Fade To Black (Volume 4 - Rocky Mountain Black Ale) - Left Hand Brewing Company

tdm168

North Carolina

3.99/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to brewdude1982 for this one.

A - black with a short-lived white head

S - faint citrus, some pine, some chocolate, some faint peppery spicyness

T - roasted malts at first followed by some faint citrus and a some spicy hops; the finish is a bit bitter with some underlying coffee notes

M - medium bodied, well carbonated

I'm not sure how I feel about this beer. It comes across as a somewhat porter-like beer with an above-average hoppiness. I wouldn't describe this as a Black IPA. The hops are present and some great character, but the roasted malts and coffee notes are most prevalent. I'm glad I tried this one. I'm not sure I'd seek it out again, but I'll never turn it down.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 18:39:19 | More by tdm168

Jade

Ohio

2.75/5  rDev -26.1%

05-23-2013 00:58:05 | More by Jade

StJamesGate

New York

3.96/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Puffy, creamy, lumpy purple-tinged tan head that clings like mad over black body.
Orange oil, charcoal, plum and a bit of burnt rubber on the nose.
Black currant, ash, and black bread then pine sap, more orange oil and resin for hops.
Prune juice finish and charcoal bitter linger.
Medium, chewy, silky, some oil.

Snakey hops underneath a lot of black. Another way of saying this is surprisingly deep. Too many dark notes, but above par for LH.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 18:40:45 | More by StJamesGate

MightiestBeard

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%

05-17-2013 23:58:42 | More by MightiestBeard

RWLawman

North Carolina

3.29/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

A - Just about jet black, with a generous white head that sticks around for the majority of the experience. Scattered lacing left behind on the glass.

S - Some chocolate and roasted malts, but to me the piney hops stand out the most.

T - Chocolate, roasted malts, maybe a little grain, but finishes with a noticeable piney hop bite. I'm not a huge fan of pine hops, but it's not enough to absolutely kill the beer.

M - A little sticky, moderate mouthfeel, with a little creamy texture as well.

O - A "not bad" beer. Not something I'd seek out again, but it wasn't too bad.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 02:00:32 | More by RWLawman

AmandaSchaefer

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%

05-13-2013 22:56:43 | More by AmandaSchaefer

rydev24

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%

05-12-2013 22:36:44 | More by rydev24

Zonian1

Ohio

3/5  rDev -19.4%

05-12-2013 20:18:30 | More by Zonian1

mportnoy

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +7.5%

05-11-2013 20:04:29 | More by mportnoy

zrab11

Indiana

3.25/5  rDev -12.6%

05-10-2013 02:32:48 | More by zrab11

LambicPentameter

Kansas

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%

05-08-2013 02:17:33 | More by LambicPentameter

blknikon

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +7.5%

05-07-2013 22:13:26 | More by blknikon

cliff1066

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%

04-29-2013 04:22:15 | More by cliff1066

Jessenimmo

California

4/5  rDev +7.5%

04-28-2013 04:41:26 | More by Jessenimmo

quakeroatmealstout

New York

4.25/5  rDev +14.2%

04-27-2013 01:52:02 | More by quakeroatmealstout

Dyerseve

Michigan

3/5  rDev -19.4%

04-26-2013 15:54:14 | More by Dyerseve

rolltide8425

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%

04-25-2013 21:14:49 | More by rolltide8425

ohiobeer29

Ohio

2.5/5  rDev -32.8%

04-24-2013 07:54:33 | More by ohiobeer29

mgroothuis

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +14.2%

04-23-2013 21:31:57 | More by mgroothuis

aztraz

Sweden

3.25/5  rDev -12.6%

04-22-2013 17:24:05 | More by aztraz

Rayek

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%

04-21-2013 23:31:38 | More by Rayek

Bowers-Brew

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%

04-21-2013 21:57:30 | More by Bowers-Brew

Jadjunk

Georgia

3.79/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

"Brewed on the banks of the mighty St. Vrain. Fade to black. That time of year when the light fades away. Brewed for the darkness, Fade to Black speaks in volumes." Brewed in the style of a Cascadian Black Ale. Fourth individual installment in the annually released series. This early winter release resembles dark ales, but this is the first year that it doesn't showcase a "porter" of some kind.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to a snifter. Served north of 55º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a creamy mocha brown head over a very dark brown, near black. Nice thin curtain of lacing and good head retention makes this an appetizing-looking beer. 4.25

(Smell) Aroma is certainly indicative of a black ale, with bitter, roasty malts, a moderate level of resiny and piney hops and a mild bready yeast profile with a hint of diacetyl, not uncommon in my experience with the style. Notably more sweet than the average black ale, this one leans a bit more towards a chocolatey malt-forward black ale than a hop-led beer but comes off with a nice balance and no perceptible undesirables. Potency is medium. 4

(Taste) Flavor is notably shallower on the sweetness of the malt body and instead has a light roasted chocolate, mild caramel and lightly toasted black malt blend for a slightly lighter body, but finishes with a forward resiny and hop character, a key player in the flavor which may not be to everybody's liking. A bit lighter on flavor than I was hoping for, I had my hopes set on fulfilling the malt aroma I picked up on earlier, as this one goes much lighter in flavor than expected, despite maintaining a nice balance. 3.5

(Mouthfeel) Goes for a mild carbonation presence, mildly airy, slightly creamy with a medium dry finish accentuated with a resiny hop bitterness. Body is slightly below medium for the style and medium/heavy overall. Alcohol presence is very low, thoroughly concealed by the hop blend. Slightly lower body than I had hoped for, but the carbonation is right by the style and makes up for it. 4

(Overall) This would have been a top-notch beer provided the malt body had kept in line with the aroma, which was very sweet and chocolate-forward. The end result is enjoyable, but not extraordinary for the style, going for high drinkability and showcasing a bold hop resin undertone. It's certainly quite good for what it is, but it could have been much more unique with a bolder malt presence. 4

Left Hand Brewing Company's
Fade To Black Ale Volume 4: Rocky Mountain Black Ale
3.79/5.00

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 00:21:30 | More by Jadjunk

BLACKENEDPLAGUE

Ohio

3/5  rDev -19.4%

04-18-2013 01:57:47 | More by BLACKENEDPLAGUE

NorthernSoul

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3/5  rDev -19.4%

04-17-2013 22:29:12 | More by NorthernSoul