Left Hand Imperial Stout

Brewed by Left Hand Brewing Co.
Style: Imperial Stout
Longmont, Colorado USA

Black appearance, almost no head. Aroma of roasted malts, chocolate, liqourice and alcohol, pretty good. Alcoholic flavour, chocolate and liquorice notes are not as obvious as in aroma. Predominantly bitter flavour, especially in finish. Alcohol is too apparent. Not very impressive for an imperial stout imho. Note: might have been a bad bottle, since others did have a head on this beer.

Bottled. A black beer with a wonderful thin and disappearing light brown head. Roasted aroma with notes of malt and dark chocolate. Vinous mouthfeel with powerful flavours of roasted malt, licorice, dark chocolate. Alcohol is evident, bit it doen’t disturb because it is warming. Full body, bitter aftertaste. Very, very nice beer.

Date: February 04, 1999
Mode: Bottle
Source: Ale Atlanta
Appearance: black, scant tan head
Aroma: roasted malt aroma, light malt flavor, alcoholic esters, no bitterness
Overall: too thin, not enough roasted character

Date: December 01, 2007
Mode: draft
Source: strong ale fest
Appearance: black, wispy dirty white head
Aroma: sweet dark and milk chocolate aroma
Flavor: rich roasted malt flavor, touch of dark caramel sweetness brings out a dark chocolate character, light bitterness keeps it balanced

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 12/20
Rating: 3.2/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

Date: June 14, 2009
Mode: Bottle
Source: Mini Beer Fest
Vintage: 2009
Appearance: black, wispy tan head
Aroma: roasted malt aroma with a sweet vanilla candy brandy character
Flavor: sweet malt flavor, candy vanilla sweetness, nice bandy character, light oak combines with a light bitterness for balance, touch of roasted rounds it out

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.3/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **+/4

this is a good American imperial stout. The biggest thing that keeps Left Hand imperial from rating higher in my book is too much imperial alcohol bite that is displeasing to my palate and generally keeps me away from imperials. Also it is a bit on the sweet side which is normally ok but with this much alcohol it doesn’t work

Very drinkable very smooth imperial stout. Almost black with a great sweet roasted malt aroma. Flavor is of roasted grain and mocha with a nice little hint of sweetness and good hop balancing. Alcohol flavor comes through a bit, but what can you expect at 10.4%?

Bottle@Home. Coffee liquor aroma with chocolate and hops. Dark ruby color, light brown head, fair lace. Strong flavored, sweet, light salty, chocolate, bitter, coffee liquor and licorice finish. Alcohol a little bit hidden. Complex, flavorful, well balanced and easy to drink.

Oily brown/black with nice head. Smoothed body reveals a roasted, coffee/chocolate malt bouyed by a generous and flowery hop selection which produces well balanced and rich aromas. Robust sweet, darkened malts take over in the beginning of the taste, yet gradually yeild to a sturdy hop backbone and a resonating floral quality. This beer’s strength is its diversity, and its balance. Nice brew.

12oz Bottled on 04 10 07. Deep brown, almost black with a one finger beige head. Salty roasted malts and dark chocolate up front, roasted grain, tart raisin and vinous notes. As this warms I picked up on a bit of oatmeal. Vinuous flavor is dominant with roasted malt, salt, dark chocolate, and some spicy alcohol, though it doesn’t seem 10.4%. Ashy dry finish. Light carbonation with a full body. Pretty good, I do think the oak aged is better, though.