Veritas 009 - The Lost Abbey

vacax

California

4.75/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

As much talk happens about the Lost Abbey, this offering reminds us that boundaries are still being pushed in San Marcos and the results can be spectacular. I had a couple tasters of this beer, which poured menacingly black with only a few sparse bubbles to signify the presence of head. Aromas aren't best described at a packed brewery release, but what I did sense reminded of sour cherries and dark fruits, sour and vinous.

The story behind this beer is quite remarkable, and not until this beverage hit my tongue did I realize that the resulting beer actually is equally, or probably even more remarkable. I heard this was sour, so I expected a prototypical "Lost Abbey sour" with good flavor and excess acidity. What hit my tongue is not like any other Lost Abbey beer, incomparable to just about anything I have tried in the last few thousand beers I've tried.

The one word I think describes the flavor is robust--dark fruits immediately engulf the tongue, rich, satisfying sour cherries, unprecedentedly rich vinous character. Sour and oaky with a malt background, but all of these things so well integrated using any of them alone seems foolish. Sour, but not acidic, and malty, but not roasty--the end result is something port-like in quality. Something rich, palate pleasing, and robust.

Finally I understand the constant references to "wine drinkers" enjoying this. I thought that was mostly non-sense, but I have to admit this is spot on. Low carbonation, creamy and moderately thick body coats the palate and a tangy tartness lingers on the palate, not unlike a good dark wine, but better than that obviously.

I found this beer to be a revelation that pushes boundaries. Excellent as of the release date and every bit deserving of the name of the already legendary series it belongs to: Veritas.

Serving type: on-tap

05-29-2011 01:09:03 | More by vacax

Zbeetleman

California

3.25/5  rDev -15.6%

05-15-2013 02:53:52 | More by Zbeetleman

Gobzilla

California

4/5  rDev +3.9%

05-06-2013 07:27:40 | More by Gobzilla

pmarlowe

California

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

05-05-2013 20:58:25 | More by pmarlowe

GrumpyOldTroll

New Jersey

2/5  rDev -48.1%

04-24-2013 01:42:46 | More by GrumpyOldTroll

joel66

New York

3.25/5  rDev -15.6%

04-22-2013 18:48:02 | More by joel66

djrn2

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

03-24-2013 13:33:13 | More by djrn2

fehrminator

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

03-24-2013 02:05:34 | More by fehrminator

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

2.86/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

Bottle: Poured a deep black color ale with a small almost non-existent head with zero retention. The beer is indeed flat which I find hard to know if it is by design or just another bottling issue with the brewery. Aroma of bourbon with some vanilla notes is offset by tart and kriek notes which make for a weird mix at the end of the day. Taste is a very weird mix between bourbon/vanilla notes with light roasted malt offset by tart, oak and sour cherries notes. Body is about average with zero carbonation and no apparent alcohol. I can’t say I really enjoyed this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 19:05:11 | More by Phyl21ca

Shilt

Virginia

1.5/5  rDev -61%

02-09-2013 23:19:28 | More by Shilt

Azrael

2/5  rDev -48.1%

02-08-2013 04:35:07 | More by Azrael

jegross2

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

02-08-2013 04:21:27 | More by jegross2

jbuddle

New York

1.75/5  rDev -54.5%

01-28-2013 18:49:49 | More by jbuddle

KevSal

California

1.75/5  rDev -54.5%

01-28-2013 07:17:36 | More by KevSal

Arbitrator

California

1/5  rDev -74%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

Veritas is Lost Abbey's line of experimental beers, where Tomme "Tomme" Arthur seeks to push the boundaries of traditional brewing techniques and develop something new. His notable accomplishments included 003 (it showed me that a strong ale with bacteria could do pretty well), 004 (peach!), 006 (raspberry puree in stomach acid!), 008 (tea!). His latest innovation is 009, wherein Tomme has brewed a beer with absolutely no redeeming qualities.

Thanks to Sideswipe for the bottle. Opened and shared at my birthday tasting.

A: Pours an opaque, maroon body.

S: Funky vinegar, prunes, cinnamon. I was very disconcerted. Had someone pranked me with a fake bottle?

T: I simply could not figure out what this beer was trying to do. It had the pruney, soy saucey qualities that I detest in Dark Lord, soured with a mild vinegar burn, earth, and some band-aid. Tannins, vanilla, bourbon. WHAT IS GOING ON

O: I believe the beer was $35, so it's not affordable. It was a brewery-only release, so it wasn't accessible. It was so bad that a group of 25 beer geeks left over 50% of it on the table, so it wasn't good. Congratulations, Tomme: you've successfully trolled the beer community. There is literally no reason to drink this; it defines the bottom of the pile, do not pass Go, do not collect $200, go directly to Jail.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 07:02:09 | More by Arbitrator

ptykozoon

California

4.21/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A tiny pop announces a very black liquid, a bit of brown shows up in the light. No head or lacing. One of the darkest beers I've seen actually, intriguing.

The scents are powerful and tremendously good. Dark chocolate, caramel, maple syrup, a light fruit element, a dash of licorice and vanilla. Smells like a heavy stout.

Taste is bewildering considering the smell yet immensely welcomed. I did not know or honestly think a funky attribute to this beer would work. This is such a rare style, one of the most uniquely flavored beers I've ever had. The taste put simply is sour grape and chocolate put together. As the reviews show - not everyone's cup of tea, you really have to be a sour aficionado.

The mouthfeel is heavy and light at the same time - very hard to describe. Lightly carbonated - about the perfect amount for a beer like this I reckon.

Very good, not a session beer for me but a perfect beer for someone with a sour itch in the late hours of the night.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 02:58:20 | More by ptykozoon

popery

California

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

01-28-2013 01:48:06 | More by popery

CheapBeerBuzz

California

2.75/5  rDev -28.6%

01-26-2013 15:25:42 | More by CheapBeerBuzz

mrbubbler

California

3.05/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

A: dark with a red hue. little carbonation, no head.

S: tart cherries, bourbon, strong red wine characteristics, chocolate

T: COMPLEX. very strong sour cherry flavor that melts into a very nice red wine taste with hints of chocolate/bourbon/old ale.

M: Thick, if the carbonation was upped just a tad it would be perfect.

O: Excellent beer, i was really expecting this beer to be disappointing. I was very wrong. The sour cherry aspect is just something i have never experienced in any other beer. Highly recommended.

---
This beer has really fallen off. Very strong vinegar flavor and no carbonation. Was very difficult to finish a 4 oz pour. I have had some bottles that still tasted rather good but for the most part they are going down hill quickly.

Serving type: on-tap

01-23-2013 19:41:34 | More by mrbubbler

VaTechHopHead

California

2/5  rDev -48.1%

01-16-2013 18:27:19 | More by VaTechHopHead

mrandypandy

Georgia

4/5  rDev +3.9%

01-12-2013 14:31:08 | More by mrandypandy

AlexFields

Tennessee

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

01-11-2013 21:06:24 | More by AlexFields

tbone1384

Wyoming

4/5  rDev +3.9%

12-16-2012 01:21:59 | More by tbone1384

readbaron

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

12-12-2012 22:06:31 | More by readbaron

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev +3.9%

12-12-2012 04:27:11 | More by t0rin0