Mike Loves Beer

Tonight at Laser Wolf in Fort Lauderdale the beers of Left Hand and Victory will grace the handles including some rare and new beers from the two.  Here’s what to expect.

• Victory Braumiester Spalt
• Victory Mad King (the only keg in South Florida!)
• Left Hand Nitro Sawtooth
• Left Hand Beer Week Sauce Porter

The beers go on tap at 5 pm and is pay as you go.

Laser Wolf
901 Progresso Dr. Suite #101
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Tonight at Coffee District in Delray Beach, FL will be a Night(ro) with Left Hand Brewing.  I add that little ro on there because Chung at Coffee District has added two nitro taps to his newly expanded draft system.  And Left Hand’s local rep, Jason Ingram, is taking full advantage of the opportunity.

On nitro tonight they will present Milk Stout and Sawtooth ESB.  I have had both on nitro before and they are absolutely incredible beers when done as such.

I also here there may be a couple special kegs and bottles available for the event as well.  So head over to Coffee District tonight at 7 pm.  There is no cover, just pay as you go on what you drink.  You can talk to Jason about all that is Left Hand and have a great evening.

Coffee District
325 NE 2nd Avenue #104
Delray Beach, FL 33444
561.455.0541

Name – Wake Up Dead
Country – United States
Type – American Imperial Stout

I’ve talked before how some breweries have a punk rock mentality with the way they do things.  If their are breweries that are punk rock then Left Hand Brewing are metal.

It started last year with the release of Fade to Black and continues this year with the new Wake Up Dead Barrel Aged Imperial Stout.  Of course this is a tip of the hat to the classic Megadeath song for those that didn’t know.  And you couple the name with some outstanding label artwork and you have a very metal beer I would say just from the looks.

But like many metal bands is there any substance beyond the look of metal?  Well I guess we shall see.

I crack open the bottle and pour it into my nonic pint glass.  It comes out a very, very dark brown color.  If you hold it up to the light it isn’t quite black.  There are some really nice deep red hues along the edge of the glass.  And it is topped off by a sandy colored head.

I was surprised that the nose wasn’t very strong.  I got some subtle hints of wood and cherries but that was about it.

The taste seemed packed full of the barrel taste, wood and some vanilla.  It is pretty sweet all the way through.  And there is a roasty character to it but the wood just takes over.  I don’t say this all too often but I think this brew is a bit hot.

It is by no means undrinkable but I really think this beer will benefit from some age.

I don’t know if this is just a reboot of the Barrel Aged Imperial Stout that Left Hand used to make.  I had that a little while back and enjoyed the 2009 version.  So if it is then I can already say it benefits greatly from some age.  And if anyone wants to confirm or deny that for myself and my readers please do so.

So does the beer look metal?  Yes it does.  Awesome name and incredible label art.  Is the brew itself metal.  It might be with time.  Just like any starting out band they can have the look down and even have a buddy that knows Photoshop make them up a sweet logo but practice will make them a good band.  Give this beer some time and it very well may turn into something good.

Grade - B-