Lost Abbey Red Barn Ale

In my personal opinion, the one style of beer that differs the most from brew to brew is saison. The unique ingredients that bring additional flavor to these beers greatly impact the flavor of the beer you’re enjoying.

Typically, these brews come with a lighter fruit taste and the Lost Abbey Red Barn Ale is no exception. However, the ginger and orange taste I was able to detect in this saison was merely the base on which this brew was built. The most notable taste in this Californian beer was Pepper.

Every drink was spicier than the last. The most remarkable side effect of this beer was how it affected the rest of your body. I found it made my cheeks and tongue sensitive while bringing a slight welling to my eyes. The taste also stuck around in the back of my throat.

Perhaps the one thing that stuck with me the most about this brew how was incredibly difficult it was to uncork the bottle. I actually had to work at it and use ample elbow grease to even get this beer into my glass.

The Lost Abbey Red Barn Ale comes in at 4.5 mugs out of 10.

Abita Christmas Ale

With Punxsutawney Phil deciding there will be 6 more weeks of winter, I feel it’s an opportune time to crank out a few Christmas reviews. If that lazy bastard can nurse off a hangover for another month and a half I should be able to enjoy a few more winter brews.

When the calendar flipped to November I quickly headed out to one of my local grocers that allows pick your sixes to pull my first lineup for the winter season. With a fond remembrance of Jockamo IPA and a constant vouching of all things Abita from one of my good friends, Abita’s Christmas Ale was an easy decision.

Like the previously mentioned Jockamo IPA, Christmas Ale was heavy on the hops. This brew however came across with a heavy dose of mint taste, like an IPA candy cane almost. It covers your palate with a cool minty chill as if you had just taken a shot of Rumple Minze.

Although this is a great aftertaste, the mint did overwhelm the beer itself. At first drink I truly enjoyed Christmas Ale, but as I continued the bottle it became more like taking a swig of beer right after brushing your teeth. I can see this as a great novelty beer when the holiday mood has got ahold of you, but I don’t think I could see myself drinking this on a regular basis.

Abita Christmas Ale comes in at a respectable 6.5 mugs out of 10