Imperial Stout
Left Hand Brewing Company

Imperial StoutImperial Stout
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From:
Left Hand Brewing Company
 
Colorado, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
10.4%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.82 | pDev: 12.04%
Reviews:
433
Ratings:
524
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 17, 2018
Added:
Jan 27, 2002
Wants:
  42
Gots:
  22
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by kkipple:
Photo of kkipple
Reviewed by kkipple from South Carolina

3.89/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Bomber split with a friend. Always the best way to go, really.

A. Hmm, dark brown / black with a small bone-white head that doesn't quite cover the beer. Poor retention, could've used more here.

S. Heavy roasted malt and coffee up front, somewhat creamy with hints of chocolate and a chalky aspect to it. Basic, but well blended and reserved.

T. Fairly sweet, dark malt with an odd honey note, not quite burnt enough, but a decent amount of roast character comes through. Toasty and mildly warming. Requisite coffee and cocoa in the backend, slight hop bitterness. Finish is smooth and malty.

The verdict? Well on one hand this ain't as thick or complex as I'd like, but the lack of intensity means it's easy to drink. On the other, it is too basic and sweeter than I would've liked; Left Hand plays it safe here. On the third hand, if I brewed this up I'd be quite proud of it as there's actually very little wrong.
Jan 17, 2008
More User Ratings:
Photo of TheRandall
Rated by TheRandall from Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Why in _uck would Left Hand retire this beer? What a shame. It is amazing.
May 17, 2018
 
Rated: 4.15 by BobsBrewReview from Missouri

Jan 29, 2018
Photo of andrenaline
Rated by andrenaline from Canada (ON)

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap nitro stout that went down like candy. Unreal. Could drink this stuff all night.
Nov 14, 2016
Photo of puboflyons
Reviewed by puboflyons from New Hampshire

4.43/5  rDev +16%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
From the 12 fl. oz Nitro bottle with an enjoy by date of 06/08/17. Sampled on October 23, 2016. Serving in the upper 40 degree range.

The pour is jet black with a soft, nitro-influenced tan head that laves a lot of lacing.

The first aroma sensation I get is dark roasted malts and then licorice, anise, and a touch of booze.

Full body that is very smooth and creamy.

The booze is more noticeable in the taste but there is still a mildly sweet dark roasted malt flavor and a semi-dry finish.
Oct 23, 2016
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.52/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Gives a hefty dark black as night vibe, with a beige head in the 1/2" range. Aroma was fire fire fire, smoke, char, roast.

Taste was right up the alley of all the normal stout descriptors, char, roast, coffee, chocolate, thick, bitter. Good mouthfeel, amazed how big of a beer this is abv wise in the mouthfeel. Very affordable and available, nice.
Apr 14, 2016
Photo of stakem
Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottled 9/19/07 poured into a tulip. The brew appears black in color with a khaki head that fades leaving patchy lace.

Smells delicious like decadent milk chocolate, coffee and slight rootbeer/anise spiciness.

Tastes sweet and boozy with licorice, chocolate, roast, leather, earth. Like the nose, there is a bit of a cola/root beer/birch beer spiciness to the finish that is peculiar but interesting and enjoyable.

Medium to full bodied, modestly carbonated and quite enjoyable.Talk about a sleeper of a beer. This was not tasting its age and I feel like it aged quite gracefully with some unique nuance.
Feb 03, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by BEER88 from North Carolina

Jan 31, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by Grackos from Florida

Jan 24, 2016
 
Rated: 3.73 by djrn2 from New Jersey

Nov 08, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Oct 23, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by heysuz from Indiana

Oct 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3.88 by DucksFan16 from Tennessee

Sep 05, 2015
Photo of ThaneMcC
Reviewed by ThaneMcC from Germany

4.21/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
With a vigorous pour (as directed) with copious light tan foamy head (2fb) and solid lacing. Smells of roasted malts, cocoa, dark fruits, molasses. Tastes of dark licorice, dark, semi sweet chocolate, fig/prune and a hint of smoke/leather. Despite the sweetness, very small floral hop influence and leaves a rather clean finish.
Mouthfeel is creamy, smooth, not quite full bodied but still a solid mouthfeel.

Overall, this is a tasty RIS – more complex than their nitro milk stout and equally good. I will pick this up wherever I can find it.
Aug 11, 2015
Photo of pat61
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

4.07/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours bright dark brown under a very finely bubbled 1” tan cap that hugs the side of the glass. The aroma is very muted and disappointing. Palate a little molassy sweet up front with roast and chocolate and hints of dark fruit that give way to a big bitter finish. It feel soft and luscious in the mouth with a big body and a little above average carbonation. This is a nice big beer but it is not as well balanced as some.
May 26, 2015
 
Rated: 4.35 by MikeDive from Florida

Jan 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.95 by WiggyKGB from Illinois

Dec 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Nov 27, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by lmaduells from Spain

Nov 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Hellpop65 from Kansas

Oct 27, 2014
Imperial Stout from Left Hand Brewing Company
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 524 ratings