Question / observation about Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by BradHarrington, Jul 27, 2015.

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  1. BradHarrington

    BradHarrington Initiate (0) Jun 9, 2007 California

    We have gone through a few six packs of this. We live in San Diego but wee started buying it in Atlanta because it wasn't available here. Over the past few months they have started shipping to San Diego.

    Thing is, we know this beer and what we have purchased here, has not been close to how it poured out of the bottle in Atlanta. Very similar in bottle there to how it drinks off tap. Super creamy with a big head of foam. The last 3 six packs we have purchased in San Diego have all poured with hardly any head at all and they are much coarser, rougher on the palate, Don't have much of that creamy richness that I expected. Also have a few bottles of their Nitro Wake Up Dead RIS and it is drinking the same way.

    I suspect we have a shipping problem, but am curious if anyone else has had the same experience. I picked these up from Whole Foods in La Jolla. It could be their doing, but somehow I doubt that. Any thoughts?
     
    #1 BradHarrington, Jul 27, 2015
  2. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Since I'm guessing that the beer is traveling even further to get to Atlanta, I wonder if this is batch variance, a packaging issue with a certain batch, or simply a difference in the age of the beer. Do these bottles have different best by dates from location to location? I wouldn't expect their nitro bottling to have the same level of quality control as more traditional bottling.

    If you haven't, try the regular version - it's really nice. I like pouring the nitro version less vigorously than suggested when I'm in the mod for it with much less carbonation bite.
     
    #2 zid, Jul 27, 2015
  3. elektrikjester

    elektrikjester Initiate (0) Nov 15, 2008 Georgia

    Freshness matters with the Nitro beers. So, first things first: I assume the beers are well within their dates, right? If so, then temperature might be the next mitigating factor. My experience has been that they pour better when quite chilled. So, you're opening them rather cold, right?

    If those two things seem to be in order, then I would take up the matter directly with the brewery. Make sure you can provide them with batch details, etc. Might be better for them to reach out to the distributor, IMHO. Naturally, they're going to be very concerned with how their beer is reaching your market.
     
    #3 elektrikjester, Jul 27, 2015
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  4. BradHarrington

    BradHarrington Initiate (0) Jun 9, 2007 California

    Well, I drank them soon after buying them, I have already learned not to save nitro beers. Buy them to drink them quickly. FWIW, these beers have no date on them. I picked them up in the last two weeks, it is hard to say what is going on. I drink them right out of the cooler. Have even put a few in the freezer first to see if that helped. The thing is, I have had some in Atlanta that were excellent.
     
    #4 BradHarrington, Jul 27, 2015
  5. Yargamo

    Yargamo Initiate (0) Jun 9, 2015 New York

    Same here in NY. Was majorly dissapointed, despite the flavor being intact
     
    #5 Yargamo, Jul 27, 2015
  6. tylerstravis

    tylerstravis Pooh-Bah (2,487) Feb 14, 2014 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah

    Are you sure you grabbed the one labeled 'Nitro'? They bottle two versions of their milk stout.
     
    #6 tylerstravis, Jul 27, 2015
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2015
    PatrickCT, rather and lambpasty like this.
  7. BradHarrington

    BradHarrington Initiate (0) Jun 9, 2007 California

    Of course. Know them both well.
     
    #7 BradHarrington, Jul 27, 2015
  8. tylerstravis

    tylerstravis Pooh-Bah (2,487) Feb 14, 2014 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah

    Cool, just the first question I would ask :slight_smile:
     
    #8 tylerstravis, Jul 27, 2015
    rather likes this.
  9. Yargamo

    Yargamo Initiate (0) Jun 9, 2015 New York

    The two packages look nothing whatsoever alike.
     
    #9 Yargamo, Jul 27, 2015
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  10. Dikfour

    Dikfour Initiate (0) Nov 18, 2014 Colorado

    Slightly off topic, but, how many other Nitro beers are widely distributed? Old Chub and...? I really don't know how or if nitro cans or, in this case, bottles travel well. Need to brush up on this.
     
    #10 Dikfour, Jul 27, 2015
  11. rather

    rather Initiate (0) May 31, 2013 California

    old chub is a bit different since it has a widget that holds nitrogen
     
    #11 rather, Jul 27, 2015
  12. BradHarrington

    BradHarrington Initiate (0) Jun 9, 2007 California

    Well, like I said, we have picked this up in Atlanta for a few years or so and they have ALL been terrific and what I have come to expect for the product.

    Another point I would make is that we picked some up from a previous round of shipments that showed the same. So, it wouldn't just be a matter of a bad batch.
     
    #12 BradHarrington, Jul 28, 2015
  13. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    At this point it might make sense to contact Left Hand Brewing directly and ask your question; it does appear to be a beer production issue.

    Cheers!
     
    #13 JackHorzempa, Jul 28, 2015
  14. BradHarrington

    BradHarrington Initiate (0) Jun 9, 2007 California

    I sent Left Hand a note, I got a response that the person at the end of the email was off work and away until 8-10-2015.
     
    #14 BradHarrington, Jul 28, 2015
  15. Eriktheipaman

    Eriktheipaman Pooh-Bah (2,303) Sep 4, 2010 California
    Pooh-Bah

    I also live in SD and have been drinking it a ton (stoked to have Left Hand here!). I used to drink it a few years back in Virginia and although it's been awhile they seem to be the same and still pretty tasty to me.

    Are you making sure to pour super aggressively into the center of the glass?
     
    #15 Eriktheipaman, Jul 28, 2015
  16. BeerBeast

    BeerBeast Pooh-Bah (2,491) Oct 9, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah

    Also, are you sure you're pouring the beer from the glass directly into your mouth? LOL
     
    #16 BeerBeast, Jul 28, 2015
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  17. lester619

    lester619 Initiate (0) Apr 17, 2009 Wisconsin

    I just discovered this beer myself recently when someone left a couple bottles in my fridge over the fourth of July weekend and have really enjoyed it. It has a very nice light sweet creamy finish that I really like. I don't really have any insight into your question. My guess is just variations between batches. Pure speculation though.
     
    #17 lester619, Jul 28, 2015
  18. Ieatlambfries

    Ieatlambfries Maven (1,344) Dec 5, 2003 New Jersey

    There's this beer called Guniness that has some pretty impressive disto...

    Back on topic. I too have experienced many more flat bottles of LH Nitro than ones with creamy nitro heads. And yes I hard pour it.

    I wish they would go to the can and widget format.
     
    #18 Ieatlambfries, Jul 28, 2015
  19. Dikfour

    Dikfour Initiate (0) Nov 18, 2014 Colorado

    Ha! Completely spaced Guinness!
     
    #19 Dikfour, Jul 30, 2015
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  20. Ieatlambfries

    Ieatlambfries Maven (1,344) Dec 5, 2003 New Jersey

    I don't blame you. I space on it for about 364 days a year. Then St. Patrick's day happens, I drink a few of them, and forget about it again till next year.
     
    #20 Ieatlambfries, Jul 30, 2015
    Dikfour likes this.
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