Agave Maria Ale from The Lost Abbey
It’s only Wednesday, but I already feel like it’s time for Friday happy hour. Without further ado, here’s a review of one of my favorite sippers. If I have anything to say about it, Brendan and I will be cracking open one of these tonight.
Agave Maria is a seasonal ale produced by The Lost Abbey, a brewery based in San Marcos, California. They specialize in Belgian-style brews, but this beer is nothing like anything you’d find in Europe. At 13.5% ABV, the agave-based strong ale is aged in oak tequila barrels, and you can absolutely taste the woody, tequila-tinged flavors coming through. It’s sweet and viscous, with low carbonation and a smooth, honeyed mouthfeel that makes you want to drink it slowly, savoring each full-flavored sip.
This beer is one of many in a recent trend of high-end, high alcohol brews, and it’s priced much higher than your typical bottle of suds, retailing for about $15 a bottle in our area. On the plus side, one beer is enough for two to share, perfect alongside chips and guacamole for a relaxing, mid-week evening unwinding session.
Hmm. I might give this a try–even if paying $15/bottle for artisanal anything goes severely against my grain. While I appreciate artisanal producers for their important contribution to getting our atrocious food system overhauled in their small way, I assuage my guilt at not buying their products by simply making my own. Marge Granola? Make my own. I leave it to the more-foodier-than-me crowd or the more well-heeled to support these small producers.
Thanks for the tip. Ill have to see if its at the Berkeley Bowl.
Sure thing! I’m happy to support a brewery producing such a great beer — it’s one of the handful of things I’m content to leave to the pros rather than try to DIY.