Lost Abbey Red Poppy Ale

This just hit the Chicago area. Price is $16.99 for a 12.7 oz. bottle. It appears to have shipped in limited quantities to this market. Is this worth picking up? Personally, I love a great sour (Supplication is my personal favorite), and this being a cherry sour, all the better, but the price makes me a bit weary.

(this is a serious comment) I heard it's flat this year. Any confirmation?

I haven't heard flat... but I have heard terrible.
Last year I would have but a ton at that price but I haven't bought any this year just based off the negative things I've heard from people who loved the beer in prior releases.

Yeah, maybe that's what I heard...not flat, just bad. Can't remember.

That sucks. Last years was nice. I still have one left so maybe I'll get one of this years batch and do a side by side. If I do, I will report back.

Please do I'm curious to know

I have drank 1 bottle from this year's release. It was by far the worst of the couple dozen or so bottles I've consumed in my lifetime.

Wow. Now if that isn't clear cut, I don't know what is. I might buy one just to try, and be sure to keep my receipt.

It'll be on draft at Fountainhead on Monday. I've already decided this will be my first pour, so I'll find out if there's a potential Red Eye situation.

That's a shame, I really like this beer.

None of these posts are encouraging...never good to hear that there is a good chance that your 12.7 oz bottle that costed $16.99 is going to suck. Anyhow, I'm going to try hitting Fountainhead on Monday as well to check it out on tap prior to cracking the bottle.

hahah of course this years is the worst.. it always is these days.. everyone loves to wax poetic about past years being the best.. im getting sick of BA's

I really like Red Poppy. Anyone else taste this year's batch yet? If I hear some good things, then I'm ISO

Four months is way too soon to be this jaded about BA...

The fact is that Lost Abbey, despite making some very good beers, have plenty of bad releases. Brandy Angel's Share 2011 was infected, ALL of the Older Viscosity vintages were flat until 2010, and we've all given up hope for carbonated bottles of Angel's Share. Being concerned that this year's Red Poppy will not be good is fair and reasonable. $17 buys a lot of disappointment.

Regardless, I'm looking forward to trying this on tap.

They've built some equity with me via Deliverance, which is just awesome. I've had a flat and screwed up Angels Share, and one that was actually fine. But I think I will steer clear of the Poppy.

This year's Red Poppy is disappointing. I regret buying my bottles. Gotta try before ya buy.

I didn't make it over to Fountainhead tonight. How was it? How was Red Poppy on tap?

Yep. There's a long history of inconsistent carbonation with The Lost Abbey's brews. I wish they would figure it out. Yet, I still shelled out the $17 for Red Poppy ...

Delicious. Loads of barrel character.

Completely agree. I enjoyed it so much that I hope there's more today.

I know a place in central IL that still had bottles of last year's as of January. Is there any indication of bottling dates or years on the LA brews ? I'd love to go pick those up this weekend, but don't want to get burned by this year's...

No high-five? For shame...

EDIT: Also - Monomoy Kriek >> Red Poppy.

This year's Red Poppy says "Vintage 2012" in yellow on the neck of the bottle. I want to say that the 2011 doesn't have a date.

Awesome, that will make my purchase a lot easier this weekend. Thanks!

Opened a bottle of this last night with two others - we all agreed that the beer smelled like moldy cheese, but the beer was very delicious and the highlight of the night. Nicely balanced with good mouthfeel. Definitely worth giving it a try.

I preferred last year's fruitier version over this one which I though had more of a dirty/funk taste to it. To each his own...

If I recall, there was a thread last year about the unpleasant aroma of the 2011 vintage. I did not experience that with any of the bottles I had though.