Red Poppy Ale
The Lost Abbey - The Tasting Room

The clear dark reddish brown or mahogany colored beer pours out into a Duvel glass with a 2 inch medium sized light tan head with lots of medium sized bubbles that gradually recedes to a cap and then to a ring and a thin irregular island of foam while leaving a web and swath of foam on the sides of the glass that eventually becomes scattered patches of foam. Sipping creates scattered patches of lacing.

The aromas are mostly about the tart cherries and some oak but in the background there’s a bit of vanilla and what seems like a bit of cinnamon.

Much as expected from the nose, the flavors are filled with tart cherries but there’s an astringent character to the tartness. There’s also a bit of oak and vanilla. In the background there’s a just a bit of sweetness that is almost concealed by the astringent tartness.

The mouthfeel is on the light side of medium bodied and astringent with the tartness, tannins and the very light but persistent carbonation. The finish begins as the cherry tartness and astringency begins to slowly fade. The long dry ending is tinged with with some astringency, some fruity tartness and a touch of oak.

On the whole a drinkable, enjoyable beer that is challenging with its complexity in the aroma and flavor profiles. Without being overly intense with the cherry tartness and tannic astringency they still rule the day but a bit of oak and vanilla are also showing. I’d definitely be interested in trying this again, if I have the chance, and would even like to sample the beer at multiple bottle ages. But it is also a once in a while beer worth giving a try if you enjoy the Flanders Red.

 

 

Amber color. Medium-sized, off-white head. Funky aroma with notes of wood and cherries. Moderately sour with a touch of sweetness. Feels close to wine.

375ml bottle poured into a snifter
No bottle date but as long as I've had this, I'm guessing that it is at least 8 years old

A- pours brown in color with a ruby hue, a one-finger foamy off-white head that reduces to a thin ring around the glass

S- aroma is predominately sour cherries with a lemony tart acidic undertone. Light notes of brown sugar, brown bread, orange oil, flowers & hint of vanilla and plenty of oak as it warms

T- puckering tart cherries up front with some acidic tartness that adds flavors of lemon & pear. Mid-palate brings out notes of red apple skin, brown sugar and some floral undertones. The finish brings out the oak, adding a woody compliment to the tart cherry that emerges again on the linger

M- light-medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that continues into a tart finish

Dark brown with a bit of red. There’s a fingernail of khaki brown on top. The aroma is of cherries and oak. I’m tasting cherries, oak, and tart brettanomyces. The mouth is moderately carbonated and dry.

 

 

12.7 FL. OZ. bottle
Served in a teku glass
2016

This beer pours a deep brown hue and has garnet highlights when held to the light. It is topped with a fleeting tan head that settles to a thin ring around on top of the beverage.

Tart cherry smell along with some brown sugar and some molasses and figs.

Sour cherry flavor with some earthy, oaky undertones. Sourness lingers

Thin body with a dryish mouthfeel

Nice sour beer

 

 

I'm not usually the biggest fan of sour beers, but this one is exactly hits the jackpot where it is sour but not too sour. Some Brett funk mixed with the acidity of the cherries makes this an excellent beer for the fall season after a nice hike into the woods.

Tart cherry flavor with good carbonation. 2 finger lasting head.

 

 

1900
Name: Red Poppy
Brewery: The Lost Abbey
Location: San Marcos
Style: Barrel-Aged Wild Ale
ABV: 6.5%
Date:
I have searched for this beer for quite a while; I stumbled upon it about two years ago. Climbing to 1900 reviews should be something special to drink. I have been wanting to drink this and Cable Car. Using a tulip glass, I served the beer at around 48 degrees. The pour created an off-white frothy one-fingered head with poor retention. The quick dissipation left no lacing on the glass. Looking at the murky color in the cup, I would chart it around SRM 26, dark rusty brown. The appearance is about average for this style.
Nosing the glass, I smell barnyard, cherries, horse blankets, fruity sweetness, acidic acid, wine, oak, and a fruity tartness.
I taste tart jammy cherries, barnyard funk, straw, oak, acidic acid, winey, slight fruity sweetness, herbal, lightly floral, and yeasty.
The mouthfeel is puckering and tart, finishing dry. The body is medium with a medium-plus carbonation.
This is a fantastic beer! The cherries are bright, vibrant, and tart, with a wild yeasty flair. This could be too much pucker power for some people, but I find it delightful. I would love a few more bottles of this and let it age for several years to see if the pucker power is tamed. Overall, great beer; glad I got to consume it.

 

2013 vintage.

The nose is fantastic; oak & jammy cherry; puckering. The palate hits with sour cherry, medium tannin, and dry oak. Carbonation is completely gone, which is a shame. Without it, that acid comes on a little too strong. Opened to honor our daughter, Poppy!

2022 vintage. Can to wine glass.

L: Pours a minimally reddish muddy brown with a foamy beige head that leaves plenty of lacing. Lots of fine floaters.

S: Ripe sour cherries and poppy seeds. Yeasty, funky and slightly vinegary.

T: The sweeter notes are less present than in the smell, but they are definitely there in a fresher form. Tart, yeasty and very earthy. Hints of fruity red wine.

F: Quite soft and smooth despite its strong carbonation.

O: Very good American take on a classic Belgian style. Fresh and fruity with the barrel coming through really nicely. Great balance. Subtle complexity. Already looking forward to try some older vintages.