Good Juju (Ginger Ale) - Left Hand Brewing Company

Wildeman

Michigan

2.86/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3

I had a little bit of high hopes for this beer cause I am a fan of Left Hand Brewing, but alas I was left unfulfilled and disappointed. There is no body and very little flavor. There was the essence of ginger, but that quickly disapeared. A bit of ginger in the aroma but overall this beer was lackluster. If not for that little essence of ginger this beer would be completely bland. Long story short, I will probably never have this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 01:58:16 | More by Wildeman

dar482

New York

3.48/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

It has a stanky ginger smell and a very slight ginger taste to it. Being brewed with ginger, it actually tastes like a regular light pale ale except that little hint of flavor in the beginning. You keep wanting to drink more and more because of how short that flavor lasts. Personally, I would love this beer with more spices and aromatics to it. Something to give it more layering other than a tasting like a plain beer with a gentle gift at the beginning.
You keep wanting to go in to get that initial flavor, but it dissipates so fast and really needs to be more well rounded.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 20:42:11 | More by dar482

AmitC

Indiana

3.63/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Well herbs. Ginger is a good one. Beer though gingerish, is not very huge on that.

Very clear, amber copper color. Little head, which goes away soon. I pour very diligently, so it will be way off others. Decent amount of bubbles coming up.

Smells a lot of ginger and some honey. No other distinct smell there. Not of malt, not of other ales.

Taste is a bit disappointing in that ginger is very mild. It is felt when it goes in. Sweeter at the beginning, may be due to use of some honey, to subdue the bitter herbal ginger. Somewhat more ginger and it could have well been a herbal anit cold-cough medicinal ale. You feel more ginger when you go on drinking.

Very light feel. Not a lot of carbonation.

Because of its herbal nature, more than 1 12 ounce bottle is not at all possible for me.

Decent ale overall.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 01:29:46 | More by AmitC

Lare453

Florida

2.3/5  rDev -31.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12oz into a dfh glass

a clear copper color with a bright white two finger thick head. head dissipates at a medium pace, and there is some lacing left over

s wheat, tin, not very pleasant

t very bland, flat beginning with a light ginger middle. the ending is also bland with some light wheat. almost no aftertasste

m a little too thick, barely any carbonation, feels flat on the toungue

o eh... mediocre at best. i would not actively seek this beer out...

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 04:47:48 | More by Lare453

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.43/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Review from 2/2010 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a light yellow amber with a minimal white head and little lacing. Aroma of ginger and faint malt. Flavor is very dry with a hint of honey with ginger at the start, then just ginger, finishing with a dry, faint light hop and lager malt flavor. The ginger is nice, but little else going on. Light bodied.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 18:23:53 | More by LiquidAmber

Danny1217

Florida

3.23/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours orange-amber with a white head that quickly dissipates. Smells mostly just like ginger. Ginger really dominates this beer as a whole. I'm not getting much else from the taste either. Rather light body and medium coronation.

How much enjoyment is had from those beer depends on how Much you like ginger.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 00:46:19 | More by Danny1217

yuenglingfan101

Indiana

4.23/5  rDev +26.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

great beer. smell and taste of ginger really is so soothing. nothing special about the appearance or mouthful but it lives up to the name it is given "good juju" I think i'll be drinking some more good juju soon and often. Left Hand does it again!!!!

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 17:52:33 | More by yuenglingfan101

schlimenhaumer

New York

2.63/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 3

Poured from the bottle into a Miller Lite pint glass at high altitude outside Denver, CO.

A: Pours a clear pale yellow color with a minimal white head that leaves little lacing.

S: Smells like candied ginger with a little bit of malt body. Almost no hop character here.

T: Basically tastes like a ginger chew in beer form. Ginger up front with some malt body for support. The finish is unfortunately quite watery. A bit of bitterness builds the more you drink.

M: Very thin, watery and undercarbonated. The worst aspect of this beer in my opinion.

O: If you're a fan of ginger, you might enjoy this beer. As a ginger drink, it's actually quite enjoyable, but as a beer, it fails in several respects.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 13:07:15 | More by schlimenhaumer

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Picked a bottle of this up at Russell's in Amherst, poured into my Duvel tulip.

A - Pours a deep, clear amber honey hue with a fizzy half a finger head that fades to lave a thin cloud and blanket.

S - Nose is lots of sweet malts, some light honey, and spicy ginger. Wish the ginger was a bit stronger.

T - Lots of malty sweetness, some light honey with some faint spicy ginger in the background. The ginger comes out a bit more as this warms up. Needs more ginger.

M - The mouthfeel isnt too too bad with this, nice for an herbed beer. Crisp, nice and refreshing for a warm day.

O - Overall though I Was rather disappointed with this beer. I was expecting ALOT more ginger but instead I have a much more malt heavy beer than I prefer. Oh well, for the $2 it cost me its not too bad.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 16:27:59 | More by rudzud

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Good Juju (Ginger Ale)
Left Hand Brewing Company
Style: Herbed / Spiced Beer
ABV: 4.00 %

Pours a hazed golden color, fizzy white foam cap stays a while and leaves some rings of lace. In the smell, herbs, lemongrass, ginger and wheat. A bit of a bready smell lingers and the ginger is right there. The taste follows the nose with a solid dose of ginger, herbal tea, lemon grass, and earthy hop notes. There is definitely some citrus and wheat malt flavors. Lots of ginger and a semi dry clean finish. Medium bodied and well carbonated. Overall, an interesting beer with a unique flavor twist. Had it paired with Asian BBQ wings, pretty decent.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 17:07:42 | More by Stinkypuss

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

3.6/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a standard pint glass.

Looks -- The beer is a dead-ringer for apple juice. Quickly dissipating head that leaves light lacing.

Smells -- Ginger, light sweetness.

Tastes -- Very light herbal sweetness up front, I'm trying to decide if the ginger is about right. I think it is, there are no cloying factors here.

Feels -- Uber light bodied, like water. A dry carbonated finish.

Overall -- Interesting, it almost doesn't feel or taste like a beer in any way. I'll enjoy the sixer, but won't be visiting this one again.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 14:14:39 | More by JuicesFlowing

soju6

Missouri

3.63/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a copper color with a decent head that fades to some lacing.

S: Aroma of ginger, fresh grain with some malt sweetness and spice.

T: Taste of mild malt sweetness with a tart lemony nip and some spice in the background. Nice bitterness and a very clean finish.

F: Fairly medium body, very crisp and refreshing. Interesting character.

O: Not a bad beer, much better than I expected. Seems to go best with the summer weather.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 11:59:01 | More by soju6

ChrisPratz

3.38/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Nice amber coloring, pours to about a fingers worth of head that dissipates to a blotchy patch of lace across the top and around the edges.

S: Some hoppyness with a light ginger aroma as well. Not very aromatic.

T: Nice malty sweetness at the start makes way to a very nice combination of piney hops and ginger spicyness. Flavors are nice and crisp and your left with a very very mild bitterness.

M: Light carbonation, works well with the piney spicyness of the ginger and hops tag team. Left with a slight biscuit flavor on the palette that gives the impression of dryness however its not very dry. Hard to describe.

O: Not a bad brew overall. Nice mix of ginger spice with the piney hops. Wouldn't wanna have more then one or two at a time but another good job by the guys at Left Hand Brewing walking the wire and experimenting with different flavor combinations.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 04:34:04 | More by ChrisPratz

DavidST

Texas

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

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass, oddly the freshness date is blank on this one. This pours a fizzy short lived white head, this color is an almost golden color. The smells are of ginger, a little sweetness, no real hop presence. The feel is medium to light. The taste is okay, a nice amount of ginger, a little bitterness from the ginger, okay not bad.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 05:30:41 | More by DavidST

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Color is a very light amber brown, clear with a 1/4 inch of head that quickly reduces to a mild lace ring.

S - Smells of mild ginger, touch of honey, and some lager yeast.

T - Well it's kind of like a real ginger ale, with less sugar and some hops. It is a step above your typical lager base and even if the ginger is quite mild it works well. Surprisingly refreshing.

M - Light bodied and carbonation was good.

Overall its not really distributed around here (like every left hand brew) but it wasn't as bad as I thought. Worth trying if you like ginger ale.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 16:17:53 | More by DrDemento456

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

3.05/5  rDev -9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

P:  Light Golden copper color with loads of carbonation flying to the top. No head but delicate and airy lacing on sides. 

S:  Sweet dry malts, gingersnap cookies, tangerines, sour dough, sea salt, toasted sesame seeds, and timid spiced hops. 

T/M:  Ginger and herbs backed by a subtle sweet malt. Once warned artificial lime, and a metallic taste becomes apparent. Light body kinda watery with prickly carbonation. Not as complex as the nose.  Some dried grains but mostly muted flavors. Finish is wet with a touch of building dryness and lingering honey and banana peels. 

O:  I didn't really know what to expect seeing that this was my first herb beer.  I think it was successful but boring at the same time.  Flavors were good but lackluster. I really want to try more of this style to truly see how this stacks up an I will revisit it in the future. 

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 00:48:42 | More by Hopswagger

kojevergas

California

2.5/5  rDev -25.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a nonical pint glass in me gaff in high altitude Castle Rock, Colorado. Expectations are below average; it's a ginger beer. Reviewed live.

Paired with pretzel rods.

Served straight from the refrigerator and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a half finger head of white colour, bad thickness, okay cream, and rather bad retention. Colour is a transparent light copper. No floating yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Ginger, tea, herbs, lime, and stale overdone malt. A pretty strong aroma, but far from an appealing one.

T: Ginger, herbs, clean malts, and a hint of artificial lime. Simple and poorly constructed. Structurally brief. Sans balance. Badly built, even for the style. Not at all complex or subtle.

Mf: Smooth and wet. A bit too thick. Sharp and overcarbonated. Doesn't suit the flavours all that well.

Dr: Drinkable but boring and bland. Not unique or special. Priced okay. I wouldn't have it again.

A poor candidate for aging.

Very High D+

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2012 05:09:03 | More by kojevergas

TubaManJack

Illinois

2.95/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

$2.50 loose bottle

I must put as a disclaimer that I love ginger and have had some great experiences with Ginger Ales in NZ.

Appearance
The colourful bottle yielded an average light yellow body. The head is rather drab and quickly falls away. The carbonation was quite apperaent.

Nose
A little fresh ginger on the nose along with some plain malts. There is also a bit of herbal hops tossed in there. Overall a bit weak in the nose.

Taste and Mouthfeel
The bulk of this beer's taste is similar to a generic non- adjunct lager with a slight ginger aftertaste. The ginger presence falls off after the halfway point and is hard to taste. I liked the mouthfeel it contained the right carbonation level and satisfying light.

Overall this beer seems best suited to follow mowing your lawn or after being in the hot sun. It has the right balance of a standard lager with a slight ginger twist. It's weaker than a shanty and leaves a bit for any ginger beer lover.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2012 03:12:59 | More by TubaManJack

BeerForMuscle

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Completely clear, bright golden body. Bubbly, thin white head. Looks like a drinkable lager.

S - Plenty of fresh ground ginger root in this bouquet. A sweetness that reminds me of candied ginger, or pickled ginger. There is a tropical fruit aroma maybe like guava and mango.

T - A great mouthful of ginger itself. They hit the nail on the head here. I'm glad to be able to taste plenty of the showcased special ingredient. The ginger profile is as close to the real thing as possible, as if it had been grated into my beer. The only thing is the spice factor is low, and the hop character of the beer is mild too, but very complimentary. A fruit sweetness is there, but non-distinct.

M - Light, effervescent and refreshing. Crisp and clean with a clean finish. Drinkable.

O - Once again, I love that the ginger shines. The main ingredient should be showcased and presented in its most natural form in my opinion. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 03:48:07 | More by BeerForMuscle

cincyfan90

Rhode Island

2.6/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Aroma: appealing, non overbearing ginger

Appearance: golden hue

Taste: slight ginger, however it has a watered down malty taste that is distracting. It is moderately dry.

Overall: This beer left no positive impression on myself; it is comparable to a ginger flavored mainstream lager such as coors light, etc

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 01:36:14 | More by cincyfan90

Traillama

Colorado

1.85/5  rDev -44.8%
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

I love anything with ginger but could not detect any ginger flavor. Metallic smell that affected the flavor. I'm fairly forgiving but this is a real disappointment. In order to get to my character minimum will add that it is a beautiful evening along the front range in Colorado.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 04:19:19 | More by Traillama

gatornation

Minnesota

3.1/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

from 12 oz bottle

A- pour a mostly clear light amber color with very little head and a small white collar

S- ginger and malt with spice

T- was ginger first with malt and spice a little baked bread

M- was thin with low carbonation a little watery

O- spice and ginger lead this brew in a watery way its just average and uneventful low ABV makes it drinkable but not much going on here

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 22:25:10 | More by gatornation

jwhancher

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bought a variety pack last year. Had a bottle of this in my beer fridge stashed away. Bottled on date read 4/18/11. Popped the top and poured into a standard pint glass for review.

A: Pours a hazy copper with light amber tints. Not sure if the haze is from yeast or sediment or something else. Had a nice white head that eventually fades into a thin lacing.

S: Aroma screams ginger through and through. Some underlying malt sweetness but the ginger takes the cake here.

T: Again a strong ginger presence. Reminds me of making a pumpkin pie and sniffing the ginger spice right before adding it in with the rest of the ingredients. The ginger either lends or melds with a floral presence in the beer. Perhaps this is due to hop character or some other unknown. A very interesting taste - it's sort of like ginger tea in beer form.

M: Feels light & dry with an assertive hop bitterness at the tail end. Low alcohol makes this somewhat easy drinking if you can tolerate the ginger presence.

O: It's an interesting take on a spice beer. I don't mind it, but I'm not sure I'm a huge fan of ginger. With that being said, it's a well made beer that is mostly either love it or hate it. With me, I'm a bit in between. Then again, there's probably a reason this one sat in my fridge for close to a year.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 00:49:44 | More by jwhancher

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.55/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

very interesting brew, made with potent fresh ginger in high quantities. pours a clearish golden color with the slightest copper hue and an average thin white head. smells like fresh ginger, like a canada dry ginger ale softdrink. no hops to speak of here, just a sugary syrupy ginger essence. flavor is definitely featuring the ginger, but there are some pale malts in there to give some body, and a gentle hopping that combines with the ginger for a crisp refreshing finish. this isnt my favorte lefthand beer, but because of its bright carbonation and refreshing flavor, it would make a nice summer afternoon session. i also like it better than any other ginger beers ive had.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2012 18:19:33 | More by StonedTrippin

RickS95

Indiana

2.9/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours an apricot/orange color. It's just cloudy enough that it's not clear. There is no head to speak of, the bubbles seemingly dissipating as they're poured.

Has a unique smell. The ginger is faint, with some hay and candied sugar.

The taste is unique as well, and not necessarily for the best. I wouldn't have guessed ginger, tastes like carrots and tomatoes.

It's a lighter bodied beer with little alcohol. There's no sweetness and only moderate spiciness. There's a slight tart bitterness in the finish that lingers.

Too strange for me. Maybe after I finish all of the six pack I'll have developed a taste for it, but not so far.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 04:58:13 | More by RickS95