Week Sauce Coffee Porter - Left Hand Brewing Company

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.85/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Served on tap in a 10 oz chalice glass

Appearance – Served a deep-deep brown nearly black beer with a one finger tan head. The head a faded relatively fast to give light lacing.

Smell – The aroma is of roasted and dark smells. Coffee is the strongest, but there is a strong presence of chocolate, and some char and roasted malt as well. Rounding these out is a light caramel aroma.

Taste – The taste begins with the roasted malts, some chocolate, sweet caramel and a good dose of coffee. The caramel however fades and as the coffee grows stronger in taste the brew bitters in taste ever so lightly. These slightly bitter dark flavors take the taste to the end where a light char flavor and some sweetness comes back to the tongue, helping to deliver an overall very roasty flavor.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the medium side with a carbonation level that is rather average as well. A little thicker body may have been better for the roasted and dark flavors, but the feel is not bad as it accentuates the easy drinking nature.

Overall – The beer is a nice, semi-sweet roasty brew. Good if you are feeling something with a good dose of roast, but that is yet still very easy drinking and “light” in body.

Serving type: on-tap

09-06-2012 01:17:57 | More by Darkmagus82

Spider889

Ohio

3.78/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the brewery on 9/25/11.

A - Black, a bit thin, with a nice sprightly dark head. Left no lace.

S - Strong roasted coffee aroma with some char and dark malt on the back end.

T - Roasty bordering on ashy. The coffee is strong but tasty. there are hints of dark chocolate going on and some baked dark bread as well.

M - Crisp with good carbonation.

O - This was a nice coffee beer to sip on.

Serving type: on-tap

06-10-2012 22:26:53 | More by Spider889

denver10

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours black with a foamy cappuccino mocha colored heard and nice lacing. A nice aroma of coffee beans, some chocolate and cream, and some roastiness. Not much complexity, but enjoyable. Flavor follows suit. A medium bodied creamy mouthfeel. Overall, a very nice porter. If you like coffee you'll like this, if not you wont. Left Hand really has dark beers down.

Serving type: on-tap

06-01-2012 04:24:41 | More by denver10

homebrew311

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Bigby's Pour House. Appearance is opaque brown with tan head. Decent amount of lacing left behind, nice head retention. The nose has bold gourmet coffee and chocolate, healthy amount of roasted character. Not much depth on the nose. Taste has bitter coffee which overrides any base beer. Nice coffee taste, but not much else. Mouthfeel is thin; mild carbonation. Can't figure out the meaning behind the name Weak Sauce, nice coffee presence, wish the base beer held up to it better.

Serving type: on-tap

05-23-2012 01:21:09 | More by homebrew311

Jadjunk

Georgia

4.1/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

#146. Served at Taco Mac Decatur. 16 Oz. Pour- $6.25. Reviewed from notes.

(Appearance) Solid black. Light tannish head. Light surface cover. Thick. Looks solid.

(Smell) Quite coffee potent; first smell is a bold roasted cocoa and coffee bean grind with a hint of caramel cream and sugar and smooth earthy hops linger in the back. Nice and very potent even at colder temperatures. A very satisfying aroma and convincing- I can't hardly keep my nose out of it. 4.5

(Taste) Wow, a coffee imitation rumpus in my mouth, one of the boldest coffee flavored beers I've had in a long time. There's a touch of smoke in the middle. A solid dry coffee bean and cocoa finish. There's not much beyond the coffee taste to distinguish itself apart from the rest. If you like coffee, you'll like this, otherwise you may not enjoy it. It's very coffee-oriented. 4

(Mouthfeel) Very slick smooth, just enough carbonation to keep it aloft. Alcohol is well hidden. There's a medium-heavy mouthfeel to this one. It's a very filling beer. I love it, but probably couldn't handle a second. 4

(Overall) A very solid one-off by Left Hand. I'm sad I won't be seeing it more often. It's worth getting while it's still on tap. Great for those cold winter nights. 4

Left Hand Brewing Company's
Week Sauce Coffee Porter
4.1

Serving type: on-tap

01-28-2012 14:44:10 | More by Jadjunk

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.47/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at barleys tonight

dark brown, nearly black in color with a nice little puff on tan colored head on top. Nice lacing as it drops down the sides leaving a broken crown along the top. Aroma is solid coffee, with light notes of lactose and touches of something sweet balancing in there as well. Rich coffee notes with light touches of sugar are the way to go here. Smooth, easy sipper as each taste seems to bring more of the coffee flavor up to the forefront. at six percent deadly

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2011 07:49:57 | More by mikesgroove

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.18/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

16 ounce pint - $6.25 at Taco Mac in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Appearance: Near black body in appearance capped with a smallish, dusty tan head.

Smell: Roasty aroma, certainly coffee-scented. It's aromatic though not bold, as in smelling a breakfast blend versus Italian roast. Also snippets of semi-sweet chocolate, burnt toast, and caramel.

Taste: Chocolate leads trailed by the chilled, sugar sweetened coffee wrapping up the roasted malt. Then, some lesser tastes of toast and caramel roll in. Medium-plus sweetness. I never pick up any apparent hop flavors and the bitterness seems more a function of the roasted malts and coffee additive than anything else. Like a pinball trying to pick up a few extra points, the flavor bounces back and forth and around the chocolate and coffee until the gentle finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Overall: A solid if straight-forward porter overneath a pleasing coffee flavor. The thumb points up!

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2011 15:34:01 | More by ChainGangGuy

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A lavishly rich coffee infused American-style Porter that carries as much of a caffine kick as that of alcohol.

The pour brings about a dark brown color with nearly bright clarity. A thin yet dense creme of foam tops the beer with a slightly tanned hue. Moderate retention and minimal lace round out the aesthetics of the Porter.

Rich espresso aromas fill the nose with every bit the intensity of truely fresh brewed espresso. Heavy toast, cocoa, and scorched sugars all define the aromatics of the background Porter with a somewhat understated tone.

The balance of flavors are much more even-keel with the coffee notes complementing the Porter beautifully for a blend of freshly roasted coffee beans, roasted cocoa nibs, walnut oils, burnt sorghum, and a finishing woody, bark-like taste. The only detrement is the slight ashy taste from heavily roasted grain.

Moderate in texture, a short-lived creaminess proves to be fastly fleeting while ushering in the coffee bitterness with mild astrint bite. A roasty-dry finish with medium alcohol warmth leave a lasting impression while a linger of coffee defines the aftertaste.

The bright spot of the session is obviously with the aroma. Very defined coffee layered on a base of Porter which gives a very sultry impression. If the flavor and mouthfeel would have kept up, we would have a seriously epic beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2011 16:01:48 | More by BEERchitect

claytong

Vermont

4.15/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

appearance - black with mahogany edges. tan head about an inch, good retention and good lacing

smell - smells wonderful. nice strong coffee beans, roasted dark malts, cocoa nibs, and caramel.

taste - quite a bit off from the nose. comes in quite sweet. caramel malts hitting strong, then some coffee and milk chocolate.

mouthfeel - could be a bit thicker for my taste. but terrific carbonation and pretty damn good body too.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2011 01:37:28 | More by claytong

barczar

Kentucky

3.8/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on tap at The Beer Trappe.

Poured an opaque near-black color into a pint glass with one finger mocha head that dissipated fairly quickly, leaving very little lace.

Aroma was predominantly coffee, with a supporting background of roasted malt, a touch of sweetness, and a hint of chocolate, almost reminiscent of malted milk balls.

Flavor followed suit, with coffee overpowering the roasted malt character initially, the malt making a brief appearance mid-palate, accented weakly by chocolate sweetness, then finishing with an acrid coffee taste.

Mouthfeel was fairly smooth, slightly creamy, medium to medium-full body, medium-light carbonation.

I can definitely see why this is called the 'week' sauce. It's packed with enough coffee flavor to replace your morning cup of joe! While this is a 'coffee porter', I would have liked to have seen the base beer shine through a bit more. The acrid coffee finish was somewhat off-putting.

It's not a session beer, but it's a nice treat I would consider revisiting again next time I need a coffee fix and can't justify going to Starbucks.

Serving type: on-tap

09-23-2011 18:48:40 | More by barczar

Cheesemoose

Florida

4.05/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served on tap at Kickbacks Gastropub into your standard Pint Glass.

Deep, dark black porter with soft brown edges. Khaki foamy, somewhat frothy head with a respectable amount of lacing. Quick dissapation of the head.

Nice mild of fresh roasted coffee beans, with a roasted nature that I would like to attribute to the malt. Some faint edges of the hops (a bit citrusy?) though mostly dominated by the coffee.

Flourish of coffee across the palate. Rising to highs and lows, from a bit of char on the edges to a pleasant chocolate mid body to a finish that is very much in the porter range of things. Roasted finish and a good bit of hops round things off.

Clean mouthfeel, drinks like a cup of espresso with some coffee grounds accidently leeched in.

Well done, though a bit mild in terms of coffee beers. Quite quaffable.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2011 04:43:00 | More by Cheesemoose

BlackBearForge

Florida

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I enjoyed this on tap at MoMo's Pizza (soon to be MoMo's Brewpub & Pizza!) here in Tallahassee.

The pint glass arrived with a nice 1/2 inch mocha tan colored head on top of a near black beer.

The aroma was mild coffee, rosted malts and light chocolate.

While not complex this is a very flavorful beer, with very fresh tasting coffee up front and nicely roasted malts with the hint of chocolate noticed in the nose. Nicely balanced between bitter and sweet overall.

The mouthfeel was medium and smooth with just the right amount of carbonation delivered from the tap.

Overall a very tasty coffee porter I am glad I tried and would gladly have again.

Serving type: on-tap

08-29-2011 17:31:51 | More by BlackBearForge

wifehatesthebike

Michigan

3.78/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a pint glass at ITAP in STL.

Honestly, this looks and smells very similar to Founder Breakfast Stout. Creamy, dark, but a touch less ABV at 6% and not much chocolate, mostly just coffee bitterness.

The beer is quite good if not somewhat one dimensional with coffee dominating the entire flavor profile. The background beer tastes very similar to LH Milk Stout. This is a very solid representation of a coffee porter, but does not really wow in any particular area aside from an extremely smooth mouthfeel. Bitterness is present but not over the top. Good flavor punch keeping in mind this a lighter beer alcohol-wise.

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2011 02:19:11 | More by wifehatesthebike

TMoney2591

Illinois

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a shaker pint glass at The Firkin.

Never heard of this one before, so it would work nicely as a capstone to my Firkin return. It pours a straight onyx topped by a finger of dirty dark tan foam. The nose comprises light mild coffee, roasted malts, chocolate powder, and very light maple syrup. The taste holds notes of roasted malts, coffee, and light molasses. The body is a straight medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a mostly smooth feel. Overall, a nice little coffee porter: simple, to-the-point, and enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

08-23-2011 04:40:16 | More by TMoney2591

Tone

Missouri

3.61/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Pours a black color. 2/3 inch head of a tan color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of strong coffee (almost burnt), sweet malt, roasted malt, hint of pale malt, and a hint of hop. Fits the style of an American Porter. Mouth feel is sharp and clean, with an average carbonation level. There is also a slight tartness present. Tastes of sweet malt, strong coffee, slight roasted malt, hint of hop, and a hint of pale malt . Overall, very coffee-centric. All other flavors are muted because of the strength of the coffee.

Serving type: on-tap

08-22-2011 21:25:41 | More by Tone

yeahnatenelson

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Imbibed at SmallBar Logan Square in Chicago.

Appearance -- Pours dark brown, nearly black, with nary a highlight to be found, crowned with thick tuft of chocolate brown head. Minimal lacing, but the head is resilient. Handsome.

Smell -- Roasty: ground coffee, dark roast malt hinting at smoke, and underlying dark chocolate sweetness. Very much coffee forward, though it seems to be getting a bit stale.

Taste -- Coffee is definitely in the forefront, but I can tell it's already getting stale. Well-roasted malt flavor with a hint of smoke, perhaps some anise. Also a mild chocolate sweetness underlying the coffee and roast.

Mouthfeel -- Medium-full in body and moderate-to-mild carbonation. Feels really good.

Overall -- I've got to hand it to 'em, Lefty knows their porters, and this is no exception. Great roast character, great balance between burnt and malty. The inclusion of coffee is good, though it already tastes slightly stale - I'd imagine this was incredible fresh.

Serving type: on-tap

06-29-2011 02:56:22 | More by yeahnatenelson

ArrogantB

Colorado

3.88/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the rackhouse pub, 10oz pour. Dark black, pretty standard appearance for the style. The smell was very robust coffee grounds and beans, almost like when you are smelling different colognes and the salesperson gives you the little coffee can to clear your nasal palate, nice. Flavor is strong coffee but more like the grounds swimming at the bottom than good coffee. This was decent but the aroma was better than the taste by far.

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2011 17:09:30 | More by ArrogantB

Jishguy

Indiana

4.47/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

What a wonderful surprise.

A- Poured a solid black body with a thick, creamy, mocha colored head. Terrific retention by the head. The lacing was also phenomenal.

S- Roasted coffee beans and roasted malts dominated the aroma, while subtle notes of chocolate, toffee, hazelnut, and a hint of smokiness linger in the background.

T- Wonderful. Sweet malts and coffee up front, with milk chocolate and toffee in the aftertaste. Absolutely delightful.

M- Creamy as ever. Goes down with no problem.

D- While this brew is delicious in every way, it does sit a bit heavy. Four or five max.

Serving type: on-tap

05-29-2011 06:23:43 | More by Jishguy

aasher

Indiana

4.47/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I was lucky enough to try this delicious brew at MacNiven's in downtown Indianapolis. It poured a medium bodied black in color with a one finger, spongy dark khaki head. It looked great for a porter and resembled a light bodied imperial stout. This beer featured superb coffee aromas. It smelled of freshly brewed espresso and bitter chocolate. The coffee aspect was perfect. The flavors too, were just right. It had a very nice and not over the top fresh espresso flavor mixed with bitter chocolate with a light mint finish. It was perfectly sessionable. The aftertaste left a light amount of coffee that left you wanting more and demanded more attention. It drank medium in body and was near perfect for the style. It was still light enough to drink quickly. Overall this was a great porter and definitely worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2011 15:05:14 | More by aasher

emmasdad

Colorado

3.73/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this one on tap tonight at the Rackhouse. As has been mentioned in other reviews, this one looks just like a porter. Aromas of freshly roasted coffee, roasted malts and cocoa. On the palate, this one is medium bodied and a little acrid, with flavors of coffee, chocolate and roasted malt.

Serving type: on-tap

05-24-2011 03:21:42 | More by emmasdad

redjameskidd

Illinois

4.68/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is a beer that was apparently brewed by Left Hand for the celebration of American Craft Beer Week, hence the "week" pun in the name. It's a spectacular coffee porter.

Appearance: It looks like a porter. I don't really need to describe this.

Smell: Acrid burnt malt and strong, black coffee with little sweetness.

Taste: In a word--delicious. Very dry, but with a hint of vanilla-like, round, residual sweetness/creaminess. Almost like an exceptionally flavorful dry stout. Heavy on the roast, like on the sweetness, with enough coffee to let you know that this is a coffee beer without having read that it was. (I had not)

Mouthfeel: Very creamy and dense for its alcoholic strength, perhaps enhanced by maltodextrin?

Overall: It jumps immediately into the short list of best robust porters I've ever had, even though it's sort of a different animal, being a coffee beer. Superbly balanced, drinkable and delicious. The fact that I may never have this again because it's a one-off makes me want to weep.

Serving type: on-tap

05-22-2011 03:32:49 | More by redjameskidd

elgiacomo

Georgia

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

32oz Growler from Beverage World in Fort O, GA. Served at around 45-50F.

Pours black with a decent tan head that fades quickly to a light wispy cap but leaves some nice lacing behind.

Aroma is very coffee-forward, and they’re some nice beans too, dark roasted malts, some chocolate, smoke/char, maybe a little caramel and bread as well, but mostly coffee and some smoke. Very good strength.

Flavor generally mirrors the aroma...a lot of coffee and a fair bit of smoke. Premium coffee, smoked malt, roasted malt, some chocolate, vanilla, caramel, a little earthy hops, moderate sweetness, mild bitterness, minimal alcohol.

Mouthfeel is light/medium bodied, moderate carbonation, somewhat sticky. A little on the thin side, but fits the style fine.

Really nice stuff. Excellent aroma, nice flavor. Quality beans and I like the smoky aspects as well. It would probably be in my best interest to get another growler of this before the keg kicks!

Serving type: growler

04-21-2012 03:34:47 | More by elgiacomo

welldigger888

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours an almost opaque black with a hint of garnet hues capped with a light tan thick head that laces well.

Roasty toasty coffee for sure. Some roasted graininess and a solid malt backbone.

Coffee persists as a dominate flavor that is backed well by a nice roasty grain.

Unfortunately this seems a bit thin but very tastey though.

Well for a sawbuck per growler it is real nice.

Serving type: growler

12-16-2011 00:58:57 | More by welldigger888

witster18

Tennessee

3.6/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

out of a gallon growler:)

looks like a dark stout.

SMells like choco and coffee

tastes like coffee, hot milk, sugar, and a dry irish stout finish. Starts with loads of flavor then dies immediately. Could use a little extra hop backbone and something else that would set it apart, but it's good, just not all that drinkable. That said, me and My buddy polished of the gallon fairly quickly without many complaints.

Genre-less, a bit unoriginal, but decent. I'd like a little more heat, or go for more drinkability and porter like sour backbone, but you get neither here.

A really striaght forward coffee porter/stout that you won't dislike OR pay this much for again.

The best thing about the beer is the appearance. Ominous head, retains very well, nice bubbly surface throughout, high quality///.... just seems to me like a good but not great beer... maybe a bit misrepresented with the name... I'd say it's closer to a stout than a porter... or at least the guinness-like under-whelmingness of the whole thing makes it feel that way... nice coffee flavors, but not much of anything else...

a lot of flavor, and tastes very good, but after 10 ounces you've discovered everything there is to this beer.

WOUld NOT turn one of these down, but won't session again.

Serving type: growler

10-16-2011 19:06:17 | More by witster18

brian44556

Kentucky

3.98/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up at the LB in Springhurst. Poured this into a GL pint glass.

Pours a syrupy black with very small chocolate colored head. A thin sporadic lace is left on the sides of the glass. This is a true coffee porter and works very well. I smell and taste nothing but strong espresso. The smell is very strong coffee and the taste is a bit mild. Mouthful is a bit thin, but the beer has a nice finish. This one goes down very easily. If you dig coffee flavor this is your beer. I do enjoy the heavy dose of coffee flavor, so this beer is a winner in my book.

Serving type: growler

10-12-2011 02:51:00 | More by brian44556