Left Hand Brewing Company

mwilbur

Minnesota

2.73/5  rDev -34.2%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 2 | selection: 3 | $$$

Stopped by here on my latest trip to CO. If I wasn't set upon visiting this brewery, I would not have spent the inordinate amount of time finding the place. I realize I'm repeating a theme here, but damn... Perhaps that soured me a bit...it also didn't help that I was completely ignored while I was there (I was the only one looking at their goods and only about 3-4 people at the bar...I would have understood if they were hoppin'). And to top it off, I spent more for their beer at the brewery itself than I would at a liquor store. Not cool. Oftentimes breweries will have something special on tap that you can't find in stores...not here. Just the basic Left Hand brews. I still love their beer, but would not recommend the brewery experience.

12-29-2008 05:25:28 | More by mwilbur

Oxymoron

Colorado

3.43/5  rDev -17.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | $$

Kind of difficult to find as mentioned here from other reviews, but easy enough to find tucked along side other industrial buildings. Not much parking available but you can go through gate if need be. Once inside, there is a nice patio area along side a few tables on the right hand side. Mostly you'll find people sitting at the decent sized bar. There also is a nice back area that can be closed off as well.

The atmosphere is ok. Mostly wooded area with partial cask heads through out the walls. The staff can be hit or miss depending on when you go. I have gone before and basically was ignored the whole time. Basically had to flag down the bar tender when their were a total of 3 people in the tap room. But I have gone before and had a great conversation about style and industry news. So that is a wash.

They are limited to just Lefthand brews. All of LH typical beers and usually 2 to 3 seasonal beers. They do have a firkin hand drawn pump but I have only seen it working once. The prices are a bit high considering that we are at the brewery that makes the beer. But they do have specials and happy hours.

11-19-2008 23:28:11 | More by Oxymoron

GilGarp

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Left Hand Brewing Company has a strange location amongst the industral landscape but, once inside, you forget all about that.

The place is dimly lit and clad with well-worn wood paneling. There are substantial wooden benches surrounding stone topped tables. A long angled bar with the same rustic stone top and about 15 stools surrounds the taps.

Numerous taps (12 beers, all Left Hand) and a cask with chalk boards listing what's available. There is a large glass overhead garage-style door that leads out to a patio where there's robust stone tables and flimsy plastic chairs. Swinging saloon-stlye doors lead to the bathrooms.

The nice German lady who used to be the sole barkeep has been replaced with a couple of dudes. Elvis Costello and Eric Clapton play on the speakers.

10-21-2008 23:28:36 | More by GilGarp

barefootbrewer

Mississippi

4.3/5  rDev +3.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

What a cool place! Happened to be there on a beer tour, so I can't speak for the food. The beer selection was excellent. This place can definitely put out some top notch brews. The staff was very cool about 60 of us decending on them (right after 60 from the other tour had just left). They have hops growing right outside, which I thought was kind of cool. The Chainsaw and their Imperial Stout was a hit. The Terra-Ryzed (collaboration with Terrapin) was simply delicious. I'd highly recommend a stop at this place. Pricing ran the gambit - some exceptional and some a bit over the top.

10-10-2008 15:56:26 | More by barefootbrewer

Seanibus

California

4/5  rDev -3.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$$

A great taproom, well worth a trip if you're in the area. The room is a little scrubby and rustic, but pleasantly so. There is a huge long bar and a side room and more than a dozen taps, dispensing an amazing selection of Left Hand's beers, including at least one cask tap. The service is friendly, but I got the impression that it helps to be a local or to be good at warming up the bartenders. There were several people behind the line, but only one was empowered to take beer orders,which led to some confusion. The sampler platter is huge - eight healthy samples, but it was a little pricey. Still, a worthy stop.

09-11-2008 21:34:24 | More by Seanibus

xymyl

Arizona

4.3/5  rDev +3.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I really enjoyed this place. It's a great tap room. wold have liked to see the brewery but they were working on it at the time I was there and there wasn't even a window to peek through.

I bought a tee shirt, and a bottle of Chainsaw.

I was impressed to see what a hangout for locals this place was. It was like cheers but I didn't feel like a bit player even though I could tell I wasn't part of the regular cast. Also, Norm was pretty healthy but not fat.

I'll edit this review later and add more detail, but for now it should suffice to say that you really need to check it out.

08-19-2008 20:44:53 | More by xymyl

mentor

Colorado

4/5  rDev -3.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$$

The Left Hand tap room is on the front of the brewery in an industrial park section of Longmont. upon entering, some seating is located to the immediate right and a long bar stretches down the length of the establishment. Around behind is a door to a patio for those comfortable spring and fall days. The decor is light bright wood kept clean and shiny. They generally have a decent selection of beers available, perhaps 10-12 at any given time, with one on nitro. Sample platters are a bit pricey compared to my experience with other samplers, but it's a good way to have a taste of many different Left Hand products. The staff knows all about their beers and is friendly and attentive. A nice place to stop if you are in the area and looking for a quality beer experience.

08-04-2008 23:07:22 | More by mentor

wardough

Wisconsin

4.78/5  rDev +15.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$$

Atmosphere was great. It's all about tasting Left Hand beers and good people. I didn't get the snobby attitude that I normally get from alot of the Colorado douce scene. This was a great atmosphere to have a friendly conversation and a great beer.

They had all of their year-round, plus Milk Stout on Nitro and Cask and Jackman's Pale on Cask.

Service was excellent. Josh, our bartender the 3 times that I've visited is friendly and knowledgeable. You'll see the head brewer come out for a beer every now and then.

Overall, a great place to pick up some beers in a relaxed atmosphere. A must stop.

06-24-2008 05:00:33 | More by wardough

Big78CJ

Michigan

4.44/5  rDev +7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Finally a brewery tap room on BA that you can review. What about New Belgium's Liquid Center or Boulder Beer?...

Atmosphere is similar to a log cabin with basic wooden stools and tables and a few of those horribly uncomfortable barrels to sit at. We choose a table. It was a bit chilly that day and the doors were open but other than that the place had great atmosphere.

The bartender was really nice and knew all of his beers. He was amazed to hear I had tried a cask Milk Stout and he had not (they shipped the first cask to Athens to let us try it). They had two casks that day as well as a Double Sawtooth they were calling Chainsaw...quite yummy.

I love the merchandise they have for sale, particularly the tie-dyed Left Hand shirts. They have a ton of great stuff to take home, albeit a bit pricey.

My biggest turn off from this place (and the only one really) was that the beers seemed pricier than they are when I get them on tap in Athens. The milk stout was $4.75 for a pint. Guys, if you don't have to ship it you should give us a price break!

04-25-2008 15:47:20 | More by Big78CJ

Ave

Iowa

4.8/5  rDev +15.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Left hand has a small tap house attached to its brewery where you sample all the goods and buy some sweet beer gack. All the usual LH brews are available and the more seasonal offerings are all on tap as well. 12 taps and a cask engine rolling most of the time. The service is excellent with a staff of true believers on hand. I hung out in a BA shirt and got my self a tour of the brew house, which is in the process of being expanded. The overall vibe is great, you can talk beer with the brewers and enjoy some LH local style. If you are near, its a must stop.

03-23-2008 16:46:15 | More by Ave