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| Left Hand Brewing Company | |
|---|---|
| Name | Left Hand Brewing Company |
| Location | Longmont, Colorado, United States |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Founders | Eric Wallace; Brian |
| Industry | Brewing |
| Products | Craft beer |
Left Hand Brewing Company
Left Hand Brewing Company is an independent craft brewery founded in Longmont, Colorado, known for its porter and flagship beers. The brewery developed regional and national distribution through partnerships and festival appearances, becoming a notable presence in American brewing circles. Left Hand has influenced Colorado's craft beer scene and engaged in collaborations, charity events, and sustainability initiatives.
Left Hand's origins date to the early 1990s in Colorado, emerging amid the growth of craft breweries such as New Belgium Brewing Company, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Deschutes Brewery, Anchor Brewing Company, and Samuel Adams. Founders drew inspiration from pioneers like Jack McAuliffe and contemporary figures at Stone Brewing, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Founders Brewing Co., and Bell's Brewery. Early expansion paralleled craft brewing developments in Fort Collins, Colorado, Denver, and Boulder, Colorado. Left Hand participated in regional events alongside Great American Beer Festival, GABF, Brewers Association, and touring festivals like Oktoberfest-style gatherings and the Garagiste Festival. Over the decades Left Hand navigated market shifts driven by mergers and acquisitions exemplified by Anheuser-Busch InBev, Constellation Brands, Molson Coors, and independent consolidations among Boston Beer Company and Heineken. The brewery also collaborated with peers including Avery Brewing Company, Odell Brewing Company, New Belgium, and Avery alumni.
Left Hand's primary facility in Longmont sits in the Colorado Front Range near Rocky Mountain National Park and Boulder County. The brewery complex features packaging lines, a taproom, and a barrel-aging cellar akin to operations at Bruery Terreux, Goose Island Beer Company, and Russian River Brewing Company. Equipment acquisitions and upgrades referenced trends at Prost Brewing Company and Uinta Brewing Company; Left Hand invested in fermentation tanks, bright tanks, and canning machinery similar to systems used by Deschutes Brewery and New Belgium Brewing Company. Tours and taproom programming mirrored practices at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens, Firestone Walker Brewing Company, and Lagunitas Brewing Company, attracting visitors from Denver International Airport and the Front Range corridor. The brewery's logistics integrated with cold storage and distribution partners like those servicing Whole Foods Market and regional craft beer retailers.
Left Hand's portfolio includes flagship offerings, seasonal releases, and specialty barrel-aged beers comparable to offerings from Founders Brewing Co., Bell's Brewery, and Goose Island. Its best-known beer types resonate with styles popularized by Thomas Hardy, Samuel Smith, and modern craft brewers. Product lines reflect categories present at Great American Beer Festival competitions: porter, stout, IPA, lager, and Belgian-style ales. Collaborations and limited releases paralleled projects by Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and Russian River Brewing Company while aligning with retail presences at Total Wine & More and Kroger. Packaging formats included bottles, cans, growlers, and draft kegs distributed to accounts such as Rock Bottom Restaurants, Ballast Point Brewing Company outlets, and independent taprooms.
Left Hand's brewing methods employed malts, hops, and yeast strains akin to those used by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, BrewDog, Full Sail Brewing Company, and Avery Brewing Company. The brewery experimented with barrel aging in barrels sourced or inspired by cooperages linked to Heaven Hill Distillery, Buffalo Trace, and Woodford Reserve styles, similar to programs at Goose Island and New Belgium. Water chemistry management reflected Colorado practices seen at Odell Brewing Company and Left Hand peers in the Front Range. Hop varieties included those common in American brewing such as Cascade (hop), Centennial (hop), Citra (hop), and Simcoe (hop), paralleling ingredient trends at Stone Brewing and Bell's Brewery. Yeast handling and fermentation schedules aligned with practices observed at Russian River Brewing Company and Great Divide Brewing Company.
Left Hand expanded distribution across Colorado and neighboring states, entering markets alongside distributors that handle brands like New Belgium Brewing Company, Sierra Nevada, Founders Brewing Co., Samuel Adams and Deschutes Brewery. Retail placement occurred in craft-focused outlets such as Whole Foods Market, Total Wine & More, Safeway, and independent bottle shops frequented by patrons of Ballast Point Brewing Company and Lagunitas Brewing Company. The brewery participated in national beer competitions and trade shows like Great American Beer Festival, Craft Brewers Conference, and regional beer weeks in Denver and Boulder, Colorado. Distribution partnerships mirrored those used by mid-sized craft brewers navigating consolidation pressures from Anheuser-Busch InBev and Molson Coors.
Left Hand received medals and recognitions at events including Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup, and regional competitions alongside winners like Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, and Founders Brewing Co.. Accolades for porter and stout styles placed the brewery in line with awardees such as Russian River Brewing Company and Goose Island Beer Company. Industry publications and critics who cover breweries like Draft Magazine, BeerAdvocate, and RateBeer have featured Left Hand's products among notable craft offerings.
Left Hand engaged with community organizations and regional nonprofits similar to collaborations seen between New Belgium and environmental groups associated with Rocky Mountain National Park stewardship programs and Boulder County initiatives. Sustainability efforts mirrored practices at New Belgium Brewing Company, including waste reduction, recycling, and energy-efficiency programs employed by peers like Sierra Nevada Brewing Company and Deschutes Brewery. Philanthropic partnerships and charity events involved local festivals, taproom fundraisers, and collaborations with Colorado arts and outdoor recreation organizations such as groups operating in Boulder, Longmont, and the Front Range.
Category:Beer brewing companies based in Colorado