Equally Good in Either Hand
Written: Jul 05 '00 (Updated Oct 15 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: lighter body but full flavor
Cons: Not available on the east coast
The Bottom Line: Left Hand Black Jack is one of my favorite porters, though it is MUCH better on tap than in the bottle.
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| martytdx's Full Review: Left Hand Black Jack Porter |
Updated 12/22/2000
When I moved to Boulder in 1995, I was a novice, an acolyte-to-be in the world of beer. I knew the low end Bud, Busch and MGD. I knew some of what I thought were premium beers - Yuengling, Molsen and Moosehead. But I was in for a rude awakening - these beers were nothing.
When I reached the microbrewing capital of the country (although Seattle contests this), I was immediately served a Fat Tire - I never looked back. After that singular experience, I dove into trying new beers from the area, sticking particularly with the local ones. Not too long afterwards, I discovered Left Hand Brewery from Longmont, CO. Right around the time that I discovered them, this brewery started REALLY getting noticed by the industry as a whole. Their premier brew at the time was Sawtooth Ale, a fairly full Pale Ale with quite a kick. I didn't usually like Pale Ales, but this one was pretty good.
I was working in a bar, and the guys from Left Hand would stop in a couple of times a week. Over time, I got to know a couple of them, and they were always good about handing out samples of potential brews that they were handing out. It was my good fortune that I was one of the first people to try their Black Jack Porter. From the moment I tried it, I was hooked. Left Hand had produced a winner, something that doesn't come easily to a man who loves his porters. But the bottle with the Jacks of Clubs was a succulent treat. Now to get a supply of it.
Where I worked, we had been serving Sawtooth in bombers for years. It was only through persistent marketing by the guys from the brewery, as well as prompting from the staff, that we eventually got it on tap. Thankfully, this made way for a new favorite - Blackjack Porter.
The beer is dark but a little lighter in consistency than most dark beers. There is a sweet chocolate taste to it, but with a bitter edge that you would expect from a porter. In fact, it hovers towards the subtle ranges of stouts in its character. Brewed with malt chocolate and Kent Golding hops, it has a strong taste which clings to the edges of your tongue as you swallow it, keeping you interested until the next sip.
Unlike a lot of porters, this one isn't very heavy, so you can enjoy it as a starter or a full-night beverage. I personally like the tapped version best (of course) because it holds a bit more flavor and a smoother consistency. The bottled version is a little thinner but still holds to the standards that the guys at Left Hand started with. It's nice to have them in 12-oz. bottles now, though - bombers (22 oz. bottles) can be a bit cumbersome in a crowd.
I recently was able to have a bottle here in PA - I was amazed to see it this far east, and snapped it up as soon as I noticed. It was a glorious treat to sample this black gold once again. Usually, I find myself drinking Yuengling's version, which is somewhat lighter and sweeter than this, so getting back to a classic was great.
I only wish that they still made my other favorite - MotherLode Gold. It's been discontinued in favor of more popular flavors, but hopefully will make an appearance for at least the duration of my next trip back to Colorado. Update 12/28/00 - from Left Hand:
"Motherlode will never make a come back, a lot of folks miss it also. The reason why, is that the yeast was the only yeast we used for that beer and it was very expensive and difficult to keep alive. Also, as Left Hand has gone towards the English style ales, Motherlode doesn't fit the theme anymore.". Too bad for me...
So, if you find yourself hanging out in Boulder, CO wondering, "Just which one of these new-fangled microbrews am I going to try", use your Left Hand to choose - and then choose Blackjack.
Medals and Honors
2000 Gold Medal, Brown Porter G.A.B.F.
1995 Gold Medal, Robust Porter G.A.B.F.
1994 Bronze Medal, Traditional Porter G.A.B.F.
r e l a t e d COLORADO r e v i e w s
Boulder
West End Tavern (Boulder, CO)
Rocky Mt. National Park
Great Sand Dunes National Monument
Red Rocks Park
Great American Beer Festival
Fat Tire Ale
Ojo Caliente, NM - not quite in Colorado, but close.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
martytdx
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 - Top 200 |
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Member: Marty
Location: New Jersey
Reviews written: 478
Trusted by: 177 members
About Me:
Doing what I can to try new places, restaurants, books and beers.
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