If you head north from the great brewing towns of Denver and Boulder, you will land in Longmont, Colorado. Longmont has its own brewery to boast, as Left Hand Brewing is nestled here.   Left Hand has been in the news lately, with victories at the Great American Beer Festival. They have also released Fade to Black, a brand new beer that is causing a stir among beer enthusiasts.

Fade to Black is a self titled Foreign Export Stout, which gives the hint that it may be higher in alcohol with a prominent roasted character. Fade to Black has a small and tan creamy head. Like the name implies, the color of this brew is as dark as night. The first whiff of Fade to Black is filled with enticing aromas of caramel and espresso. The roasted character is evident from the first sip, while flavors of coffee, caramel, and chocolate come together beautifully in this beer. There is a slight alcohol burn, but is neither surprising nor unpleasant, as Fade to Black clocks in at 8.5% ABV. There is also a noticeable hop presence in Fade to Black, especially on the finish. This full bodied, rich, creamy and delicious beer may only be brewed this one time, so we recommend savoring it sooner rather than later.

The side of the neck label of Fade to Black reads, “Volume 1, Foreign Export Stout.” Hopefully this is foreshadowing a series of unique and delicious beers to come. Left Hand has been known to brew up some extreme beers, such as Smokejumper Imperial Porter, which recently took home a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival. Volume 2 will no doubt follow in the footsteps of not only Fade to Black, but all of the other great beers brewed by Left Hand. Do you have a favorite brew from Left Hand?