Left Hand Brewing - Black Jack Porter

Tonight I will be reviewing Black Jack Porter from Left Hand Brewing in Longmont, Colorado.  Not too long ago, I tried out their Fade to Black Smoked Porter, which was a great brew.  That was part of the seasonal line-up...this Black Jack Porter is a perennial English Style Porter that sports 6.8% alcohol and 35 IBUs. 

This brew was bottled on 1/31/1.  The label depicts a squid on the front, staring me square in the eyeballs - creepy, but cool design.  The color is black with some cherry hues and a foamy tan head the leaves thick chunks of lace.  The aroma is roasty roasty roasty, cocoa with sweet dark plums and raisins hanging in there.

The taste starts off smooth and rich, with chocolate roasted malts taking front and center.  Then it moves on to an interesting level of bitterness - dark fruit mixed with ground coffee.  Also subtle hints of black licorice, which I loathe in Twizzler form by itself, but don't mind in the flavor profile of a brew.  Vanilla becomes apparent towards the finish along with a touch of hop bitterness.  The finish is dry and a bit gritty.  The body is medium with a nice

Overall Rating:  This was a nicely balanced porter - roasted malt coated with coffee and cocoa, and a nice bitterness behind it that keeps things interesting.  Worth a try, especially if you're a fan of the style.  B

Left Hand - 400 Pound Monkey English IPA

This evening I am going with an English IPA from Left Hand Brewing Company in Longmont, CO.  Awesome name, and even better label design!  The label shows an 8 armed monkey (10 if you count the legs), with little army monkeys around him holding hops and barley.  This was bottled on 9/1/10.

The beer pours a clear light orange color with a thin layer of head that forms slowly and recedes quickly.  Faint grapefruits and toffee malts in the nose.  The flavor starts out with an interesting pine/lime combo - very hop forward to start but not overly bitter.  A burnt sweet banana bread, and biscuits, make up a malty backbone that reminds me of an ESB, it goes nicely with the initial hop flavors.  The finish is a 50/50 combo of the hop/malt flavors, keeping things simple and complementary.  The carbonation is just right, and the texture is creamy throughout.


Overall Rating:  (4.5 out of 6.0)  This beer was a simple showcase of the English IPA style.  No noticeable off-flavors, and it was an easy-drinker that went down smooth from start to finish.  If you like the style, give this Left Hand brew a try.

Left Hand Fade to Black

Tonight the beer I'll be drinking comes from Left Hand Brewing, their 2nd limited release in the Fade to Black series.  This is a smoked baltic porter, running a hearty 7.8%ABV and 35 IBUs.  The key ingredient is Smoked Munich, which is a malt smoked with Hackberry wood. 

The label design is eye-catching, with a black and white theme and flowing lines that look like flames.  Pouring into my snifter, this pours black-brown with a thin layer of dark tan head.  The smell is full of smoke and wood, as well as roasted chocolate malts.  Also a hint of licorice in there.

The drink brings a blast of smoke and cedar wood.  The smokiness persists from beginning to end, but in the middle there is a bit of coffee and some sweet cocoa.  The finish is warm with alcohol, which is a nice compliment to the smoke flavors.  The texture is smooth and creamy, and the carbonation is on the light side.

Overall Rating:  (4.8 out of 6.0)  This beer really showcases smoked flavors and definitely stands out in the world of porters.  Terrific beer for a cold winter night.  This one is a limited release, so get it while you can.