Pictured 09/27/13

Original notes 06/28/09

750 mL, olive green, corked and caged bottle. Very healthy pop with plenty of gun smoke on opening – a “Lost Abbey based” sigh of relief.

Beautiful, honey hazed, orange pour with a tight, white head. Lace is superb – dense with complex patterns. Some of the best I’ve seen in the Gouden Carolus chalice.

Nose has creamy fruits and white pepper.

Tastes are very mellow. Light touches of white pepper, some spices, gentle, ripe summer fruits like sweet peaches, pineapples and a floral backdrop. Extremely gentle grapefruit mingles with those flavors and the combination is exceptional. Some sweet and sour notes in the finish and this is where the spice manifests itself again. Light bitterness lingers for a few seconds after that mouthful.

It’s extremely light and silky in the mouth. Satisfying, moreish and delightful. Full and blossoming.

Drinkability is helped by the light touch and the sensible, if slightly elevated ABV. Subtle is a word that comes to mind, which in itself is unusual for an American beer but this brew even goes beyond that.

Quite possibly the best Lost Abbey offering I’ve had. Amazing.