A taste of… Good JuJu

Left Hand Brewing Co.
1265 Boston Avenue
Longmont, Colorado, USA 80501
(303) 772-0258

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Left Hand Good JuJu was sent to me by the folks at Left Hand Brewing Co. for inclusion in these tasting notes.

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of as creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: A honey colored brew is lightly carbonated with tiny bubbles that build a thin head. The head is short lived but leaves a slight Belgian lace.

Aroma: The first impression is caramel malt with just a hint of ginger. The second impression is more of the same aromas but with a bit of butterscotch at the end. The third nose-dive revealed a honey note.

Flavor: The first sip, after, the refreshing sensation, revealed a malty sweet flavor that hid a hint of ginger behind its sweetness. The second swig brought out more of the malt and only let the ginger sneak out at the end. The third sip left me looking for more ginger and not finding any. However, the finish is already beginning.

Mouth feel: This seems a bit light in the mouth feel and carbonation.

Finish: There is a long finish to this brew that makes a liar out of the mouth feel and initial flavor sensations. However, it is neither emphatic nor shy.

Comments: This sample was served at cellar temperature in a pint glass poured to reveal the color and head. However, retrieved from an ice chest on a hot summer afternoon while taking in the sights of the Jersey Shore would allow it to make a different impression altogether. I can’t wait to try it!

The Brewery: http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/

What others say:

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A taste of… Left Hand 400 Pound Monkey

Left Hand Brewing Co.
1265 Boston Avenue
Longmont, Colorado, USA 80501
(303) 772-0258

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of 400 Pound Monkey was sent to me by the folks at Left Hand Brewing Co. for inclusion in these tasting notes.

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of as creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: This crystal clear honey colored brew is topped by a foamy head of small bubbles that form a fairly dense tan head of sparkling bubbles.

Aroma: First impression is of sweetness. A second impression adds to the sweetness with a burnt sugar presence. The third nose-dive reveals a citric orange hint.

Flavor: The first impression, after the refreshing chill, is of a citric tang that is fighting with the previously mentioned burnt-candy aroma, now a flavor. The second sip reveals a tart tang that takes no prisoners… rips those tasters up by the roots so to speak. The third sip lets the flavor receptors get up off the floor or roof and begin to appreciate all the efforts of the hopper.

Mouth feel: Has a fuller finish than start.

Finish: What little sweetness exists in this brew is left to sweep up after the hop onslaught.
Comments: I will have to go to the references to re-learn the technical definition of an India Pale Ale. I don’t think this is one of them. It is one very good highly hopped pale ale but it is no India Pale Ale.

Just as American Amber Ale is known for the grapefruit citric tang of the native Cascade hops, an India Pale Ale has a traditional hop bite that is particular to the origins of the ale and is necessary to make it what it is.

Just as I have difficulty with the peculiar flavor of North American Wheat brews I can appreciate this as a good beverage to savor with a black-and-blue hunk of entrecote.

The Brewery: http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/

What others say:

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A Taste of… Fade to Black Ale

Left Hand Brewing Co.
1265 Boston Avenue
Longmont, CO 80501
(USA)
303.772.9572

Preface: This is another sample sent by the folks at Left Hand Brewing Co. in Longmont, Colorado. The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew. It arrived via delivery service and has been stored in a cool, dry, dark place (a Brooklyn apartment). I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of a creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: This is the darkest ruby red garnet colored brew I have ever shone my Maglite through. The head is hard to raise, as you can see in the photo, and built from tiny bubbles that form a thin but dense tan head.

Aroma: The first sensation is of highly roasted grains that border on coffee aromatics. The second impression included chocolate and liquorish. The third visit revealed more of the highly roasted grain aromas. The moment between lip and sip revealed nothing surprising.

Mouth feel: This brew has a very full mouth feel that is enhanced by the immediate sensation of highly roasted grain.

Flavor: The first impression is almost coffee and grain flavors found in stouts and hefty porters. The second taste revealed a sharp flavor that a stealth squad of hop flavor spikes that join with the “burnt” flavor of the roasted malt to keep the rich malt flavor from becoming too sweet. The third sip let the taste buds get better acquainted with the sharper flavors and adds perspective to the coffee/toffee accents.

Finish: The finish is remarkable quick and leaves the sensation of hop tang to tag the next flavor.

Comments: This is a fine black ale, or as might be found in the Republic of Ireland… a black beer. The flavors would make fine friends with the sweet metallic char of a dry-aged slab of beef properly seared and finished in a hot oven.

Left Hand Brewing Co.: http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/

What others Say:

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