Left Hand Black IPA

The almighty Left Hand has returned! I went a couple of years without even having a beer from them, and I don't really know why. Well, I guess I do. See, this blog has pretty much dictated that I don't dip back into the same well all that often. Few and far between are the beverages that I pick up after already reviewing them. So, I wait for the good breweries to come out with one I haven't tried yet, and then I can indulge.

Well, if you make a living producing a bunch of black beers, you're going to do the black IPA right, aren't you? It's black (a little ruby around the edges, but black enough) with an off-white head that fizzles to a large island that free-floats in the middle of the top and the strong ring around the sides. The aroma is floral more than anything, but it also has a dark bend like being a bit of a distance away from a fire pit. 

First sip is dark, roasted grains and a floral and slightly piney hop. It's an... abrupt sip. The force of the hops and the darkness of the grains is too much to fit into the tiny sip, so the flavor overflows and I'm sure I'm missing a bunch. With something as complex as a black IPA, there's only one way to drink it. Gulp!

Tip-in is moderate carbonation sizzle as the dark, toasted grains create a bed for the floral and herbal hops. The middle arrives with a stodgy bitterness and charcoal mixed into the grains. The finish is a continuation of bitterness and darkness as it sends flowers and pine into the trail off.

Bottom Line: Not the best. Not the worst.

2.25/5