Left Hand toasts 11th year

Modern Brewery Age,  Jan 24, 2005  

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The Left Hand Brewing Company of Longmont, CO, is now celebrating its eleventh year in business. The company has announced the release of three limited edition beers to mark the landmark year. The brands will be sold from the brewery, and in select accounts. These beers are all bottle conditioned in cork-finished, screen printed 750ml bottles.

First, the brewery has produced a special oak-aged, bottle conditioned edition of Left Hand Imperial Stout. Only 199 cases were made. "It has the same intensely dark licorice notes, resulting from the marriage of roasted malt and abundant hop additions, as the year-round version," says Eric Wallace of Left Hand. "The oaky notes waft a slightly smoky character through the beer, which benefits from the bottle conditioning, making the beer smoother, heftier and more complex at the same time." The company's Left Hand Widdershins Barleywine has also been given a special treatment this year, aging in oak casks for most of 2004 before being bottled (153 cases). "It is a barleywine to be savored now but will also age nicely," Wallace says. "Our tender loving care makes it smooth, with a nice balance of intense malt and hop flavors, ever mindfully respecting the British origins of the style." Lastly, Wallace reports the release of Tabernash Rye Bock, made with Munich and rye malt, and Perle and Northern Brewer hops. Only 123 cases made. "These beers are the zenith of the brewing craft," says Eric Wallace of Left Hand, "and, in our opinion, beer masterpieces comparable to fine art or great literature. For rigorous students and serious connoisseurs of brewing, these beers are our best efforts. The proof of our inspiration is in the bottle."

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