Lost & Found Abbey Ale - The Lost Abbey

sholland119

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-Pours a murky amber-brown with a thin white head that quickly dissipates.

S-Candi sugar, brown sugar, raisins and a whiff of spice (anise, clove, maybe coriander too).

T-Probably my favorite dubbel ever. Sweet and complex, with the expected candi sugar mixing with a nice brown sugar flavor, raisins and plums with some nice spicing.

M-Rich and a bit creamy and a bit thick on the tongue.

D-An easy drinker, satisfying but not too heavy on ABV to finish the bomber myself.

HV

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2008 15:40:26 | More by sholland119

mfhlucky13

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I want to start by saying, that usually I'm turned off by beer brewed with raisins. Boy was I wrong about the raisin.

A: Dark reddish brown with lots of carbonation and a nice bit of head that faded quickly.

S: Raisins, yea raisins, lightly sweet, some yeast & malt

T: Wonderful, ripe fruit, OK, maybe raisins

M: Smooth & creamy, nice

D: Very drinkable. I would like another please

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2008 22:50:16 | More by mfhlucky13

GilGarp

Colorado

4.45/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

After a few too many hop bombs lately, I've decided to go back to a style that has long been a favorite, Belgian dubbel.

This is my first of the Lost Abbey's beers and I'm happy to have them in Colorado. I secretly hope this encourages New Belgium to go back to their roots and make some great belgian style ales. Maybe even re-release Abbey Gran Cru?! On to the review...

The bottle is beautiful for starters. It has a stunning label, a black wire cage over real cork, and a metal cap with the brewery's logo. It pops quietly and pours slowly into the center of a tulip glass with almost no head. It is dark walnut brown with a faint hint of redness and good clarity.

Aromas are subtle but very pleasant. Mainly fruits and some spice.

Flavor is excellent with all the telltale signs of a great dubbel - raisins, figs, plums, apples, spices, and nuts. It's very enjoyable and complex. Luckily, Lost Abbey does not display the common attribute of American versions being overpowered. The great thing about Belgian styles is that they have many flavors that all get along together without shouting over one another.

Mouthfeel is great, nice and smooth, and I'm glad it isn't too carbonated the way Belgians often are.

Drinkability is very good as well and if it were lower in alcohol, I could drink it all night.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2008 01:33:06 | More by GilGarp

jbonapar

Ontario (Canada)

4.45/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Purchased somewhere in Boston. You American's as so lucky..such a great beer selection! Anyway...

Poured an almost burnt Amber. Thick head and clear.

Odor of subtle Banana and fig...So nice.

SPice, fig, alcohol and a warming subtle hop backbone. Love this. Very complex with so much going on i can't quite nail it.

Havnt had a beer from here I didn't like..

Serving type: growler

03-11-2012 01:46:00 | More by jbonapar

SwillinBrew

California

4.47/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Beautiful 750m bottle.

I poured this in my maredsous chalice and a rather clear brown sugar with a bit of terra cotta clay color filled my glass. The foamy head frothed up a little over 2 fingers of creamy tortilla colored goodness. Very aromatic and tickly on the nose. Scents of figs, plums, and dates are at the front. Very fragrant.

The taste follows the aroma quite well giving to a rum cake spiciness of figs and sweet toffee. Solid, earthy, fruity and just marvelous. Of the 3 from Lost Abbey that i've tried so far (Red Barn, Avant Garde and this one) I like this one best.

Very effervescent on the tongue and perfect for the upcoming holidays. I'll be aging several bottles of this to see how it comes out. Do yourself a favor and get some of this.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2006 18:02:08 | More by SwillinBrew

BlindPig

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A- 1/4-1/2" tan head on a clear really deep amber body. Nice decent lacing that sticks to glass a bit too.
S- Some fruit hints with a touch of light hops with a bit of malts. Some yeast comes through a bit too. Cherry, plums, and bit of raisins.
T- Quite a big fruit flavor comes out. Follows the smell on the fruits (cherries, plums, and maybe a touch of raisins). Alcohol tingles the tongue and has a very light warming in the back of throat. Some light hop notes with a touch of bitterness. Not sure which hop flavor it is. Some caramel (maybe toffee) malt fill the mouth too. This comes along with a nice helping of spices also.
M- Medium body with medium carbonation.
D- This is a very tasting brew and glad I got one for myself (nearly didn't). I will be picking more of this up next time I go down to Cali.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2007 04:42:37 | More by BlindPig

bjohnson

Massachusetts

4.47/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a murky brown color with a one finger caramel colored head. Quite a nice looking dubbel. Excellent retention with fine sticky lacing.
S: Yum. Deep dark fruits with a good spicy yeast characteristic in the background. Slight pear and lemon zest--bubblegum and banana notes are in there also. Sweet bready or doughy aromas also.
T/M: Dark fruits and sweet caramel coupled together create the base of the flavors. Slight banana and bubblegum notes. Very smooth across the palate with a slight zing due to the spicy flavors. Low carbonation with a medium body. A complex brew this is.
D: Low abv makes this a very drinkable beer. Soft on the palate. An excellent dubbel even at the price. Well worth the it. Glad I snagged this when I did.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2007 07:06:05 | More by bjohnson

MarcGetty

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I have a case of 750ml bottles courtesy of my friend Steve who is just moved to the San Diego area from PA and who probably now gets his mail sent to the Oceanside Pizza Port. Shangy's in Emmaus had this in cases and now I'm lucky to have the better part of a case to consume.

Lost & Found pours with zero head. There is obvious carbonation but it materializes on the sides of the glass, like a Pepsi. A chocolate-like smell can be found if you try, but there is not much of an aroma at all. This is a good thing.

As for mouthfeel, and more importantly, drinkability, it is very good. The 8.0% by volume can't be tasted and you can easily sip, or even consume it more aggressively, without a single wince.

As for it being brewed with rasins, I'm not a big fan of rasins, and luckily they are not strong at all. It tastes like a solid beer, not a beer that has additives in it.

Lost & Found is definitely worth picking up. Even if you are in PA and must get a case, do so as you will not regret it.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2009 22:14:20 | More by MarcGetty

Dukeofearl

California

4.5/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Purchased at LaBodega in Riverside, CA. for $8.99 (?) in November 2006. Consumed a couple weeks later.

OK, I'm starting this review with a couple of complaints. 1) This beer has too much of an alcohol burn at the end of the swallow. 2) The bottle claims to be 750 ml in size. It's impossible. There is no way this bottle is any more than 50-75 ml max. It just disappeared from my Leffe goblet, and I know it doesn't have a hole in the bottom!

I think this is one of the best dubbels I have ever tried. Very tasty (caramel and dark fruits-raisins, figs, dates, and such, with a bit of sharpness at the end), wonderful aroma and drinkability. Aroma of bubblegum? Nice and rich. Full flavored without being too complex. I can't wax poetic in this review, because I am too busy drinking it.

Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2006 02:34:07 | More by Dukeofearl

Wasatch

Utah

4.5/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml Bottle
Caged/Corked

Poured into a chalice a nice mahongy color, nice carbonation, awesome two-finger plus very creamy tan head, tons and tons of creamy/sticky lacing follows. The nose is malty, raisins, prunes, figs, and some caramel. The taste is awesome, malty, dark fruits galour, and a nice touch of caramel. Full body. Very drinkable, another awesome brew from Lost Abbey, highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2007 00:32:24 | More by Wasatch

Ambiorix

Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Dark brown pour, huge foamy light tan head. Great lacing.

S: Raisins, dark brown bready malt, estery yeast.

T: Brown bread, raisins, alcohol, dark fruit.

M: Well carbonated, medium mouthfeel.

D: Excellent. Right on for the style. Very well executed. Tasty stuff!

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2011 03:36:59 | More by Ambiorix

midaszero

Washington

4.53/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle from South Bay served with triple bock marinaded skirt steak ( http://beeradvocate.com/forum/read/1469883 ) and Beemster XO & Beemster garlic.

A - cloudy dark brown with some white head

S - Rich and strong. Dark fruit, sweetness, and Belgian yeast

T - Raisins with other dark fruit tastes. Not as sweet as the nose would suggest with a little alcohol bite.

M - Medium body and light carbonation

D - Excellent I can't wait to break out my next bottle and will be ordering more

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2008 00:44:49 | More by midaszero

jminsc76

California

4.53/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Into a tulip, pours a large foamy head (I was going to write the significant quantity of head is surprising, however, not all Lost Abbey beers around this time were suffering from carbonation problems) sitting atop a dark reddish/brownish body. The head reemerges very quickly upon agitation, with thick legs down the side as I tilt.

Pleasant and spicy aromas that include dark fruits such as figs and raisins as well as some candy.

Flavors include the aforementioned figs and raisins, but also malts, spices, and some bitterness. Measures up well in flavors to some of the other Belgian/Belgian-style dubbels I like.

The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and a bit tingly.

Overall, I give this an A. I really enjoyed the overall complexity, and the sweetness was not overpowering. Great job Lost Abbey.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2010 06:25:27 | More by jminsc76

rxdrewthejew

California

4.55/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Got this bottle right from the source last weekend. If you're ever in Escondido go to The Lost Abbey. You won't regret it.

A: Deep red/brown, some light gets through the edges but quite hazy, almost opaque, in the middle. Decent two finger tan head that fades to about one finger, supported by lots of little bubbles.

S: Rich, fruity and spicy. Grape/raisin smell is quite noticable, but I also get a bit of apple, pear, pepper and just a bit of sweet sugar.

T: Earthy malt with pepper and other spices is the first thing I noticed. This is followed by raisin and mild apple. The finish is sweet alcohol, more earthiness, and a touch of bitterness.

MF: Quite full and bubbly. A bit syrupy but I wouldn't call it thick. Mild warming and the alcohol only gets noticeable when the drink is almost done.

D: This is really an excellent dubbel. It has all the elements of a good Belgian, and the raisin compote gives it an added dimension that you don't always see. Probably TLA's best year-round brew. One bottle has me pretty buzzed so I don't know that this would be a good session beer, but it can be sipped or drank a little faster. Awesome stuff, I'm glad I can find this locally.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2008 03:25:24 | More by rxdrewthejew

benito

Oregon

4.55/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A: Cloudy, dark amber with hints of purple--almost sanguine--with a lasting head.

S: Lots of raisins, alcohol, light phenols, tobacco, and some pepper. Very complex bouquet all around.

T: Wow, this is one of the most luscious, drinkable, and well-balanced dubbels I've ever had. The raisins are a dominant flavor throughout each sip, and nicely round out some of the other, yeast-driven flavors. Nice alcohol warming on the back end. A slightly dry, bitter finish.

M & D: Full-bodied and well balanced with growing complexity of flavors in each sip. The texture of the raisin puree really holds this together. Again, the finish might come on a little more smoothly.
Great drinkability for such a strong beer.

Overall, this is a great abbey-style ale, and the use of raisins is a real highlight. Easily the best dubbel that I've had from a US brewery.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2008 15:14:55 | More by benito

dsa7783

New Jersey

4.6/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750 ML bottle copped corked and caged from New Beer Distributors on Chrystie Street in Manhattan...
Appearance: An aggressive pour yielded a ruby-red, mahogany brown hue with a decent-sized foamy head that soon receded and deposited a thin film of lacing around the edge of the serving glass...
Smell: Dehydrated fruits, rich malts evident in the nose...
Taste: Fantastic, true-to-the-style, excellent American depiction of an authentic Belgian style, repelte with figs, prunes, raisins, dates, and rich malts...
Thick, full-bodied mouthfeel along with an equally good level of drinkability...
Excellent depiction of the genre... One of the best Dubbels' I've sampled, period...

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2008 18:18:47 | More by dsa7783

Trueant1

Minnesota

4.63/5  rDev +19%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Man, this looks good. Dark Dark amber, nice off white head.

Smells of raisons, belgian yeast, mild hops, and sweet sweet medium roasted malts.

Tastes of dark fruits, raisons, bready yeast, and cola like flavors. Yummy!

Mouthfeel is sticky sweet, nicely carbonated, and thick on the tounge. Great!

Good drinkibility. Not too0 alcoholic. FULL of sweet dark fruit malt flavor!

WOuld like this at port brewery on tap next!

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2008 04:18:38 | More by Trueant1

stimulus

New Jersey

4.63/5  rDev +19%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750 mL bottle into a New Belgium globe glass.

A: Smells just like raisins, with a bit of molasses, but not too much. You can tell this is going to be a malty beer.
S: Pours a deep brown with a foamy beige head that doesn't disappear.
T: Big and malty with a nice raisin finish. No trace of alcohol, which is surprising once I saw that it is 8% abv.
M: Very well carbonated and medium bodied.
D: For what it is, it's pretty drinkable. Not overpowering in sweetness, but it hides the alcohol quite well. The best Lost Abbey beer I've tried to date!

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2010 22:04:06 | More by stimulus

xymyl

Arizona

4.65/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dark brown/copper color beer with a fragile looking head that actually sticks around a very long time *eventually* settling to a ring and a cloud.

Smell is herbal, fruity, earthy, smokey, winey -- but not extremely so yet, caramel, grape skins, onions, banana peels, cloves & cinnamon, and all sorts of other stuff but it's time to move on in this review.

Taste is meaty (specifically slow cooked asian five spice pork -- well, maybe not exactly but it shares some real similarities and accompanied it perfectly), pepper comes forward, caramelized onions, fresh bread, the fruitiness is big with ripe and overripe plums, pears, mangos, rotten oranges and beef steak juice (I know that's not a fruit, but it is a juice).

The lightness of this beer makes you expect less and I could see how it might pass you by if you drink it cold. I had this at about 50 degrees which was just the right place to start. Now I'm finishing it up at about 66 degrees. Medium/Light bodied and very drinkable. I know I said some things that might turn some off this beer, but that just leaves more for me!

I need to grab a few bottles and let them sit for 3 to 6 years, then this will be perfect when it really shows up its wine-like qualities.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2008 05:34:49 | More by xymyl

Phocion

Minnesota

4.65/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle purchased just before Christmas last year, split between my roommate and I in two tulips. Pours a very dark ruby color with a thick, resilient, and frothy light brown head that resembles root beer more than beer beer.

One sniff and the word that comes to mind is "whoa." Very yeasty, hints of banana, cinnamon, caramel/toffee, dark fruits (fig, raisin, etc.), brown sugar, and bready malts -- amazing. My decision to stop smoking a week ago already seems to be paying off!

Spicy and sour, just the way a good Belgian should be. Fairly strong alcohol flavor for the ABV, but not overpowering or displeasing.

Smooth as silk and a very satisfying body and level of carbonation. Easily drinkable and an amazing beer, easily one of, if not the best Belgian-style beers in America. In fact, it could possibly be that the capital of Belgium is located not in Flanders, but North County SD.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2008 01:31:53 | More by Phocion

blitheringidiot

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pop the gorgeous painted cap over the cork and get ready for this 7% ABV bomb.

Pours with a dim lights out stormy auburn mess topped with a craggy beige cap that settles to a collar.

Bold scents of ripe banana and unbaked carrot cake dough. THis is as Belgian as they get finalized with cinnamon and nutmeg.

First swigs: Exceptional brown spice cake, overly ripe bananas and french toast meld. Tons of complex flavors that oooze out towards a palate plethora replete with figs, grain waflles, red grapes and orange juice. Intense flavors rule the roost.

Feel is gentle and soft cushion rolling. Linger of pastry and waffles. 7% ABV is suspect. My liver-o-meter says closer to 9% ABV and that's kid tested and mother approved. Dubbels with bawls like this are intense and satisfying. Nevermind the bullocks...here's Lost Abbey.

Last swigs: Is this the best American Belgian Dubble ever? Maybe. No...yes...

Beer is good. Happy dubbel beering.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2006 08:10:38 | More by blitheringidiot

bosco7

Pennsylvania

4.72/5  rDev +21.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Dark brown almost opaque with creamy off-white head. Head retention is not that spectacular.

Highly aromatic. Whoa. Cinnamon bread, raisins, fig, toffee, and spicy phenols in the nose.

This brew is utterly delicious. Starts with sweet toffee, caramel, and cinnamon flavors. Mild chocolate in there too. Then raisin, fig, and prunes dominate in the middle and finish. Some yeast, cloves and cinnamon in the finish as well. Finishes dry. Very inviting and familiar yet unique and new.

Smooth mouthfeel that is crisp and refreshing at the same time. Overall this is a fantastic interpretation of the style while being unique. Highly recomended.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2007 01:52:05 | More by bosco7

GClarkage

California

4.75/5  rDev +22.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11/28/06- Purchased at Ledgers Liquors in Berkeley, CA.

Presentation- 750ml bottle, both caged and corked. No freshness info. Poured into my St. Bernardus chalice.

Appearance- Ruby red, maybe a touch chestnut-brown as well. 1/2 inch frothy head rises. Settles as a light rim. Decent cobweb lace.

Smell- Very malty with a heavy caramel candied scent. Loads of toffee and a good amount of dark fruits including figs and rasins. Reminds me of RR Benediction.

Taste- Toffee candied taste with a sugary caramel finish. The figs and rasins are there, but are overpowered by the rich caramel malt. Wonderful strong flavors.

Mouthfeel- A bit overcarbonated at first, but dies down as the beer opens up and warms. Heavy mouthfeel for a dubbel.

Drinkability- Hits reall hard for a dubbel and has the most flavor I've ever had per style besides maybe Westy 8....nice company for sure as that was my favorite dubbel. Matched if not better than my previous favorite amercian dubbel (RR Benediction).

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2007 00:47:01 | More by GClarkage

Greenfloyd

California

4.8/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is the best American made dubbel I've tried to date...

What a great tasting beer. Poured into my tulip glass with a dark raisin color, topped off with a fairly decent, lingering tan head. This is one of the best smelling beers yet, with banana bread hitting you right away, followed by malts and brown sugar. This beer could be made into incense...Tasted of dark fruits (the raisin mixture they add contributes to some great flavoring) malt, and again, subtle hints of brown sugar and fresh wheat bread. The mouth feel was fairly substantial, but the beer is so good that two 22oz bottles wouldn't be a problem. Pairs with the usual dubbel suspects- mild flavorful cheeses- though it would be a great after dinner finisher...Enjoy

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2007 06:07:41 | More by Greenfloyd

ShadesOfGray

Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +24.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Wow, I was very impressed with this one. Poured out of a 750ml bottle into a small sniffer. Was very impressed imediately. Smelled of raisons from the get-go. Very strong and pleasant smell. The color is definately cloudy and carmel dark brown. Rainsons and dates come to the tastebuds imediately. A belgian style Dubbel I will definately have again soon.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2009 03:09:31 | More by ShadesOfGray