 ClarkVV (3547), Allston, Massachusetts, USA
Jan 17, 2008
Draught pint at Sunset Grill on 11/17/07
Bright peach-golden body is full of carbonation, leading to a two-finger white head that is well-retained and laces quite well.
Attractive fruity nose showcases cherries and nectarines up front which quickly evolve in to a more profoundly bitter tangerine-grapefruit sharpness. Pale and caramel malts impart an appropriate backbone of sweetness, with a touch of sweaty/catty wet-hop notes on the finish and some lingering toastiness from the medium malts. Alcohol is well-concealed and I detect no flaws. Pine emerges, drying things (maybe a touch too much) on the finish, with breathing/warming. Medium to medium-high strength of aroma.
The flavor is where this one really shines, with a fantastic array of vibrant fruits, deep ruby red grapefruit sweetness and crisp, lemony-orange bitterness that helps curtail the sweet malts. Carbonation is rich and soothing, imparting an almost creamy, tight texture and further helping to disperse any unwanted malt sweetness. Some sweet/sour toastiness develops from the malts and there is some, rather inevitable, cattiness from the hops, but other than that, this is really well done and not overdone in bitterness at all. Quite complex hop flavors (grapefruit, pine, floral notes, nectarine, lemon, orange). Alcohol well concealed in flavor, no flaws noted.
LearninBeer (136), Sterling Heights, Michigan, USA
Oct 3, 2008 The aroma is hops, a touch more pine than citrus smell. The head is off white, big and creamy, with excellent lacing and mostly lasting to about an eighth of an inch. The color is a golden brown. The initial flavor is bitter with a touch of sour I didn’t notice in my first Warrior last week. The body is medium and the texture creamy. The carbonation is soft.
nqualls (422), Tennessee, USA
Sep 29, 2008 Bottle. Poured a hazy amber with a small whitish head. Aroma of fruit. Flavor is grassy hops and fruit. Medium body with mild carbonation.
sayravai (3187), Helsinki, Finland
Sep 26, 2008 (Bottled, 0.65l) Slightly hazy darkish amber with a small, firm head. Crisp, aromatic, very bitter and exotic-fruity aroma, reminds me of Snake Dog IPA. Flavor is also exotic-fruity, very aromatic, and grassy-bitter-hoppy. Avoids the cat-pee effect, but the (slightly stale) hops pretty much steal the show. Light to medium body with medium carbonation. Maybe not as fresh as it could be, and the body could be fuller for better balance.
reakt (838), Greater London, England
Sep 22, 2008 Updated: Sep 25, 2008Bottle from De Bierkoning, shared with the guy behind the counter @ De Gekraakte Ketel.
I bought loads of good beers to share but the rest of the gang just wanted to get pissed on Heineken so I took it where I knew it would be appreciated. New label, so must be a fairly fresh batch. Amber with a lasting, creamy off white head. Nose has grapefruit hops, sweet biscuity malt, honey, caramel and a touch of pine. Bitter and fruity yet sweet and malty at the same time, I expected extreme hoppage but there’s a nice malt backbone keeping everything in check. Great balance and quite full in the mouth with a lick of dreamsicle that coats the tongue on the way down.
Has definitely upped my impression of Left Hand and made me consider a trip to the brewery when I visit my buddy in CO.
malrubius (461), USA
Sep 18, 2008 22 ounce bottle split in pint glass. Hazy copper/caramel color with lasting head and lace. Fresh hop aroma with a hint of caramel. Mild caramel sweetness with ripe peachy fruit, nuts, and underlying lingering bitterness and yeasty aftertaste. Medium body and carbo. Nice mouthfeel. A little watery. Doesn’t have as much fresh hop flavor, possbly because it is not fresh, but getting a fresh beer on Long Island is a near impossibility.
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