Serpent's Stout - The Lost Abbey

sukwonee

Washington

4.53/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Growler filled at a local Total Wine (A total surprise! and it only cost me $5.99 for 32 oz).

A: Black.... black body with 2 finger mocha head. Lots of lacing. Beautiful looking stout.

S: Dark chocolate, roasted malt, some sweetness, hops (yes hops).

T: Dark chocolate, roasted malt, some char, brown sugar, hoppy bitterness towards the end, some nuttiness. This beer is awesome.

M: Syrupty, thick, and perfect amount of carbonation.

O: It's awesome. I think this beer is ready to drink now and it should improve over age (hoppiness will be toned down a bit). Best $5.99 I spent on beer ever and I have about 16 oz more to finish... (with no help from my preggo wife).

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 00:20:24 | More by sukwonee

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: It has a nice jet black color to it. It has a nice thick dark tan head that dies down very slowly and leaves lovely lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitely give out hints of sweet roasted malts, dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla and dark fruit.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has some sweet roasted malts, dark chocolate, coffee/espresso, molasses, vanilla and dark fruit.

Mouthfeel: It has a low/med carbonation with a nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with good flavors and aromas.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 19:41:36 | More by SebD

tourdot

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

06-17-2013 22:58:18 | More by tourdot

Geno206

Washington

4/5  rDev -5.4%

06-14-2013 06:11:45 | More by Geno206

drebrew

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -11.3%

06-14-2013 02:36:38 | More by drebrew

doremite

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

06-13-2013 20:58:26 | More by doremite

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

06-12-2013 16:19:09 | More by Zachtheporter

jarrgal

North Dakota

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

06-10-2013 01:52:32 | More by jarrgal

RBassSFHOPit2ME

California

4/5  rDev -5.4%

06-04-2013 00:46:37 | More by RBassSFHOPit2ME

JeffreyJDavis

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

06-03-2013 16:38:13 | More by JeffreyJDavis

Chugs13

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

06-02-2013 22:19:59 | More by Chugs13

ajzy

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -5.4%

06-02-2013 21:41:00 | More by ajzy

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

06-02-2013 04:15:26 | More by mikeburd1128

Agent1

Alberta (Canada)

4.54/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Appearance - Incredible. The head and lacing are super thick and look like chocolate mousse. After having a very tasty, yet amazing bottle of Deliverance Ale and being thoroughly disappointed at how awful the appearance was, this makes up for it. I've let this sit in my La Trappe chalice for almost 10 minutes and the head DOES NOT go away. A solid finger's worth of head and it looks super, buttery/ creamy. Like whipped cream. Very, very impressive for a stout.

Smell - Dark dried fruits (plums, fig, cherry), vanilla, mild peat moss, wood with a faint aroma of smoke. Barely any alcohol is noticeable on the nose. A strange hop funk which I cannot seem to pin down. It's different. Rich spices, almost peppery.

Taste - Figs, prunes, dates, espresso coffee, plums, candied cherries, tobacco, pudding, roasted (slightly burnt malts), molasses and plenty of baker's chocolate (rich cocoa -- nice and bitter). Quite syrupy, but pleasant. Peppery and dry. A delicious bready yeast flavor that hides underneath of everything. A very dry finish unlike any stour I've had. It really lingers and mimics the taste of chewing on wood chips or rooibos. Tons of wood the more you focus on the aftertaste. Very bitter, but nice and not offensive. This helps to balance out the crazy sugars in this beer. Extremely faint anise/ licorice notes. It may not appear like it, but there seems to be a TON of dark candi sugar used in this recipe (possibly Belgian). The alcohol cuts in a way that I have never tasted before. It adds so much to this beer in a non-offensive way. A very intelligent use of alcohol. That may sound a bit strange....but it really adds a lot of character to all the surrounding flavors. It also is very subtle in the overall mix of complexity given how high it is (11% abv).

Mouthfeel - This is so heavy that it sticks to the roof of the mouth, however, it can be felt all throughout. Very rich and chewy. It coats the entire mouth and quite literally sticks. Like pudding. Impressive.

Overall - As far as stouts are concerned, it really doesn't get much better than this, if at all. I have never had this until now. Always wanted it, but could never find it. This beer does not shit the bed. I am increasingly becoming more and more of a fan of The Lost Abbey. Easily one of the best craft breweries out of the US. Rich, complex and hearty. The kind of beer Vikings would have lapped up before terrorizing a small village. Definitely pick this up if you run into it.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2013 04:12:11 | More by Agent1

Anonymous1

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

06-01-2013 05:35:39 | More by Anonymous1

mdaschaf

Washington

4/5  rDev -5.4%

05-28-2013 21:37:29 | More by mdaschaf

2neardead

California

3.5/5  rDev -17.3%

05-27-2013 06:59:00 | More by 2neardead

NorCalBeer

California

4/5  rDev -5.4%

05-27-2013 06:06:01 | More by NorCalBeer

bcm75

Illinois

4/5  rDev -5.4%

05-27-2013 00:15:48 | More by bcm75

SaCkErZ9

Florida

3.86/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to 011x0110 for this beer. I have had this one at least four years, obtained sometime in or before 2009, from back in my trading days. I just finished my first triathlon so that seems like a special enough occasion.

Corked and caged 25.4oz bottle pours into my The Lost Abbey chalice. Not a great looking beer. Has the consistency and cola of any standard cola, with the thin wispy head to match.

Pleasing aroma. Lots and lots of dark fruits such as raisins, figs, prunes, a large dose of chocolate and chocolate malts, hints of coffee and tobacco. Smells more like a Russian than American double stout. Slight alcohol aromas add a second dose of sweet fruitiness.

Very solid flavors. Chocolate and alcohol right up front. Sweet with very little bitterness fruits are raisins and some lighter stuff like dried cranberries and strawberry. Coffee in the back adds a nice touch.

Rather thin on the body. Very warming alcohol; goes straight to my ears and warms them nicely. Sweet without being cloying.

A decent beer overall. I have never had a fresh version but this one was a treat to have. Needs more body for sure. I like the coffee and chocolate flavors but thin and dry. Thanks again for the beer 011x0110.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2013 17:20:27 | More by SaCkErZ9

GruntsterNJ

New Jersey

2.5/5  rDev -40.9%

05-25-2013 15:17:02 | More by GruntsterNJ

2GOOFY

California

4/5  rDev -5.4%

05-25-2013 15:07:40 | More by 2GOOFY

smonice

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -11.3%

05-24-2013 22:12:40 | More by smonice

Absolut

California

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

05-23-2013 23:04:50 | More by Absolut

BeerGut4Life

Indiana

3/5  rDev -29.1%

05-23-2013 03:15:15 | More by BeerGut4Life