Left Hand Fade to Black, Vol. 1–Foreign Export Stout

*Note: Fade to Black is a series; each year the bottle is the same, but the contents change. Each year's beer is noted in relatively small type on the neck label.

Left Hand Brewing Company
Longmont, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 3/3
Beautiful black color. Nice, creamy (if thin), lasting head.

AROMA: 3.75/4
Coffee, chocolate, roasted barley. No appreciable hop aroma.

TASTE: 8.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.5/4: Malty, fades to bitter.
Aftertaste: 2.75/3: Lasting bitterness–coffee, chocolate, strong roasted flavor.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Some sweet notes–caramel–fading to bitter. Would be nice with more of a warming feel.

OVERALL: 3/3: A really solid stout–an impressive showing.

TOTAL: 18.5/20–Keep 'Em Comin'

NOTES:
Matt: I would have liked a creamier head, but that's a minor consideration. Nicely bitter, rare in a stout. An unexpected surprise.
Ben: A great stout, good for any occasion. Good paired with a steak.