Serpent's Stout | The Lost Abbey
Brewed by:
The Lost Abbey
California, United States
lostabbey.com
Style: American Double / Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 11.00%
Availability: Winter
Notes / Commercial Description:
The history of the bible and religion is indeed the struggle of good vs. evil. Our Serpent’s Stout recognizes the evil of the dark side that we all struggle with.This is a massively thick and opaque beer that begs the saints to join the sinners in their path to a black existence.
Added by BeerBeing on 06-10-2007
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 1,833 | Reviews: 595
4.15/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap at The Pint and Cork in Maui.
Delicious.
Has a little sour twang mixed among the deep, dark roasted flavors that I thought was tasty. Drinks like an Export Stout (would have been my guess) not an 11% Imperial Stout.
Really good stuff.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap at The Pint and Cork in Maui.
Delicious.
Has a little sour twang mixed among the deep, dark roasted flavors that I thought was tasty. Drinks like an Export Stout (would have been my guess) not an 11% Imperial Stout.
Really good stuff.
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4.25/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.44/5 rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This stout checks all the boxes for me
Thick, lightblocking black with a real thick tan head.
Smells include roast and anise.
Nice flavors of roast and anise, silky smooth.
Thick mouthfeel, rich and decadent.
Well done beer that I always enjoy drinking
In cooler weather.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This stout checks all the boxes for me
Thick, lightblocking black with a real thick tan head.
Smells include roast and anise.
Nice flavors of roast and anise, silky smooth.
Thick mouthfeel, rich and decadent.
Well done beer that I always enjoy drinking
In cooler weather.
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3.77/5 rDev -10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Smooth
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Smooth
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4.28/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.1/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
$14.67 (Including shipping)/750 mL cork and cage bottle ($ 0.578/oz) from Tavour, Seattle, WA.
“Vintage 2018” etched beside rear label, stored at 42 degrees and served at 55 degrees in a hand-washed and hand-dried Jester King snifter. Opens with a medium “pop” and does not overflow.
Appearance – 4.
Body – Dark brown/black, opaque. When held to the light, there is no penetration.
Head – Large (Maximum 5.5 cm, aggressive center pour), light brown, dense with rocks, good retention time, diminishing to a five mm ring and a thin complete layer with a rocky center island.
Lacing – Poor – just a triangle of medium to small bubbles opposite where my mouth is.
First pour – Brown, clear.
Aroma – 4 – Roasted malt, chocolate
Flavor – 4.25 - Begins with slightly bitter chocolate and a bit of roasted malt. The roasted malt dominates the middle and end flavors. It ends with a light bitterness with a long hang-time. No hops, no alcohol (11%ABV), no diacetyl, no dimethylsulfide, no gastric warming. Allowing it to warm in my mouth brings the otherwise undetectable alcohol forward.
Palate – 3.5 - Full, creamy, lively carbonation.
Impression and summation – 4.25 – This is a dangerous stout! The completely hidden alcohol can put you down, particularly if you’re drinking more than one bottle. The appearance was excellent, until the head dissipated. Lacing produced by dropping the level was poor and tended to coarsen into all small bubbles. The aroma definitely accentuated the chocolate but this failed to translate into flavor past the initial taste – the middle and end are predominately flavored as roasted malt. The palate is somewhat over-carbonated but otherwise only marginally better than other Impy stouts. Overall, this is a better than average example of an Impy stout.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
$14.67 (Including shipping)/750 mL cork and cage bottle ($ 0.578/oz) from Tavour, Seattle, WA.
“Vintage 2018” etched beside rear label, stored at 42 degrees and served at 55 degrees in a hand-washed and hand-dried Jester King snifter. Opens with a medium “pop” and does not overflow.
Appearance – 4.
Body – Dark brown/black, opaque. When held to the light, there is no penetration.
Head – Large (Maximum 5.5 cm, aggressive center pour), light brown, dense with rocks, good retention time, diminishing to a five mm ring and a thin complete layer with a rocky center island.
Lacing – Poor – just a triangle of medium to small bubbles opposite where my mouth is.
First pour – Brown, clear.
Aroma – 4 – Roasted malt, chocolate
Flavor – 4.25 - Begins with slightly bitter chocolate and a bit of roasted malt. The roasted malt dominates the middle and end flavors. It ends with a light bitterness with a long hang-time. No hops, no alcohol (11%ABV), no diacetyl, no dimethylsulfide, no gastric warming. Allowing it to warm in my mouth brings the otherwise undetectable alcohol forward.
Palate – 3.5 - Full, creamy, lively carbonation.
Impression and summation – 4.25 – This is a dangerous stout! The completely hidden alcohol can put you down, particularly if you’re drinking more than one bottle. The appearance was excellent, until the head dissipated. Lacing produced by dropping the level was poor and tended to coarsen into all small bubbles. The aroma definitely accentuated the chocolate but this failed to translate into flavor past the initial taste – the middle and end are predominately flavored as roasted malt. The palate is somewhat over-carbonated but otherwise only marginally better than other Impy stouts. Overall, this is a better than average example of an Impy stout.
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4.17/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.38/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.09/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Solid black color, low carbonation with a thick heavy feel. Aroma is all roasted malt followed by a boozy alcohol smell. Eventually the more subtle aroma of black coffee and cocoa came through. Taste played out exactly like the aroma,let it warm so other flavors of coffee and cocoa come through. The roasted malt and alcohol linger and coats the mouth but isnt unpleasant. I would try this again
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Solid black color, low carbonation with a thick heavy feel. Aroma is all roasted malt followed by a boozy alcohol smell. Eventually the more subtle aroma of black coffee and cocoa came through. Taste played out exactly like the aroma,let it warm so other flavors of coffee and cocoa come through. The roasted malt and alcohol linger and coats the mouth but isnt unpleasant. I would try this again
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4.25/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.9/5 rDev +15.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Awesome stout out of Lost Abbey. Keep me coming!
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look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Awesome stout out of Lost Abbey. Keep me coming!
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4.48/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.25/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A really excellent stout.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A really excellent stout.
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4.28/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Current year bottle, poured into tulip glass and allowed to warm.
L: Very large light brown head with incredibly good retention, especially considering 11% ABV. Leaves lots of sticky tan lacing. Beer is motor oil (remember that?) black.
S: So simple, yet refined. Lots of roasty malts, with hints of coffee, cocoa, leather, and dried dark fruits.
T: Lots of nice roasted malts. Key to let it warm so you can enjoy the subtlety of coffee and leathery notes. Straightforward, but still nice.
F: Full-bodied, not much carbonation. Construction is very strong and balance is great. Very little evidence of high ABV. Drinks well, but you won't want to rush it anyway.
O: About as good as an uncomplicated, non-aged straightforward RIS can be. Nicely done.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Current year bottle, poured into tulip glass and allowed to warm.
L: Very large light brown head with incredibly good retention, especially considering 11% ABV. Leaves lots of sticky tan lacing. Beer is motor oil (remember that?) black.
S: So simple, yet refined. Lots of roasty malts, with hints of coffee, cocoa, leather, and dried dark fruits.
T: Lots of nice roasted malts. Key to let it warm so you can enjoy the subtlety of coffee and leathery notes. Straightforward, but still nice.
F: Full-bodied, not much carbonation. Construction is very strong and balance is great. Very little evidence of high ABV. Drinks well, but you won't want to rush it anyway.
O: About as good as an uncomplicated, non-aged straightforward RIS can be. Nicely done.
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3.96/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Does deep, deep roastiness really well. Not complex, but a solid stout you can count on to warm your bones on a winter's eve. The 11% abv is shocking, because nothing about the taste indicates such a torqued up imp stout.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Does deep, deep roastiness really well. Not complex, but a solid stout you can count on to warm your bones on a winter's eve. The 11% abv is shocking, because nothing about the taste indicates such a torqued up imp stout.
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4.63/5 rDev +9.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Wow. It's amazing what can be done roasting malts. I love the motor oil thickness (my son exclaimed, "Daddy, you're drinking mud!). The dark bitter chocolate aroma is so enticing with a mild hint of coffee and worn leather. The taste is all of that with prunes and raisins present as well. The mild carbonation is perfect for it's thick bittersweet flavor. And it seems to slightly foam in the mouth. I poured it in my Garre glass. The brewers suggest a tulip glass. I'd drink from a plastic taco bell cup if it's what I had.
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look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Wow. It's amazing what can be done roasting malts. I love the motor oil thickness (my son exclaimed, "Daddy, you're drinking mud!). The dark bitter chocolate aroma is so enticing with a mild hint of coffee and worn leather. The taste is all of that with prunes and raisins present as well. The mild carbonation is perfect for it's thick bittersweet flavor. And it seems to slightly foam in the mouth. I poured it in my Garre glass. The brewers suggest a tulip glass. I'd drink from a plastic taco bell cup if it's what I had.
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4.5/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Super dark thick beer with a cocoa brown head. Huge aromas of roasted malt, coffee and chocolate. Nice sweet roasted malt and coffee flavor with a bit of chocolate. Just an awesome stout.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Super dark thick beer with a cocoa brown head. Huge aromas of roasted malt, coffee and chocolate. Nice sweet roasted malt and coffee flavor with a bit of chocolate. Just an awesome stout.
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4.41/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.46/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.22/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.05/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 750 mL caged bottle into a stout glass.
This is a gorgeous stout. Pours absolute onyx black with a tan/dark brown mottled head that has amazing staying power considering the ABV.
Aromas of coffee, chocolate cake batter, cocoa, and chocolate chips all waft about the nostrils. Smoke/char and anise hint about the background. A nice aroma, but a bit muted.
The flavor is a remarkable mixture of sweet malts and dry, smokiness. Much more in your face than the aroma, this one has plenty of coffee and chocolate with huge herbal notes in the background. The booze is "there" but not as a burn, just some warmth.
The mouthfeel is remarkably "medium" bodied for the style. I'm torn about whether that's great or a bummer. The carbonation is terrific though, so tie goes to the lift.
This is a great AIS that actually reminds me more of its RIS cousin in many ways, other than the sweetness. Tasty and triable for sure.
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look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 750 mL caged bottle into a stout glass.
This is a gorgeous stout. Pours absolute onyx black with a tan/dark brown mottled head that has amazing staying power considering the ABV.
Aromas of coffee, chocolate cake batter, cocoa, and chocolate chips all waft about the nostrils. Smoke/char and anise hint about the background. A nice aroma, but a bit muted.
The flavor is a remarkable mixture of sweet malts and dry, smokiness. Much more in your face than the aroma, this one has plenty of coffee and chocolate with huge herbal notes in the background. The booze is "there" but not as a burn, just some warmth.
The mouthfeel is remarkably "medium" bodied for the style. I'm torn about whether that's great or a bummer. The carbonation is terrific though, so tie goes to the lift.
This is a great AIS that actually reminds me more of its RIS cousin in many ways, other than the sweetness. Tasty and triable for sure.
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4.03/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750 ml cage and cork bottle - into red wine glasses. Pours a fantastic motor oil black with 1-2 finger mocha head. Smells of bitter chocolate, rich caramel malt, and licorice. Taste again is bitter chocolate, some dark fruit, a bit of cherry, and I get a fairly strong licorice on the finish. A smooth mouth feel, more bitter than usual for an imperial stout. Definitely liked this, more so as warmed, and I am a big licorice fan but found the licorice effect a tiny bit too much in this beer.
Funny finished bottle (last 8 oz) couple days later and found smoother with less intense licorice - would rate a bit higher.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750 ml cage and cork bottle - into red wine glasses. Pours a fantastic motor oil black with 1-2 finger mocha head. Smells of bitter chocolate, rich caramel malt, and licorice. Taste again is bitter chocolate, some dark fruit, a bit of cherry, and I get a fairly strong licorice on the finish. A smooth mouth feel, more bitter than usual for an imperial stout. Definitely liked this, more so as warmed, and I am a big licorice fan but found the licorice effect a tiny bit too much in this beer.
Funny finished bottle (last 8 oz) couple days later and found smoother with less intense licorice - would rate a bit higher.
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Serpent's Stout from The Lost Abbey
Beer rating:
4.23 out of
5 with
1,833 ratings
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