Left Hand, let me shake your hand.

Left Hand Brewing Company of Longmont, Colorado recently started distributing their beers in Missouri. On Friday I picked up a mixed 12 pack from them containing three bottles each of four of their beers: Sawtooth Ale, Jackman’s Pale Ale, Haystack Wheat, and Milk Stout. I honestly had no expectations one way or the other, as I had heard little about this brewery. After working my way through the beers, I’m now definitely a fan.

First, a big nod of approval for dating the beers with a bottled on date. Thank you very much (even if a few are smudged and hard to read). This lets me know just how long the stuff has been sitting around. Second, a HUGE thank you for having fresh product come in the first shipment. So many breweries (I’m sure it’s not the breweries choice) arrive with product that is either old, or on the verge of being old that it really hurts their chances to establish themselves. The oldest beer in the 12 pack was the Wheat, which was bottled in late February. The other three were all bottled in early March. Very, very nice.

So, how were the beers? Right up my alley, thanks. They were very true to style, very cleanly brewed, interesting, and moderate in alcohol content. I started with the Sawtooth Ale, an Amber ale. Most Amber ales are a complete snooze-fest frequently with an over-powering dose of caramelly sweetness from heavy use of crystal malt. Not here. This baby was clean and flavorful with a very nice malt component, some light hops on the nose and a closing snap of bitterness. It also thankfully lacked the nutty flavor that several Colorado breweries to have in the “flagship” beers (yes, Great Divide and New Belgium, I’m talking about your DPA and Fat Tire – love you guys, but not those beers).

I moved on to the Jackman’s Pale Ale, and was again very pleased. Lovely dry-hopped nose an outstanding malt/hop balance in the mouth, and a nice pop of bitterness on the dry finish. Wow. Close to Three Floyds Pride & Joy for me, which is saying a lot. I do believe I’ll be getting a keg of this!

The Wheat was next, and boy was I surprised. I was expecting (yet another) boring American Wheat, when I got a very credible rendition of a Bavarian Hefeweizen! Lots of yeast character – clove, a touch of banana, and something more tropical (papaya?). Good balancing malt too. The only other domestic wheat that I’ve had that may best this is Kuhnhenn‘s fine example.

Finally, I got to the Milk Stout, which was a really nice rendition too. Lots of roast character, with a fullness to the body from the lactose. Again, a fine balanced beer, and a wonderful end to this introduction to Left Hand’s work. This is the sort of brewery that flies under the beer geek radar because of its focus on high quality renditions of classic styles, but I guarantee that I’ll be drinking more than my fair share. Welcome to Missouri, Left Hand!