Cuvee De Tomme
The Lost Abbey

Cuvee De TommeCuvee De Tomme
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From:
The Lost Abbey
 
California, United States
Style:
Wild Ale
Ranked #269
ABV:
11%
Score:
94
Ranked #2,708
Avg:
4.21 | pDev: 10.93%
Reviews:
429
Ratings:
1,284
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 31, 2023
Added:
Jun 14, 2003
Wants:
  672
Gots:
  265
Blended dark strong ale with sour cherries aged in American oak and French oak red wine barrels.

Once upon a time it was the most award winning Pizza Port beer of all time. Now it has found a new home at The Lost Abbey.

A massive brown ale base that is made from four fermentable sugars including malted barley, raisins, candi sugar and sour cherries, this beer is fully-fermented before being placed in bourbon barrels where the beer ages for one year with the sour cherries and the wild Brettanomyces yeast that we inoculate the barrels.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by scottfrie:
Photo of scottfrie
Reviewed by scottfrie from California

4.05/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750ml bottle into sniffer. 2009 vintage.

A: Pours a deep dark maroon with flash of head that disappeared before I set the bottle down. No lace.
S: Smells of rich dried black cherries and prunes. Very tart smelling with a hint of musty wood, funk, salt and just a vapor of alcohol.
T: Super-duper tart with musty oak and bitter old fermented cherries. I can tell there is a lot going on in this beer, but the sour cherries and cherry pits really dominate much of the flavor. There are some notes of vanilla in the oak. Aftertaste has a hint of tobacco to it. The flavors really open up after the beer breaths and warms in the glass, and the cherries gain a little bit of sweetness to them.
M: The acid gnaws at the throat at first as you swallow, but either my palate got used to it or the beer mellowed out because it's drink mighty fine right now. The finish is extremely dry, one of the driest I've had. My mouth definitely puckered at times too. Carbonation is medium and sharp at moments. Alcohol is masterfully hidden and almost unnoticeable, especially for a beer over ten percent.
D: This is one fairly epic drink even if it is a bit rough at times. Not quite as flavorful or complex as say, Supplication, and a bit abrasive. The price was a bit steep, but I am glad I got to try this.

8/2012 EDIT: 2003 vintage (first bottling) #41/350 hand-bottled by LA. Thanks for sharing Chad!

Pours flat, dark ruddy brown, a shade browner and lighter than red wine. Darker than I remember. Slight oxidization but it's very light. There is lots of oak and deep fruits, cherries, and must. Flat mouth, no carbonation, with a tartness that is not even close to the 09 I reviewed. Not much sourness but a bit of acid. Drying mouth and slick. A little too old but amazingly good for its age.
Sep 29, 2010
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.3 by ScottP from New Hampshire

Dec 31, 2023
 
Rated: 4.06 by Ben1313 from New Hampshire

Dec 31, 2023
Photo of kitch
Reviewed by kitch from Hong Kong

4.55/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
A corked and caged 1 pint 9.4 fl. oz. bottle with no clear bottled on or best before date. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.

Appearance: It was a dark brownish red colour, with a thin beige head that dissipated quickly, while leaving only sparse to no lacing.

Aroma: Cherry, vanilla, blackcurrant, oak, graphite, cabernet sauvignon.

Taste: Sour, tart, cherry, blackcurrant, blackberry, vanilla, oak, with light notes of caramel, chocolate and bourbon, and a lightly acidic finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.

Overall: Complex and enjoyable. Loved the aroma, while the taste was good but perhaps just a touch acidic.
Jun 18, 2023
Photo of stortore
Reviewed by stortore from Illinois

4.24/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
750 ml bottle into a snifter. 2017 edition, had 4/15/22.

Pours a brownish ruby color, semi opaque, with no head and no lacing. Aromas of cherry, wine, oak, some chocolate, light caramel. Smells lightly sour. Flavors are similar- cherry, wine, oak, malt, some chocolate, light caramel. Tastes fairly sour and lightly tart. Smooth, a solid medium body, appropriately carbonated on the low side.

Very enjoyable. Lots of cherry, more sour than expected after about five years, didn’t pick up the bourbon barrels at all. Based on the description above, I would say that some of the flavors have become less distinct.
Jun 07, 2023
 
Rated: 3.67 by not2quick from Missouri

May 06, 2023
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Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey

4.32/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
(5 oz pour in a little snifter at Monk's during PtY day 20 Feb)

L: light-chestnut brown color with tawny highlights; mild-moderate haze; no foam on the pour

S: tart cherry, sour brown ale maltiness, dark fruit and perfumy undertones... excellent intensity and depth

T: much of the aromas carry over onto the palate... the cherry is relatively prominent and is complimented beautifully by the wine barrel character (wood, raisin)... tart up top, lightly demerara-like malt underbelly

F: round and rolly, but buoyant... served with a healthy charge of gas, giving it more levity... a bit viscous on the edges, but remaining soft on the palate, despite some tartness causing a bit of pucker... could slug a mug

O: second time ever having this, second time on draft at Monk's... love this liquid; 3-4 sips are not enough... why oh why have bottles never been out east?... gotta get one (2098)
Feb 22, 2023
 
Rated: 2.44 by bruindre from Massachusetts

Feb 08, 2023
 
Rated: 3 by ejimhof from Pennsylvania

Oct 18, 2022
 
Rated: 4.08 by brandoneast from Texas

Sep 17, 2022
 
Rated: 4.1 by Hawkfish from Washington

Jun 05, 2022
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Rated by DucksFan16 from Tennessee

4.34/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
2018 vintage at 12.5%
May 07, 2022
 
Rated: 4.27 by donspublic from Texas

May 01, 2022
Photo of Gatch
Reviewed by Gatch from Massachusetts

4.47/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
On tap at the brewery. Incredible cherry character with added barrel qualities. Such a great sour. Rich and dark with the fruitiness that makes cherries so perfect for dark beers and aging. Been waiting 15 years to try this and it does not disappoint!
Oct 12, 2021
 
Rated: 4.23 by MDDMD from Pennsylvania

Sep 02, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by BeerRay from Rhode Island

Apr 05, 2021
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

4.22/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle, as The Lost Abbey Cuvée de Tomme, kindly shared by gunnar. Dark ruby colour, large beige head. Unusual and very complex aroma, oaky and vinous notes, sour cherries and farmhouse. Sour flavour but not extreme, the cherries are there but not totally dominant, also oaky notes.
Mar 19, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by mrmsmith from District of Columbia

Feb 10, 2021
 
Rated: 3.51 by EasternIsh from California

Jan 10, 2021
Cuvee De Tomme from The Lost Abbey
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 1284 ratings