Red Poppy | The Lost Abbey
Brewed by:
The Lost Abbey
California, United States
lostabbey.com
Style: Flanders Red Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.50%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Perhaps no country embraces the use of fruit in beers more so than Belgium. Numerous traditional as well as regional specialty ales are infused with every sort of fruit imaginable. In this way, the flavor of the fruit becomes especially prominent.
Red Poppy Ale is a veritable celebration of Sour Cherries in an explosion of aromas and tastes. Brewed from a brown ale base and aged in our oak barrels for over 6 months, this beer is not for the faint of heart.
The Golden Poppy is the state flower of California and the Red Poppy is found in Flanders Fields where our inspiration for this beer comes from.
Added by BeerBeing on 09-07-2007
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 2,002 | Reviews: 590
3.98/5 rDev -7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Caged and corked bottle poured into a snifter
Solid dark brown liquid crowned by a taupe two finger foam cap, some lacings
Aroma is tart, sour cherries
Tart taste , get some of the oak as well. But, I get an off taste in this beer . Musty,
Good sudsing,
Good beer
270 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Caged and corked bottle poured into a snifter
Solid dark brown liquid crowned by a taupe two finger foam cap, some lacings
Aroma is tart, sour cherries
Tart taste , get some of the oak as well. But, I get an off taste in this beer . Musty,
Good sudsing,
Good beer
270 characters
4.21/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.25/5 rDev -0.7%
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
4.25/5 rDev -0.7%
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
4.25/5 rDev -0.7%
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
4.06/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2014 vintage, cork and cage, served in a stemless glass. Medium brown body, one finger white head, short retention, not much lacing. Smell is huge lactic acid, cherries, slight toffee, lemon, oak, a bit vinous. This is an aggressive smelling Flanders red in terms of the lactic acidity, which actually dries out the palate a fair amount. I like the smell better than the flavour here. It's quite heavy on the lactic acidity, with a bit of cherry flesh; slight toffee sweetness adds a bit of balance, and the vinous oak character rounds it out. Carbonated (!), medium lighter body, nice drinking flanders despite the heavy lactic acidity, and actually not that far off from the likes of Rodenbach.
696 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2014 vintage, cork and cage, served in a stemless glass. Medium brown body, one finger white head, short retention, not much lacing. Smell is huge lactic acid, cherries, slight toffee, lemon, oak, a bit vinous. This is an aggressive smelling Flanders red in terms of the lactic acidity, which actually dries out the palate a fair amount. I like the smell better than the flavour here. It's quite heavy on the lactic acidity, with a bit of cherry flesh; slight toffee sweetness adds a bit of balance, and the vinous oak character rounds it out. Carbonated (!), medium lighter body, nice drinking flanders despite the heavy lactic acidity, and actually not that far off from the likes of Rodenbach.
696 characters
4.55/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
3.59/5 rDev -16.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
4.29/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A - Dark mostly opaque brown with some light around the edges; bubbles like a soda, with a head that dissipates quickly.
S - Cherries; grapes; sweet tart fruits.
T - Medium sour cherries; like a cider.
M - Crisp and carbonated; Medium body.
O - Sourness is not overpowering and smell is pleasant.
302 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A - Dark mostly opaque brown with some light around the edges; bubbles like a soda, with a head that dissipates quickly.
S - Cherries; grapes; sweet tart fruits.
T - Medium sour cherries; like a cider.
M - Crisp and carbonated; Medium body.
O - Sourness is not overpowering and smell is pleasant.
302 characters
4.34/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.49/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.23/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Clear burgundy body with a constant white head, foam slightly sticking to glass, can see through bubbles going up.
Smells cherries, hint of acetic acid, notes of darker malt.
Tastes tartness up front, fruitiness comes next and then with a milder finish more on the stone fruit, light barrel flavours.
An overall great beer, not overly sour, just perfectly dosed as we know Flanders Red can be sometimes too much.
415 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Clear burgundy body with a constant white head, foam slightly sticking to glass, can see through bubbles going up.
Smells cherries, hint of acetic acid, notes of darker malt.
Tastes tartness up front, fruitiness comes next and then with a milder finish more on the stone fruit, light barrel flavours.
An overall great beer, not overly sour, just perfectly dosed as we know Flanders Red can be sometimes too much.
415 characters
4.08/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
nice clear brown body with beautiful ruby highlights, deep beige foam that dissipates quickly,
notes of balsamic vinegar, dark wood, red fruits, morello cherries, raspberries, earthy, almost red culture cheese.
tart but not overly sour, balsamic vinegar, surprising spicy finish like cinnamon, dry and minerally, balancing caramel malt body. vanilla and vinegar after everthing else is long gone
prickling, little astringent aftertaste, tannins
This is a splendid interpretation of the flanders red ale. I paid a lot of money for a little bottle in the Netherlands and I know it is also expensive in the US. Compare it to the widely available leader in this category, Rodenbach (Grand Cru), and it feels greatly overpriced. I also enjoy the vinegar note more in the Grand Cru than here. The spiciness is nice though and makes it special. Great beer, tough price.
863 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
nice clear brown body with beautiful ruby highlights, deep beige foam that dissipates quickly,
notes of balsamic vinegar, dark wood, red fruits, morello cherries, raspberries, earthy, almost red culture cheese.
tart but not overly sour, balsamic vinegar, surprising spicy finish like cinnamon, dry and minerally, balancing caramel malt body. vanilla and vinegar after everthing else is long gone
prickling, little astringent aftertaste, tannins
This is a splendid interpretation of the flanders red ale. I paid a lot of money for a little bottle in the Netherlands and I know it is also expensive in the US. Compare it to the widely available leader in this category, Rodenbach (Grand Cru), and it feels greatly overpriced. I also enjoy the vinegar note more in the Grand Cru than here. The spiciness is nice though and makes it special. Great beer, tough price.
863 characters
4.6/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
3.9/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12.7oz bottle, corked and caged. Served in a tulip glass. No date, but had 6.5% ABV rather than the 5.5% listed here.
Appearance: Clear dark ruby red. Very slow pour to keep the sediment behind yielded very good clarity and a massively thick light tan rocky head. Plenty of carbonation coming up and plenty of persistent lacing. Great looking beer.
Smell: Sour cherries, mustiness, maybe just a hint of woodiness/floral under it all.
Taste: Wow that's tart! Sour cherry dominates, with some black currant and a bit of citrus acidity thrown in that shows up at the finish. Some leafiness and lingering sourness + wood notes at the finish. A bit overpowering.
Mouthfeel: Slick, a bit astringent due to the tartness of this beer. Very light carbonation - dry and airy finish.
Overall / Drinkability: Amazing looking beer, great aroma, and then I clearly am not a fan of sour beers. This is such a strong flavored beer it needs to be paired with food. Not sure what though. It's interesting though...like a beer on maximum volume, and I think if it was turned down a few notches it would still be sour, but not smacking you about the head and shoulders the whole time. It's just too tart for me, but the fruit flavors are good.
1,254 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12.7oz bottle, corked and caged. Served in a tulip glass. No date, but had 6.5% ABV rather than the 5.5% listed here.
Appearance: Clear dark ruby red. Very slow pour to keep the sediment behind yielded very good clarity and a massively thick light tan rocky head. Plenty of carbonation coming up and plenty of persistent lacing. Great looking beer.
Smell: Sour cherries, mustiness, maybe just a hint of woodiness/floral under it all.
Taste: Wow that's tart! Sour cherry dominates, with some black currant and a bit of citrus acidity thrown in that shows up at the finish. Some leafiness and lingering sourness + wood notes at the finish. A bit overpowering.
Mouthfeel: Slick, a bit astringent due to the tartness of this beer. Very light carbonation - dry and airy finish.
Overall / Drinkability: Amazing looking beer, great aroma, and then I clearly am not a fan of sour beers. This is such a strong flavored beer it needs to be paired with food. Not sure what though. It's interesting though...like a beer on maximum volume, and I think if it was turned down a few notches it would still be sour, but not smacking you about the head and shoulders the whole time. It's just too tart for me, but the fruit flavors are good.
1,254 characters
4.34/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev -0.7%
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
4.52/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.02/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Red Poppy (on draft) is a fine example of Flanders Reds, one of my favorite styles. But somehow this beer doesn't quite jump up and hit me over the head with its excellence. Make no mistake, I really really like it. But it doesn't strike me as noticeably better than other fine examples of this style.
It pours a red amber color, with hardly any head, but a ton of lacing. The aroma is a bit understated. The taste is big, full of fruit (cherries), and full of oak. It's quite dry. It's a bit tart, but nowhere near the "mouth puckering" quality that I associate with the term sour.
Highly recommended.
611 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Red Poppy (on draft) is a fine example of Flanders Reds, one of my favorite styles. But somehow this beer doesn't quite jump up and hit me over the head with its excellence. Make no mistake, I really really like it. But it doesn't strike me as noticeably better than other fine examples of this style.
It pours a red amber color, with hardly any head, but a ton of lacing. The aroma is a bit understated. The taste is big, full of fruit (cherries), and full of oak. It's quite dry. It's a bit tart, but nowhere near the "mouth puckering" quality that I associate with the term sour.
Highly recommended.
611 characters
4.27/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Similar flavors to Rodenbach Grand Cru, but more than twice the cost. Good to tick once.
88 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Similar flavors to Rodenbach Grand Cru, but more than twice the cost. Good to tick once.
88 characters
4.41/5 rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Red Poppy from The Lost Abbey
Beer rating:
4.28 out of
5 with
2,002 ratings
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