.

Taster – 2008 Great Salt Lake Festivus – Beer Session – Wow this was Beergasmic and totally one of the hits for the night for me. I have always wanted to try this beer. Great flavors, nose, finish this beer had very few if any flaws. The rich barley flavors with the oak and fruitiness made this beer near perfect. I am so in love with this beer.

Bottle. Smells like those brandied cakes my mom used to make at Christmas, but it tastes so much better....sorry Mom. Toasted nuts, vanilla, brandy, brown sugar......and the list goes on. Wonderful indeed.

rbesg08 grand tasting, bottled. i think tom brought this but i could be wrong. anyways, brown with a reddish tinge and a steady beige head. aroma of vanilla, raisin and a hint of whiteboard markers. some chewy toffee character, prunes and strawberry jam. quality stuff