10 Commandments
The Lost Abbey

10 Commandments10 Commandments
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From:
The Lost Abbey
 
California, United States
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Ranked #79
ABV:
11%
Score:
88
Ranked #12,977
Avg:
3.95 | pDev: 11.14%
Reviews:
390
Ratings:
956
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 01, 2023
Added:
May 08, 2007
Wants:
  119
Gots:
  183
A stronger version of our Lost and Found Abbey Ale brewed to a more contemplative alcohol content. Massive in every stretch of the brewing way possible this is the sort of beer that will remind a beer drinker who considers themselves a saint that even saints stray as sinners from time to time.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by chrisrose30:
Photo of chrisrose30
Rated by chrisrose30 from California

4.5/5  rDev +13.9%

Jan 05, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.15/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
March 2010: 1 pint 9.4 fl. oz. corked bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.0%. Very dark brown colour, big pale brown head. Moderate sourish fruity and dusty aroma, hints of lightly roasted malts, wet cardboard and damp basement - certainly not impressive. The flavour is very sweet, fruity and vinous, notes of raisins and dark dried fruits, brown candi sugar, some oak. Noticeable hops and dust in the finish.
Jun 01, 2023
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

4.46/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
750ml bottle from Tavour, 2013 vintage. Pours out a deep brown, opaque, small foamy head subsides to ring around the glass. Aroma is raisins, fruitcake, cherries, honey. Sweet and rich. Taste matches the smell, sweet, raisins, figs, a big goiey morning sweet roll of a beer. Not that boozy. Thick bodied. Not too much of a Belgian presence. Really superb!
Jun 01, 2023
 
Rated: 2.84 by Dbot from Delaware

Dec 18, 2020
 
Rated: 4.13 by JakerLou from New Hampshire

May 18, 2020
Photo of Avitra
Rated by Avitra from California

4.22/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A little more sour and a little less deep than other beers by this amazing brewery.
Dec 22, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by Karibourgeois from Texas

Feb 19, 2019
 
Rated: 4.38 by RickS95 from Indiana

Nov 24, 2018
 
Rated: 3.67 by antihero404 from California

Oct 24, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by mmilyko from Nevada

Sep 23, 2018
Photo of the_benskii
Reviewed by the_benskii from Washington

4.35/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
August 2018 (2013 bottle) - pours a haze murky brown into a snifter with a very thin khaki head. Definitely aged well here (not sure who aged it but got it aged from Tavour so expect it to be proper). Smells a bit boozy with dark fruits and sugary goodness. Taste is well balanced with brown sugar, molasses, dark fruits and figs. Incredible smoothly and lightly carbonated. A super drinkable 10% beer here which was incredible.
Sep 17, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by rarigney from Washington

Sep 16, 2018
Photo of beergoot
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado

4.24/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Dark mahogany body with a thin yet lasting head, dense and creamy; big sheets of foam coating the glass. Big fruity aroma; plums and raisins. Huge flavors; dark malt with cocoa; plums and raisin as suggested by the aroma; light bitterness and minimal alcohol presence (although it grows a bit towards the end of the sip). Heavy body; smooth and velvety; a semi-sweet finish.

I am not sure which version of the beer this is. It comes in at 10.0% ABV per the label (and not the 12.0% currently displayed on BA) while the brewery's web site indicates the beer comes in at 11% ABV. Regardless, this is one finely crafted strong ale. It is dark and inviting with a heavenly fruity aroma. The taste is deep and complex with very little alcohol presence. A truly outstanding beer...
Sep 06, 2018
Photo of Grackos
Rated by Grackos from Florida

3.96/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Lots of spices. Pretty smooth though. Hides the alcohol very well.
Aug 30, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by NickThePyro from Washington

Aug 16, 2018
Photo of markjknowles
Reviewed by markjknowles from Oregon

4.65/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Drinking the 2013 version in 2018 really exceeded my expectations. Few beers gain anything past a year of cellaring and can diminish in quality. This was not the case. The deep brown blend with a whitish khaki head really demonstrated just how valuable cellaring can be. The sweetness was subdued. The flavors predominantly prune and raisin. A pleasant alcohol presence ended with a mild bitterness. Everything so cohesive and balanced. I don't know how this beer started but the bottle I got was close, after 5 years, to perfect.
Aug 04, 2018
 
Rated: 4.29 by Whatuptho from California

Jul 20, 2018
Photo of moose1980
Reviewed by moose1980 from Germany

4.44/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2014 vintage; brewed with honey, raisins, and rosemary. This held up amazingly well. Incredibly bready in the aroma and the rosemary still came through surprisingly strong in both aroma and flavor. Not overly sweet, but a decadent treat nonetheless.
Apr 02, 2018
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4.11/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
The Lost Abbey "Ten Commandments"
1 PINT 9.4 fl. oz. brown glass bottle, corked and caged; "VINTAGE 2016"
$11.99 @ Total Wine & More, Cherry Hill, NJ

Notes via steam of consciousness: A creamy tan head rests gently atop a very dark brown - almost black - body. The aroma is sweetish and fruity with candy sugar, light brown sugar, almost burnt white sugar, raisins, prune, and fig. I'm gonna guess that the flavor is pretty much exactly the same so let's see... yep, pretty much exactly. Of course there's some bitterness as well, and it's not as sugary as the aroma suggests anyway. The fruit is nice with lots of bitter dark skin character and lots of dense fruit. It made me think of a port wine. It's not as rich, but hey, it's pretty close! I'm also getting a bit of spice, not sure if that's from hops or alcohol, but there's also some leafy, and maybe lightly herbal hop flavors towards the swallow and in to the finish. It's very supple and smooth with a dextrin rich medium body but the very fine bubbled, seemingly natural carbonation gives it a little bristle and bite. Hmmm, I think the alcohol gives it a little snap as well, and there's definitely some warming in the finish once you get a few sips in. As it's warming it's opening up and I'm finding some cocoa-like notes and a little bit of toastiness. It's grainy as well. Looking back the head has fallen to a very thin, broken in spots, surface covering and only minor lacing has been left behind. Was this glass "beer clean"? That might be my fault, I'm not sure. So, what's missing? The Brett. There's a very little bit, just a little sharpness that's almost like something metallic and some leather. If you're not familiar with it you won't be able to find it, it's very light. And that's OK, there's a lot going on here already... more herbal notes and some orange-like citrus have appeared to round it out a bit, and maybe even a note of molasses. I initially thought that it was a touch bitter with maybe too much alcohol but as it's warmed it appears more balanced, the way it should be, and again, that's OK because this is really a sipper. It's a beer that you take your time with, certainly not something that you drink by the pint at a party or pub, although I have seen similar instances of that and it usually doesn't end up pretty. So, did I miss anything? And where do I stand on this? Well I think it's really well put together. If there are spices added I really can't tell, which is something I appreciate about Belgian beers whereas American brewers are often more heavy handed and want everything to pop right out at you. Regarding the alcohol... how strong is this? 10% ABV? I kind of expect some alcohol at that level, and if I didn't get any I'd be a little disappointed, and probably feel it was missing something because it does add to the overall character. Still, it might be just a slight touch high. The malt is great, nice blend, and the yeast has clearly done it's job of adding character. I like it a lot, and I'd say it rivals even some of the best from Belgium. Well worth trying.
Jan 27, 2018
10 Commandments from The Lost Abbey
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 956 ratings