Lost Abbey says:
“Our Angel’s Share is a barrel aged burgundy colored ale infused with copious amounts of dark caramel malt to emphasize the vanilla and oak flavors found in freshly emptied bourbon or brandy barrels. Each batch spends no less than 12 months aging in the oak. As with all of our beers, this beer is brewed for sinners and saints alike.”
Lost Abbey Angel’s Share
American Strong Ale, 12% ABV
Sayeth the Guys:
Ryan: There are moments when I drop in to Sheffield’s, or any of the dozen or so other great beer bars in Chicago, and I scan the menu and my heart will skip a beat. Lost Abbey Angel’s Share catching my eye did just that. I have never had any of the versions of Angel’s Share. Never. I have access to them. I’ve seen them plenty of times. But I just can’t bring myself to spend the money to pick one up. Call me cheap, but sometimes I have to prioritize – especially on a budget. But this was my golden opportunity. My chance to get a small sampling of this barrel aged beer. Is it really that good? Abso-frickin-lutely.
An 8 oz pour of Angel’s Share, black in color with a thin lacing of white head around the edges, arrived in a snifter. Chocolate, oak, vanilla and bourbon…oh the bourbon…waft from the glass. I actually didn’t have to lift the beer towards my nose to smell this. Just lean in a bit and you’ll catch it all. Now, before I tell you how fantastic this tasted let me get this out in the open. I love barrel aged beers. Bourbon, whiskey, brandy, oak – doesn’t matter – I love them all. So this was really a treat.
This beer is wonderfully complex and yet also rather simple. You get that bourbon and chocolate right off the bat but if you let it warm a bit, and you will because this is not one to rush, a few more flavors begin to come to the forefront. The second wave to hit your palate is some vanilla and oak creating a very smooth finish. Last, but not least, a bit of smokiness will start to emerge. This was like Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout on steroids but…smoother.
After having this do I regret not picking it up sooner? No, I can’t say that I am. That’s not to say that you should pass it up because this is most definitely worth trying at least once.