Reviewing Track #10 (Bat Out Of Hell) from The Lost Abbey out of California. This is one of the entries in their rock-themed Ultimate Box Set collection. This beer is their Serpent's Stout, aged in bourbon barrels, with coffee and cacao nibs added.
Score: 97
2012 vintage bottle served in a 4 oz taster glass at FOBAB 2012 (11/17/12). Review is from iPhone notes.
Appearance: Jet black in color with thin layer of mocha head. Average lacing and retention. 3.5/5
Smell: Tons of coffee, then ample doses of chocolate. Molasses too. Faint vanilla. 4.5/5/5
Taste: Boat loads of coffee upfront and followed by cacao, milk chocolate and maple. Vanilla and bourbon comes through on the midpalate, followed by even more coffee in the finish. Has an aftertaste of "coffee breath." Truly divine! 4.75/5
Mouthfeel: Just shy of full bodied. Low carbonation. Excellent balance between the coffee bitterness and bourbon sweetness. 4.5
Overall: Is it world class? Absolutely. I believe that this was one of the five best beers at FOBAB, which was absolutely stacked with great beer. This beer reminded me a lot of (a good bottle of) CBS. On the other hand, was it worth the $35 per bottle that each beer in the Lost Abbey Ultimate Box Set ultimately costs? Not when beers like Eclipse 18 and Chocolate Rain cost the same price for twice as much beer.
Recommendation: If you have the cash to spare, this is a must-try brew.
Pairings: Waffles and syrup.
Cost: $35 for a 375 ml bottle ($450 for all 13 beers in the Lost Abbey Ultimate Box Set).
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