Steph’s New Brew Review: Fade to Black, Volume 1

Steph’s New Brew Review: Fade to Black, Volume 1

Left Hand Brewing Company Fade to Black, Volume 1, an 8.5% ABV Foreign Export Stout

Appearance Black in color with ruby hues; tan head.
Aroma Notes of licorice, coffee, and molasses.
Taste Strong roasted malt flavors with hints of smoke; finishes with hints of coffee and licorice.
Mouthfeel Medium-bodied; silky smooth.
Overall This beer is exactly what I want when it’s cold outside. Delicious and comforting! I can’t wait to try the other beers in the Fade to Black series.

Left Hand Brewing Company says, “It’s that time of year when the day seems to fade away. Drifting further into the darkness with each passing day. Yes, we’re letting loose, from the noose (spiced beers), that’s kept us hanging about.”

Fade to Black is a series of seasonal brews from Left Hand, available from October through March each year. The packaging is the same, but a new style is introduced each year.  This initial offering first appeared in 2009.

Volume 1 is an 8.5% ABV foreign export stout. Volume 2, introduced in 2010 is a smoked baltic porter. Volume 3, first appearing in 2011, is a chili porter brewed with chipotle, Serrano, and ancho chilies. Volume 4, debuting in 2012, is a Rocky Mountain black ale, and in 2013 Volume 5, a black rye porter was added to the bunch.

Fade to Black, Volume 1 is brewed with Pale 2-row, Roasted Barley, Black Malt, Chocolate Malt, Cara-Aroma and Malted Wheat, as well as Magnum and US Goldings hops. This installment was the 2013 and 2010 Gold Medal Winner at the Great American Beer Festival in the Foreign Stout category.

Wanna pick this one up? Use Left Hand’s Beer Finder to locate Fade to Black!
Check out… this video of the Left Hand Brew Tour!

If you have a beer you think we should review, let us know!
And as always, toast our check-in on Untappd, and let us know what YOU think!

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