Wake Up Dead - Barrel-Aged
Left Hand Brewing Company

Wake Up Dead - Barrel-AgedWake Up Dead - Barrel-Aged
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From:
Left Hand Brewing Company
 
Colorado, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
10.2%
Score:
79
Avg:
3.45 | pDev: 20.87%
Reviews:
133
Ratings:
296
Status:
Active
Rated:
Apr 26, 2021
Added:
Aug 02, 2010
Wants:
  25
Gots:
  45
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SHODriver:
Photo of SHODriver
Reviewed by SHODriver from North Carolina

2.75/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
A: 2010 bottle poured into a nonic pint glass. Beer is black with ruby edges on the bottom. pours light with a half inch of fluffy tan head with decent retention
S: Smells of bitter hop aroma, some phenolic aromas from the alcohol, and a bit of sweet vanilla and caramel. Odd for a barrel aged stout.
T: tastes oxidized but some roast malt flavor, coffee and chocolate comes through. slightly woody/cardboard and alcohol flavors on the back end. unpleasant aftertaste. for a 10% stout this one hides the ABV poorly
M: thin with adequate carb
O: hopefully this beer was better fresh, I don't plan on buying another to find out.
Jan 01, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.42 by DVMin98 from North Carolina

Apr 26, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by Hayley_86 from Netherlands

Dec 16, 2018
 
Rated: 4.29 by kkazemi from North Carolina

Sep 15, 2018
 
Rated: 4.09 by Wisconsin_IPA_Lover from Wisconsin

Jul 27, 2018
 
Rated: 4.48 by WDWAoT from Arizona

Jul 26, 2018
 
Rated: 3.68 by Ristaccia from Nebraska

Apr 07, 2018
 
Rated: 4.5 by ShortyTahoe from California

Mar 30, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by sweemzander from Illinois

Dec 21, 2016
 
Rated: 3.93 by JakerLou from New Hampshire

Jun 20, 2016
 
Rated: 3.76 by scratch69 from Missouri

Mar 19, 2016
Photo of Jadjunk
Reviewed by Jadjunk from Georgia

2.78/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
"Good morning, you've woken up dead, you're in ruins, on the brink of catastrophe. But don't be discouraged. You are ripe for a revolution! Our barrel-aged russian imperial stout doesn't happen overnight. Patience is required. Wake up Dead hibernates in our cellars for over 12 months before being blended to woody perfection. Hints of raisins, cherry, licorice and toffee. Followed by earthy, herbal hop notes that rise up, joining you in your fight for a better life." Brewed in the style of an American Double / Imperial Stout aged in barrels. Occasional release in 22 oz. bottles and limited draft.

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle to a snifter glass.

(Appearance) Pours a foamy frothed head of a mocha brown color over a very dark brown, near black body. Retention is average and lacing is light and patchy. 3.75

(Smell) Thin roasted malts, chocolate, grain malts, tangy green apple tartness. Virtually no discernible barrel aging character nor stout aromas either. Potency is moderate. Off-the-mark by style standards and even by general beer standards. 2.5

(Taste) The flavor comes close to replicating the aroma, although not everything that defines an Imperial Stout is lost in the flavor. Delicate roasted malts with a fruity tart and grainy bite, drying traces of raw barrel without any spirit influences, and a moderate alcohol pinch. Very average by beer standards, although I don't come across many imperial stouts that are this disappointing. 2.75

(Mouthfeel) Texture is slick, silky, moderately dry. Carbonation is moderate, generating a medium frothiness and a medium crisp finish. Body is shy of medium for the style, medium/heavy overall. Balance is slightly tangy, boozy and earthy bitter over sweet. Alcohol presence is moderate and there are some suggestions of potential infection with green apple and tart cherry notes coming through strongly. 3

(Overall) This is a pretty disappointing Imperial Stout, incredibly messy with flavors of infection, limited range and development of imperial stout characters, shallow texture and viscosity, and disappointing, if not offensive barrel character. I guess introducing a barrel screwed up things more than expected. I much favored the standard Wake Up Dead over this one, although as a base, it's not spectacular by any means, it likely doesn't have the substance to justify maturing in barrels. 2.75

Left Hand Brewing Company's
Wake Up Dead Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
2.78/5.00
Feb 20, 2016
 
Rated: 3.53 by Gryphon69 from Michigan

Dec 24, 2015
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.22/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Gritty black pour, reddish brown head on it. Roast, whiskey, heavy, like a shot.

Taste imparted milder barrel notes, mouthfeel was good, gave some thickness that kept the heat down. A little bit of dark fruit bitterness at times. Given the price and availability this ain't half bad. Far from top tier stuff, but when you see it on shelves at a decent price, it has a place in the world.
Dec 20, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by gibgink from Missouri

Dec 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.95 by WesM63 from Ohio

Dec 10, 2015
 
Rated: 3.87 by bencren from Texas

Nov 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.35 by LeeEvolved from Virginia

Sep 22, 2015
 
Rated: 4.1 by CraftFan5 from New Jersey

Jun 11, 2015
Photo of JMFP
Rated by JMFP from Delaware

4.25/5  rDev +23.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I don't know why the reviews for this are so inconsistent. I had it on tap at The Cambridge during Philly Beer Week, and thought it was excellent.
Jun 01, 2015
Wake Up Dead - Barrel-Aged from Left Hand Brewing Company
Beer rating: 79 out of 100 with 296 ratings