Deliverance - The Lost Abbey

jacewg

District of Columbia

4.65/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

First time having this beer. 375ml bottle to glass. 2011 Vintage.

Appearance: Pours with a huge mocha head that quickly fades but leaves a nice little mocha ring as you drink. FVery deep brown in color, almost black. Carbonation does not appear to be an issue here.

Nose: A LOT going on. Very big barrel notes. A bit of roast and some dark fruit as well. Some sweeter notes akin to molasses. Very, very good nose.

Taste: More or less follows the nose. Again a big, boozy barrel character with some vanilla, caramel, and oak. Quite sweet up front with some dark fruit notes but fades to a fantastic rich finish with dark chocolate leading the way. Some alcohol heat as expected and wanted for the style.

Mouthfeel: Moderate carbonation, but enough to aid the drinkability of this rich, delicious beer. I would love to try this beer fresh and see how the mouthfeel differs, as I suspect it has thinned out a little with age.

Overall: A wonderfully delicious and complex beer. Pricey, but definitely worth it to try this jewel. Only a slightly thicker mouthfeel is keeping this beer from being essentially perfect.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 16:33:26 | More by jacewg

Falcon91Wolvrn03

California

4.58/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance – Pours a very dark brown almost block color, with a small brown head that soon dissipates to nothing. Doesn't stick to the side of the glassware when swirled.

Smell – Lots of bourbon and brandy, with maple, molasses, vanilla, caramel, and a touch of oak. A very nice smell.

Taste – Very similar to the smell. A great bourbon beer.

Mouthfeel – Light carbonation, a thin syrupy texture, with a slight alcohol bite.

Drinkability – This is a great bourbon beer, which usually isn’t one of my favorite flavors. Either bourbon beers are growing on me, or I’m a sucker for the ones with a hint of sweetness, which is the case here. Or maybe the brandy was a nice touch.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 04:15:20 | More by Falcon91Wolvrn03

jmarsh123

Indiana

4.05/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

Pours deep black with some mocha head settling into some swirls. Cork didn't pop, but wasn't totally devoid of carbonation.

Aroma features lots of notes from the booze. Spicy whiskey, some rum and liquor soaked raisins. A bit of chocolate and some other dark fruit as well as figs and dates. A touch of caramel and vanilla with a bit of oak influence.

A bit maltier flavor than the nose would lead me to believe although still notes of barrel. The spicy whiskey gives it a nice burn to balance out the sweet chocolate and dark fruits. Molasses and black licorice appear as well.

Alcohol is present and gives a nice little kick, but is not overpowering of the base. Mouthfeel is a touch too thin for my spirit aged preference and although it's not totally lacking carbonation, it's still a bit too low in that category.

Very complex flavors to this beer and very enjoyable. If the mouthfeel were more spot on this would be almost perfect. As it is, it's still a great beer, but could be something even more.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 22:20:56 | More by jmarsh123

SaintBenedict

Pennsylvania

4.55/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2012 bottling

I forget exactly how much this 12.7 oz. miniature Belgian abbey-style bottle set me back, but if I recall correctly it was upwards of $20—so, here's to hoping it was worth it!

Deliverance pours an obsidian black with some deep chestnut edges visible near the surface, but only when it's inspected close to a light source. Unlike a few Angel's Share bottles that I've had, the cork actually 'pops' when opened—this ale might be carbonated after all!

The greige head makes a show at first, but quickly settles down to a thin spotty head and only a slighter denser ring toward the perimeter of the glass. In the center I can make out a faintly bubbly "fountain", probably surfacing due to the etched design on the floor of the Duvel tulip.

The nose is big and boozy with the barrel aging unapologetically evident. Speaking of spirits, in addition to the whiskey and brandy, dark rum, chocolate liqueur, cherry cordial, macerated dark fruit and liquor-soaked fruitcake also come to mind. And that ain't the half of it: raisins, dates, figs, sweet citrus, along with vanilla, caramel and toffee also make the scene. And let's not forget about the roasted maltiness, either. There's so much going on it's hard to keep track, yet the beer manages to hold it together convincingly. Definitely on the "divine" side for now. Now let's peer into this creature's soul.

On the tongue, Deliverance is a malty sweet shock to the taste buds, with roasty notes and rich chocolate flavors, answered by an almost sour fruity kick of zesty citrus and dark stone fruit. Loads of black strap molasses, anise and black licorice show up too.

Towards the finish, a quick modest alcohol sting adds a bit of lingering heat, but not overbearingly so. And, there's a fair amount of bitter dryness to boot.

This devil is full-bodied with some fine sparkly carbonation that thankfully isn't mouth-filling. On the contrary, it adds just the right texture.

Saint or sinner, Deliverance is heaven.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 05:06:01 | More by SaintBenedict

Impfan

Washington

4.98/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Amazing nose and flavor of chocolate, bourbon, sherry, cherries, brandy, toffee, fig, date, raisin, sandalwood, and coffee. Beautifully balanced with almost no carbonation, but a voluptuous mouthfeel that is coating, and helps the finish to last incredibly long.

I'm a moderate fan of Serpent Stout, and only a marginal fan of The Angel's Share, but this blend is absolutely fantastic!

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2012 20:47:38 | More by Impfan

kylehay2004

Florida

3.83/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: thin head on a jet black body. some lacing.

S: mildly buttery, roasted malts, vanilla.

T: this one is a little buttery which i am really sensitive too. oak, bourbon, hints of milk chocolate.

M: medium body and moderate carbonation.

Overall: this one is very drinkable and very mild. the drinkability is excellent. very smooth.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 06:40:19 | More by kylehay2004

nickfl

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours with one finger of light tan foam on top of an opaque, dark brown body. The head settles rapidly and leaves light lace on the glass.

S - Chocolate, vanilla, peanut butter, and coffee.

T - Dark sugar, caramel, and toffee up front. Some vanilla and nutty cola in the middle with smoky caramel, nutty notes and a finish of vanilla, tobacco, and espresso.

M - Medium-thick body, moderately high carbonation, and a fairly sweet finish.

D - Really thick and sweet with a complex, dense sugar and slice character. The barrel character is readily apparent with a coffee flavor that is dark and enhoyable but balanced by the intense malt and surgary sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 06:18:20 | More by nickfl

Tilley4

Tennessee

3.5/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I finally decided to crack this open last night. I have been holding on to this for a special occasion. Last night seemed like as good a time as any.

This appears a dark Ruby brown with a thin crisp mocha head... wasn't expecting this much carbonation... looking pretty good...

Sweet dark fruits soaked in booze.... hints of cocoa here and there but the fruit is the main player here... traces of booze here and there... the bourbon packs a wallop in the aroma dept also... nothing subdued about this at all... in your face all the way...

I will admit that the first few sips were some of the most delicious I've ever experienced from a beer... deep dark chocolate covered raisins tinged with traces of bourbon and brown sugar and vanilla... truly astounding... unfortunately it didn't last. This is still an amazing brew but the sheer booziness quickly numbed my senses and I didn't enjoy the second half of the bottle anywhere near as much as the first... rather sweet and cloying and became a chore to get thru honestly... maybe a little more time? This was bottled in 2011 so im wondering if I should have sat on this for a little longer...

A good effort but not a great one... too boozy and sweet for its own good...

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 21:24:07 | More by Tilley4

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

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

2012 Vintage to tulip glass.

A - Poured black with only a thin ring of light brown head around the edges of the glass.

S - Bourbon and oak up front along with a big roast aroma. The brandy is evident as well, along with some lighter vanilla and caramel aromas.

T - Carbonation is my worry and initially noticed that carbonation was very low, but still present enough to make this beer enjoyable, unlike some other experiences I have had with Lost Abbey beers. Bourbon, oak and vanilla flavours up front along with a big roast profile. Lighter caramel and toffee notes are present in the finish along with a hint of sweet brandy.

M - Medium body with a good chew. The carbonation is low but still present. Would like a little more carbonation, but still drinking well.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 00:39:55 | More by TheSevenDuffs

bamadog

Kentucky

4.38/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Woot - finally made it out to Ale Yeah! in Decatur and I wasn't disappointed. They have a pretty decent growler list and this bad boy was on it, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get some Lost Abbey now that I've actually got access to it.

Appearance: Pour is a deep dark brown, near black; starts with a full finger of dark tan head, but it fizzles out like a cola quickly to nothing other than a thin wisp of lacing on the surface; body is dark as mentioned, nearly opaque with the exception of some ruby highlights near the edges;

Smell: Lots of rich toffee and caramel maltiness; some big booziness hiding out in there but it's blending in so well with those big malts; some very rich chocolate and it's sweet and syrupy. This beer smells like dessert in a glass; definitely reminiscent of the Angel's Share -- doesn't miss a beat.

Taste: See nose -- pretty much to a "T" -- this beer is fantastic; aside from all the aspects in the nose that show up, there is also a bit of a deep dark, overripe fruit aspect as well, perhaps some cherries, dates and figs. Jesus, when LA is on, they are on.

Mouthfeel: Body is close to heavy in terms of weight; and surprisingly, the carbonation is still pretty decent and prickly; there is a thick, sticky coating left all over the palate and it is sooo chewy it's ridiculous; gums are left tingly, as is the belly, from the carbonation and booziness.

Overall: Not something I would crave every day -- it's pretty sweet and big and boozy, so it's definitely a limited consumption kind of beer, but when it's time to drink it, it will not let you down. I don't know if I needed an entire 64 oz. growler either, but I'm going to do my damnedest to kill it off.

Serving type: growler

08-30-2012 01:15:29 | More by bamadog

chanokokoro

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2011 Vintage 12.7 oz. bottle fairly hard poured into a The Lost Abbey teku glass.

Pours motor oil dark brown with a half finger beige head that dissipates quicky. Strong boozy, bourbon and brandy notes and dark fruit on the nose, undertones of vanilla. Strong bourbon, brandy and oak, joined by dark chocolate, toffee, black licorice, and dried dark fruit finishing with dark chocolate notes, warming boozy alcohol. Very low carbonation and fairly full bodied. Very enjoyable, but truly one of the boozier brews I've had. At least another year of cellaring would certainly benefit this brew, however it won't change the fact that this one is most certainly a sipper.

2012 Vintage: All of the above but even more balanced, much more drinkable. One of the better vintages.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 05:10:22 | More by chanokokoro

illidurit

California

4.58/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Backlog purge. Bottle poured into a snifter. Dark dark brown with a lasting tan head. Luscious aroma with sweet chocolate and vanilla and an undercurrent of spicy bourbon. Flavor is fudge and toasted oak, dark chocolate, roasted malt, vague raisiny fruitiness, sweet alcohol. Fluffy moussey body, devilish and great.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 07:17:16 | More by illidurit

DonDirkA

Arizona

4.98/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I haven't had Angel's Share (I missed my chance last time it was available) but I hear its awesome and Serpent's Stout is literally one of the best stouts I have ever had so I go into this excited. Nose is surprisingly sweet. Vanilla, sherry, caramel, oak, cherries, chocolate, chocolate covered cherries, plums, figs, dark fruits and grape. Taste is strong, oak flavors up front with vanilla and chocolate. Cherries and grapes follow with some assistance from dark fruits. Definite booziness; warming but not overwhelming. The barrels really come through in an awesome way and they don't fight each other. There are very distinct bourbon notes up front followed right on the heels by the fruitier brandy flavors. The mouthfeel is smooth, silky, slightly hot and awesome. This is one the greatest barrel aged ales I have ever tasted, hands down.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 08:54:45 | More by DonDirkA

cvm4

Mississippi

4.33/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours deep brown with a one finger tan head.

S - Huge bourbon notes with Sherry undertones.

T - Pure excellence of bourbon & vanilla. Along with other flavors.

M - Medium body & carbonation.

O - Well put together. Just class through & through.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 01:35:48 | More by cvm4

4thmedbn

Maine

4.48/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A bottle from 2011 shared by Andrewinski1

A - Deep and dark. No light getting through. Small amount of lingering tan head. All the way to the end of the glass, but without much lacing.

S - Smooth, chocolate aroma with definite notes of wood aging and dark fruits. Lots of delicious booziness.

T - Everything you'd expect from the nose. Boozey, bourbon character, with some chocolate and dried fruits. Just the slightest touch of roast in the background to keep it from being too cloying. Really incredible stuff.

M - Full bodied, without being chalky or oily. Definitely a sipping beer.

O - I'll be honest: while I am a sucker for double IPA and aggressive beers on the opposite end of the spectrum, I also like aggressively boozey beers. This is one of the latter. If you don't dig imperial stout and Belgian quads/DSAs, don't bother with this beer. but if you do dig boozey beers that aren't necessarily balanced by hop bitterness, jump all over this stuff. Definitely a candidate for aging. I bet after 2 or 3 years it would be magical.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2012 05:25:14 | More by 4thmedbn

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

375 ml bottle, 2011 vintage, poured into a tulip glass.

A- Pours a dark brown color, produces a thin layer of head that quickly vanishes to nothing, leaves no lacing.

S- Bourbon and brandy notes as well as sweet dark fruit, chocolate, caramel and vanilla.

T- Sweet and boozy but not overly so, has some flavors of bourbon and vanilla, chocolate, caramel and vanilla, the finish has flavors of wood and a bit of vinous fruit.

M- Medium-bodied, slick feel with medium to low carbonation, a bit of boozy warmth.

O- Another solid barrel-aged beer from the Lost Abbey.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 10:49:19 | More by WillCarrera

cfrances33

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 bottle poured into a Tired Hands wine glass.

Pour: Nearly pitch black with a finger and a half tan head. Recedes quickly to a tan ring.

Smell: Bourbon vanilla bursts from the glass. Really quite powerful. Some coffee.

Taste: Bourbon, chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and caramel. The bourbon us quite strong, but in a great way. Sweet.

Mouthfeel: Very creamy. Viscous to the max. Pretty hot and very sweet.

Overall: An amazing beer, and one I like better than Bourbon Barrel Angel's Share. My only complaint, if at all, is that it is severely sweet. But I'm just nitpicking with that one. Definitely get this

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 21:37:28 | More by cfrances33

Etan

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12.7oz bottle into a snifter.

A: Pours a very dark brown-black with a reddish tinge. Big fizzy chocolate head.

S: Nice barrel-forward aroma. Vanilla, bourbon, big caramel, raisin, chocolate. Sweet alcohol heat and a bit of sugary grape (the brandy?).

T: Burnt caramel, dark roast and a bit of tannic bitterness. Vanilla, big booze, heavy bourbon and oak. Dark fruits come out as it warms.

M: Medium-bodied, slight fizzy carbonation, bit of an alcoholic bite.

O: I can definitely taste both the Angel's Share and Serpent's Stout, so the blend is pretty competent. The barrel character is quite good but the heavy wood has thinned the beer out a bit. Overall a very good blend, but not the tastiest BA strong ale out there.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 02:01:26 | More by Etan

harrymel

Washington

3.7/5  rDev -14%
look: 2 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

Vintage 2010

No audible pop at corking. Pours like spent oil - inky black-brown with heavy viscosity and little sign of carbonation. Lots of prune, caramel, bourbon and brandy, raisin, figs, and hints of cinnamon sugar in this one. Really pretty nose. Profoundly rich flavored beer: caramel, tawny, bitterness (surprised), nougat, chocolate - light, bourbon, figs, sugar and slight booze. Quite still on the mouthfeel, a slight effervescence. Warm and dry finish with a long standing flavor residual.

I'm a bit torn here. The smell and flavor of the beer are top notch, but the look and mouthfeel are far from superior. I wish the beer was just slightly cabonated - previous bottles I've had were.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 06:51:18 | More by harrymel

libbey

Washington

4.4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

75ml poured into a NB globe. 2011 vintage.

A: The beer pours a dark dark murky brown with a nice cap of coco head that settles fairly quickly. A nice trail of sticky lacing follows throughout the session. We have carbonation folks a wonderful sign!

S: The initial nose has layers of barrel notes mixing with layers of chocolate and dark fruit. The brandy is the most pronounced of the two but the bourbon is certainly there. ABV is well integrated but you can tell this is going to be a big boozy luscious treat. World class nose.

T: Chocolate and fig notes are quickly swallowed up by big barrel notes. Brandy and Bourbon coat the pallet and the finish has a touch of heat from the ABV. Doesn't quite live up to the nose but is great non the less.

M: The mouthfeel is wonderful. Velvety and sticky. Every sip lingers on the tongue. Carbonation is perfect and carries this full bodied treat all the way through the finish line. Outstanding.

O: Overall this a wonderful offering from Lost Abbey. I look forward to revisiting this guy down the road. World Class beer pursue accordingly.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 03:41:11 | More by libbey

jsanford

Georgia

4.58/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 vintage

Pours dark brown with a dense, mocha-colored head that settles to a nice cap. Insane aromas of chocolate-covered raisin, brandy, bourbon, caramel, and brown sugar. Phenomenal nose. Big, boozy, and bold, with tons of chocolate, raisin, brandy, and caramel. Sweet and boozy, with a slightly "hot" finish. The definition of decadence. Velvet-smooth mouthfeel, with a medium-full body and just-right carbonation. Such a great beer, easily one of the best I've had from Lost Abbey.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2012 01:46:11 | More by jsanford

jnezda

Texas

4.63/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 375ml bottle into snifter. Poured a beautiful oil black with dark tan full head. The aging comes through in the aromas coming from this beer, oaky, brandy/bourbon with some dark fruit or sugar. The mouthfeel was think and viscus almost warm from the booze over powering the malt characteristics. Agree with many of the other reviewers that the alcohol shows through perhaps a bit too much on this one. The barrel aging brings out some interesting after notes on the finish but I think this would improve if I had let is sit for awhile.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 16:34:02 | More by jnezda

51mmz0rz

New Jersey

4.7/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured form an 12.7 oz bottle into a tulip. No date from what I can tell.

A: Body is totally opaque black. Nice light mocha head, tight bubbles, reasonable retention.

S: Lots of vanilla and whiskey comes through in the nose, as well as the stout aromas. Smells like it has some age on it.

T: A tremendous blend. Some roasty malt freshness along with just enough aged whiskey stout character. Totally outstanding.

M: Beautifully carbonated, not flat like some barrel aged stouts I've had.

D: They did everything right here. I wasn't crazy about angel's share, but the balance here is exactly what it was missing.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 19:14:46 | More by 51mmz0rz

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared by Jason, 375ml into a tulip. Unknown vintage.

Dark brown body, with a ring of brown head. Big legs, no retention however. Nose of sweet alcohol, dark chocolate, caramel candies, dark fruit and candi sugar. Oak and fudge as well. Alcohol is again prominent on the palate, fudge, oak and dark fruits. Brandy is a little more prominent that the bourbon, although both stand out in a boozy fashion. Mouthfeel is thick, viscous and boozy. Low carbonation, but not flat. A really good BA'd beer/blend - really brings forward some characteristics that I felt were reminiscent of BB4D in a really good way.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 19:56:01 | More by liamt07

tut2528

Illinois

3.96/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011 Vintage

A: completely black, no transparency whatsoever. Pours about ½ fingers worth of head formation at the most, that is mocha colored. Moderate film sticks to the edge of the glass.

S: huge bourbon notes complemented by dark fruits such as raisins and figs. I also get a bold roasted note aspect with some alcohol, but the alcohol sits in quite nice. There also is a nice sweet and sugary toffee to heighten the complexity in the nose.

T: like the nose, except a monster of bourbon and the alcohol crush the palate. once you get past the ABV, some of the other pleasuring notes come up...dark fruits (raisins, figs again), mild coffee, mild chocolate, with a cream vanilla finish.

M: full bodied, fits the appearance and the taste quite well. Carbonation much more enhanced than Angel’s Share.

O: disappointing for the price that is it sold at, but glad I tried it. There are many other brews that are much less expensive and more well balanced than this one. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good brew, but this was a one timer for me. I highly recommend laying this one down for an extended period of time to mellow out the bold alcohol because it is just too dominating at this moment.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 13:08:36 | More by tut2528