Wake Up Dead - Left Hand Brewing Company

SkeeterHawk

Texas

3.63/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

I picked this beer up at the Atascocita Spec's and it was their last one. I had never seen it before, so I assumed that it would be good. Let's give it a shot and see...

Appearance: Pours very dark with a small 1/8" head of light tan bubbles that are actually bordering on a dark bone color, which is interesting for a beer this dark. The head faded to a small ring within about 30 seconds.

Aroma: The aroma is already complex with some American hops breaking the profile initially with some evident chocolate and toasty notes from the malt. The alcohol is also noticeable now adding spicy complexity that is playing pretty well with the hops.

Taste: The flavor is more alcoholic than I suspected from the aroma, such that it is thinning the lightly carbonated beer giving it a lighter mouthfeel than you would expect. There is also a mild phenolic to the flavor that I didn't get in the aroma at all. The chocolate is the bigger player on the malt side. The hops are there enough to add some flavor in the beginning and some balance to the finish, but the alcohol and malt stays in charge of the finish. There is warming after the sip, but there is more spice noticeable than evident warming.

Opinion: This is a pretty good beer, but the flavor fell short of my expectations in a number of ways. I think that there may have been a wild yeast starting to get in here as it is a bit too thin with that mild phenolic, it just seems like this beer might be suffering from a mild infection. It's not bad enough that I am wanting to pitch my beer, but I wouldn't plan to cellar the version bottled on 3/28/2011 if I were you...or keep a close eye on it.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2011 03:04:38 | More by SkeeterHawk

Pjev11

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +4.2%

05-20-2013 15:49:31 | More by Pjev11

jakea

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

05-19-2013 17:06:26 | More by jakea

jl28r1

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -15.4%

05-18-2013 16:55:05 | More by jl28r1

VAcrossr

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

05-17-2013 19:28:41 | More by VAcrossr

Chrily

Norway

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

05-16-2013 12:43:40 | More by Chrily

calcnerd

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%

05-16-2013 01:24:25 | More by calcnerd

ajtorres311

Florida

3/5  rDev -21.9%

05-15-2013 16:50:04 | More by ajtorres311

illy0sis

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%

05-14-2013 22:19:46 | More by illy0sis

CaptDavyJones

New York

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

05-12-2013 23:39:41 | More by CaptDavyJones

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

05-12-2013 21:33:22 | More by twenty5

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -21.9%

05-12-2013 17:05:29 | More by mikeburd1128

Noyt

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

05-12-2013 02:19:07 | More by Noyt

ToddHolder

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

05-11-2013 01:22:51 | More by ToddHolder

Zimm

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%

05-10-2013 11:47:18 | More by Zimm

metter98

New York

3.69/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is jet black in color. It poured with a short tan head that quickly died down, leaving only bits of bubbles on the surface and a thin ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: Initially, there are moderate aromas of licorice and raisins in the nose. These die down a bit and notes of dark roasted malts become apparent as the beer warms up.
T: The taste is similar to the smell but also has some notes of roasted malts and a light amount of bitterness.
M: It feels medium- to full-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. Hints of warmth from the alcohol are detectable.
O: I thought this was an average beer compared to other Russian Imperial Stouts and could have used more roasted flavors and bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 04:41:52 | More by metter98

archero

Texas

4/5  rDev +4.2%

05-09-2013 06:00:46 | More by archero

WDJersey

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +4.2%

05-09-2013 04:31:26 | More by WDJersey

kingmaker

Louisiana

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

05-08-2013 03:59:58 | More by kingmaker

WolfsbaneBloom

Illinois

4/5  rDev +4.2%

05-06-2013 04:50:57 | More by WolfsbaneBloom

TheMultiYeast

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

05-06-2013 02:56:22 | More by TheMultiYeast

DenverHopHead

Colorado

4.23/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Here is another Imperial Stout that I didn't have great expectations for, but ended up being very pleased! Compared to some more notable Imperial Stouts like Yeti and Old Rasputin, I found this to be just as good. I wasn't blown away by any one characteristic, but wasn't disappointed by one either. Very good beer!

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 17:44:47 | More by DenverHopHead

ShemRahBoo

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

05-04-2013 16:22:03 | More by ShemRahBoo

cfinch2

Virginia

4/5  rDev +4.2%

05-03-2013 01:03:22 | More by cfinch2

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

(Served in a snifter)
A- This beer pours an opaque deep brown body with a thick head that is a mass of microbubbles that takes on a milkshake quality. There is a microcarbonation that fights its way to the surface. The head leaves rings with each sip.

S- The faint smoky note to the full char of black malt has a soft bacon note that grows and some nice roasted raw grain notes aswell.

T- The leather and vinous flavors to the black roasted malt has some dark raisin to it and a slightly dry finish. There is a bacon smoke and leather hint that lingers and becomes a bit inky as it opens up. The bitterness in the finish turns to a green wood note as it warms.

M- The medium mouthfeel has a nice alcohol warmth to it.

O- Big complex dry beer with a unique character to the black malt. Leather and smoke hints and some dark dried fruit really make this a great sipper.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 21:12:43 | More by rhoadsrage