Left Hand Fade To Black Pepper Porter Vol. 3 Review #70

Left Hand Fade To Black Pepper Porter Vol. 3
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
ABV: 7.2%
12oz Bottle Poured Into A New Belgium Brewery Tulip Glass

Left Hand Brewery
Longmont, Colorado
Dick Doore
Eric Wallace
1993

Imagine Robert DeNiro sitting in your darkened parlour near the fire in his Louis Cyphre persona smoking a Tuscan cigar. This may be the beer with which to save (or lose) your soul. Dried fruit flavors entwined with smoky pepper and licorice embossed on roasty malt sweetness open on your tongue as the slow warmth of chilies creep up on your tongue and throat, finishing in an herbal smoke ring flourish.  

Appearance:
Sarsaparilla Colored Body
A Skimp Of A Ringed Head-Essentially Headless
Retention Recedes Leaving Scant Sheet To Skim The Surface
Forgivable Cause The Pepper Oils Cause The Head To Dissipate
Sparse Lacing Left Behind
Lacking Carbonation

Aroma:
Chili Peppers
Chocolate
Campfire Smoke
Whisper Of Licorice
Tobacco
Cedar
Light Vanilla
French Roast
Healthy Black Soil
Espresso
Slight Italian Herbs
Burnt Roasted Malts
Meaty Charcoal Nose

Mouth Feel:
Low Drinkability- The Pepper Oil Makes This A Tough One To Keep Drinking
Texture Has Quality But Could Be Pumped Up A Bit
Long Earthy Chili Heat On The Back Of The Throat In The Finish
Sweet/Spicy Balance
Balanced Infusion A Pretty One Dimensional Consistency
Medium Bodied
Tiresome Brew That Consists Of Overpowering Black Pepper In And Out That Tingles The Lips
Not Sessionable- A Real Chore To Finish Not Enjoyable To Drink One Let Alone Another
"Acid Reflux" Beer
Southern BBQ Quality Mouth Feel
The Aftertaste Leaves Your Mouth Dry Like A Dirty Ashtray
The Alcohol And Weird Licorice Notes Clash Giving You Unclean Flavors On Your Palate

Taste: Sweet, malty beginnings of chocolate bar, caramel, sweetened coffee, and toast. Very slight smokey character preceding a smooth albeit spicy chile quality with, thankfully, no more heat that needed. The hops, at best, add a light spicy hint to aid the peppers, but, for the most part, stay out of the way of the ’guest’ flavoring agent. Faint dark fruitiness. Malty, drying, lightly chile-accented finish.
 
1 1/2 Out Of 6
Don't Want A Sixer