The Lost Abbey Red Poppy Ale

The Lost Abbey Red Poppy Ale   Flanders Red   fermented with cherries    5.5%ABV

A: Fizzy-brief tan head. The beer is mahogany and translucent.

S: Gentle scents. Wood ageing is not lost on the nose. Lightly tart, vinegar-sour, and pleasantly fruity-sweet.

T: Oh damn.  This is delicious. Complex and multi-layered. There are three waves of flavour...the first is tart and puckery, heavy on fruit; the second is mature vinegar sharpness, reminiscent of a nice balsamic, carrying the oak barrel influence; the third is a lingering and enduring acidity.   Lightly dry and always engaging. As Lost Abby’s website says, this “is a veritable celebration of Sour Cherries in an explosion of aromas and tastes. Brewed from a brown ale base and aged in our oak barrels for over 6 months, this beer is not for the faint of heart.” This beer lives up to every ounce of its hype.

M: Lively, tart, puckery, smooth, sharp, and dry. All told, a wild ride.

O: The sour cherry gives the first half of the flavor an addicting taste that leaves me wanting more. The latter half of the flavor tempers this, with a more moderate, developed flavor profile. Recommended to drink on its own, after dinner, in celebration, in front of a fire, or even on a nice patio somewhere. Pair with very simple foods so as not to miss out on any of the layers in this beer.