The Lost Abbey Angel's Share 2008

I've been holding this bottle for a few months now and trying to find a good enough reason to open it up, so, I made the decision that New Year's eve was as good a time as any.

The Lost Abbey release both a brandy and a bourbon barrel aged Angel's Share in almost identical bottles, the only difference is a single word hidden in the printed description on the back of the label, unsurprisingly either brandy or bourbon. The one I've got is the brandy barrel aged 2008 release, which, at 12.5% is the biggest alcohol content so far.

They describe Angel's Share as an English-style barley wine and both releases were selected in RateBeers best beers of the United States 2009.

As soon as the bottle was open I was hit by a massive port-like alcohol smell, with a sweet edge. It pours as a thick and oily dark brown with a few big tan bubbles but apart from that it has very little carbonation. The aroma starts quite vinegary, with light grapes, and clean alcohol but as it warms and opens up with vanilla, banana, and a woody scent. The taste is layered with heady alcohol and grapes upfront and sweeter caramel malts with vanilla bean flavours hiding behind.

The last few releases have been criticised quite heavily for the lack of carbonation, which is justified to a degree but I don't think it completely ruins the beer like many people seem to suggest. It's a big complex beer and well worth getting hold of.