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Sede Vacante
The Lost Abbey
- From:
- The Lost Abbey
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 15%
- Score:
- 92
- Avg:
- 4.15 | pDev: 10.36%
- Reviews:
- 17
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- May 17, 2019
- Added:
- Mar 14, 2013
- Wants:
- 75
- Gots:
- 33
Sede Vacante is a blend of Barleywine aged in Cognac barrels and Brandy barrel-aged Angel’s Share and at packaging came in at 15% ABV. A contemplative beer with substantial depth, Sede Vacante imparts tones of dark fruit and vanilla, with a warming finish from the Cognac. The strongest beer to emerge from The Lost Abbey, portions of the beer spent almost 5 years in a barrel. Sede Vacante can be enjoyed immediately or cellared till the next Papal Conclave, however long that may be.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by saxclar123:
Rated by saxclar123 from Pennsylvania
4.5/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Feb 23, 2015
4.5/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Feb 23, 2015
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by macrosmatic from Florida
3.71/5 rDev -10.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.71/5 rDev -10.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Thanks as always to eyebereej for this one! Reviewed from notes. Poured from a corked and caged 750 mL bottle into an El Catador Barrel-Aged glass.
2013 bottling, consumed 9.23.18.
A: Murky dark brown, with minimal head and carbonation. Opaque. Not particularly pretty.
S: Boozy bourbon and sherry (or I assume cognac) up front. Sweet malts, notes of brown sugar and molasses. Some oak tannins. Some dark fruits and maybe lightly tart cherries.
T: Bourbon, oak, and chocolatey malts. Some dry French oak from the cognac. This is counterbalanced by the sweet chocolatey malts, milder dark fruits, and a touch of vanilla. Some brown sugar sweetness mixes into the malt body. Some lingering boozy heat after the swallow, though the dry tannins persist the longest.
M: A surprisingly thin body for anything this ABV…borderline watery compared to my expectations. The alcohol is obvious, though I wouldn’t have guessed anywhere close to 15%. Carbonation sensation is low, but not flat still.
O: This was a decent strong ale, but other than the ABV strength, there's not much here that I'd actively seek out again. Still, it was enjoyable to have once.
Nov 02, 20182013 bottling, consumed 9.23.18.
A: Murky dark brown, with minimal head and carbonation. Opaque. Not particularly pretty.
S: Boozy bourbon and sherry (or I assume cognac) up front. Sweet malts, notes of brown sugar and molasses. Some oak tannins. Some dark fruits and maybe lightly tart cherries.
T: Bourbon, oak, and chocolatey malts. Some dry French oak from the cognac. This is counterbalanced by the sweet chocolatey malts, milder dark fruits, and a touch of vanilla. Some brown sugar sweetness mixes into the malt body. Some lingering boozy heat after the swallow, though the dry tannins persist the longest.
M: A surprisingly thin body for anything this ABV…borderline watery compared to my expectations. The alcohol is obvious, though I wouldn’t have guessed anywhere close to 15%. Carbonation sensation is low, but not flat still.
O: This was a decent strong ale, but other than the ABV strength, there's not much here that I'd actively seek out again. Still, it was enjoyable to have once.
Reviewed by mothman from Minnesota
4.26/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
4.26/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
Flat. No head.
Color is a dark red wine Ruby color.
A lot of wine and cognac flavors. Very sweet and port like. Caramel and brown sugar. Toffee. Plums and cherries. Vanilla. Oak and bourbon.
Only flaw is the carbonation is a bit too low. I don't mind low carbonation, but this was just a bit too low. Otherwise berry enjoyable. Dessert beer.
Mar 18, 2016Color is a dark red wine Ruby color.
A lot of wine and cognac flavors. Very sweet and port like. Caramel and brown sugar. Toffee. Plums and cherries. Vanilla. Oak and bourbon.
Only flaw is the carbonation is a bit too low. I don't mind low carbonation, but this was just a bit too low. Otherwise berry enjoyable. Dessert beer.
Reviewed by IMFletcher from Kentucky
4.11/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
4.11/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
The nose is amazing, dark fruits and booze. The brandy barrel finish is amazing. But without any carbonation, it takes a serious hit on an overall rating. Otherwise it's noteworthy.
Nov 11, 2015Reviewed by DoubleSimcoe from Pennsylvania
3.76/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.76/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
On tap at Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia for the Papal visit, September 2015. Fitting name and ale indeed! Good color, classic Lost Abbey strong ale look. Smells like old ale, dark fruit, port wine, Pedro Ximenez. The taste follows the nose, but weaker. And then the deadly-thin mouthfeel kills it for me. Watery, unremarkable finish. Drinks easy for a 15% brew, but sadly, I would not revisit.
Sep 27, 2015Rated by ATeamMusic from California
5/5 rDev +20.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +20.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Tasting fantastic! This beer has aged and done exactly what it should!
May 22, 2015Rated by BradleySig from California
4.95/5 rDev +19.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
4.95/5 rDev +19.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Just bought the very last bottle of this from the brewery. Truly remarkable.
Mar 23, 2015Reviewed by StoutSnob40 from California
4.36/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
4.36/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
Carbonation aside, and there is literally none, this beer smells and tastes amazing. Deep, rich flavor from the barrels, this beer drinks strong, but not 15% strong.
Mar 07, 2015
Sede Vacante from The Lost Abbey
Beer rating:
92 out of
100 with
145 ratings
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