 frankenkitty (1789), Oak Lawn, Illinois, USA
Nov 14, 2005
Thick & mahogany colored with a large initial head that settles to a brown, oily film. Rich caramel & bourbon woodsiness in aroma (very lovely). High on alcohol & sweetness with mild vinegar notes. Predominantly sour & odd in flavor with cherries and Brett stealing the show. Vinous and sour... nothing like the Belgian Strong Ales that I enjoy (<a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Ratings/Beer/Beer-Ratings.asp?BeerID=3958&FanOfID=18655>Gulden Draak, <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Ratings/Beer/Beer-Ratings.asp?BeerID=9290&FanOfID=18655>Goose Island 1800 Demolition, <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Ratings/Beer/Beer-Ratings.asp?BeerID=30519&FanOfID=18655>Avery the Beast, etc.)
After all of the hub-bub I’d heard surrounding this beer, I found it a neccessity to sample (and I encourage others to do the same.) I applaud the brewers in their skill and innvovation, yet a beer is a work of art, open to interpretation and depedent upon the palate of the patron. I appreciate this beer as I appreciate the works of Rothko, Pollock, Picasso, Christo, et. al.: Skillfully manipulated, bold, avant garde and well-presented... yet the finished work falls short of and does not appeal to my personal tastes.
<font size=-4>Sampled at <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/events-detail.asp?eventID=2795>The Third Annual Festival of Barrel-Aged Beer, Chicago, IL<font size=-1>
Floback (237), N-town, Florida, USA
Aug 17, 2008 Multitudes of gratitude to SoLan for sharing this incredible example of solid brewing craftsmanship. Actually, "solid" would be an understatement. Pours a very dark caramel/brown color and a tan-colored head. The nose is humongous with strong caramel hues of oak bourbon barrel, cinnamon, and plum. Flavors are intensely boozy, yet smooth and include soy sauce, firewood, cinnamon rolls, teriyaki, dark fruits, and musty earth. Low carbonation and huge body. Incredibly complex and delicious. I hope Port/Lost Abbey intends to distribute to Florida in the near future.
grimreeser (662), Minnesota, USA
Aug 16, 2008 Pours brown with a nice tan head. Aroma of cherry and some bourbon. Flavor is tart, slightly sweet. Very solid. Don’t notice the alcohol at all. Thanks Sean!
JCB (949), Durham, North Carolina, USA
Aug 13, 2008 375ml from Sinners Club. Deep dark pour, russet to dark brown. Very still, with almost no carbonation. But the nose is splendid, with lovely musty notes piling up everywhere, some trace of old ale in there that I just can’t put my finger on. Initial taste is certainly very heavy on the dark cherry, a sour front with a nice dry finish that complements the very awesome hint of pepper that emerges as you swirl it on your palate. But again, there’s this note in the middle - is it leather, tobacco, something a bit like that? - that makes this brew very enigmatic and appealing, giving just a bit of a tweak to an already very strong beer. Keep ’em coming, Tomme!
AmEricanbrew (907), Left Coast, Louisiana, USA
Aug 13, 2008 2008 bottling. Clear chestnut color with a tan head. Nice aromas of dark caramel cherries with lemon and wood. Medium body, Good taste is mildly sour with dark raisons, cherry, tart lemon and a wet wood mustiness. A nice bretty boozy woody concoction.
Avengedpoet (21), Arizona, USA
Aug 13, 2008 Thanks to Rustychiles. 2008 bottle. Pours a supernatural brown color that is just barely see-through. Nose is amazingly complex and beautiful. Heavy Brett character, cherries, burnt fruit, oak, and lots of bourbon. Initially, the alcoholic taste of the bourbon overwhelms all other tastes. Significantly improves as it warms up; lots more of the Brett and cherries are noticeable. A very complex beer. Super carbonated, which took away from the taste somewhat as well. Not as impressive as I had imagined, but very complex. Definitely for sharing.
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