Wake Up Dead
Left Hand Brewing Company

(initial review from March 2018) Not as thick&rich as some imp.stouts yet complex, subtle flavors of java, raisin, licorice&roasty goodness. Very smooth fooler of a 10.2%er!

(2nd review from November 2023) See initial review. And here's another one that doesn't seem to taste as flavorful as it used to.

(todays review) See previous reviews. PKG JUN 18 2025[!] (& hopefully always refrigerated for a 9 month old, which doesn't help things tastewise). Same reaction as 2023, it's still a good RIS & very affordable but not nearly as punchy flavorwise as pre-pandemic versions.

 

Black colour with a creamy head.
Aroma: roasted malt, cacao, coffee beans, dark chocolate, burnt hay.
Taste: dark chocolate, cacao, roasted malt, whisky. Fairly dry, yet with some sweet-ish flavours. Creamy mouthfeel. Some alcohol and spices.

RB transfer

On tap this is pretty good when fresh.

355 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet Stavanger Verksgt. ABV is 10.2%. Black colour, moderate tan head. Aroma of roast malts, burnt breadcrumbs and mild coffee, a hint of liquorice. The flavour has the same elements, also some fruity notes of prunes, hints of dark chocolate and smoke, decent bittering hops in the finish.

Delicious Imperial Stout! I'm not sure it's fits the definition of a Russian as there is not much of a cocoa taste, maybe a touch of dark chocolate. This beast is all coffee with a slight dried fruit taste (raisins?) in the finish.

Black with a beautiful, creamy head (nitro version). Roasted malt, raisins, and chocolate in aroma. Taste follows with rich malty sweetness and roasted bitterness at the end.

 

Black color, medium sized tan, good retention, lacing.

Not much aroma. Some dark chocolate and black licorice?

Coffee grounds, crisped brownies, dark licorice, soy sauce. Very bitter and earthy.

Medium feel, moderate carbonation, slick upfront but finishes clean and dry.

A decent imperial stout. A bit underwhelming, but certainly not bad.

Drinking on a large snifter .
Pours a dark brown, almost black, with a moderate tan head.
Smells of cocoa and dark roast.
Good morning feel.
Tastes of chocolate, coffee, dark roast.

A decent RIS...

Having been making some RIS's for quite a while I think I have some insight, if only a little bit. I can tell you, from my perspective I find it muted when it comes to roast, and a bit less creamy and thick than what I am used to. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed it quite a bit from one of my favorite brewers.

The pour was stout black with a 1 finger tan head which left impressive lacing. Good looking stout.
The taste was very well balanced between chocolate and cacao, breakfast blend and espresso; just a touch on the bitter side but that in no way affected my enjoyment of the beer.
The feel is very lightly viscous, which it almost had to be to carry all the flavors in this one.
OA, solid RIS, maybe not in my top five but I will have no trouble finishing the 4 pack.

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a stemmed tulip glass

The beer pours nearly black with ruby highlights when held up to the light. There is about one fingers worth of tan head that slowly recedes leaving a small ring, and very little lacing.

The aroma is big and roasty with notes of chocolate, licorice, dark fruits, coffee, lightly charred wood, and a hint of smoke.

The flavor is similar to the nose; big and roasty with chocolate, licorice and coffee. There is also lesser notes of charred wood, molasses, and just a slight booziness. Medium bodied, and slightly slick on the tongue.

Overall, this is a solid RIS that is well balanced between the big sweet and bitter notes, with just the right amount of booziness to even it out. Pleasant without being overbearing. I think this is a good example of the style, but does not really stand out above the pack.

Clear, dark brown pour, appears black and opaque in the glass; capped with a dense, rocky and sculpted head, khaki hued and very long lasting. Beautifully soft and fragrant nose of light mocha and ethereal sweet chocolate; very mild zesty spiciness. Nicely balanced taste profile; soft and bitter chocolate backbone; dried leather; old grain; decent sense of booziness. Heavy mouthfeel yet exhibiting a nice rounded softness; pillowy; a rounded alcohol brightness offsets the residual sugars.

This is an imperial stout to savor. It offers nothing truly outstanding, it doesn't degrade it's imperial stout roots. Call this a journeyman imperial stout, Russian (perhaps), and something well worth exploring.

ABV: 10.2%; pouring temperature: 60 °F; bottling info: BEST BY 09/19/2028
Source: local purchase

 

Look: It pours very dark brown with a tan head. Head retention is low.

Smell: It has roasted aromas up front with some coffee. There is a faint burnt quality in the background and a hint of smoke.

Taste: It has roasted and coffee flavors with some licorice mixed in. There are some earthen elements in support with herbs and slight citrus.

Feel: It has a full body with pleasant alcohol warming.

Overall, a good combination of malts and hops makes this a very pleasant beer.

12 oz bottle, 2022 vintage

Pours almost black, some light gets through the edges of the glass. Khaki colored head that fades. Aroma of dark chocolate and a little dark fruits. Similar taste, not overly complex but i like the drier finish. Medium to fuller bodied.

Nitro pour at Old Chicago-Lakewood (Union).Velvety pour, jet black with the appropriate silky head, Roast grains follow through from aroma to taste, some chocolate as well. So smooth, its easy to forget this is a 10% beer,