Red Poppy Ale - The Lost Abbey

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BA SCORE
95
world-class
-
952 Ratings

rAvg: 4.28
pDev: 10.28%
Reviews: 488
Hads: 464

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Brewed by:
The Lost Abbey

California, United States

Style | ABV
Flanders Red Ale | 5.50% ABV

Availability: Winter. bottle (459), on-tap (28), cask (1).

Notes:
Perhaps no country embraces the use of fruit in beers more so than Belgium. Numerous traditional as well as regional specialty ales are infused with every sort of fruit imaginable. In this way, the flavor of the fruit becomes especially prominent.

Red Poppy Ale is a veritable celebration of Sour Cherries in an explosion of aromas and tastes. Brewed from a brown ale base and aged in our oak barrels for over 6 months, this beer is not for the faint of heart.

View: Beers (44) | Reviews (46) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by Bmoyer0301:

Bmoyer0301

Pennsylvania

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

Appearance:

Tonight I am using but of course, my Lost Abbey snifter that was an amazing gift from my wife. I have seen all kinds of glasses for beer, wine, and liquors but this one is the coolest that I have ever some across with its flowing curves and odd shaped bulb. I pulled the tiny cork and caged bottled out of the fridge a few minutes early so that I could let it warm up just a bit to try and pull out more aromas. After unwinding the wire cage I gave a tug on the cork and it slipped out with no stress or strain with a little pop at the finish. The pour was pretty smooth and uneventful which left me with a one finger thick cream colored prickly head that crackled with anger. As I hold my glass up to the light I am getting deep plum and ruby red colors that are hazy and yet so full of tiny bubbles. On a viscosity check there is just a faint amount of head that is clinging to my glass walls and overall it seems pretty thin.

Smell:

Wow, this baby is acidic! Sharp acid and vinegar hits your nostrils right up front followed by cherry pie and grassy funky nuances. Almost reminds me of some weird cheeses that I had when I was over in England and not that its a bad thing its just a strange descriptor for a beer. The final huge component of this beer is the oak, and it sitting bright and clear right behind of the funk giving some homemade furniture store qualities to the aroma.

Taste:

This is another one of those beers where you need to see my face while I am taking the first sip. I think the sourness caught me off guard a little bit and made me almost wince on the initial sip. Again cherries and oak are the front and center here followed by some musty undertones that are almost moldy but are quite delicious. Vanilla and some slight spice that is maybe coming from the wood are really pushing through as my glass warms up. I am finding myself licking my lips after ever sip because it is just so damn good and refreshing. In the finish is just so dry on the palate and quick moving across your taste buds and when you swallow it just seems to draw you back for another sip.

Drinkability:

Boy oh boy am I glad that I have a few more of these because I know that they are only going to be better better with some age. This was a real treat for me today and was a perfect dessert for my Easter dinner. When it comes to sours this is where it is at, a great balance between tart and sweet and dry refreshing flavors. This is one of those beers I am going to say that you need to try and hunt down and fast! Go! Leave now and good luck on your search because when it hits the shelf's it usually is sold out quick. Maybe you can find a generous beer trader out there somewhere

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2011 18:33:25 | More by Bmoyer0301

More User Reviews:

gamanley

Connecticut

4.5/5 rDev +5.1%

05-22-2013 02:53:52 | More by gamanley

PlinyBeMiney

California

4.5/5 rDev +5.1%

05-21-2013 23:14:18 | More by PlinyBeMiney

Busker

Connecticut

5/5 rDev +16.8%

05-21-2013 18:10:16 | More by Busker

GuinnessAtRogerWilco

New Jersey

4.48/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

375ml corked bottle poured into a small Chimay chalice.

AP: Rusty brown colour with a 1/2" cream/tan head that dissipates to 1/4" with bubbles still escalating to the top. Nice lacing on the glass when tilted.
AR: Has that classic Flanders Red Ale aroma that I associate with German sourdough pretzels (the hard kind). Apple cider and other fruits like white grape and tart cherries are discerned as well with Belgian yeast funk.
T: Very very nice. A lot of what I got in the nose with grape and cherry skins prominent on the finish and tart apple flavour weaving in and out from start to finish. The sour note is just about right, not too strong but vivid enough for instant recognition and enjoyment. It starts strong at the beginning then softly fades but lingers throughout. Well done.
M: Assertive carbonation, acidic, dry and tart on the finish but does coat your tongue and teeth nicely with what bit of sweetness there is.
OV: A very well done Flanders style Red Ale that would match any from the region itself and I've had my share of them being a fan of sours. The flavours on this are very tasty and the sour note is just right with acidic tartness and not too much of a vinegar aspect. A definite sessionable sipper that offers good flavours and cleanses your palate at the same time.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 04:23:50 | More by GuinnessAtRogerWilco

marine1975

North Carolina

4/5 rDev -6.5%

05-21-2013 02:15:44 | More by marine1975

Geno206

Washington

4.25/5 rDev -0.7%

05-20-2013 01:13:03 | More by Geno206

Kreko7

California

3.75/5 rDev -12.4%

05-19-2013 15:52:16 | More by Kreko7

Boilerfood

Indiana

4.5/5 rDev +5.1%

05-19-2013 15:20:02 | More by Boilerfood

jakeox

Illinois

3.5/5 rDev -18.2%

05-19-2013 00:50:54 | More by jakeox

muletrane

Pennsylvania

4.5/5 rDev +5.1%

05-19-2013 00:49:44 | More by muletrane

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4/5 rDev -6.5%

05-18-2013 21:24:44 | More by Photekut

itsthepleats

Ohio

4.25/5 rDev -0.7%

05-18-2013 18:26:52 | More by itsthepleats

jtladner

District of Columbia

3.5/5 rDev -18.2%

05-18-2013 13:38:33 | More by jtladner

ajzy

Wisconsin

5/5 rDev +16.8%

05-18-2013 03:25:43 | More by ajzy

hannydawg

Illinois

4/5 rDev -6.5%

05-18-2013 00:30:38 | More by hannydawg

kscaldef

Oregon

2/5 rDev -53.3%

05-17-2013 23:30:59 | More by kscaldef

vonnegut21

New York

4.25/5 rDev -0.7%

05-17-2013 18:05:38 | More by vonnegut21

GilGarp

Colorado

4.21/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

375 ml corked bottle served slightly chilled into a tulip glass.

There's no date or batch number on the bottle but I would guess I've had it in my cellar for about 2-3 years. Strangely, there isn't any loose sediment but I do see it stuck to the bottom of the bottle.

Red Poppy Ale is a deep redish brown with tight off-white head. It settles fairly quickly but maintains a thin layer on top.

The aroma is enough to make my throat tighten. This is going to be sour! Sour cherries and the oak barrel aging comes through.

The flavor is exactly what I expected after that aroma - hugely sour and tart with the tannins that hit right in the back of he mouth. The cherries are there with a hint of vanilla from the oak. The malt base is along the lines of a brown ale but it is really the wild yeast that stands front and center.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied nicely carbonated like a bottle conditioned Belgian would be.

Overall a stunningly powerful beer. I would like to try this side by side with La Folie as they seem to have similar characteristics, from what I remember.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 23:56:31 | More by GilGarp