Agave Maria

Tonight:
Lost Abbey Agave Maria
American Strong Ale
13.5% ABV

Ohhhh. This beer is . . . interesting. Not exactly what I was expecting. The Agave Maria surprised me because it's sour. Not as 'punch you in the mouth' sour as a Belgian Lambic, but still sour. I read the back label to see if it would give me any hints. The back label of a Lost Abbey beer is a fascinating read, but it won't typcially give you much by way of what to expect from the beer. The Agave Maria is an exception because, below the usual narrative, the following three words are written in all caps:

CONTAINS WILD YEAST

Well, that explains it. I wouldn't pair this with pickled things. But it would probably go well with a good cheese & charcuterie plate. The tangy sourness would be a good contrast on the palate. Beyond the sourness, it's a dark, sweet beer.

This beer surprised me, but I like it. Even if you're not a fan of sours, it might be worth a try. It's got some balance. And it has noticeable flavors beyond the sourness. 

It's hard to figure out where to put this beer on the list below, b/c it's so unlike the other beers on the list. I'm going to put it just below the Big Butte Porter, as it strikes me as a good style beer in the same way the Big Butte Porter is a good Porter. I realize that puts it above some other excellent beers. You're welcome to disagree with me if you're so inclined.

Tomorrow: Port Brewing Santa's Little Helper

The Beers So Far:

1. Andechs Doppelbock Dunkel
2. Westmalle Dubbel
3. Golden Draak
4. Piraat
5. Leffe Blonde
6. Primator Double Bock
7. Delirium Tremens
8. Rochefort 8
9. Weihenstephaner Korbinian
10. Rochefort 6
11. Chimay Premiere (Red)
12. Big Butte Porter
13. Lost Abbey Agave Maria
14. Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier
15. Chimay Cinq Cents (White)
16. Trois Pistoles
17. Krusovice Imperial
18. Hobgoblin
19. Orval
20. Lost Abbey Inferno Ale
21. La Fin Du Monde
22. Belzebuth
23. 1349
24. J.W. Lees
25. London Velvet
26. Lost Abbey Track #8