Lost Abbey The Angels Share

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

750ml bottle, batch 1, cellar aged 1 year, BLIND!! Part of "Drewbeerme is crazy mofo for having me rate this blind" tasting. Dark brown, opaque color and small to medium beige head. Sour chocolate aroma with old fruit and al very slight (after finding out what this beer was, I can attribute a lot of what I was smelling to the aging process, including vanilla and alc). Nice flavor of sour roast, bitter fruit, boozy, chocolate, (once again a lot of what I was getting could have been from the barrel-aging, especially some of the char/dark malt taste and alc). Body is a little thin for all of the flavors that are going on, but none the less very creamy, though I could live without the burn. Overall a very nice beer, and I dig the age flavors that were already coming out at a year, I would love to try it again after a few years (hint hint nudge nudge Andrew). Also I think I would have rated it higher if I had known what it was from the beginning.

Nose is whiskey - lots of vanilla, some wood, fruit (plums), caramel. Rich brown with a thin but lingering head. Flavor is more of that whiskey, caramel, booze, brown sugar. Too boozy and the barrel is overdone. Don’t believe the hype.

11/30/07, 750ml bottle, batch 1, cellar aged 1 year. I guess this is a birthday beer. pours dark brown with tan head. nose has lots of oak, rum, vanilla, coconut, and charred caramel. beautiful nose. flavor is wow, the brandy notes dance on the tongue, lushish caramel notes, raisins and plums underneath, some licorice, vanilla, charred wood, wow a really complex profile that seems integrated perfectly. there’s some heat to it but it works well with the beer. the feel is full, not thick or chewy, but rich and perfect. alcohol comes through in the finish in some sips more than others but it doesn’t burn. a beautifully complex barley wine that is blended perfectly with the influence of the barrel. awesome stuff.4.4.

3/6/08, 2007 vintage, big thanks to holdenn for sharing this. i really enjoyed this vintage but felt it the edges weren’t as smooth as the 2006. still amazing, extremely tasty, and i wish i had more. thanks matt! 4.2.

this was a great treat that I got to share with Pantanap, and thanks to him for sharing. I had to rate from memory b/c it was a suprise when he busted it out... but his tasting notes seem right on, the palate was flat yet full and not dull, very drinkable and smooth, definitly very complex, and definitly fun to drink... thanks.

bottle (2007).....a very dark brown pour with very little to no head to be seen.....aromas of dark fruit, chocolate, brown sugar, maple, and a little bit of brandy. a little boozy but a very pleasing aroma.....flavors did not deviate far from the aromas with the exception of a little tobacco, woodiness, and some vanilla. it finishes with a slight bitterness and a little alcohol burn. mouthfeel wasn’t as full-bodied as i was somehow expecting but this doesn’t take away from the enjoyability of this well crafted brew. recommended for sure.

Bomber of the initial bottling from 2006. Thanks chris!! Very nice, sweet cocoa/coffee aroma blended perfectly with hints of Jack Daniels-like bourbon. Pitted fruits, prunes, and raisins are also evident in this AMAZINGLY quaffable and pleasant aroma. Flawless. Nearly opaque dark mahogany body with a mild, frothy, tan/yellow head with nice legging. Head is a bit too small and retention is not overly fortuitous. Sweet, raisiny, fruity start, which has some bourbon flavors before a nice, leathery, tobacco, roasted, chocolate maltiness in the middle. Finishes with some light piney hop bitterness. A little more roastiness lingers. Warming. Extremely drinkable, extremely delicious, outstanding work of art.

pours out a dark red that is so dark it looks black. There is little to no head but there are some brown wisps on top. Alcohol and sugar nose. The palate is a little thin, but oddly it doesn’t distract. Dark fruits, brown sugar, caramel. Its just yummy.

Tasted on tap at the 2007 Bistro West Coast Barrel Aged Beer Festival. This Barley wine poured a deep amber color. Small sized white foamy head. Aroma is malt, caramel, dark fruit, chocolate and brandy. Med to full bodied barley wine. Malts are caramel and toffee. Touch of oak and vanilla. Very smooth, but this one still has a touch of an edge to it. Nice balance of oak and caramel. Very complex beer. Contrasted nicely with the 2007 version at the fest as well. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet.