Sede Vacante
The Lost Abbey

Sede VacanteSede Vacante
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From:
The Lost Abbey
 
California, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
ABV:
15%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.15 | pDev: 10.36%
Reviews:
17
Ratings:
145
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 steenkampa:
Photo of steenkampa
Rated by steenkampa from California

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

Aug 08, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.78 by Trmmilwwi from Illinois

May 17, 2019
 
Rated: 3.25 by t2grogan from Arizona

Nov 21, 2018
Photo of macrosmatic
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
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, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by hopkrid from Florida

Sep 24, 2018
 
Rated: 4.09 by SimcoeKid from California

May 21, 2016
 
Rated: 4.15 by Kplummer82 from California

May 21, 2016
Photo of mothman
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
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, 2016
 
Rated: 4.22 by jakemn91 from New Mexico

Mar 18, 2016
 
Rated: 4.3 by Raziel313 from California

Feb 07, 2016
Photo of IMFletcher
Reviewed by IMFletcher from Kentucky

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, 2015
Photo of DoubleSimcoe
Reviewed by DoubleSimcoe from Pennsylvania

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, 2015
 
Rated: 4.32 by HopHead84 from California

Aug 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.09 by PG2G from California

Jun 13, 2015
Photo of ATeamMusic
Rated by ATeamMusic from California

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, 2015
 
Rated: 4.3 by linnymtu from Michigan

Apr 23, 2015
Photo of BradleySig
Rated by BradleySig from California

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, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by nathanmiller from New York

Mar 19, 2015
Photo of StoutSnob40
Reviewed by StoutSnob40 from California

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
 
Rated: 4.5 by saxclar123 from Pennsylvania

Feb 23, 2015
Sede Vacante from The Lost Abbey
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 145 ratings