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Bittersweet Nitro
Left Hand Brewing Company
- From:
- Left Hand Brewing Company
- Colorado, United States
- Style:
- Sweet / Milk Stout
Ranked #245 - ABV:
- 8.9%
- Score:
- 90
Ranked #8,603 - Avg:
- 4.05 | pDev: 9.38%
- Reviews:
- 58
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Aug 17, 2022
- Added:
- Nov 08, 2016
- Wants:
- 5
- Gots:
- 33
Big & bold, Bittersweet Nitro is the ultimate expression of our classic milk stout. A special blend of Indonesian and Ethiopian coffee beans weaves rich berry notes with spicy undertones into our 8.9% imperial milk stout. Combined with the super smooth mouthfeel of nitrogen, the result is like a chocolate-covered espresso bean that melts in your mouth. Rich and robust while staying chocolatey and creamy, it’s a Bittersweet treat.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by izraelc:
Reviewed by izraelc from New York
4.25/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
The regular bittersweet is good but it's even better in nitro. Pours dark. Light foam. Big roasted coffee aroma. Rich chocolate and dark roasted coffee body. Finishes sweet with a little bitterness. Silky smooth. Fantastic.
Apr 18, 2021More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Peach63 from New York
4.42/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.42/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Ebony with a 1" creamy, tan head, which lasts. Heavy, glass clinging lace.
Aroma of coffee, cocoa, roast malt.
Taste is strong coffee, dark chocolate, roast malt. Astringent.
Full body, light carbonation. creamy, dry finish.
One of the best coffee stouts.
Dec 19, 2021Aroma of coffee, cocoa, roast malt.
Taste is strong coffee, dark chocolate, roast malt. Astringent.
Full body, light carbonation. creamy, dry finish.
One of the best coffee stouts.
Reviewed by EmperorBevis from England
3.99/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.99/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Finally got this bring over present from Jamie, it being a big old tallboy crafty craft can from the states
Pours a jet black body with barely controllable tan head
Aroma is macho mocha
Flavour is big bitter coffee
Oct 21, 2021Pours a jet black body with barely controllable tan head
Aroma is macho mocha
Flavour is big bitter coffee
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina
3.83/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.83/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16 oz can vigorously poured (upended) into a .5L beer glass.
Appearance. Nearly black and opaque in the glass. Originally produced three layers but settled to the usual head over body. The beige head, as expected with a nitro, was creamy and very durable while the body was nearly black and opaque.
Aroma. Black coffee, not fresh. Hops. Dark chocolate.
Flavor. Better than the aroma suggests but bitter for style ... certainly one the most bitter mill stouts I've tried. As promised, it's robust with strong inputs from coffee, hops and dark roasted grains.
Mouthfeel. Full, very smooth body with soft, medium carbonation.
Aug 22, 2021Appearance. Nearly black and opaque in the glass. Originally produced three layers but settled to the usual head over body. The beige head, as expected with a nitro, was creamy and very durable while the body was nearly black and opaque.
Aroma. Black coffee, not fresh. Hops. Dark chocolate.
Flavor. Better than the aroma suggests but bitter for style ... certainly one the most bitter mill stouts I've tried. As promised, it's robust with strong inputs from coffee, hops and dark roasted grains.
Mouthfeel. Full, very smooth body with soft, medium carbonation.
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia
4.21/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
16oz nitro can poured into a tulip
A- pours jet black in color with a two-finger creamy khaki colored head that has great retention long after the pour
S- aroma smells of fresh espresso and bitter dark chocolate, with undertones of milk sugar that gives a creamy vanilla note, as well as a hint of charred malt
T- bitter espresso notes are quickly followed by sweet notes of bittersweet chocolate, vanilla and whipping cream. The finish brings out notes of mocha, as well as a bold roasted coffee note and some charred malt. Lingers of coffee and cream
M- medium body with a creamy and velvety mouthfeel that continues into a silky finish, abv hidden well
O- a solid milk stout that drinks just like a cafe mocha, the nitro additional adds to it as well
Jul 30, 2021A- pours jet black in color with a two-finger creamy khaki colored head that has great retention long after the pour
S- aroma smells of fresh espresso and bitter dark chocolate, with undertones of milk sugar that gives a creamy vanilla note, as well as a hint of charred malt
T- bitter espresso notes are quickly followed by sweet notes of bittersweet chocolate, vanilla and whipping cream. The finish brings out notes of mocha, as well as a bold roasted coffee note and some charred malt. Lingers of coffee and cream
M- medium body with a creamy and velvety mouthfeel that continues into a silky finish, abv hidden well
O- a solid milk stout that drinks just like a cafe mocha, the nitro additional adds to it as well
Reviewed by dcscientist from Colorado
4/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I had this on tap at a pour-your-own place, and I was surprised at the large foam head, given that this is a nitro beer. Possibly operator error I suppose... but anyway, it's pretty good, though it took me a few sips to get the bitterness since the coffee dominated. I guess that's what you get when a non-coffee drinker drinks a coffee beer, right? I liked this one but some of their other nitro beers are better.
May 18, 2021Reviewed by TheTRUTHSTL
1.25/5 rDev -69.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1
1.25/5 rDev -69.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1
I’ve tasted over 2000 beers and this is by far the worst beer I’ve ever had. I don’t drink coffee and reminded me the smell of straight black coffee. It tasted just like black coffee but cold. To make things worse (1) 12oz. can gave me a headache. However LeftHand makes an awesome Peanut Butter Milk Stout.
May 15, 2021Reviewed by KT3418 from Colorado
3.92/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Lol in my stupor I apparently reviewed the non nitro one so I had to delete that and redo it here since I have the nitro. Going from memory I wasn't mind blown and im still trying to figure out if I even like nitros in general but the coffee flavor was good and overall a solid beer.
Update: so I definitely don't think nitros are for me but this was definitely a littler better than I rated I think. The coffee flavor was really smooth.
Apr 28, 2021Update: so I definitely don't think nitros are for me but this was definitely a littler better than I rated I think. The coffee flavor was really smooth.
Reviewed by Scotchboy from Idaho
3.92/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16oz nitro-can poured into a pint nonic; pours that textbook-nitro-stout dark-brown-to-black with a cascading dark khaki head. Lots of fresh coffee aromas with a present bitterness and a light-to-medium dusting of cocoa/chocolate. Coffee comes across very fresh and strong with mild berry and earthy characteristics. Very smooth nitro body carries a mild hints of booze. Very easy drinking, a little more than I expected but still good.
Apr 26, 2021Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado
3.43/5 rDev -15.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.43/5 rDev -15.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Nitro-can (16 fl oz):
Soft on the palate and creamy as is expected in a well executed nitrobrew. Coffee character is a bit too faint and inexpressive in my view, failing to really showcase a diverse or deep coffee flavour. Chocolate malt and lactose sugar sweetness tempers any coffee bitterness.
Well balanced overall, hiding its ABV well and managing its push-pull between lactose sweetness and coffee/roasted barley bitterness impressively well. Bittersweet indeed...
B- / WORTHY
Apr 23, 2021Soft on the palate and creamy as is expected in a well executed nitrobrew. Coffee character is a bit too faint and inexpressive in my view, failing to really showcase a diverse or deep coffee flavour. Chocolate malt and lactose sugar sweetness tempers any coffee bitterness.
Well balanced overall, hiding its ABV well and managing its push-pull between lactose sweetness and coffee/roasted barley bitterness impressively well. Bittersweet indeed...
B- / WORTHY
Reviewed by jjamadorphd from Florida
4.34/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Nitros are so entertaining, and their even better when they taste good, like this one...
...What a beautiful looking beer, perfectly black with that "Guinness head" on it, the smell is all coffee - bitter with a hint of sweetness, just like the beer itself when you taste it. What I like about this is that you don't really smell or taste the booze. You definitely feel it, like the velvety smoothness of the mouthfeel, it hits you as you enjoy the drink. Overall, a very good nitro, one that is better than most nitros I have had, and that's been very recently as well...
Apr 11, 2021...What a beautiful looking beer, perfectly black with that "Guinness head" on it, the smell is all coffee - bitter with a hint of sweetness, just like the beer itself when you taste it. What I like about this is that you don't really smell or taste the booze. You definitely feel it, like the velvety smoothness of the mouthfeel, it hits you as you enjoy the drink. Overall, a very good nitro, one that is better than most nitros I have had, and that's been very recently as well...
Bittersweet Nitro from Left Hand Brewing Company
Beer rating:
90 out of
100 with
165 ratings
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