Oak Aged Imperial Stout - Left Hand Brewing Company

Douglas14

California

4.47/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very black color,obviously, with an incredible tan head. It doesn't leave much lace or have much head retention...probably due to the pour at the bar. In the nose there is lots of dark malt, chocolate, bourbon (not sure why...makes me think what kind of oak barrels this was in), and alcohol. The taste has similar characteristics. It's a super rich beer. 12oz is probably too much. I know it's sold in bombers, which would be nice to split. Anyway, ibthink the carbonation level is perfect. Silky mouthfeel. This beer is awesome now...I would love to try it in a couple of years

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2009 21:50:41 | More by Douglas14

Kelp

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -0.7%

05-09-2013 05:03:42 | More by Kelp

alexsergio

New York

4/5  rDev -0.7%

02-24-2013 22:50:50 | More by alexsergio

MystikCelt

New York

4.75/5  rDev +17.9%

10-25-2012 00:15:15 | More by MystikCelt

t0rin0

California

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%

10-21-2012 12:10:18 | More by t0rin0

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.28/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Review from 2/2010 notes. 2007 vintage bottle, poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a very dark brown, appearing nearly black. One finger brown head with good retention and lacing. Aroma of dark and toasted malt, oak, dried fruit. A full, tasty start to the flavor; oak, dark and toasted malts, coffee, toffee. Middle and finish not as smooth or intense as other imperial stouts. Body slightly thin than expected, but a satisfying medium body. An interesting well made imperial stout.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 19:41:56 | More by LiquidAmber

Tyrawlings

Ohio

4/5  rDev -0.7%

02-12-2012 02:41:01 | More by Tyrawlings

jfcaa193

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -13.2%

02-05-2012 19:53:29 | More by jfcaa193

imperialking

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%

01-23-2012 16:26:21 | More by imperialking

mdvatab

Indiana

3.98/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2009 Vintage. Received in mid-2011 as an extra in a trade.
Poured from 22oz bottle into Bordeaux glass.

A: Dark, rich caramel, molasses, powdered hot cocoa mix, chocolate milk, and some grape-like fruitiness.

A: Dark brown (Pours a bit thinner than I'd expected for the style.) 1 finger, light tan head sticks around for much longer than anticipated.

F: Very sweet up front. Carmelized sugar, milk chocolate, and some booze on the end (but it's not hot). Overall, I'm getting caramel more than chocolate in this one. Not what was expected, but a pleasant surprise.

M: Thinner than anticipated. Medium-full body. And this one's well-carbonated. Possibly a bit crisp for the style, but it lent itself to a dense, creamy head.

O: A true-to-style Imperial Stout? Not really. I enjoyed this one enough, though, so I'll give Left Hand some leeway. If you can find this one, I definitely recommend it!

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 23:59:38 | More by mdvatab

nmann08

Maryland

5/5  rDev +24.1%

12-04-2011 22:19:51 | More by nmann08

rab53

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -0.7%

12-02-2011 03:26:48 | More by rab53

bigdaddypolite

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +24.1%

11-19-2011 04:00:08 | More by bigdaddypolite

richbrew

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -0.7%

11-15-2011 16:56:02 | More by richbrew

Jspriest

Maryland

5/5  rDev +24.1%

11-14-2011 16:07:23 | More by Jspriest

Mscarpen

Tennessee

3.93/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I tried the 2009 variant of this just the other day. Good stuff, although it was hard for me to rectify its designation as a malt beverage and as an imperial stout. Not sure how that works, but either way... It was yummy.

Appearance: dark amber with a thin very dark tan head. Pours kind of thin.

Smell: Sweet, candy aromas.

Taste: sweet from the get-go with cherry/fruit labors on the back end. Slight bitter with moderate chocolate notes.

Mouthfeel: medium viscosity, light syrup, and medium carbonation.

Overall: a decent oak aged beer, but still feeling a little wierd about the malt beverage designation.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2011 21:42:59 | More by Mscarpen

OakedCanuck

Washington

4.05/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz poured into snifter. 2009 vintage.

A - Pours a light black with dark brown edging. Single finger off-white to light tan head. Lacing hung on for a while before giving up.

S - Lots of oak, raisins, chocolate, brown sugar, vanilla

T - Smooth brandy flavour integrating well with the oak, vanilla and cocoa powder. There is a roast chocolate component to it and a hint of anise. Great brandy treatment

M - Super smooth. Medium/heavy and just right. A bit tacky

O - A great 2 year old Imperial stout. I really liked the brandy flavour coming through. Excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2011 20:58:08 | More by OakedCanuck

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bomber of the 2009 vintage. Pours a deep brown color with a fluffed dark head. Displays average retention but leaves some really nice, sticky lace.

Nose has some obvious wood character along with lots of chocolate and a decent amount of dark fruit.

Taste has smoothed out considerably! I am not sure if this is the same recipe as the regular LH imperial stout, but WOW...what a difference. Alcohol is well hidden and has a brandy-esque influence and lots of chocolate. Like one of those Pepperidge Farm Pirouette sticks swirled around in some oak juice. Some vanilla adds to the mix as it warms a bit...everything is well integrated yet individual characteristics can still be picked out. I am surprised at how nice this beer is, quite a treat. I would definitely buy some more of this if I found it.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2011 16:50:42 | More by twiggamortis420

bobhits

Kentucky

2.13/5  rDev -47.1%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 2.5

Rather thin looking stout on the pour, builds a nice head that vanishes in no time. A touch watery looking even as black as it is.

Sweet vanilla, fruity wine like notes but more red wine like notes, but cold so I’ll wait for it to warm to finish this part. A bit smoother around the edges as it warms, but it isn’t making this better.

I think there are a lot of hops here, but the oak aging is pulling out the hops and creating an amazingly smooth finish. Then the alcohol starts to kick in. At around 4 years old I wouldn’t expect that. The problem is there isn’t anything great here. A lot of nuance but nuance needs to be built on something that is inviting and well good. Stout lovers will enjoy this and won’t complain, but this beer fails to be inviting to anyone who is on the fence Room temp this is starting to take on a buttery note which is greatly enhancing the beer. That said just not pushing far enough.

I could come up with things I enjoy in most parts of this beer, but the mouth is awful. Still a lot of alcohol, thin (for style), and after a few sips the carbonation vanishes and it just feels awful.

It’s not dark enough, not carbonated enough (age here is a factor), not creamy enough, not viscous enough, doesn’t bring out deep dark chocolate, no real coffee flavors, plenty of oak….really I’m at a loss here.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2011 01:43:26 | More by bobhits

AnPiobaire

New York

3.43/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I poured this Imperial Stout into a goblet at about 52 degrees. The brewe poured a lighter then anticipated dark brown with very little head that did not stick around and no lacing wahtsoever.

The nose is of roasted malts and a note of cocoa.

The taste is all chocolate. Almost overpowering so. There is a sweetness that is similar to a milk stout that slowly receds with a cocoa finish.

The mouthfeel is less then expected. This brew is much thinner then I expect in an imperial stout. In addition this brew is more carbonated then I expected.

OVerall it is a nice oak aged imperial stout that I would be glad to order if I saw it on tap somewhere, but I won't be hunting it down anytome soon. Enjoy!!!

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2011 00:14:55 | More by AnPiobaire

Gushue3

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I've been really broke lately so havent been buying too much crazy stuff so was PUMPED to see this for 6.99 sown the street. Havent had a BA brew in a little bit. lacing looks good

A- pours darker brown and can see through and sits black in thr glass. very large head that turns foamy and has serious retention.

S- Big sweetness off the bat. caramel and darker fruits dominate with some vanilla in there. Theres a nice malt backbone and chocolate hints are thrown through out.

T- Malty. Darker fruit and brown sugar are prominent with a slight alcohol burn in the middle. The light burn continues to the finish that turns to a very sweet/lightly bitter lingering.

M- heavier mouthfeel that suits this big beer nicely. Lots of carbonation but doesnt feel like too much. turns creamy after each pull.

O- Very nice beer. nice taste that isnt too much of one thing. well balanced and full of flavor.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2011 00:09:13 | More by Gushue3

alpinebryant

Connecticut

3.6/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2009 bottle poured into a Tulip. Very light tan head that was quickly just at the edges.

Smell of cocoa, roasted malts, booze, roasted malts, toffee, caramel.

Mostly cocoa flavor on this one, but it is slightly fizzy and too thin for my taste. There is the toasted marshmallow flavor that is very nice with oak and some cocoa, but a bit of booze in here takes it down a few notches in my book. Plenty of caramel and cocoa nib flavors to go around. I like that there is no ashy charred flavors to this one at all, it just comes across as slightly thin.

A solid stout, just have recently had a few others that had more complexity / more body.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2011 23:44:38 | More by alpinebryant

GallowsThief

Florida

3.95/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured out of a bomber into my Duvel. Dated 2009.

A - Pours pitch black out of the bottle with a tan 2 inch head. Head receded quickly.

S - Mocha and chocolate. Some raisin as well. Just a hint of the alcohol comes right through at the end.

T - Chocolate and toffee tastes like the smell. Very rich and creamy. Some of those dark fruits roll through. Makes me think of tasting a nice rum cake. Has a sneaky alcohol burn at the end. Slow to come but warming.

M - Medium bodied and thinner then I expected. Leaves the palate with a creamy slick.

D - Have a couple but the ABV would stop you in your tracks fairly quickly. Overall a solid stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2011 01:39:09 | More by GallowsThief

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes. Poured into a snifter.

Body is very dark with a slight tan-mocha head and a small amount of lacing as it goes down the curved edges of the glass. The nose brings a really nice combination of oak, vanilla, light coffee, chocolate, and some roast. The taste brings some strong oak and chocolate with vanilla lingering in the background. The feel has a bit too much oak and has a bit of alcohol. Drinks quite well and might be the best beer I've had from Left Hand.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2010 02:37:16 | More by Thorpe429

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine July 2007.

Oak aging is still hot. Here, Left Hand has produced a blend, with 25 percent of the beer being oak-aged and blended back in. This beer combines French Oak flaked oats in the beer--so we know to expect a certain level of smoothness.

Black as night, impervious to light. Nice thick tan lace drapes some stickage on the glass just to show off a bit. Whiffs of licorice root, chicory, carob and green figs permeate the nostrils. The smoothness is godly--soft yet active as it rolls off the tongue. Creamy full body shows a good amount of girth. Flavors of burnt raisins, dark chocolaty malt, mild roast coffee, licorice root and (most notably) oak bring layers of complexity to the game early. Ghostly vanilla flavor from the oak. Modest hopping and a slow alcohol at first, but after several sips, it makes up for lost time as the palate quickly warms. Finishes with a slight burnt tone as it dries up a bit.

They were right on target with the 25 percent oaked blend, which has produced a good balance between drinkability and complexity. It's a sipper that never goes overboard. Pair it with chocolate-covered cherries.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2010 20:43:46 | More by BeerAdvocate