Fade To Black (Volume 3 - Pepper Porter) - Left Hand Brewing Company

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a Chicago Bears shaker pint glass.

I've been impressed with the first two entries in this series, so word of this one came happily to my ears. It pours a dark garnet-sienna topped by a finger of dusty cream-white foam. The nose comprises molasses, brown sugar, chocolate syrup, light black pepper, and the faintest hint of smoked chipotle pepper. The taste brings in more of the same, with emphasis on the molasses and chocolate, and the heat from the peppers finally makes itself known. It's mild, subdued, but still noticeable. The body is a straight medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a slightly dry finish. Overall, a very nice porter, one that mixes a strong base with a nice amount of pepper (in terms of both heat and flavor). Keep 'em comin', Left Hand!

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2011 03:29:09 | More by TMoney2591

emmasdad

Colorado

3.9/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My favorite (I think) from the Fade to Black series. Poured from the bottle a dark reddish brown/nearly black color with a good brown head. Aromas of dark chocolate, roasted malt and coffee. On the palate, this one is medium bodied, spicy and rich, with flavors of roasted malt, black pepper, dark chocolate and cocoa. ™

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 21:51:54 | More by emmasdad

Mora2000

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a very dark brown to black color with a very small tan head. The aroma is classic porter with a lot of chocolate and roasted malt notes. I also get a hint of smoke in the aroma. The flavor is more of the same. There is a ton of chocolate in the flavor, as well as some roasted and nearly burnt malt. There is a little bit of heat from the peppers as the beer is swallowed and some earthy pepper notes in the flavor as well. Medium mouthfeel and low carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 01:12:45 | More by Mora2000

McNealc31

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The color is perfect and the fragrance promises lots of smoked chiles. There is a lot more depth to the flavor than just chiles, though. There's bittersweet chocolate, anise, and the smoky chiles.

There is some subtle heat, and at just a touch under 2000 Scoville units, that puts it at about the same as a poblano. It's just enough that you know it's got chiles in it.

Smooth, complex, drinkable, and just enough heat to have you know this is something unique.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 01:10:32 | More by McNealc31

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark opaque body with a light tan head with fine speckled lacing. Aroma has an earthy chile pepper noted about amongst the dark malts. Flavor has the dark roasted malt sweetness with a perfect amount of heat coming from the peppers even a hint of smokiness a really creative interesting take on the porter style. Fade to Black has been an excellent by the six pack specialty release series so far. Mouthfeel is medium to fuller bodied dry spicy finish with some linger heat that warms the belly quite a bit. Overall an enjoyable pepper/chile beer that caught me by surprise I didn't inspect the neck label to determine what style this beer was so it was a surprise with my first sip to catch the heat.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2011 00:36:47 | More by WVbeergeek

chinchill

South Carolina

3.63/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Very fresh (tto fresh?) bottle produced 22 Sept. 11.

Appearance: Nearly black with red-brown highlights at the edges and a tan head,. Decent retention and fairly good lacing.

Smell: dark roasted malts; smokey with subtle hint of chile pepper. Surprisingly sweet and floral/fruity. Quite complex. ABV rather apparent.

Taste - roasted malts and a moderate dose of chile pepper: enough to produce a clear flavor contribution and some heat (just short of a burn). Some coffee and smoke in the lasting, but not especially enjoyable, finish.

Mouthfeel - a bit thin; heat from the chilies. Good carbonation excepting it makes the body feel lighter than it would with less carbonation.

O - certainly has character and complexity. Enough chile to put off some tasters, no doubt, but I found the combination interesting and enjoyed the added dynamics. Still, the taste got old, partly due to the smokiness, before the bottle was done.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 00:37:18 | More by chinchill

claytong

Vermont

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

appearance - black with an off white head, seen this a bit often these days. decent retention and lacing but not great by any means.

smell - roasted almost burnt malts, minor chile heat

taste - mmm good roasted malts, quite a bit chile, and not just pepper taste, were talking some heat, quickly leaves. cocoa and sugar.

mouthfeel - love the chiles in here. otherwise a bit thin for my liking. good carbonation which doesnt help with the body.

Serving type: on-tap

09-28-2011 03:22:16 | More by claytong