Well you the readers asked for it….so here it is.

Video Blog #2…with Special Guest Miguel from MikeLovesBeer.com

Sorry for the shitty video quality, I had to edit the video down as it was too long and decided to save it as a smaller file. I will not do that again.

Please comment on anything that you would like to see on the next video blog!

Isabelle Proximus
The Lost Abbey
San Marcos, Ca
7.00% ABV

C. Clear
H. Golden Yellow
N. A little citrus and lemon, bit of funk to it

Ahh Isabelle how I have longed to have you touch my lips….OK sorry that was a bit over the top. How can you not be super geeked out to try a beer that was a collaborative effort of five brewers – Sam Calagione (Dogfish), Tomme Arthur (The Lost Abbey), Adam Avery (Avery Brewing), Rob Todd (Allagash), and Vinnie Cirulzo (Russian River)? Well first and foremost thanks to my buddy Chris for sharing this with me. Your awesome and Happy Belated Birthday!

Well to the beer, remember the saying “Too Many Cooks In the Kitchen Ruin the Stew”. Well its a damn good thing that this list of five super-brewers were not making stew. They instead collaborated on a beer that poured Golden in color and was a little cloudy. I am not going to lie I didnt even give it a proper smell before I dug right into the beer. When it touched my lips I was shocked. I honestly thought that this beer was going to be average and a HUGE product of “Beer Hype”. Boy was I wrong. This was a sexy beer from every angle and the flavor was straight heavenly. It was strong lemon and citrus flavors, very similar to other “Sour” beers. A good amount of acidity. Hints of hibiscus/sweet flower flavors. That barnyard funk / farmhouse was present.

While this is not an easy beer to come by currently, being that it was released in 2006 in very limited quantities, if you get a chance to try this….don’t pass it up. This is a fine example of an American Wild Ale. An amazing treat!

Score: 4.995

Angel’s Share 2009 Bourbon Barrel Version
The Lost Abbey
San Marcos, California
12.50% ABV

C. Cloudy even though it is dark
H. Carmel-ish Dark Brown
N. HUGE alcohol burn in the nose, almost smelled like children’s vitamins with alcohol

Eduardo; Wow, this bad boy had basically no carbonation. It was basically the opposite of this beer we reviewed earlier this week. I could make jokes about Lost Abbey’s low carb tendencies but that’s played out and too easy.
This has a big nose. There is no doubt about this being a bourbon barrel aged beer. Some slight similarities to Samuel Adams Utopias on the nose. I got a small sensation similar to when I sniff 40% ABV spirits straight on the nose like an alcohol burn. There is also something on the nose that reminds me of the smell of the vitamins my mother gave me when I was a kid. Interesting.
Before I read more on this beer I assumed the base beer was an imperial stout. I was surprised to find it was a barley-wine. It works really well. The taste is not quite as big as the nose implied. Lots of raisin notes present. Very drinkable for the 12.5% ABV. The flavors are well balanced and integrated. Great complexity and mouth feel. For being a barley-wine style beer I am really not picking up any hop bitterness.
I don’t think any aging of this beer is necessary. I can’t see how it would benefit.
Score: 4.1

The Ferm; Unlike the Wild Dog we had prior (see below) there was a slight “pop” to this cork, although it was less carbonated, which seems to be an on going issue with The Lost Abbey. That said this beer almost drank like Sam Adam’s Utopia’s which to me was the consistency of a Cognac. I guess you could say this is the “poor-man’s Utopias” although it isn’t as large ABV wise it taste similar. Like a sexy tall woman the legs take over the glass. The alcohol is very present in the nose, but not so much on the palette. Making this beer one that could creep up quick. Overall a very solid beer.
Score: 4.1223

Overall: 4.11115

**Note All Reviews Are Done Separately & Not Discussed Till After The Review**