Cable Car - The Lost Abbey

MrFootstones

California

4.47/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2010 vintage

Pours bright, hazy, yellow with a nice big head that settles into a lasting foam cap.

More funky in the aroma than the others, and less fruit character, but it's still there. Phenolic brett, stone fruit, citrus zest, tangy berry.

The citrus and peachy nectarine are still present, but they are either less prominent or I am starting to experience some palate fatigue. The main flavors are there though. Underripe peaches, various citrus peels and segments, sour candy, and phenolic brett. Slightly less refined and focused than the 2008 and 2009, but still damn good.

Good mouthfeel. Not quite as fantastic as the 2009, but more full and rich than the 2008.

This is Cable Car, and it's great. Tasting it after the 2008 and 2009, it's not my favorite, but as a sour beer it's still world class and something for brewers to aspire to.

Serving type: growler

12-21-2011 21:47:14 | More by MrFootstones

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had at the huge whale-ish tasting at Chris's. Thanks to tai4ji2x for this one, a 1L swingtop growler.

Pours a light fizzy head (yay carbonation) which fades quickly over semi clear golden color.

Nose of a light tart fruity sour, lemony like fruit, other fruits as well, light golden malts and a touch of sweetness.

Taste is semi sweet with golden Belgian like malts, tart fruits, little zest and lemon, bready light funk, touch of fruit like apricot or peach, light toasty caramelized candy sugar like, light sweetness, bitter rind, finish is a little flemmy with a dry bready funk, almost no acidity, light oak and vanilla rounding.

Mouth is medium to lighter bodied, decent carbonation.

Overall great, very drinkable, light tartness, nice dry light bready funk, even has some carbonation.

Serving type: growler

06-08-2011 03:15:37 | More by jlindros

jale

Michigan

4.72/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to Eric for letting me try this.

A: Pours yellow with minimal head.

S: Lemon tartness and great funkiness. Just like a wild should be.

T: Great initial citrus sourness followed by that nice barnyard funk. Very smooth and exactly what a wild should taste like.

M: Light body.

O: I would drink this over and over again.

Serving type: growler

06-02-2011 21:05:57 | More by jale

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

4.78/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A huge thanks to Masterski for getting this for me and sending it along as a great surprise in a recent package. What a treat.

Poured into my tulip glass and a thin wispy bright white head forms. Does recede fairly quickly. The beer is a very bright gold/brass color. Excellent clarity. Some light spotty lacing.

Aroma is fantastic. Bright, some acidic notes, apple comes to mind. Perhaps a touch of lemon.

With the first sip I get very excited as my favorite flavor component of the roasted nuts is present. The tartness is present but with soft round edges. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I thought of Sweet Tart candies. That’s actually a good thing. The bread flavors just below the surface are fantastic. A moment of nectarine and tangerine here. Nice fruit notes. Lot’s going on. There is a salty quality to this that I didn’t expect. Seems to mix well with the nuttiness and bread like qualities. Green apple pops up now and again.

Very delicate body and a wonderful refreshing mouth feel.

This is truly a treat to drink. Believe the hype. Perhaps made even better as it’s been a while since I’ve had a sour. Just fantastic.

Thanks Alex.

Serving type: growler

05-30-2011 23:06:56 | More by Reagan1984

portia99

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

1L swingtop growler (2010 release) generously shared among 5 BA's by tai4ji2x at a recent tasting. Thanks Xenon! Poured into a Dogfish Head signature glass.

A - Pours very clear (surprisingly clear), thick and bubbly collar, light lacing left on glass.

S - Funk, bitter finish, limes (thanks Shogo for identifying this - was driving me crazy), horseblankets, funk, oranges and apricots.

T - Horsey, funky, bready and biscuity base, peachy, apricots, touch of bitterness, confectioners sugar, and lime.

M - Thinnish - light/medium body, medium carbonation, tart but not super sour - quite interesting combination of fruity/citrusy flavors.

O - Outstanding, great wild ale. Another one I was beginning to think I'd never get to sample. Interesting, slightly different combo of fruity flavors in a wild and balanced very well with a distinct but manageable tartness/sourness.

Serving type: growler

05-28-2011 14:08:57 | More by portia99

RuckusDu

Colorado

4.53/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Large bubble thin head. A weird orange color head. Body is cloudy. Wheat color. Aroma is the best sour I have had. Lemon, twigs, slight funk. Very delicious. A little young. Well balanced. Nice lemon tart, funk, and a little sweet. Lacto. Mouth is light carb and puckering.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 19:01:57 | More by RuckusDu

srandycarter

California

4.25/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Clear honey. Not much head, no lace.

S - Astringent, tart.

T - Sharp fruit, tart, tight yeast, very tasty.

M - Medium body, great balance and carb.

D - A joy to finally try at Toronado in San Diego! Wanted to pull the trigger on this years ago, but so expensive.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 05:02:07 | More by srandycarter

cosmicevan

New York

4.48/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Notes taken from 9/29 from the craziest bottle share that i have ever been a part of. Thanks so much to the NYC and Hoboken crew for letting me participate in this incredible day of drinking long time wants and insanity.

Thanks kindly for sharing 2 vintages! side-by-side tasting of 2007 and 2010 from lost abbey tekus. BIGGEST WANT at the time of this taste!!! review numbers are based on my impressions of the 10.

a - the 07 is orange and the 10 has more of a yellow tint with a thin foamy head. 10 is definitely more lively and has a nice foamy head whereas the 07 was a bit more lifeless...even when the 07 was opened there was barely a pop. the 10 has some nice streaky lacing too.

s - 07 is way funky smelling whereas the 10 is funk, but with a glazing of fruitiness and some sweet tarts.

t - 2010 is crisp, clean. some funky sourness. the 07 is good as well, but more subdued and smoother over. the 07 has less funk and tartness. good fruit all around, the 10 has a bigger flavor profile.

m - 07 is way smooth whereas the 10 has a nice pucker.

o - overall, this was my personal whale and it lived up to my expectations. it is definitely a bit one dimensional, but i really like that dimension so we're good.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 19:46:41 | More by cosmicevan

mdaschaf

Washington

4.5/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Review from notes. Huge thanks to Jay for opening this bottle up!

A: Pours a very bright golden color, very clear. No head formation or lacing, but carbonation bubbles release from the bottom of the glass.

S: Very nice aroma, lots of citrus fruits, some apricot, peach, and green apple. A sharp sour/acetic aroma, very inviting.

T: Fantastic flavor profile, has held up nicely over the years. A great acetic sourness, very puckering. Vibrant lemon, apple, peach, and apricot.

M: Light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation. A great level of sourness.

O: A fantastic AWA that has held up nicely, though not sure how much longer it will hold out. Thankful I was able to give this one a try.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 15:18:14 | More by mdaschaf

tarheels86

California

4.53/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

750 mL 2007 ed batch 1. This is very different from the 2009 version, which I like much better. Batch 1 has held up very well but has become more like white wine and is more sour and full of white grapes. It is bright with citrus/lemon acidity, which shares almost no commonalities with the 2009. 6/10/2010 8/4/8/5/15=4.0

750mL 2009 ed batch 3 courtesy of ucusty. There were tons of hyped beers at our Carolina sour tasting- many of them did not live up it. But this certainly did. Pours just a beautiful glowing, hazy light orange/yellow with a thin white head that leaves some spotty lace. Aroma is simply incredible: pineapple, coconut rum, papaya, cotton candy (fairly sweet) layered atop geuze notes of leather, funk, tart apples, lemon zest. Taste is sour with lacto and pedo plus a rich array of tropical fruits and a bit of spicy alcohol. Nice sweet and sour mix. Buttery, rich palate. Light to medium bodied. Just whoa. 3/23/2010 9/4/9/5/17=4.4

750mL 2010 ed batch 4 at Toronado SD. Pours a fizzy, clear, white wine color with a diminishing, bubbly white head. Moves tyo muddy, glowing orange with the yeast. Aroma is sharp geuze funk, green apple skins, lemon, key lime, moving to some really incredible sweet complexity akin to baba rhum and marzipan. Taste is soft lactic, very easy to drink with a quick, sharp sour beginning moving to long, lactic beauty. It is almost like glorified Berliner weiss it is so soft and not slap your face sour like some geuzes. Maybe a bit too much lemon. No acedic comes forth that I find with the Veritas 007. Great cotton candy character develops at it warms. 10/10/10 9/4/8/5/16=4.2

750mL 2010 ed b4 at Toronado SF. The pour is a bright yellow with a medium, white head that leaves incredibly sticky lace. Pretty much a 5/5 for sour beer where the near zero sugar content makes it tough for lace to stick. Aroma of cotton candy, caramel, pink lemonade, sour/acetic impeding funk, fresh grapefruit, lemon, and acetic spice reminiscent of Hanssen’s Gueuze, funky white wine. Taste is incredibly soft, not truly sour as much fresh and tart. Bretty earth comes into play atop a beer that exhibits a sweet and sour play on the tongue that is hard to describe with sufficiency. Fresh caramel and sweet oranges take center stage rather than lemon or vinegar. What a perennial treat. 2/4/2011 9/5/8/5/16=4.3

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 20:04:47 | More by tarheels86

oline73

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2008 bottle opened at our Lost Abbey tasting. Poured into a tasting snifter.

Appearance: Pours a clear amber color with a golden hue. The is a small amount of off white head.

Smell: A slight tartness with some lemon and a mildly herbal funk. There is more sweetness here than I expected.

Taste: A tartness that reminds me of lemon juice with some vinegar in there as well. Slightly bitter, I'm getting some aged hops. The finish is light and sour.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with tingly carbonation and a touch of dryness in the finish.

Overall: This is a very good beer, but it was missing that wow factor for me. Still quite nice and I wouldn't turn down more.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 22:39:40 | More by oline73

GabrielM

New Mexico

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

Notes from tasting the 2007, 2009 and 2010 vintages last weekend. Thanks again Mark! Poured into an Ommegang flute.

2007 bottle:

A - bright, crisp golden body with a quarter-inch of white head on top. Pretty decent lacing after a small swirl.

S - tons of funk, citrus and oak. Really nice nose on this one. Grass, maybe some horse blanket action, oranges and a light hint of cherry or raspberry perhaps?

T - wow, really sour and full of oak and citrus. This is my first time trying the CCs and I can see where their hype comes from. Very tart and dry with a puckering finish, yet the fruit nuances are still there.

M - sour, tart, puckering and dry. Awesome!

O - this beer is something else. Each vintage was different and special in its own way, but I'd say the '07 or '09 were the tops. I'm honestly surprised to see how well these are holding up and think they could go shoulder to shoulder with any of the Loons or 3F out there.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 14:23:21 | More by GabrielM

raveskdr

District of Columbia

4.23/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2008 vintage. Big ups to Dyan for this one as well. Poured into my mini snifter.

A - Brownish golden hue. Bubbles dissipate quickly but there is a ton of bubbles that stick to the inside of the glass inside the beer.

S - The oak and vinuous character really stand out up front. Light lemon also intermingles.

T - There is plenty of oak up near the front. The lemony tartness follows on the back and and cuts through the middle of my tongue.

M - Very champagne-y on the tongue, despite being from 2008. The bubbles help the drinkability of the beer.

O - An extremely solid American wild. May not be super fair to put this up against everything else. It doesn't fall short, per se. It's a very very good sour.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 23:20:22 | More by raveskdr

ehammond1

California

4.53/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Bottle (2009)

Toronado
San Diego, CA

(Aged for 2.5 years)

Tasted side-by-side with the 2008 and 2010 vintages.

A bright, clear mixture of gold, yellow, and orange with a nicely-sized off-white head that doesn't last for long. This doesn't leave any cling on the glass, though this is indeed a nice looking beer.

This is a complete, wonderfully smelling American wild. There is lots of bright citrus (orange, tangerine, mango, and lemon) along with big levels of acidic sourness. There's some moderate funk complementing everything nicely. Very, very nice.

The flavor follows the aroma similarly, with lots of tangerine, lemon, and mango flavors, backed up by a high level of tart sourness, and mild barnyard funk. Complete and delicious, though not quite as complex as the very best within the style.

Medium bodied with moderate/high carbonation. A joy to drink.

Simply fantastic.

2008 Tasting Notes (Aged for 3.5 years):
Very little carbonation. No head, no cling. Less sour and less fruit flavors when compared to both 2009 and 2010 versions. Heavy, lifeless body. Easily, the weakest of our lineup.

2010 Tasting Notes (Aged 1.5 years):
Similar carbonation and appearance to 2009. More funk than fruit and not quite as sour as the 2009.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 16:44:31 | More by ehammond1

FosterJM

California

4.43/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

1286th Review on BA
Bottle to Goblet/Wine
750 Ml C/C

2008,2009,2010 Vertical @ToronadoSD

Shared with Ehammond1,Jazzpatel,GuruDel & MrHirschybar

**Scores are reflected for 2009 Vintage below**

App- Really a nice looking sour. A good mix of colors in the glass. A balance of a medium orange with some yellows and golds running throughout. Nicely carbonated as when the bottle was popped the bubbles started to creep out. Good bubble activity, a nice head and still no cling.

Smell- Very alive on the nose. Had a nice brightness with a good vibrant citrus. A bit of orange, tangerine was present. Nice burn on the big whiffs of some acidity and booze.

Taste- The bite is more pronounced on the flavor. A large sour pucker note with a bit of balanced tartness and wheaty lemon. The balance is much more present and this bottle seems to have done wonders.

Mouth- A light medium body with a fairly high prickly carbonation. A nice blending on the residual flavors of the sour and citrus more so than 08/10

Drink- Consensus of the 5 of us, that this was the best vintage. As mentioned, more alive and bright with a pleasant sour vs. funk combo.

---

2008 Vintage
App- A very deep deep golden color. A bit flat and thick looking like a mix of syrup and water. Zero cling and bubbles formed at all. (3.0)

Smell- A small impish bit of lemon on this one. Probably had the most deep smell of being old really. A small balanced acid on this nose. No fruit compared to other vintages (3.5)

Taste- Had a good flavor but could tell was past its prime. Seems like when the flavors fall you are left with just a nice base sour that plays well with adding layers of flavors too. A bit lemon remains with a bit of tart. (3.5)

Mouth- A bit thicker leading to a medium/full thickness for a sour. A low carbonation level with zero bubbles remaining. A bit of a lemon flavor remains. (3.0)

Drink- It was okay. A bit old but still retained a nice flavor. Fair to say this is past its prime at this point. (3.5)

2010 Vintage
App- This was a fuller yellow vs. 09 which had a good blend of colors. A bit light than 09 and much more than 08. A bit less bubbles than 09 as well. Still no cling though. (4.0)

Smell- This had me and the guys comparing Motherfunker vs. Filmismish while drinking these too. Its the story of Sour vs. Funk. This was the funky one of the two. Had a deeper earthy note behind it. A bit more wheat IMO. (4.0)

Taste- Smaller sour with a more pronounced funk flavor. Had much less of a bite as well. A bit more mango flavor to get to a much more rich flavor. (4.5)

Mouth- A lighter medium body with a medium carbonation. A bit of residual funk/earthy flavors. Much more tart vs. sour. (4.0)

Drink- Very tasty and much creamier than the 09. I can see this one aging very well. (4.5)

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 16:00:58 | More by FosterJM

islandboi8204

Hawaii

4.7/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2009 bottle enjoyed at Toronado SD.

Pours a hazy golden color with a thick white head, not much lacing.

Smells like tangy fruit, citrus and lemon zest. Lots of grapefruit, orange, nectarine and funk. Similar to a Belgian gueuze, delightful funk but not out of control.

Tastes like those chalky Vitamin C tablets with graham cracker sweetness and tart on the finish. Grapefruit, orange, lemon is prominent. I thought it would be a lot more sour from the nose, but it's has incredible balance with some oak and vanilla.

Mouthfeel is full, creamy, and rich for a sour beer.

This was incredible. I'm glad to have skipped the line at Churchill's for this. This is a great sour with lots of citrusy complexity and a great mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 03:47:14 | More by islandboi8204

Spider889

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared by Alewatcher. Dude... you brought the shit to this tasting. Thanks man.

2009 vintage.

A - Hazy peach color with frothy white head. Produces rocky lace.

S - Light and airy at first. With a bit of warmth and time to breathe it opens into a bright spring bloom aroma. There's a lot of wonderful funk there coming from an American brewer. So many Wilds have the sourness but lack the funk.

T - There's a lovely tartness here paired with citric sweetness. Lemon and nectarine lend a fruity profile to this wild. Leaves a bitter finish. Grows very acidic over time.

M - Great carbonation, a lively brew, no doubt.

O - What an excellent beer. People say that this is the best year so far though - I'm thrilled to have had the opportunity to try this. The thing is, as good as Cable Car proves to be, it's really not necessarily any better than the readily available Russian River sours that sit on shelves within their range of distribution. With this in mind, Cable Car is a beer that lives up to the praise, but not the hype.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 08:28:29 | More by Spider889

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Finally got around to trying this one. Into a mini Chimay Chalice.

Cable car has a very light appearance, the liquid appears thin and the color is a dull faded yellow with a smidgen of foam here and there, barely breaking the surface, mini streaks.

Smell is bold with a lot of fruit mixed in with horse blanket funk and hay. Lemon is by far the biggest scent I can sniff out, along with traces of pale malt. No sweetners to dull it down, nice. Not picking up any of that egg/sulfer scent that peeps were talking about.

Taste is up front with bold lemon and various similar fruit. The horseblanket/funk/wet hay is pronounced yet not over the top. Lactic sourness is there and I love it. Get some white grape taste in the end, with everything coming back together. To me, CC holds some similarities to an aged 750ML bottle of Cuvee De Castleton.

Feel is mad thin and dry which is what I look for in a great sour, so this is a winner in that arena. Bright carbonation with a lactic/lemon aftertaste and slight pale malt. I could drink a ton.

At the Alcohol level, a whole bottle of this would be a sinch to a sour lover, alas, thats never going to happen. Lost Abbey sure can brew some sours and CC is no slouch

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 15:49:22 | More by onix1agr

yourefragile

District of Columbia

4.58/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2009 bottle enjoyed at Toronado SF.

Pours a relatively clear golden copper color with a nice white head that hangs around and leaves light rings of lacing. Aroma is surprisingly funky and complex with lemon and green apple sourness dominating. More fruit and tart than earthiness but there is light straw and grass throughout as well. Body is very citric and crisp, full on the palate with high carbonation. Flavor start with lemon and other citrus rind, before becoming more oaky and tart with only lingering sourness. Expected to be let down by this, but was pleasantly surprised and look forward to trying other vintages.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 20:32:19 | More by yourefragile

drgarage

California

4.97/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2009 Bottle at Toronado SF.

Beautiful, glowing golden beer with a flawless nose, taste, and mouthfeel. An absolute perfect sour that I recommend trying as soon as possible. It's improved since I had it when new, but I struggle to imagine it getting any better with more time, mainly because I can't imagine any sour, and maybe any beer, tasting better than this.

I've never had anything perfect. But this was.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 06:27:52 | More by drgarage

beerwolf77

Wisconsin

4.6/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

2010 bottle enjoyed at Toronado in SF.

A: Poured into my tulip the beer is golden yellow and moderately clear. Huge three fingers of white head fill the glass and remain. Good retention with modest lace.

S: Loads of tart and sweet intertwined with a good dose of brett. Mild funk. Just a bit of wood and attic dust. Mostly just awesome sweet and tart fruit.

T: Pleasantly tart citric fruit. Dry bretty band aid. A good amount of juicy citrus sour on the finish.

M: Medium body with loads of carbonation.

O: Fantastic! Well worth the price tag and visit to Toronado. I managed to share about 6 ounces with my wife and I honestly regretted letting that much get away.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2011 02:26:57 | More by beerwolf77

nataku00

California

4.43/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A 2009 bottle poured into a snifter. I'm grateful to the whomever brought this to the tasting and hope to have another opportunity to try this again as well as buy the person a drink. Clear fairly dark orange with a thin film of head on an aggressive pour. Light lacing on the glass when, but it slid quickly back into the glass, with only a few bubbles here and there.

Aroma was very balanced but complex, green apples, white wine vinegar, white grape sweetness, pears, light floral and earthiness and some funkiness as it warmed up.

Follows the nose nicely, sharp acidity at first from the vinegar like flavors, but just a nice fruitiness mid palate, green apple sweetness and tartness, sweet pears, light stone fruits, floral and a bit of wet soil earthiness. Finish was dry, with some lingering fruitiness, long enough to be satisfying without being too funky.

Light body with minimal carbonation, a slight prick of a bubble here and there, but expected for a wild ale. Very easy to drink but one to savor with how nice it is at two years old. Hopefully Toronado still has a 2010 bottle available when my birthday approaches in a few weeks as I was hoping to go open one then. Excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 05:17:35 | More by nataku00

brystmar

New York

4.25/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

2009 vintage split with Nate as part of an impromptu '09-'11 Cable Car vertical at Toronado in SF.

A: Cloudy, golden color with foamy white head and solid lace. Remains hazy as it warns, unlike the 2010.

S: Strong Brettt yeast character melds with sour fruit and bready notes. Among the best sour aromas I've had the pleasure of experiencing.

T: Fruits, oak, and Brett share the spotlight. Great blend of the three flavors. When cool, it leaves a lingering bitterness; however, after warming, its bone dry finish lingers with fruit and oak, bitterness be damned. Not sure quite why that is, but I like it.

M: Body is thin and weak, yet nicely oily. Hard to enjoy this brew's mouthfeel after the massive creaminess of the '11 Kriek.

D: Sessionable, even at $40/bottle. Although to be honest, I won't be ordering this again while there's still an available stock of '11 Kriek. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2011 22:31:25 | More by brystmar

Brez07

Maine

4.28/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

2009 vintage. Graciously shared by Drazzamatazz. 750ml bottle, poured into an Allagash glass

A: There was only a small pop when opening the bottle. Tangerine colored. Pours with a minimal amount of head. Translucent at first, but became cloudy with the second pour (dregs)

S: Citrusy, squeezed lemons, sweet tarts. Initially I didn't get a lot of funk (it was musty if anything), but as it opened up there was a cheesy/horse blanket aroma to signal the funk had arrived

T: Fairly lemony. Reminded me of the white sweet tarts right after you eat them. Lemon rind, apricot, maybe even some oak. Pretty sour, nice level of funkiness

M: Medium bodied. Lower carbonation, which ultimately I was fine with. Dry finish

D: What can I say, this was a great beer. Very happy to have finally tried it. At first I didn't get it, but the beer eventually showed me what was up. Seek out if you like sours

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 22:46:30 | More by Brez07

Rhettroactive

Virginia

4.88/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

From 750mL bottle to stemmed wine glass at Toronado San Diego on 11/1/11. What better way to celebrate my 30th birthday then with my #1 want.

Vintage 2010

A: Like fine champagne, it's a beautiful pale 14k gold. A gentle pour yields a white 1.25 head that fizzes down to nil within moments. A surprising amount of thin, white lacing rims the glass.

S: Mild brett, which doesn't overwhelm the beer. Hints of honey, ripe green apples, medium char, a touch of white grape and lemon rind. Spectacular.

T: Unlike any Wild Ale I've had, as the balance here is unmatched. The fore comes across like a Brut Cava. As it hits the mid, the brett sneaks up and washes over the palate. And it's at this point where the beer really shows it's finesse. This is where most brett brews simply can't overcome the wild yeast. But Cable Car is unlike those said ales. Instead, the brett passes the mid and rounds into a crisp, dry finish that showcases the lightly toasted, charry oak. Without question, this is one of the top five beers I've tasted.

M: Superb. It's not too light as many in-style can be. Rather, it's creamy and textured, yet it packs a really bubbly and lively layer of carbonation.

O: Lost Abbey's Cable Car comes about as close to perfect as any brew I've ever encountered. It does everything right, with not only ease, but a deft touch. Absolutely worthy of the epic hype and them some. This brewing masterpiece easily receives my highest recommendation. Happy 30th to me!

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2011 21:53:16 | More by Rhettroactive