Wake Up Dead - Left Hand Brewing Company

challenja

Virginia

4.96/5  rDev +29.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

22 oz Bottle bought at Arrowine in Arlington Va.props to Nick for selecting this beer.
Poured into Dogfishhead pint glass.
A: a delictable sinful black and red hued sacloth. Excellent slight sticky swiss milk chocolate froth head that turns into a lovely white lace that really coats the glass after finished. My glass looks like a Jackson Pollock painting.
S: gorgeous dark chocolate nose. Sweet bready malts. Molasses vanilla bean maple syrup. Medium roast costa rican nose. This is one Sweet smelling delicious russian imperial stout.
T: WOW! That is my first impression. What a delicious beer! An amazing imperial stout that will be bought again and again..I will store some of this bad boys for the keep. Taste profile is straight off the bat dark 85% cocoa. African in origin. Rich cream and sweet molasses. Medium expresso roast. Vanilla bean extract slight pomegranate but definately a bright red fruit. Sweet malty breads that tater on waffle cone.
M: A delicious full smooth body. Lushious and chocolate coffee biscuits. The froth kicks in at the back end of things. Tingly and inviting to the gums.
O: this is an amazing and richly complex russian imperial that is not a one trick pony. This beer just entered my top 5 all time Russian imperials joining Epic Big Bad Baptist Surly the Darkness ,Firestone Parabola ,Founders Imperial and now this baby.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 22:55:20 | More by challenja

ManiacalBilby

Georgia

4.8/5  rDev +25%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

First review on BA. Poured entire contents into a large snifter.

Appearance- Pours blacks as night with maybe a quarter inch of head. Spotty lacing that stuck till the end.

Smell- Black cherries, roasted malts, brown sugar/molasses.

Taste- That brown sugar sweetness hit first followed by some dark fruit flavors. Finishes with dark chocolate and some coffee bitterness. Alcohol burn that comes through as it should for the ABV. Dry finish that left my mouth feeling like I had just spit out gum.

Mouthfeel- Smooth with the perfect amount of carbonation.

Overall-I think this was a very solid beer that I would definItely pick up again.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2011 19:07:17 | More by ManiacalBilby

BDTyre

British Columbia (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +23.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is actually quite a tasty Imperial stout. Dark, almost black with a thin, dense brown head.

Rich, creamy mocha scent. A bit of raisin and anise in the nose.

The taste is dark chocolate, plums, light citrus, coffee, wine and a very distinct coffee bean aftertaste. Rich, creamy and well-blended flavour. Definite coffee profile to it. Very, very low alcohol burn.

Nice, thick mouthfeel. Carbonation eases off quite nicely. About the only thing stopping me from having another is the ABV.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2011 05:41:47 | More by BDTyre

BeerNinja007

New Hampshire

4.69/5  rDev +22.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

22oz bomber from Provisions in Northampton, MA. I forget how much I paid but it was reasonable... $6-7? "Vintage 12/21/12 356:16:18 153-54" stamped on the bottle. FINALLY, a code that makes sense!!!! So this is only a couple months old.

Served cold in a tulip, but I intend to make it last well long enough for it to warm up significantly.

A: Pitch black brew puts up 1/2" of thick creamy taupe head from a vigorous pour. The foam condenses into ever-larger bubbles before settling to a whispy layer across the surface. Large bubbles cling to the glass. When held to a bright light, the brew reveals minimal very dark cherry red highlights. Some nice thick creamy lace, but not a ton.

S: Super thick biscuity malt and warm dutch chocolate backbone. As it warms some bright candied cherry aroma develops, along with dried figs or prunes, a little charred malt, and a good clean dose of black licorice. The licorice note is very true and distinct, no mistaking it. Warming further develops a really unexpected note of cantaloupe . This stuff is awfully dynamic, that's for sure.

T/M: First impression is very well balanced: it has a lot of everything, but not too much of any one thing. Thick enough to have a great viscosity, but not too thick to be syrupy or overly filling. Black but not acrid. Sweet but not cloying. Just enough hops, just enough carbo, and just enough EtOH burn to let you know that it's there without being overpowering. This is a supremely well balanced brew.

I have a hard time holding this in my mouth long enough to analyze it without letting it slide down and reaching for another sip. Taste starts with rich cocoa and biscuit, bready sweetness on the tip of the tongue. Then a nice dose of bitter charred malt and bitter chocolate mid-palate, mixing with a bit of dried fruits (prunes, figs?), then generic hoppiness, licorice, cola, and some welcomed EtOH heat on the back end. The charred malt kind of lays under everything from the mid-palate backward. Licorice and EtOH blend in toward the very back and it all lingers very long into the finish. As it warms a bit of melon and menthol develop in the mid-palate and finish as well.

O: Superb, stunning, superfluous. So well balanced, goes down so smoothly, that it's hard to just sip this even though it should be a slow sipping brew. A good dose of black charred malt and licorice lingers long into the finish with a healthy portion of slow burning EtOH. I find it appealing, but those with more sensitive palates might feel overwhelmed.

Update: the LH website informs me that this brew is aged on site for at least 12 months before bottling. Nice!

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 04:27:46 | More by BeerNinja007

ahijevyc

Colorado

4.68/5  rDev +21.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Was pleasantly surprised. I don't think of Left Hand when I think of big Imperial stouts, but this made me sit up and take notice. Will definitely be going back for more. I thought Lost Abbey's Serpent's Stout was a steal for $10. But this is $4 less and just as enjoyable. I knew it would be good because I tried it at the tasting room last week. But this is better than I remember.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 03:00:40 | More by ahijevyc

yuenglingfan101

Indiana

4.53/5  rDev +18%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

poured into pint glass. Another one of my favorite breweries. Nice beer overall. Dark color not much head. Taste ok and chocolatey went down pretty smooth but not the best. Very strong beer not to be taken lightly. Serious beer drinkers will love this imperial stout

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 15:54:42 | More by yuenglingfan101

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

black as night. No light escaping this beast. A full two inches of tan foam rose up from the bottom of the glass, capping off the top very nicely and then settling down to a thin layer across the top with some nice side glass lacing.

The aroma was rich with roasted malts and chocolate. Some light hints of bournon and oak and a touch of dark fruits. As it warmed a very nice burnt carmale like note coming through as it starts to warm. The flavor was more of the same, though it took on a much coffee like bitterness that was very welcome. Rich and dark, forboding, this was a really intense stout. Led by bitter chocolate and coffee and a touch of an alcohol note, it was everything I had hoped it would be. Smooth, delicate profile with nice carbonation. For 10% it was remarkably drinkable and that was really a testament to how good this beer was.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2011 21:28:37 | More by mikesgroove

beerprovedwright

Georgia

4.47/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pour is a one head wonder of loose foam, but clinging lace. Head went south in less than a minute, but the lace just keeps hanging around. The color is a 39-40, with no light shining through. Smell is sweet with aromas of molasses, brown sugar, toffee, caramel, coco, malt, and hops. Taste is well balanced with flavors of chocolate, toffee, molasses, vanilla, spices, green apple, raisins, coffee, and grapefruit. Mouthfeel is rich and creamy, with a feeling of cream and zing in my mouth. Just a little bitter on the sides of my tongue. Great desert beer, and the price is good. Yes this is on my buy again list.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2011 18:55:55 | More by beerprovedwright

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.47/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bomber pours a deep brown color with a dense, dark tan head. Ok retention and very nice lacing.

Nose is equal parts licorice, chocolate and dark fruit. Little bit of malted milk and light roast round things out nicely. Simplistic, yet very enjoyable.

Taste is just as fun, chocolaty as all hell and roast just right. Powdery, fluffy and light on the palate. Hops are subtle yet firm on the finish, although the flavoring lupulin is not to be ignored. It is on the sweeter side as far as RIS's are concerned, which I like. I am regretting buying only 1 bottle right now, I will have to see if there is more available, I think a year (at max) might help things integrate further. Wake up Dead Has a smoothness usually reserved for barrel-aged beers that is nice, even a hint of coconut as it warms.I can see where the name comes from, it would be all too easy to drink a couple bombers in a sitting. I am very impressed, quite a delicious treat. Love the label art too. Left Hand is a more than capable brewery that I am happy to be in the distro range of.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2011 03:09:56 | More by twiggamortis420

BurgeoningBrewhead

Pennsylvania

4.44/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.75

Bomber into 34oz mug. Black with a thick tan head. Smell is malty, a bit of yeast, and coffee. Taste is big, smooth coffee and chocolate at first, bittering out at the end and finishing relatively cleanly. Mouthfeel is full, could be a little smoother though. Still a great RIS, very drinkable for 10.2%. Love it!

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 03:23:34 | More by BurgeoningBrewhead

biggred1

Indiana

4.4/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Dark brown with ruby highlights when backlit and a creamy mocha head that leaves fine lace on the glass. Coffee, cookie dough and anise in the aroma with faint floral hop notes. I'll say this..Wake Up Dead is a tasty brew, if not really true to the style. Rich brown sugar and caramel cube sweetness with roasted malty flavors with a coffee like bitterness and fruity hop flavor to balance. Medium light bodied and creamy with a slightly dry, chalky finish. A fine ale indeed but I don't think the "black ale" description on the label is close and this is not really an Imperial Stout but is good beer anyway.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2011 03:03:24 | More by biggred1

Wheelzie

Tennessee

4.39/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

straight from the bomber into an oversized wine glass,

wow the appearance is all that it should be, i was suprised by the khaki 1 finger head....in fact it made me giggle a little bit....yes sir i am a beer nerd that got my jollys kicked liked a school girl,

but this is not a school girl beer, in fact it is manly as hell! its toasty and roasty and even gives me hints of some of those barrel stouts!!.. probably because the bottle says that it lurks in their cellars for 4 months! love this beer at the moment!

it is very filling be careful with this hairy beast

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 06:49:52 | More by Wheelzie

Dave1999

Virginia

4.38/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a solid black with a small tan coloured head.

The smell is roasted malts and dark fruits such as plum and raisins.

The taste is much the same as the smell but stronger,there's the plum and raisin with some roasted coffee and alcohol.

The mouth feel is quite heavy and syrupy with low to medium carbonation.

Overall a good beer, you can taste some alcohol but for its abv it's not much. This is a very good imperial stout with a big kick but is very reasonably priced.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 03:26:44 | More by Dave1999

Moose90

Colorado

4.38/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

22oz Bomber
Dated 12/21/12
Tasted 2/19/13

A – Dark dark brown liquid that forms a very thin coffee colored head that leaves similarly thin lacing down the inside of the glass.

S – Big on the roasted malts. Chocolates and vanilla abound as well. Some light sweet fruit notes, figs, dates. But my favorite part is the strong black licorice tone, awesome.

T – Quite complex, but well balanced. Notes of rich dark cocoa and charred malts, as well as sweet fresh licorice and dark fruits. Some light hoppiness to keep things from being too heavy.

M – Moderate-to-low carbonation level, good sticky sweetness to this one, but not heavy like some others of the style. Leaves a nice long and lingering finish that allows the flavor complexities to develop. Quite smooth.

O – Just awesome, has an unmatched balance and is quite easy to drink considering it's imperial nature. Best part of this one is all the licorice, chocolate, and roasted notes.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 01:21:37 | More by Moose90

YoDude

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Black and poured with a short deep brown head. Head is slightly retained with a dark brown ring and about half inch of loose lacing.

Smell: The nose is dark roasted coffee with a hint of dried fruit, very pleasant and welcoming.

Taste: Rich roasted malt and coffee up front with lingering flavors of black licorice and dark chocolate. There is also a spicy finish that I accredit to the malt as the hops have long faded.

Mouth feel: It has a full body and light carbonation, with a nice finish of alcohol warmth and dark chocolate flavor. The use of oatmeal gives a smooth mouth feel that has you anticipating your next sip.

Overall: This is a wonderful version of an American Imperial Stout. Left Hand Brewing rarely disappoints. The hops have faded with age, but the combination of malts and other grains have married nicely to make this a wonderful beverage. I will definitely purchase again. Next time I will not age so long to make sure I include hop flavors.

Serving type: 22 oz. bottle aged 18 months in my beer cellar and poured into a Hamm's goblet

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 04:17:42 | More by YoDude

CopeTech

California

4.35/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Lovely imperial stout. Thick.
Pours nicely from the 22oz
A - Pours a thick dark stout goodness with an amber head that is thick and creamy.

S - With licorice and the stout strength, with sweet smell of the malt gently follows.

T - It's stout. It's parents are stout. It's imperial, think of Guinness without the watering down that seems it's hallmark. Oh wait thick guiness, without the diluted aftertaste. FTW.

M - Did I mention the thick, this feels like black velvete, rich and smooth.

O - Extremely delicious. Left Hand seems to know the right way to do stouts.

Serving type: 22oz Bottle.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 04:04:09 | More by CopeTech

Spider889

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served on nitro at the brewpub on 9/25/11.

Arrives with an awesomely thick creamy head.

Smells sweet - chocolate with a hint of bourbon-soaked vanilla bean.

The taste is full on semi-sweet chocolate and malty goodness.

Overall Left Hand sure knows how to do a beer on nitro... actually, this was the first time I had ever tried the base Wake Up Dead beer, and I like this better than the barrel-aged version. Very good.

Serving type: nitro-tap

06-10-2012 22:29:27 | More by Spider889

JayS2629

Alabama

4.33/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep, dark black a creamy tan head that fades fast but leaves nice creamy walls of lace.

The aroma is of roasted malt, coffee, rich dark chocolate, dark fruit, plums, raisin and figs. Hints of vanilla, a touch of cocoa and some pine and citrus in the back.

The taste follows the nose with loads of dark fruit piercing through some bitter cocoa, dark chocolate, and roasted barley. Coffee notes with hints of vanilla and a finish of pine and citrus. Earthy notes ride throughout the background.

Overall, a very complex and tasty sipper.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2011 04:11:39 | More by JayS2629

Vierenner

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had been getting discouraged ... all the Imperial Stouts were starting to taste the same to me ... and none were hitting the mark. Then along comes this one!

Slightly sweet, very little hop bite, robust flavor. I would age this in bourbon barrels, charge double the price, and watch the profits roll in.

Okay, absent the bourbon :( this is still a delicious beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2012 21:24:55 | More by Vierenner

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.3/5  rDev +12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

whoa! pours thick syrupy black with a minimal tan head. smells really intense, smokey with notes of licorice and bourbon. flavor is absolutely massive. im picking up tobacco, candied sugar, molasses, raisins (post review ive been informed the bottle says raisins!), and that funny birch syrup characteristic that sierra nevada's life and limb has, really really unique. full bodied as can be, sticky residue left over. plenty of bubbles too, but maybe a bit thick, not too too sweet. overall this stout is something different. theres nothing like it out there as far as im concerned, and this has to be one of lefthands best beers. wow this is great, definitely worth a try!

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 01:23:53 | More by StonedTrippin

dlello2

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Dark brown/amber around the edges. Not all that much head. Dissipates quickly.

S - Good smell... lots of chocolate/caramel. A touch of earthiness/funk. Subtle.

T - Starts smooth, intense flavors wait a second before biting. Middle is chocolate (dark), dark fruits, then bitterness and alcohol. Really nice.

M - Really really nice. Carbonation does a great job of balancing this beer. Dark fruit tannins on my teeth. Nice.

O - I really liked this stout! Thought the balance was quite nice. Not a crazy flavor profile but what it offered made me happy.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 17:38:27 | More by dlello2

sbl556

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served from a 3 month old bomber into pint glass.

A- Pours as dark as you would could only expect an imperial stout to be. I had to pour pretty aggressively to get a nice light tan head, but when developed it was pretty inviting. Very little head retention however, which was a bit dissapointing.

S - a pronounced and inviting aroma. Licorice and espresso are the most defined for me with rich spices following.

T- Dark fruits splash on the front of your tongue and linger till they are overcome by a rich and fulfilling flavor of dark spices.

m- very refreshing mouthfeel, similar to drinking your favorite double expresso.

D- I thoroughly enjoyed the bomber of this imperial stout, but I don't think this is a beer I could drink a sixer of, and at 10%, I don't think I would want to. But when you are drinking an imperial stout it is not intended to be a sessionable beer, and I believe this beer is a great representation of the style

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2011 22:35:03 | More by sbl556

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

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

eslemarc

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours with a very deep brown brown and appears like thick coffee, hues of maple. Overall short head, rather sparse and quickly dissipates from 1mm or so to a collection around the glass edge. Near black as it sits in the glass.

The nose is vibrant with roasted malt and hints of anise, a certain malty sweetness with maybe maple syrup or some similar sweetness. Just a touch of booze behind the sweetness.

The mouthfeel is very alive, surprising for this style, but very appetizing. There's a good viscosity to the beer, medium bodied, not thick like other imperial stouts, just smooth and creamy. My mouth seems to water as I drink it, very tasty and quite welcoming. Quickly warming, not as boozy on the palate as the nose, but still certainly a little boozy. A fine brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 20:29:05 | More by eslemarc