Cuvee de Tomme

The Lost Abbey of San Marcos has been producing esoteric Belgian-influenced ales since 2006 and co-founder Tomme Arthur continues the trend with his acclaimed Cuvee de Tomme. Unfortunately, our samples arrived with virtually no carbonation, which seriously hampered the beer’s ability to present itself in its best light. The nose is dominated by alternating waves of sweet and sour cherries and vanilla-tinged oakiness, punctuated with a racy, almost acetic tartness. Tom was “greeted by a blast of oak and overripe cherries in the nose,” and he struggled to discern any malt lying beneath the flood of fruit and wood. As noted, this beer poured absolutely still, producing no head and lying in the glass a slightly murky brown. Without effervescence, the flavor tended toward cloying sweetness shot through with vanilla, pie cherries, and a dash of pumpkin pie spice. Lee dove past the upfront sweetness and discovered “solid caramel meshed with wintergreen and Maraschino cherries.” But he felt the lack of carbonation damaged the overall impact. One judge, who sampled it at a renowned San Francisco establishment, was served a completely flat glass of Cuvee de Tomme and was informed “That’s how it’s supposed to be.” Although handicapped by a lack of carbonation, Cuvee de Tomme has all the underpinnings of a classic sour ale. The best option may be to sample this iconic brew from the wellspring at the brewery.