If the book doesn't have a good cover...

"If a book doesn't have a good cover it will stay on the shelf."

Label artist Nate Dyer

A librarian told me that recently when we were discussing beer packaging. Like it or not labels play a big role in our decision to buy, well, pretty much anything. If you put a great beer in a terrible package it's not going to sell (as much). And similarly if you put a mediocre beer in a great package, it will fly off the shelves (at least at first). I don't think this is necessarily a good or bad thing but rather 

I recently tried Left Hand's Fade to Black (because of the label) and was happy to discover that it is one of those rare--and wonderful--examples of...
great packaging with a great beer inside!

Left Hand Brewing company has barely been around for two-decades but they are committed excellent beer and with that diligence have earned themselves a loyal following and growth that couldn't be stifled by even the most shaky financial environment.

Left hand describes the flavor profile in their third edition of Fade to Black as:

Dried fruit flavors entwined with smoky pepper and licorice embossed on roasty malt sweetness open on your tongue as the slow warmth of chilis creep up on your tongue and throat, finishing in an herbal smoke ring flourish.

The first flavor that hit my palate was roasted malts, hard and heavy. There were also pleasant mocha and coffee notes and I got a hint of licorice but missed the "chilis" completely.

Overall, with as dark as the beer pours--and it pours hella dark--it was actually pretty light on the palate. Dare I say this is a warm weather porter?

I give it a 2/3rds full pint glass--keep up the good work Left Hand!

Prost!
-D.Lux