Fade To Black (Volume 2 - Smoked Baltic Porter) - Left Hand Brewing Company

morebeergood

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Dive Bar in Worcester for $6. Served in a standard pint glass. Dark black body, with surprisingly little head. Smell was peaty and smoky. Taste was a winner. Loads of smoke and roasted malt. Plenty to taste but not overwhelming. Mouthfeel was good, but would have loved a tiny bit more thickness for a baltic porter. Overall a great beer that I finally was able to have a pint all to myself. The menu board said it was kicked, but they crossed off the wrong Left Hand offering. Glad I asked!

Serving type: on-tap

04-25-2011 23:31:06 | More by morebeergood

Duff27

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled on date of 12/08/10

A- Very thin dark mocha head quickly receding atop a dark brown/black beer. Below average head retention and no lacing.

S- Dark chocolate immediately hits my nose.

T- Follows the nose with the chocolate, then coffee. Not getting much, just a little, of the smoke. Leaves the mouth watering for another sip.

M- Slightly syrupy, not much in the way of carbonation it seems.

D/O- A tasty beer. This one got better as it warmed, as far as the subtle smoke notes. Probably would only want to drink one of these per drinking period and would be a good one to keep a stash of to note differences in every few months. One hundredth different brewery reviewed.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2011 02:49:04 | More by Duff27

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

4.3/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Nice smoked porter, subtle but with a nice long range.

Presentation: 12 oz brown capped bottle. Black and white label with an elaborate line illustration, almost a pattern-like range akin to some tattoo styles. Neck label notes style alongside brewery branding . Side narrative explains the charity memorial effort celebrated by the brew, and offers a brief description. Notes generic list of ingredients, and an empty bottled date section. Served in a snifter.

A - Black pour with deep brown edges, short frothy head with small retention, faint surface memory save a thin surface ring and some splashes of lacing.

S - Sweet nose with a smoked hint. Malty, lactose dash, sweet malt... Smoked note... Subtle but nice.

T - Taste is longer and shows off its range with dexterity. Long roasted notes, sweet malt with a milky hint, coffee and chocolate rather gently with a nice soft smoked layer covering it all with a bitter insinuation.

M - Medium/full body with a creamy sense, feeling more full in the finish.

O - All flows rather beautifully together. Subtle but quite a nicely woven smoked porter.

Notes: Among the best, if not the best, offerings I've been lucky to try from Left Hand. Thanks Alberto for the treat!

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2011 13:16:34 | More by Daniellobo

jman892

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours black with some brownish highlights. Topped with a foamy 1 finger mocha colored head, which dissipates quickly

S - Smoke can clearly be picked up in the aroma. Very mild chocolate scent detected as well

T - Tastes is of old fashioned cocoa powder, the smokiness isnt as prominent in the taste as it is in the nose, but is still apparent. Some burnt toast

M - Pretty low carbonation with a medium body overall, but a bit thin for the style

O - Think they accomplished wht they set out to do with this one. To me the smoke is front and center. ABV is high but well hidden

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2011 18:06:02 | More by jman892

drabmuh

Maryland

3.98/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I should track down the FES stout from this series, maybe it's in VA. Poured from a 12 ounce bottle dated in December of 2010 into a Russian River wine glass. I believe this came as an extra in a recent trade but I don't recall from whom.

Beer is black with a tiny head with low retention. The head is diffuse and breaks, pulling to the walls of the glass as quickly as it formed originally. Some lacing is left on the glass but overall the beer is undercarbonated. It looks like a Baltic porter.

The aroma has a mild air of smoke to it. By what is written on the neck of the bottle I assume this is intentional. The smoke is definitely present but it is not overwhelming. There is a mild yeast character to the aroma and perhaps some maltiness too. I like the aroma.

Baltic porters are an odd bird to me. They are often thin and have a watery aftertaste. This one is similar but the finish is more bitter from the smoked malt and the dryness of the finish is filled out with a kind of late smokiness. I am curious if this was in fact lagered as it seems to have some qualities that I associate with lagering. There is a yeastiness to the beer but not in the sense that a Belgian style ale would be, more in the sense that a kellerbier would be. If I were to hazard a guess I would say that this was made with lager yeast. Overall, it is a decent Baltic porter and I'd have it again if given the opportunity but I doubt I'd seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2011 13:32:58 | More by drabmuh

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

4.13/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours pitch black with a 1 finger tan head that holds good retention. Diamond patterns of lacing.

S - Roasted coffee beans, rich chocolate, lots of malty lactose, campfire smoke.

T - Smoked meat, wood, and chocolate dominate. Dark ground coffee, bittering hops, subtle alcohol, black pepper, with a little sourness mixed in. Sweetness is in there to balance out the savory smoke. Finishes with small smokey hop bite.

M - Full bodied with low carbonation, very silky.

Fantastic! A well constructed smoked Baltic Porter. This provides exactly what you'd expect. Full on smoke mixed with the Baltic style. It's porter nirvana! Great mix of sweet, sour, and bitter. One of the best I've had from this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2011 23:00:07 | More by StaveHooks

devinoconnor

New Jersey

3.6/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

First try from Left Hand Brewing Company, look forward to trying their other brews.

Pours a black color, like a stout, with some hints of gray.

Smell is smokey, woody, earthy...

Taste is a little more bitter than I like, but still enjoyable. Some hops and sweetness.

Not my favorite, but worth trying.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2011 21:44:52 | More by devinoconnor

jessycho

Virginia

4.03/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Black. What'd you expect?

S - Smells darker than a mocha. It's got a deep chocolaty aroma. Nothing too sweet, very subtle sweetness.

T - Good dark chocolate, mocha, black coffee taste. A little bitter finish, like a nice iced coffee. Also reminds me of my childhood and eating a packet of Swiss Miss hot chocolate powder without any water.

M - Good. I personally prefer lots of carbonation, but for such a dark and full beer, had a surprisingly adequate amount of carbonation!

O - Great porter. First Left Hand experience, and it was all right!

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2011 08:02:38 | More by jessycho

shand

Florida

4.03/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a nonic.

Fade to black, indeed! This is blacker than the blackest black. Times infinity. The head is a very creamy dark mocha that sticks around for quite some time. The smell is primarily of slightly overroasted coffee and malts, with the smoked aspect blending in with those fairly seamlessly. The roasted malts here are huge, and work together with some 60% dark chocolate and slightly too-roasted coffee that pairs well with the subtle smoke. Good. The mouthfeel is full, thick, and smooth, and the drinkability is quite alright for the ABV. A solid smoked porter.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2011 03:55:14 | More by shand

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I dig their description of this beer on the website (http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/beers/fade-to-black-vol-2). I often visualize what I am tasting. Had I known what they had in mind...

Black as night and looking poisonous in the micro-chalice it was served in. Foam eschewed on this pour, sadly. Slightly visually viscous. Boiled and pureed dark (drupe) fruit, singed grain, and oily chalk liqueur in the nose - booze weighed down but poking through. Complex, appropriate scent. Greeting: Medium-smooth, silty, toasty-smoky, subtly bitter-roasted malt. Excellent balance of flavor, restraint of smoked character. Tastes like a fine blend of English porter, dunkel-rauch, faint tiny bitter-berry fruity, with a clean lager feel all at the same time. The texture is appropriate, though I was left desiring a marginal degree more malt body...

Goddamn well done, all the same. I'll be hunting this down. Thanks Dan!

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2011 01:24:43 | More by Bouleboubier

adam42381

Florida

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a nonic pint glass. Bottled on 1/25/11 printed on bottle.

Appearance: Pours a motor oil black with a 1 finger thick and creamy dark tan head which dissipates somewhat quickly. Decent lacing.

Smell: Dark roasted malt, milk chocolate, molasses and coffee.

Taste: Roasted malt and semisweet chocolate up front followed by coffee and a touch of alcohol in the middle and ending with somewhat bitter hops. There is a definite smokiness throughout. Aftertaste is coffee and burnt toast.

Mouthfeel: Full-bodied and creamy with a decent amount of carbonation. Goes down very smooth.

Drinkability: Good drinkability. This is a sipper that goes down surprisingly easily. Enjoy one or two over the course of an evening and you'll be set.

Overall: Very good beer overall. This is my first Baltic Porter and I'll be having more in the future.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2011 17:00:13 | More by adam42381

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.9/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Looks nice, poured into a goblet, black as night and virtually no head.

Muted smoke, a sweet malty smell, and burnt malt on the nose.

Solid porter. Lots of roasted malt and a tinge of burnt malt quickly followed by sweet malt nicely placed at the end.

Soft and creamy, light carbonation... sublime mouthfeel.

Overall a great beer. The smoke is subtle, just like "smoked" is written on the bottle. I like that.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2011 02:51:24 | More by Fatehunter

mattgreger

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked this brew at Capone's Bottle Shop in East Norriton

This brew poured a pitch black color with a 1/2 inch thick light brown head. It did have some nice retention, as well as a bit of nice lacing that follows the brew down the glass as it is drank.

This brew has some good aromas. First thing I smell is a sugary, molasses like aroma. Its not very strong, actually was hoping for a little more strength behind it. It did improve as the brew warmed. At that point there was some great roasted flavors, followed by some great smokey aromas that came to the forefront of this brew.

The flavors on thsi brew are great. It has a great balance between coffee and smoke flavors. They mix very well, blending well with the malts. Not a super complex brew, but a nice punch of flavor. The smokey flavors are strong, but not over done.

The brew feels like full bodied one, but its probably closer to medium brew. Its got a great mouthful, and nice intense smokey flavor. Its a great, very satisfying porter.

This brew an very easy drink, especially for a Porter. It has some great flavors and has an ABV that isn't to strong. Though it is not overpowering, its still a sipper of a brew. But I enjoyed it and would reach for it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2011 02:23:47 | More by mattgreger

Jips

Kansas

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

"Smoked" "Baltic Porter" How can I not love this beer!?

Poured into a mug. Definetly motor oil-looking, hardly any fizz or foam formed as I poured. Still, about a 1cm dark tan head formed atop brown-black daaarkness.

Smell: Dominant campfire, coffee, chocolate, + a little fig and carmel. Ohhh man love those in stout/porters.

Taste: Brown sugaa, coffee, toffee, chocolate, dark fruits and a lingering pleasant campfire. Latter is not harsh at all (though I love harsh smoke taste in roggenbiers and O'Fallon's Smoke) despite what I expected from the smell. Have a lingering taste of chocolate similarly found in a proper s'more left on my tongue.

Mouthfeel is in between syrup and milk, definitely went down much easier than the pour indicated.

Oh man I'm sad it's a once only! Though I can't wait what Left Hand will do differently next year. Will definitely pick up more. Wish this came in breathstrip form so I can taste it all day

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2011 02:08:02 | More by Jips

JayAre46

Texas

3.83/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

bottled on? dunno 12 oz poured into a DFH snifter 1 finger of tan head jet black body little carbonation, decent retention

S - smokey roasted malts immediately then some dark chocolates, vanilla maybe? for the most part its dominant aroma characters are the smokey scents and the dark chocolate

T - More of the same, smoked roasted malts, burnt wood flavors, more dark chocolate notes and the alcohol is nowhere to be found. the dark chocolate flavor lingers.

M - full bodied, next to zero carbonation, creamy and soothing on the palate

O - this was a pleasant surprise i didn't want to get it initially because of the loud label and packaging but the great salesman that was there talked me into it (hard)...and i believe i can say that it is one of my favorites from left hand, ill get it again next year...i think.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2011 04:54:00 | More by JayAre46

WoodBrew

Illinois

4.68/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Winters last kick here outside the Windy City...what do you need to break the winter blues...a AWESOME PORTER...BABY!!! YEAH! You are not able to see through this delightful treat! Its black...almost navy. The tan creamy head gives way to a very nice lace! The aroma is roasty, earthy, and coffee. Which feeds right into the taste! I love the creamy body on this beer....make you aware you are drinking a porter! The high ABV would make it tought to Session...but I might try!!! Enjoy!

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2011 01:19:26 | More by WoodBrew

DaveBlack

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Totally opaque and completely black, though bubbles do stick to the side of the glass. The edges have the thinnest layer of brown when the glass is held up to the light. The head is just a very thin layer of tan with little retention.

S: The aroma on this are big, and hit my nose straight out of the bottle; I didn't even have to pour it to pick up dark roasted coffee malts and a nice smoke. After pouring the smell is a little smoother and sweeter, like dark chocolate, along with the coffee malts and smoke. Great smell.

T: The flavor is, if anything, too dominant. The dark roasted malts kick you in the teeth before giving way to bitter chocolate and smoke. The flavor that it leaves in your mouth is a little too much like ash for my liking, but it just makes me want to take another sip. Actually kind of hard to stop drinking once you start.

M: Heavy body, light on the carbonation. Feels heavy and a little sticky.

O: A drinkable beer, the smoke is nice, the malts are aggressive but pleasant and bring a nice balance of sweet and bitter. Worth a look if you are big into dark roasted malts and smoke.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2011 21:48:46 | More by DaveBlack

n2185

North Carolina

3.68/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours black with a finger of dark tan head which recedes into a thin ring with a little lacing.

S: Smoky roasted malts followed by some semi-sweet chocolate. The smokiness dominates the aroma, though the sweet chocolate manages to peek through some.

T: Thankfully the smoke is a bit more balanced here than in the aroma. The smoke hits first, but is followed by a slightly sweet and creamy chocolate flavor. The smoke returns on the finish along with a light, charred bitterness.

M: Medium-thick body with light carbonation, this beer is fairly creamy.

O: Overall, a pretty decent beer. It's a bit one-dimensional with the smoke overwhelming any subtleties that might be found, but is still good for what it is.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2011 21:16:02 | More by n2185

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #48 (Jan 2011):

A hint of smoke hits the nose even before it's done being poured; bubbles appear within the darkness and jockey for position. A firm smoke with a roasty sweetness akin to dark chocolate and espresso coffee in the nose all make the mouth water. Silky smooth on a stodgy cream body. Sweetness in front of smoke, though the smoke does lay it on pretty thick. Roastiness wraps around the taste buds with suggestions of bitter dark chocolate, burnt sugar and fresh espresso. Smokiness coats all; warming alcohol drops a burnt currant flavor middle to end. Finishes quite roasty. An all-night sipper here.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2011 14:37:33 | More by BeerAdvocate

daliandragon

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoying a few brews on the porch on a warm, mild St. Patty's Day. Always up for a Baltic Porter. This one pours smooth as silk and whips up a good cocoa colored head with copius lace remaints. Looks jet black to me. Nose is roasted and coffee and smoke. Not as strong as I'd prefer but getting a little better as it sits.

Interesting. Roasted barley and smoked and baker's chocolate are the main flavors but I'm daft if I don't get some balancing hops in there somewhere. Late dark fruit tones as well. Very smooth but maybe a touch too much carbonation.

Dry and very drinkable for the abv. If you didn't tell me, I''d have guessed under 6%.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2011 01:16:41 | More by daliandragon

argock

Virginia

4.18/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12oz brown bottle into a Duvel tulip. Bottled on 120710 stamped on label. Single purchased at Wine Warehouse (Charlottesville, VA) for $2.

A: Very dark brown with healthy 2-finger soft beige tightly bubbled head with very good retention and more than a few scraps of lace around the glass.

S: Heavy roasted barley note with some dark fruit and light tobacco hops note. No smoke detected. Alcohol is also not present.

T: The flavor is a well-blended collection of roasted barley with mild burnt qualities, chocolate, burned black coffee, and a subtle cured, meaty flavor which is really well-done, as compared to the obnoxious, overbearing, artificial, chemical smoked flavor in some beers (cough, Immortale). The hoppiness is background but is earthy and tobacco and supports the overall robust profile. Despite the ABV, alcohol is well-hidden.

M: The mouthfeel is hefty and medium-bodied plus. Carbonation is suitably low and this drinks very easily because of the creamy, smooth feel.

D: I definitely enjoyed this brew. I wish it had a bit more malt complexity and power in the flavor. But this is a really good Left Hand beer, up there with their Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout and Brandy Barrel Aged Widdershins barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2011 01:52:34 | More by argock

PorterLambic

Florida

4.65/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours luxuriously black. A dark tan layer of foam that looks oh so much like the top of a cake. Decent retention, some lace.
Smell is rich with toasted malt, smoke, peat, vanilla and coffee. Great balance.
Taste is phenomenal. Notes of roasted malt, coffee, smoke, whiskey, soy and vanilla(light). Amazing balance.
Rich, mostly full-bodied, light effervescence, almost creamy, smooth throughout. Aftertaste fades nicely to a smoky, dryish, teriyaki flavor. Absolutely first rate brew. Only knock is I'd like a bit more body.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2011 01:22:30 | More by PorterLambic

dcloeren

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottled on 1/13/11. Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass

A: Pours inky black that no light can penetrate with 1 fingers worth of thick tan head. I poured it smooth down the middle of the glass and didn't get the result I was hoping for.... (We can chalk that up to user error I guess.) The head dissipated quickly but left some sparse lacing throughout the glass.

S: At first I got the basic, dark chocolate and coffee (nothing special) with a pretty strong hint of leather. But once the head went down on the beer the aromas were unmasked. Still catching some leather but I'm getting heavily roasted malt, rich dark chocolate (almost brownie like) with a faint coffee aroma.

T: A nice combination of roasted malt, coffee, rich dark chocolate and a smokey aftertaste. Not overly bitter but it catches you in the right spots on your tongue.

M: IMO its a lot thinner than I expected. It poured heavy out of the bottle but it was more of an optical illusion. To its credit this ends up being more of a positive than a negative. To top it off, its carbonated almost to perfection.

D: This was a great tasting beer. It went down smooth and made me want to grab another. Was it the best stout I ever had? No, but it is definitely worth picking up a six pack of and enjoying for sure

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2011 23:23:38 | More by dcloeren

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into a Sprecher nonic.
Bottled on 11 29 10, no info available.

Thanks to Beerwolf77 for never letting me leave his house with either an empty hand or stomach.

A - I wouldn't say "Fade" to black as it pours pretty black already. Then again, as the firm, large tan head cascades up, I suppose it does fade. Slivers of clarity show through the beer but it's pretty hard to see through the incredibly dense lace.

S - Delicious notes of dark chocolate chink and fudge blend well with black silk coffee and undertones of molasses. Heavily roasted malt is all over here but it isn't bitter smelling. Very faint smoke.

T - Heavily roasted malts are potent, yet...bland and one-dimensional at the same time. Chocolaty with a faint smoke finish. While one-dimensional, it still tastes good.

M - Incredibly rich and thick, Fade to Black Vol. 2 is silky smooth with low carbonation but it doesn't feel flat at all. Soft dry bitterness on the finish.

D - You better believe I listened to Fade to Black by Metallica while reviewing this! Despite it's thick, heavy nature, it's still fairly drinkable. This beer feels much more like a traditional American stout as opposed to a Baltic Porter though. I also can't help but notice there are two Volumes of Fade to Black much in the same way the song can be broken down into two distinct parts.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2011 12:27:19 | More by BeerFMAndy

gfreed

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Looks lovely in a thistle; clarinet black with a one-inch mahogany head. The aroma of smoke is on par with the best of Bamberg-- Schlenkerla, anyone?-- but lacks the depth. The taste is nowhere near as smokey as the aroma, but there's enough to make this more interesting than it might otherwise be. The body is a bit thin; the taste is one-dimensional and slightly rubbery, but there's a drying effect at the end that works well and compels one to drink more. The ABV is lower than expected so this might be a Thing to offer someone new to smoked porters. I won't be climbing onto my roof to shout its name, but I also won't run screaming if offered another.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2011 14:38:33 | More by gfreed