Red Barn Ale - The Lost Abbey

zeledonia

Minnesota

3.33/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Another bottle picked up on my holiday trip to NJ. First beer I've reviewed from Lost Abbey? Surprising, but true. Bottled 4 January 2012.

Pours a mildly hazy medium golden yellow, with touches of orange. Quite a nice color, and just clear enough that I can see the curtain of bubbles rising up. An eruption of nearly-white head gradually relaxes to a thick cap with rolling hills, and leaves big gobs of foam all over the place. Wowser.

Smell is... nonexistent. Even if I bury my nose in the glass, I get nothing. I can imagine some light floral notes, and can almost convince myself of some yeasty aromas. But really, if I were blindfolded, and you held this up to my nose, I doubt I would know it was there. As it warms up, it gains a bit more presence, but it's still really faint.

Taste is earthy, moderately yeasty, with a bitter twist. There's not a lot here that initially screams saison to me, but the yeast and that earthy flavor comes through strong in a second wave. There's also a chomp of flower petal slick/warm/bitter. It's decent, but only a piece of what I'm looking for. Flowers start to get more pronounced as I make my way through the glass.

Medium-bodied, a little sticky. Carbonation is medium-low but persistent, lasting until the flavor goes, too.

Not a bad saison, but not my favorite. It's earthy and mildly bitter, and at times I feel like I'm licking a flower. Looks gorgeous, though.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 03:19:17 | More by zeledonia

doremite

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -6%

06-13-2013 20:58:13 | More by doremite

Paccamacca

California

3.75/5  rDev -6%

06-13-2013 05:13:10 | More by Paccamacca

mnphish

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +0.3%

06-12-2013 20:23:41 | More by mnphish

sonorb7

Australia

4.5/5  rDev +12.8%

06-09-2013 14:12:19 | More by sonorb7

ajzy

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -6%

06-02-2013 21:41:17 | More by ajzy

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -12.3%

06-01-2013 21:47:44 | More by mikeburd1128

Bockerdoppel91

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -12.3%

05-31-2013 00:11:39 | More by Bockerdoppel91

nrs207

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -12.3%

05-30-2013 22:47:51 | More by nrs207

Eighty

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -12.3%

05-30-2013 16:26:30 | More by Eighty

stampfler07

Colorado

4/5  rDev +0.3%

05-28-2013 01:31:17 | More by stampfler07

Jas45678

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -6%

05-28-2013 01:13:38 | More by Jas45678

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +0.3%

05-27-2013 16:42:37 | More by InspectorBob

ZombieJester

California

3.5/5  rDev -12.3%

05-27-2013 03:42:51 | More by ZombieJester

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%

05-26-2013 18:37:17 | More by Slatetank

KiMiRaiK

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -6%

05-26-2013 00:12:58 | More by KiMiRaiK

heavenlyStash

California

4/5  rDev +0.3%

05-24-2013 07:06:20 | More by heavenlyStash

superspak

Michigan

4.2/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 5/21/2012. Pours hazy golden amber color with a nice 2-3 finger dense and fluffy white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Spotty foamy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of big lemon, pear, apple, grape, ginger, grains of paradise, orange zest, clove, pepper, herbal, honey, light funk, and earthy yeast esters. Fantastic aromas with great balance and complexity of spices and yeast esters with moderate malt presence. Taste of lemon, pear, apple, grape, grains of paradise, ginger, clove, pepper, orange peel, honey, bread, light funk, and earthy yeast esters. Lingering notes of light fruits, ginger, grains of paradise, clove, pepper, honey, orange peel, and earthy yeast esters on the finish for a good bit. Damn nice balance and complexity of spices and yeast esters; with moderate malt balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a crisp, lightly slick, and lightly prickly mouthfeel that is very nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a highly excellent saison! All around great balance and complexity of spices and yeast ester flavors; and very smooth to drink. A highly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 04:03:20 | More by superspak

apintofknowledge

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +0.3%

05-23-2013 22:46:55 | More by apintofknowledge

metter98

New York

4.04/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A: The beer is clear light golden yellow in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger and a half high bright white head that gradually died down, consistently leaving a thin head covering the surface and a coating of bubbles down the sides of the glass.
S: Light aromas of orange peel and yeast are present in the nose along with some hints of yeast.
T: The taste very much follows the smell and also has some hints of ginger with some peppery spices towards the finish.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and rather dry on the palate with a moderate to high amount of carbonation.
O: This saison is a very good representation of the style and I enjoyed the complexity of its flavors and the dryness and carbonation in the mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 01:47:30 | More by metter98

Screper

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -6%

05-22-2013 01:09:27 | More by Screper

beernads

Florida

3.25/5  rDev -18.5%

05-17-2013 08:08:23 | More by beernads

moonknight31

California

3.75/5  rDev -6%

05-16-2013 16:58:12 | More by moonknight31

Zbeetleman

California

3/5  rDev -24.8%

05-15-2013 02:51:53 | More by Zbeetleman

tourdot

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%

05-14-2013 23:05:12 | More by tourdot