Sawtooth
Left Hand Brewing Company

SawtoothSawtooth
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From:
Left Hand Brewing Company
 
Colorado, United States
Style:
Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
Ranked #66
ABV:
5.3%
Score:
84
Ranked #22,748
Avg:
3.72 | pDev: 12.63%
Reviews:
723
Ratings:
2,200
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 31, 2024
Added:
Sep 16, 2001
Wants:
  90
Gots:
  380
Sessionable. Unpretentious. Left Hand's original flagship. Proof that a beer can be both complex and balanced. Malty chewiness slowly transitioning over to herbal, earthy hops with a dry finish. Brewed to be enjoyed with friends and to stimulate serendipity.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SIRIUS2:
Photo of SIRIUS2
Reviewed by SIRIUS2 from North Carolina

3.82/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass.

A: Sort of a light amber color, clear, with thin white creamy head. Low retention and light lacing.

S: Malty, caramel, with some fruity notes in the hops.

T: Quite malty with a light sweetness and the propensity for a dry finish. The hops seem to be fighting for balance but the grain malt flavors still come through. The malts seem to be on the lighter side, pale & caramel. Finish is pretty quick and relatively dry, with little bitter hop kiss at the end.

M&D: Mostly lighter flavors of malt but it has a heavier weight to it in the mouth. Carbonation is fine but abundant and somehow seems to bring out the malt nicely. I can really taste the barley in this one and for the most part, it is pretty good. It's almost reminiscent of a lighter bock style.
Apr 20, 2008
More User Ratings:
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.25/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Draft at Homestead. Dark brown pour, thine beige head, lacing. Malty aroma, toasty, nutty. Taste brings a little sweetness, malty, mild roast, thins out at the back.
Jan 31, 2024
 
Rated: 3.57 by lakewy17 from New Hampshire

Jul 08, 2023
Photo of dofo777
Reviewed by dofo777 from Maryland

3.59/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Mild and unpretentious, clear, brownish amber, no head. Not too bitter but not sweet, clean, slightly syrupy feel in the mouth with no real aftertaste, slightly bitter finish.
Apr 04, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Jan 17, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by KT3418 from Colorado

Dec 04, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by HollandTunnels from Pennsylvania

Nov 27, 2021
 
Rated: 3.85 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Nov 21, 2021
 
Rated: 3.73 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Aug 27, 2020
 
Rated: 3.69 by jchanley from Illinois

Jun 14, 2020
 
Rated: 3.53 by Jcreek from Illinois

Jun 14, 2020
 
Rated: 4.04 by mmmbeer89 from New Mexico

May 17, 2020
 
Rated: 3.59 by Pacioli1445 from South Dakota

Oct 21, 2019
Photo of Mindcrime1000
Reviewed by Mindcrime1000 from South Dakota

4/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a can into a tulip.

Pours a slightly-hazy copper/amber, with a decent head, but not much retention. Good lacing and a nice skein of foam.

Malty, toasty, nutty, and mildly fruity aromas all waft mildly through the nose. Just a touch of earthy floral hop.

The flavors follow the nose and are very well balanced. Caramel, toasted, and slightly fruity malts on the tip of the tongue, but only slightly sweet. Crackery and mildly spicy yeast in mid stream, with a clean grain fullness and citrus peel. Mild earthy and floral hop bitterness brings it hope at the finish, with just a hint of alcohol warmth, and balances well with the slightly sweet malts.

The brew is nearly medium bodied, creamy, and only moderately carbonated, yet it finishes well. A very drinkable, repeatable brew.

Overall, an excellent take on the style, especially for an American brewer. The British are the masters of understatement, and this brew is appropriately understated in both its malt (not too sweet) and hops (not too bitter), providing an easy balance in the process. It all comes together rather well. It isn't an exciting brew, but it's an eminently flavorful, drinkable one.
Oct 05, 2019
 
Rated: 3.74 by BeerLover99 from Illinois

May 01, 2019
 
Rated: 3.6 by Kolb from Montana

Apr 25, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by Marvicsin from California

Apr 04, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by Nurt20 from Illinois

Jan 23, 2019
 
Rated: 3 by adam36 from Illinois

Jan 09, 2019
 
Rated: 3.25 by Sebas from North Carolina

Jan 06, 2019
Sawtooth from Left Hand Brewing Company
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 2200 ratings