Lost Abbey Red Poppy Ale

Brewed By: Port Brewing/The Lost Abbey in San Marcos, California 

Purchased: Single 12.7oz bottle (375ml) bought at Friar Tucks in Urbana, IL; 2014 

Style/ABV: Flanders Red Ale, 5.0%
Reported IBUs: ?

This beer hurt my wallet. Hopefully it will also hurt my enamel. About the The Lost Abbey: 

The Lost Abbey is part of the Port Brewing Company, and is located in Stone Brewing's old brewery location. The Port Brewing Company/Lost Abbey emerged from Pizza Port in 2006, and now operates independently. There is a lengthy history page on The Lost Abbey's website. The main story goes: back in the day, Vince Marsaglia (owner and co-founder of Pizza Port) was interested in brewing American-made Abbey style beer. In 1997, Vince joined forces with brewer Tomme Arther who worked to brew some awesome Belgian beer at Pizza Port. In 2005, when Stone Brewing moved from their San Marcos location, Vince, Tomme, Vince's sister Gina, and Jim Comstock founded the Port Brewing Company. Port Brewing opened in May of 2006, and the rest is history.

Today's beer, the Red Poppy Ale, is a "celebration of sour cherries." This beer is brewed from a brown ale base, and is aged in oak barrels for over 6 months. This American-Style Flanders Red is released in limited amounts, and costs an arm and a kidney.

Lost Abbey Red Poppy Ale

On the pour: a rich and hazy, dark brown, red-tinged body. This one kicks up two fingers of deeply brown-tinted, reddish head. The head has good retention, with a pinky's worth hanging around. This beer is also appropriately carbonated. It looks like it has had that barrel clinic, and this would fit right in among a lineup of Flemish Reds. 

There is great scratch and sniff action here, with deep layers of oak, sour cherries, and wood barrel on the nose. There are deep malts in here, with caramel sugars, cola, and cherry sweetness. The deep malts play off Brett funk, weird band-aid funk, and acidic pop. I'm getting red apple cider vinegar, acidic wood, and tart cherries. There are cherry tannins in here, with cherry skin, and some light jammy fruit notes. This aroma is actually quite complex, and surpasses some recent sours I've had, including the Love Child No. 4.

Hmmm...this is, all things considered, kind of a restrained beer. I'm getting nice lactic sourness, with some apple cider vinegar, sour cherries, and granny smith apples. There are some nice oak and Brett notes that round things out, with good wood in the mix. The back end is actually quite soft and malty, with more wood, Brett funk, oak, cherries, cola, and even some caramel sugars. At this point, this isn't the enamel-ripping monster I expected to get it. It's kind of balanced and constrained with the fruit maybe adding some sour notes and sweetness to the overall mix.

All things considered...this is light and drinkable for the style, with a medium-light mouthfeel. At 5.0% this is basically non-intrusive and non-alcoholic. Palate depth is okay and complexity is pretty high. This isn't overtly sour or aggressive...it's kind of balanced and constrained. Up front: tart cherries, sour cherries, lactic acid, sour wood, apple cider vinegar and sour apples; the mids roll into sour cherries, jammy fruits, growing malt sweetness; the back end drops oak, band-aid funk, wood, sweet caramel, and a nice dry finish that leans on the malts. Nice.  

Rating: Above-Average (4.0/5.0 Untappd) 

I'm feeling a Light Above-Average here. This is really good and has nice complexity...I just wish it was a little more assertive. It could even benefit from more overt fruit notes. I think in that respect, this beer falls short compared to something like...Goose Island's Madame Rose. Or even their Juliet or Gillian. If you are going to go with the cherries...really embrace the fruit. This beer's maltier leanings mean it will pair well with grilled meats, duck, and maybe even a slice of cherry pie to really bring that cherry flavor home.

Random Thought: As a Bears fan, I am concerned right now. That is all.

Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Break Natale Pretty Please With A Cherry On Top

Brewed By: Evil Twin Brewing (Westbrook Brewing) in Copenhagen/Brooklyn

Purchased: 22oz bottle bought at Fischman Liquors and Tavern in Chicago, IL; 2013

Style/ABV: Imperial Stout/Porter, 11.5%

Reported IBUs: ?

Oh lawdy, look at that beer name. I didn't know that Evil Twin named their beer after post rock bands. About Evil Twin: 

Evil Twin is a Gypsy Brewery founded by founded by Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø (brother of Mikkel Borg Bjergsø) in 2010. Like his twin brother Mikkel, Jeppe is a teacher, and a homebrewer who was tired of the mainstream offerings. In 2004, Mikkel went off to pursue brewing, while Jeppe opened up a bottle shop. In 2010, while teaching a homebrewing, Jeppe decided to sell and distribute the beer he was brewing via his bottle shop. Jeppe moved to New York in 2012. For more info, check out this interview/history here. 

Tonight's beer is a twist on the Imperial Biscotti Break. The back of the bottle reads:

"The Holidays brings out the best in some people. However if the Holidays also is a tough one for you, this beer will definitely sweeten dark times of endless caroling and difficult domestic obligations. Did Imperial Biscotti Break also make your sugar levels rise and the bitter sweet flavors of coffee, almonds and chocolate very sentimental - this one has a sour cherry on top. Forza Imperiale."

Imperial Biscotti Break Natale

Sour cherries in my Imperial Stout, what? Why? I dunno. The beer pours all Stout-like. That is to say, quite black, with a pinky of dark brown/coffee/tan head. The head drops off into a hazy cauldron effect, and a brown ring hangs out on the edge of the glass. There's some serious lacing and legs on this. Holding the beer to a bright light confirms much of the same story. I'm gonna stop describing Stouts at some point.

Something is definitely going on with the aroma, because you pick up strong raspberry puree, tart cherry, cherry/raspberry, berry, and other fruit notes. I'm still getting a ton of roast and earthy coffee on the aroma. There's also some stale biscuit/Biscotti, and a hint of chocolate and almond. It's a departure from the regular Imperial Biscotti Break, but the base beer is still present.

This beer is sticky, with sticky cocoa kisses. The cherry in this plays a subtle role but I'm finding it quite enjoyable. There's a lot of molasses in here, along with lots of sugars, and -- surprisingly -- a decent amount of booze. Where is the booze coming from? There's a lot of coffee and cocoa sweetness, and the molasses and brown sugars reach some dark depths. The sour cherry flavor kind of permeates throughout, with some cherry truffle showing up, and chocolate dipped cherries making an appearance. The cherries play off the booze, giving this a pleasant and maybe welcomed hard edge.

Like the regular Imperial Biscotti Break, this has motor oil, full-bodied thickness, and coats your mouth with sweet, sticky goodness. It's sugary and boozy, and deserves to be sipped at 11.5%. It's drinkable though. Palate depth is great, and complexity is...okay. As this warms up, the base beer really peaks through with those almonds and Biscotti, and rich chocolate and coffee. You get sweet molasses, cocoa, and cherries up front; that rolls into coffee, cherry truffle, roast, boozy sugar; the back end has more booze, booze-cherries, and tons of baker's chocolate and dark chocolate. I don't even know what to think about this one, but I like it.

Rating: Above-Average (4.0/5.0 Untappd)

I'm feeling a Strong Above-Average on this. The addition of the cherries seems to heighten the alcohol in this, and that is occasionally distracting. Also, this beer is a little Dr. Jekyll, and a little Mr. Hyde. At colder temps, you get more tart/sour cherry, but you lose the divine base beer. As it warms up, the base beer starts to peak out, but the cherries fade a bit. Then again...I don't know. This is just a solid, solid Imperial Stout. Maybe it is encroaching on divine territory, I do really like this. Food pairings here include ice cream, cherry chocolate cake, a cigar, sipping it solo, or using this beer as a sauce or glaze. This has potential to be paired with something savory, like beef brisket or braised beef, or pork. This is definitely worth checking out, but fruit stouts always have mixed reviews.

Random Thought: Although I'm a Bears fan forever, I also have a soft spot for the Carolina Panthers. A long time ago I did a grade school project on the team, and since then I've always rooted for them. While the Bears and Panthers are both competing for a wild card spot (as well as their respective division), I was very happy to see the Panthers beat the Patriots, even if it came off a controversial call.