Duck Duck Guava
The Lost Abbey - The Tasting Room

 

 

 

 

To tick or not to tick, that is the question. As I rushed down to Monk’s cafe to get there by the 4:30pm tapping of this and 4-5 other sixtels of LA brew, I didn’t think I would make it in time. But after three days in this city of brotherly love, I somehow was able to find my bearings and there I was, just 10 mins later, at Monks. Looked crowded in the front, but the back was the real shit show. As I shuffled through the crowd I saw yesper at the front and asked if he could get me one as he was a little closer. But they were pouring people pints of this stuff! Pints! No wonder it kicked in 20 minutes. Neither Yesper nor I were able to get the beer but the tick was still possible. Talked a little with Tomme, who happened to be standing right next to me, and then asked a random kid standing next to me if I could have a sip of his. His response, "of course, it’s the city of brotherly love after all." Indeed. So I rate this based on that sip, and I know I can’t really begin to think this is legitimate, but shit, I will never have this again. Looked super cloudy yellow golden with no head. Nose is funky and not quite as acetic and sour as duck duck gooze. The fruit may have contributed a little to the more balanced nose and flavor. A good sip. Thanks bro. Its all love.
 

 

Tap at Armsby Abbey for Lost Abbey takeover.

Pours a hazy orange juice carrot like color, light fizzy head and a bit of lacing.

nose has a weird tart funk, farmhouse spicy barnyard acidic funk, quite acidic, guava, papaya and mango, like the fruits spontaneously fermented, pineapple, citrus, hint of orange and a vanilla smoothness.

Taste is acidic, tart, sour fruits, again spontaneously fermented guava mango and papaya like tropical fruits, spicy and acidic with a dry yeasty taste, guava is fairly strong in the middle, a light malty taste, gritty, flemmy. A dry finish, very tart, bit more acid and fermented fruit.

Mouth is med bodied, flemmy, decent carb.

Overall weird, kinda tasty but fairly meh overall. I was coming in expecting a DDG kinda beer but this wasn't even close, a bit too acidic, tropical fruits were OK but not great, and light funk.

 

On tap at Armbsy Abbey.

Yellow orange color. Cloudy from the yeast. Minimal head.

Extremely dry profile and finish. Tart at first with the guava coming forward as it warmed. Not particularly balanced. Minimal funk. Very lactic. None of the "sweetart" taste that the DDG has.

Not as good as the regular DDG. Interesting to try but a so-so sour overall.

 

 

On tap at Armsby Abbey. About an 8oz. pour into a wine glass. Reviewed from notes. Was told that even though this is called Duck Duck Guava, the base beer for this is in fact NOT Duck Duck Gooze.

Served with a 1 finger, fine white head with decent retention. Beer is a cloudy yellow. Lacing is patchy and thick with moderate retention. Decent but the color way is off.

Nose is slightly odd lemon dish detergent. Guava, lemon zest, and spices. Moderately tart and tickling. Straw and cobweb funk. Decently aromatic and very clean and crisp.

Opens spicy and guava tartness. Fruit profile is very clear with this one. Lemon, cobwebs, and wet straw and wood. Finish is yeasty and lemon tartness. Again, like the nose, very simple but clean. Really enjoyable though not all that complex.

Light bodied with high carbonation. Prickly and lively in the mouth and aggressive and bubbly going down. Finishes dry with a slightly lingering, puckering finish. Almost a bit too bubbly. But very much to style and really brings out the flavors in this one.

Hugely drinkable. This beer is clean, crisp, simple, and goes down easy. Wish it were more available as I could take down growler after growler of this one.

 

 

 

Enjoyed on tap at the Armsby Abbey on Lost Abbey night poured into a 4oz sampler.

A - Poured a hazy golden orange hue with a thin scattered white head that leaves a light halo and cloud.

S - Aromas of disappointment. Far too tame and timid. There's some faint guava and funk but this is rather meh.

T - Interesting this has some fruity guava sweetness with some nice fruits apples and peaches maybe.

M - Nice mouthfeel on this with good carbonation. Quite inviting with a nice tart finish.

O - Overall I didn't go into this expecting much but that taste wasn't all that bad. Could use more guava but its acceptable.