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-