Pizza Port Cuvee de Tomme

Brewed by Port Brewing/Lost Abbey
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
San Marcos, California USA

Several pours at the 3rd Annual FoBAB in Chicago (on tap!). Dark brown... almost blood red, with a medium, fizzy tan cap of head. So much going on in the aroma... funky brett, sour cherries, oak, and lots of vinous notes. Tart, sour, and prickly on the palate... each sensation distinct, and each memorable. Sour cherries and vinous flavors right from the beginning. Oak was secondary and imparted some vanilla and earthy characteristics. Brett also added some funkiness in there, and there was some caramel to hold it together. Sour, slightly sticky, and tannic finish left the mouth watering. Complexity and intrigue of this one were second to none. Enjoyed every minute of it!

A fully diminishing small frothy white head tops up a hazy wierd unappealing medium brownish body. Moderate lacing. No particles. Few bubbles. Aroma presents malt being light nutty while hops are very faint grass ... Yeast character is light. Also, there are evident evocations of sour cherry, vanilla from oak aging and almonds, prunes, among others. Initial flavor is medium sour and acidic while development tends to lead to woody tones/vanilla overtones. sour. Very complex and well constructed. Smooth transition in-between flavors. Very impressive. As balanced as a beer can be. Oak barrel used at its best. Finish is long and medium to full body... creamy texture... Soft carbonation... Thanks to Rastacouere for sharing this!
[ Bottled ; chilled ; dates are unknown ]

bottle: pours a very dark brown colour with little to no head. aroma is very nice kind of sweet to start but a great funky sour creeps in, then a little fruit cherry and some kind of pit fruit, a little dried fig too. decent bourbon and a very good barrel aroma with great vannlla cream. wow the flavoru hits at all angles with funkiness, fruitness (cherries and figs) great amount of oak to with awesome vanilla hints a decent amount of malt lingers in the back of the palate a terrific finish on theis beer. a great choice for 700.

Randomly came across a Black Label Version 750 ml bottle into a Tulip glass at Union downtown. THANK GOD!!! Here are my notes: Pours deep mahagony ruby red with brown tones, off white to tanned head with excellent retention sticking to the sides of the glass. Aroma: belgian sweet sugar, dark cherries, aged oak, small alcohol nose, bits of brown sugar, light whiskey, deep red wine tannins, retains scent throughout. Flavor: deep sweet malts, sour black fermented cherries, pungent fruits, whiskied oak, warming alcohol presence at the end into the nose, very port like, lambic like yeast notes, taste like a light whiskey red wine blend, red winey aftertaste. Overall: This one basically left me speechless. I can definitely see how some may encounter this and not dig it as much, but I instantly fell in love with this brew. Everything about it screams original and exciting. The aroma and flavors burst at the seams! If you see this: BUY IT!! Already one of my top beers for sure!!

Bottle (Thanks giarcsr!) Pours a muddy dark burgundy color with a creamy khaki head. The nose is rich! Toffee, dark malt, vanilla, a pleasant tingle of alcohol, oak- the booziness isn’t sweet, complimenting the oak character. Also has some earthy wood and mild brett character of leather and cherry skins. Substantial palate, both crisp and creamy. Has a nice sharp brett flavor upfront with leather, dust, cheese-rind, cherry skin tartness and bitterness- which is followed by a nice dark malt character with a touch of roast and subtle boozy notes from the bourbon which is never sweet or alcoholic. It’s a perfect marriage of brett-y funk and smooth bourbon/oak. Smooth oak tannins and toasted vanilla as it warms. Extremely well integrated, complex and individualistic.

Bottle (2008) at home - thanks to Sune for sending this !!! Dark nutbrown - offwhite head. Cherry, raisins, bourbon, vanilla, sourness, brett, bike-glue, cinnamin, dark fruits, sweetness, tart,spicy, vinous and warming. Very smooth and harmonic. I Love This VeryMuch.

Holy Christ! This is deceptively strong. Drinking this from a tap (lacking ABV info) I just barely picked up a hint of alcohol, unitl I felt it after finishing. Pours almost black with a medium-light head. Sour, slightly woody aroma. Pleasant. Take a sip, the mouth puckers immediately. Very sour, very delicious, and pretty unique. The cherry is subtle, the oak a bit less so, and the brett not subtle at all. A truly impressive beer.

From 375 ml. purchased at the 1st anniversary at the brewery. Immediate smells hit the room as soon as the cork came out. Cherries, fresh cut daisies, roses, plums, and apricots. Poured a brownish purple, and had no head. Tastes of sour cherries, raisins, plums, and spices. Might be a bit young. It should age nicely. I dont think anyone will be dissapointed if they enjoyed this as soon as they received it. Very Very good.