The Angel's Share - Bourbon Barrel-Aged | The Lost Abbey
Brewed by:
The Lost Abbey
California, United States
lostabbey.com
Style: American Strong Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 12.50%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Down in Kentucky and across the pond in Scotland, distillers who age their whiskeys for many years refer to the evaporation of the spirits from their barrels as “The Angel’s Share.” We couldn’t agree more. Each time a barrel is filled, a measure of liquid seeps into the oak and is lost for good.This striking Strong Ale is brewed with copious amounts of Caramel malt to emphasize the vanilla and oak flavors found in freshly emptied bourbon or brandy barrels. The beer spends a year in oak before it is packaged for release.
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 1,920 | Reviews: 709
Reviews by StoutElk_92:
4.68/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Dark, rich brandy, booze soaked raisins, chocolate, coffee, oak barrel, bourbon, vanilla, dark caramel, molasses, dark dried fruits
131 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Dark, rich brandy, booze soaked raisins, chocolate, coffee, oak barrel, bourbon, vanilla, dark caramel, molasses, dark dried fruits
131 characters
More User Reviews:
4.4/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Not much carbonation, sweet, boozy aroma with raisins and figs. Lots of bourbon and oak in the flav, caramelized raisins, figs, sponge toffee, hint of roasted nut. Light residual sweetness, but a very drying alcohol finish.
225 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Not much carbonation, sweet, boozy aroma with raisins and figs. Lots of bourbon and oak in the flav, caramelized raisins, figs, sponge toffee, hint of roasted nut. Light residual sweetness, but a very drying alcohol finish.
225 characters
4.26/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Deep, hazy, milk chocolate color. Minimal head on the pour with weak retention.
Sweet caramel and molasses malty aroma. Oak, bourbon, vanilla, smooth booze. Very rich and well balanced in the nose.
Flavor imparts a deep caramel and burnt sugar quality. Mild yeast presence. Subtle leafy, herbal hop. Smooth oak in the finish.
Dense, full bodied, and bordering on syrupy feel. Moderate carbonation.
Highly complex and well rounded barrel aged ale.
459 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Deep, hazy, milk chocolate color. Minimal head on the pour with weak retention.
Sweet caramel and molasses malty aroma. Oak, bourbon, vanilla, smooth booze. Very rich and well balanced in the nose.
Flavor imparts a deep caramel and burnt sugar quality. Mild yeast presence. Subtle leafy, herbal hop. Smooth oak in the finish.
Dense, full bodied, and bordering on syrupy feel. Moderate carbonation.
Highly complex and well rounded barrel aged ale.
459 characters
4.02/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
L: Poured nearly still, dark brown with a thin head quick to dissipate - opened with a pathetic little "pop"
A: Bourbon, vanilla, heat
T: Sweet, dark fruit
M: not impressive, thin for style, no carb, hot
O: A very good beer that could've been great with some carbonation
270 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
L: Poured nearly still, dark brown with a thin head quick to dissipate - opened with a pathetic little "pop"
A: Bourbon, vanilla, heat
T: Sweet, dark fruit
M: not impressive, thin for style, no carb, hot
O: A very good beer that could've been great with some carbonation
270 characters
3.75/5 rDev -12.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.29/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2009 Vintage.
Pours a very dark brown, almost opaque. No head whatsoever.
The aroma is a bit restrained due to the obvious lack of carbonation, but it's still quite impressive with smooth bourbon notes on top of toffee, nuts, oak and vanilla. Lovely hints of vinous fruits.
The flavor is sweet and warming. Perfect integration between the bourbon and the malty backbone. Notes of vanilla, nuts and oak blend wonderfully with caramel malts, toffee and leather. Ends warming with notes of alcohol, bourbon and dried fruits.
Full-bodied and smooth but it feels a bit dull in the mouth as it is as flat as [insert something that makes a dirty joke out of this].
665 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2009 Vintage.
Pours a very dark brown, almost opaque. No head whatsoever.
The aroma is a bit restrained due to the obvious lack of carbonation, but it's still quite impressive with smooth bourbon notes on top of toffee, nuts, oak and vanilla. Lovely hints of vinous fruits.
The flavor is sweet and warming. Perfect integration between the bourbon and the malty backbone. Notes of vanilla, nuts and oak blend wonderfully with caramel malts, toffee and leather. Ends warming with notes of alcohol, bourbon and dried fruits.
Full-bodied and smooth but it feels a bit dull in the mouth as it is as flat as [insert something that makes a dirty joke out of this].
665 characters
2.67/5 rDev -37.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
I don't know what year this is.
No pop whatsoever upon pulling the sad cork out. Pours dark brown with maybe a trace of foam around the edges. The aroma is the only saving grace with this beer. It's very bourbony with traces of molasses, maple, vanilla extract, and sharp alcohol. There is no way in hell I could drink a bottle of this flat, boozy, utter mess of a beer. The taste is packing some serious heat along with some of the aforementioned aromas coming through in the taste, but the mouthfeel flat out sucks and I can't believe The Lost Abbey is still letting stores sell this flat bourbon water. Sorry, no good.
622 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
I don't know what year this is.
No pop whatsoever upon pulling the sad cork out. Pours dark brown with maybe a trace of foam around the edges. The aroma is the only saving grace with this beer. It's very bourbony with traces of molasses, maple, vanilla extract, and sharp alcohol. There is no way in hell I could drink a bottle of this flat, boozy, utter mess of a beer. The taste is packing some serious heat along with some of the aforementioned aromas coming through in the taste, but the mouthfeel flat out sucks and I can't believe The Lost Abbey is still letting stores sell this flat bourbon water. Sorry, no good.
622 characters
4.95/5 rDev +15.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
It's difficult to write an appropriate description of a transcendental experience. This divine concoction changed my perspective on what beer could be. It offers every bit of complexity of a great wine melded with the deep satisfaction of a superb beer. Most barleywines seem to be overly sweet or harshly alcoholic but the balance in this beer is tremendous. Do whatever you can to secure some of this incredible beer.
419 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
It's difficult to write an appropriate description of a transcendental experience. This divine concoction changed my perspective on what beer could be. It offers every bit of complexity of a great wine melded with the deep satisfaction of a superb beer. Most barleywines seem to be overly sweet or harshly alcoholic but the balance in this beer is tremendous. Do whatever you can to secure some of this incredible beer.
419 characters
4.37/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
split 12oz bottle w/ hu5om (received in a trade) in 6oz sampler glasses.
A: an inky murky brown, no evident carbonation and no head. a rather unassuming appearance.
S: strong whiffs of bourbon and oak, very smooth on the olfactory senses.
T: smooth sips of bourbon and oak are evident with underlying hints of caramel and a subtle vanilla aftertaste.
MF/D: very flat with a dry finish similar to a merlot wine, but smooth the whole way down. certainly can feel the heat after a few sips leaving a solid, yet enjoyable, buzz.
528 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
split 12oz bottle w/ hu5om (received in a trade) in 6oz sampler glasses.
A: an inky murky brown, no evident carbonation and no head. a rather unassuming appearance.
S: strong whiffs of bourbon and oak, very smooth on the olfactory senses.
T: smooth sips of bourbon and oak are evident with underlying hints of caramel and a subtle vanilla aftertaste.
MF/D: very flat with a dry finish similar to a merlot wine, but smooth the whole way down. certainly can feel the heat after a few sips leaving a solid, yet enjoyable, buzz.
528 characters
4.65/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
2008 vintage 375ml bottle. Pours into my glass a deep dark rich brown with a inch of creamy bubbly light tan head on top as well. The cork popped quite loudly here and I was glad I had a glass nearby! Aromas start with a deep, rich roasted maltiness with raisins, figs, dark fruit, caramel and molasses all in play. Enticing and flowing trails of vanilla and bright, woody oak accents. Big bourbon wafts up into the nose.
First sip brings a lush, somewhat sweet rich maltiness that is lightly roasted. Notes of raisins, cocoa, brown sugar and caramelized sugars. Vibrant vanilla flavors cavort with hints of dark fruits. As it flows down woody oak flavors kiss the palate and make me envision barrels of this amazing beer lying patiently at wait in the Lost Abbey brewery waiting for just the right moment to be released from its wooden confinement. Smooth bourbon shines through on the finish and the alcohol is nearly non-existent here. A deeply complex and insanely tasty brew.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied and has somewhat of a creaminess to it as well. This is quite carbonated and personally I think the carbonation is a little overdone here. Overall though, it's intensely complex, warming and contemplative. Definitely a sipper, but one I could sip all night. An amazing beer that I would recommend any day of the week!
1,327 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
2008 vintage 375ml bottle. Pours into my glass a deep dark rich brown with a inch of creamy bubbly light tan head on top as well. The cork popped quite loudly here and I was glad I had a glass nearby! Aromas start with a deep, rich roasted maltiness with raisins, figs, dark fruit, caramel and molasses all in play. Enticing and flowing trails of vanilla and bright, woody oak accents. Big bourbon wafts up into the nose.
First sip brings a lush, somewhat sweet rich maltiness that is lightly roasted. Notes of raisins, cocoa, brown sugar and caramelized sugars. Vibrant vanilla flavors cavort with hints of dark fruits. As it flows down woody oak flavors kiss the palate and make me envision barrels of this amazing beer lying patiently at wait in the Lost Abbey brewery waiting for just the right moment to be released from its wooden confinement. Smooth bourbon shines through on the finish and the alcohol is nearly non-existent here. A deeply complex and insanely tasty brew.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied and has somewhat of a creaminess to it as well. This is quite carbonated and personally I think the carbonation is a little overdone here. Overall though, it's intensely complex, warming and contemplative. Definitely a sipper, but one I could sip all night. An amazing beer that I would recommend any day of the week!
1,327 characters
4.45/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.52/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
I did not expect that. I did not expect this to be so good. I don't know why. I just came in with low standards and was blown away. This is easily one of my favorite beers now. Had on tab, and I own bottles of the 2011 and 2013 vintages; I'm looking forward to opening these.
A - Not too impressive for a world class beer. Dark, thin, a hint of red rose and maroon coloring when held up to the light.
S - Roses, sweet bourbon, dark cherries, a little stout smell. Instantly knew my expectations were about to be destroyed when I smelled this one.
T - This took me to another place. Ripped me from reality. Tastes about as good as it smells. If you let it fall to the sides of your tongue you taste the bourbon. Sweet, home-made chocolate. Almost a stout flavor as well. This tastes great. EDIT: Oh, a little bit of port. I noticed this when I was writing the "Overall" rating up.
M - Slightly sticky. Some spilled over the side of the glass and felt just as sticky on my glass as it did in my mouth. Runs straight over the tongue and into the back of your throat, almost challenges you to put it in a shot glass and throw one back.
O - Very impressed. If you can find a bottle under $15, I would recommend picking it up. Easy buy. I could drink this all night, and it is the perfect post-dinner beer, like a port. Easy to drink despite how chewy it is to me. One of my favorite beers.
Because of Angel's Share on tap, I picked up 2 bottles (2011, 2013), and a bottle of 2011 Deliverance, which I am excited to try.
1,522 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
I did not expect that. I did not expect this to be so good. I don't know why. I just came in with low standards and was blown away. This is easily one of my favorite beers now. Had on tab, and I own bottles of the 2011 and 2013 vintages; I'm looking forward to opening these.
A - Not too impressive for a world class beer. Dark, thin, a hint of red rose and maroon coloring when held up to the light.
S - Roses, sweet bourbon, dark cherries, a little stout smell. Instantly knew my expectations were about to be destroyed when I smelled this one.
T - This took me to another place. Ripped me from reality. Tastes about as good as it smells. If you let it fall to the sides of your tongue you taste the bourbon. Sweet, home-made chocolate. Almost a stout flavor as well. This tastes great. EDIT: Oh, a little bit of port. I noticed this when I was writing the "Overall" rating up.
M - Slightly sticky. Some spilled over the side of the glass and felt just as sticky on my glass as it did in my mouth. Runs straight over the tongue and into the back of your throat, almost challenges you to put it in a shot glass and throw one back.
O - Very impressed. If you can find a bottle under $15, I would recommend picking it up. Easy buy. I could drink this all night, and it is the perfect post-dinner beer, like a port. Easy to drink despite how chewy it is to me. One of my favorite beers.
Because of Angel's Share on tap, I picked up 2 bottles (2011, 2013), and a bottle of 2011 Deliverance, which I am excited to try.
1,522 characters
The Angel's Share - Bourbon Barrel-Aged from The Lost Abbey
Beer rating:
4.29 out of
5 with
1,920 ratings
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