Lost Abbey Deliverance Ale Beer Review

My first post! This is great! The creation of this blog coincides with a major milestone for me. I have just passed the 1,000 beer mark (yes, I keep a list). To celebrate having tried over 1,000 beers in my young life, tonight I'll be popping open and trying something special, a real heavy hitter: The Lost Abbey's Deliverance Ale. Being that I'm based in the Cincinnati/Northern KY area, this beer is distributed nowhere near me. Luckily, I've been able to pull some strings to get my hands on some rarer beers. Big thanks to everyone who's ever brought beer back from their vacation in a suitcase for me! Anyway, this particular gem comes to me by way of my mom's business trip to Boston back in April. It was purchased at the Craft Beer Cellar and I want to give those guys major props for getting me the hookup on some tasty beers! Now onto the beer itself...

The Lost Abbey is located in San Marcos, CA. It started out as a side project for Port Brewing's Tomme Arthur as an outlet for him to experiment with barrel aging and other less-than-conventional brewing techniques. Since its inception, Lost Abbey has blossomed into a fully mature brewery in its own right and remains as the "boutique" division of Port, so to speak. They specialize in exotic styles and processes that don't fit into Port's portfolio of beers. In recent years, Lost Abbey has received some harsh criticism from the beer geek community by having some quality control issues (could happen to anyone) and then doing little if anything to correct the problem, all while maintaining an arrogant attitude. To turn out a high priced product and then to be unconcerned and even personally offended when the beer community informs you that your beer is sub par (in this case, several batches of severely under carbonated or even flat beer) is bad business sense and rude to boot. While some have chosen to swear off Lost Abbey entirely, I've continued trying their beers. While I certainly don't agree with the way they've handled their business, they do make good beer as long as they check to make sure it's carbonated. I just have to be careful to avoid the batches with QC issues. I recently had their Red Barn Saison and loved it!

Deliverance Ale is a special release from Lost Abbey, not a regular for them. This beer is broadly classified in the catch all category of "American Strong Ale." The parameters of this style are no more specific than the name suggests, an ale made in America that is high in alcohol. The progenitor of the style is Arrogant Bastard from Stone Brewing Co. The best examples of this style truly defy description and escape cozy stylistic boundaries. Deliverance Ale seems to fit this bill. it is a blend of Lost Abbey's Brandy barrel-aged Angel's Share and their Bourbon barrel-aged The Serpent's Stout. It clocks in at an impressive 12.5% abv and is very nicely presented in a 375ml (12.7oz) brown bottle sealed with a cork and cage. For the record, this is among the most expensive beers I've ever purchased. 18.99 plus tax and shipping from Boston. Hope it's worth it. I'll be pouring it into my Libbey Poco Grande glass (tulip).

A vigorous pour down the middle of an upright glass reveals a very dark brown, almost black beer with garnet and mahogany highlights when held to light. A half inch plus of a cappuccino colored head quickly recedes and settles into a quarter inch around the edges with intermittent carbonation dispersed throughout the center. Appearance: 12/15


A hearty swirl and a series of quick, deep sniffs (nose fully submerged in the glass, of course) indicates an overwhelming array of scents. Sweet alcohol, oak, vanilla, plums, chocolate, a hint of espresso. Some mild boozy notes, more wood, leather. The sweetness of vanilla, chocolate, and fruit give way to a drying, almost tannin quality at the tail end of the nose. Perhaps hints of toffee dance around in there too. For someone who loves nosing a beer almost as much as I love drinking it, this beer is delightful. Nose: 24/25


Upon those first initial tastes, this beer really opens up and hits its stride. All those fantastic flavors of the nose are present, joined in a glorious symphony by rich notes of deep and dark raw cocoa as well as a much more pronounced espresso flavor. The wood is a real player here and the earthiness imparted by the oak keeps this massive beer from running away into the land of the boozy and undrinkable. As decadent as this beer is, there persists that drying, tannin character that keeps the drinker longing for more. Simply sublime. Palate: 50/50


The mouthfeel is superb. Rich and full without finishing too greasy or viscous. Leaves just enough of a reminder on the tongue of what a wonderful beer you've just had. The final, perfect component in a magnificent beer. Mouthfeel: 10/10.


OVERALL: 96/100
Considering the system I use to properly evaluate a beer, any beer that scores over a 90 is, in my opinion, worthy of any and all acclaim you choose to heap upon it. This beer is certainly in a category all its own and has officially taken its place among the best beers I've ever had. Now if Tomme just wasn't such a jerk... Cheers!