Left Hand Brewing Co.TNT Weizen Doppelbock; Malt Beverage with Lapsang Souchong Tea

This beer bottle label spoke to me right away! Well it didn't really speak to me but I swear I did hear something. Probably in the next aisle over? Seriously, this label caught my eye! No? That would probably leave a nasty paper cut on my cornea. Anyhow, I noticed this intriguing bottle label immediately! Many of my favorite things are listed right here on the label! Weizen, doppelbock, TNT, and tea! Yes tea! I am a also a tea snob! TNT, great song and Wile E. Coyote's preferred explosive! The teapots on there....I could live without. Especially the one on the right! He looks angry and snooty and teapots with faces just overall creep me out.

This brew hails from the Left Hand Brewing Co. in Longmont, Colorado open for business since 1994. Now many years later they have racked up numerous accolades for the many fine beers they produce and are distributed in 29 states and 11 countries! TNT falls in Left Hand's limited production category which I believe is produced on a biannual basis. This beer is brewed with Lapsang Souchong Tea. This is a black tea originally found in the Fujian Province of China. What makes Lapsang different in the tea world is it is smoke dried over pine fires that impart a very smoky flavor to the tea leaves. Intrigued yet? Let's take a look at the rest of the ingredients!

This beer comes in a nice 22 oz. bomber. A quick pop of the top and a pour down the middle of the glass produces a creamy mostly diminishing light brown head with good lacing sitting on top of a deep brown brew.

The aroma is smoky sweet. This may sound weird but it reminds me of beef jerky! Pemmican Teriyaki Beef Jerky to be exact!

Smoky sweet with a hint of dark chocolate. The finish is reminiscent of an Islay Scotch with the peat really coming through. Very full bodied, creamy and thick.

Overall I really enjoyed this beer. Pleasanty surprised at the smoky taste. Hats off to Left Hand Brewing for really making the tea and bear combination work. Well balanced. If you want to try something really different, give it a try! $7.99 for a 22oz. bomber here in Ohio. I really liked it but be warned this isn't a typical beer. The smoke is really out front in the taste and the aroma!

The people at Left Hand Brewing must be ACDC fans because I believe I detect an ACDC parody on the side of their bottle! "Women on the left of me, men on my right. Ain't got no corn, ain't got no rice. I'm just malty nice. Cause I'm TNT!" The late great Bon Scott would be proud to see one of his early masterpieces referenced on a beer label! So I guess the obvious musical pairing here is Bon and the boys from down under! TNT from 1976's High Voltage! This recording has one of my all time favorite covers with Angus Young in his school uniform and trusty Gibson SG. Also of note, Bon wails on the bagpipes on "It's a Long Way to the Top"! Classic! TNT needs to be played loud! Maybe it will rattle the smirk off that snooty teapot's face!