The Angel's Share Grand Cru - The Lost Abbey

phattysbox

New York

4.63/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks to Alex (Beerworld) for bringing this to a tasting that I organized at my place.

Opened with not even a pop and no hiss - low carbonation. Quite opposite from the Framboise de Amorosa we tried next. AHEM... Onto this beer... ;)

Poured into a tasting glass and only a thin lace of bubbles appear. The beer is a dark brown and hazy, the high sugar content and alcohol is noticeable as sticky finger grasp onto the side of glass if it gets swirled.

The nose is... Amazing. Simply fantastic. Burnt brown sugar, heavy crystal malts, dark caramel, and toffee. Some oak notes, but the malty sweetness is pervasive in such a great way. The Bourbon AS has more of barrel nose than Grand Cru IMHO. Swirling reveals more complexities - crushed hazelnuts, roasted figs/raisins, dark chocolate.

The taste is better than the nose!! Toffee notes really stand out in this beer. The oak makes more of appearance now and sings with malts, lending vanilla, toasted oats. The sweetness is huge, but not in cloying manner. Alcohol is completely hidden, but quite the sipper I'm sure. Mouthfeel is medium and completely opposite from dry. Little to no carbonation, but that doesn't take away from the complexity of the beer, I think it enhances it.

Overall, one of best beers I've had and would say this almost like a desert beer. Never though I would have the chance to have it, glad I tried, and will probably have the opp. again. Thanks Alex!

Beautiful brew. Seek out.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2010 18:39:01 | More by phattysbox

Kelp

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

04-27-2013 08:58:18 | More by Kelp

alysmith4

District of Columbia

3.75/5  rDev -14.4%

03-24-2013 03:29:26 | More by alysmith4

logan0203

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +8.4%

03-18-2013 21:07:30 | More by logan0203

dctriman

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -20.1%

03-11-2013 15:59:54 | More by dctriman

smakawhat

Maryland

3.05/5  rDev -30.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from the bottle into a snifter glass at Smoke & Barrel DC, for the DC bottle share. From notes.

Really looks like brandy, with a great clear caramel color and amber body. No head presented.

Nose seems intriguing. Mild funk. Closed but a little subtle. Some hiding sweet caramel with a noticeable vinegar and acid. Not sure where this is going.

Palate hits with a giant mix of acid and caramel sweetness. Medium mouthfeel to let some of the malts carry around, but the tartness on this is just huge, with a big blast of acetic quality, which really doesn't mix with this thick caramel at all.

I don't think this is by design, this went somewhere else, it feels like there's a good brew hiding in here somewhere, but I don't even know what to think after drinking this.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 22:04:29 | More by smakawhat

Azrael

4.25/5  rDev -3%

02-08-2013 04:34:44 | More by Azrael

DmanGTR

New York

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

01-30-2013 13:07:51 | More by DmanGTR

yourefragile

District of Columbia

4.25/5  rDev -3%

01-16-2013 15:14:36 | More by yourefragile

Pecan

California

4.25/5  rDev -3%

12-20-2012 08:50:36 | More by Pecan

t0rin0

California

3.75/5  rDev -14.4%

12-12-2012 04:22:40 | More by t0rin0

fo1ksguitar

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

07-18-2012 14:18:02 | More by fo1ksguitar

birchstick

Missouri

3.5/5  rDev -20.1%

07-18-2012 02:31:36 | More by birchstick

bsuedekum

Missouri

4/5  rDev -8.7%

07-18-2012 02:30:25 | More by bsuedekum

ajs4bd

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

07-10-2012 12:50:20 | More by ajs4bd

drewone

California

4/5  rDev -8.7%

06-17-2012 07:04:29 | More by drewone

hoppymcgee

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +8.4%

04-21-2012 16:57:10 | More by hoppymcgee

antoines15

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev -3%

04-16-2012 00:10:11 | More by antoines15

Stalgondo

Georgia

4.75/5  rDev +8.4%

04-15-2012 04:01:45 | More by Stalgondo

SoCalStout

California

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

02-12-2012 07:58:13 | More by SoCalStout

Callmecoon

California

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

02-10-2012 19:08:54 | More by Callmecoon

drowland

Florida

4.58/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

3/9/11. 375mL bottle courtesy hellomynameis. Opaque reddish-brown pour with a small ring of brown head. Very complex aroma of dark fruits, brown sugar, black licorice, bourbon, vanilla, fudge, buttery coconut, and more. Sweet malty flavor that hints at sour grapes along with a solid dose of oak, buttery coconut, vanilla, dark fruits, brown sugar, and more. This is intense and quite nice. It’s like a sour bourbon barleywine. Awesome! Love it!

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 22:06:02 | More by drowland

theminutemen

Missouri

4.75/5  rDev +8.4%

01-29-2012 20:07:52 | More by theminutemen

DCon

Missouri

4/5  rDev -8.7%

01-08-2012 07:18:30 | More by DCon

Faina

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

01-05-2012 04:00:59 | More by Faina