 Brigadier (1246), Chagrin Falls, Ohio, USA
| 3.6 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 6/10 | 2/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 |
Jul 21, 2007 750 ml bottle
This has been sitting in the cellar since the Secret Santa exchange last summer. I’m not sure who sent it obviously but it has been on my list for a while. Given a few hours I decided to go ahead and try it one evening. For a barrel aged imperial stout it is very disappointing. Either it did not age very gracefully or it was not good to begin with. Left Hand has been one of those breweries which releases beers I found good but not exciting. This is no exception.
Aroma / Appearance - A thin tan head sat on top of a dark brown body which was pretty light for an imperial stout. Charred oak, light anise and cherry form the base of a simple nose. It’s not bad overall but the bar is just much higher for an imperial stout.
Flavor / Palate - A light burn of alcohol, licorice and chocolate brownies tickles the tongue before washing down the throat. Caramel and oak come next along with the aftertaste of cherry licorice. It lacks the punch I have come to expect from an imperial stout especially one claiming to be aged in oak. It gets slightly better as it oxidizes but only a bit. It was hard enough to finish off a 750; I couldn’t imagine having multiples to clear.
beerbill (1967), Laurel, New York, USA
| 4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 5/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 15/20 |
Jul 21, 2007 750 ml bottle. Pours black with a generous, almost creamy, tan head that left sheets of lacing all the way to the bottom of the glass. Very nice aroma of chocolate, a bit of coffee, and just a hint of the oak. The flavor was chocolate, lightly roasted malt, and very light vanilla and oak. Warming alcohol presence at the swallow does not detract from this beer. Overall good stuff for a winter’s evening, or cool summer’s evening!
Glouglouburp (2865), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| 3.5 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 3/5 | 14/20 |
Jul 18, 2007 Quick rating. I had both the oak aged and regular side-by-side. Barrel shows in the oak aged and was overall more syrupy and less roasted. The regular was more flavourful. Obviously mostly similar but I slightly prefer the regular version. Ok, so Left-Hand Imperial Stouts and banana splits are two things that don’t gain by being aged in oak barrels.
Bockyhorsey (2551), Mesa, Arizona, USA
| 3.8 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 3/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 |
Jul 10, 2007 750ml bottle. Had a licorice aroma along with some wood and coffee. Black with tan head. Multiple flavors of wood, coffee, licorice and light cocoa. Thicker body texture that makes this a smooth enjoyable beer. Wooden aftertatse on the palate.
TURDFERGUSON (1605), Carrboro, North Carolina, USA
| 3.6 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 6/10 | 4/5 | 15/20 |
Jul 6, 2007 Bottle. Pours a dark garnet brown with a small white head that fades. Nose is very oaky with some cocoa and coffee notes. Flavor is a little disappointing--definitely caught some soy sauce mixed in there with some oaky and typical chocolate flavors. The soy may have been a result of the wine barrels, but in any case, it didnt really do it for me. This stuff was pretty good, but I would not spring for it again at 13 bucks a bottle.
tronraner (1933), Seymour, Tennessee, USA
| 4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 5/5 | 16/20 |
Jul 5, 2007 750 mL bottle. Pours a rusty brownish black with nice beige head. The aroma is sweet with caramel and a bit of molasses, some vanilla and light espresso, and oak (though not too strongly). The flavor is slightly bitter and woody up front, then chocolate and roasty notes kick in. Vanilla and nuts come out in the middle, along with a dark, sugary sweetness and some alcohol. The oak really hits home in the finish, where it is the dominant element. Oak and vanilla notes linger into the aftertaste with just a hint of alcohol. Pretty nice. Big, dense mouthfeel.
redlight (1490), Winter Park, Florida, USA
| 4.2 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 17/20 |
Jul 4, 2007 Cafe mocha on the nose, sweet vanilla, creamy, with roasted notes. Pours black with a tan head. Smooth and creamy, vanilla oaky, coffee and chocolate, the alcohol is detectable.
mgumby10 (1858), Jupiter, Florida, USA
| 4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 3/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 17/20 |
Jul 4, 2007 Pours black with a small off white head. Very roasty aroma, defintely get that oak in there too. Some coffee and chocolate as well. The taste is very sweet, almost sugary, very roasty, coffee, chocolate, and oak. Nice and full on the palate, big taste. The finish is very chocolatey, big carbonation. with a profound sweetness to it. Good brew.
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