I love sequels.

After all, what’s better than getting to revisit the worlds that’ve inspired us? The first voyage to these lands sees us falling in love, realizing we’re being changed irrevocably, and then making lifetime commitments. But the subsequent trek? Well, that’s the honeymoon, with garters torn asunder and bed frames busted in half.

That’s not to say that all successors are worthy additions to a franchise. Many aren’t. And some are goddamn abominations. But those sequels that fire on all cylinders? Magic.

The Empire Strikes Back. The Godfather Part II. Die Hard with a Vengeance. Ghostbusters II. Aliens. Terminator II. Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey. Predator II. Temple of Doom. The Two Towers. Army of Darkness. The Dark Knight.

You get the point.

Today, I’m applying my love for sequels to my penchant for Friday beer-drankin’. Instead of guzzling any run-of-the-mill, first go-around brew, I’m sippin’ on the third member of a veritable beer franchise.

Today, I’m drinking Fade to Black Volume 3: Pepper Porter.

The Left Hand Brewing Company certainly isn’t pulling any punches with this third installment of the Fade to Black series. It would seem that the potable-craftsmen are consciously trying to challenge the palates of Beer Nation’s citizens. Consider, if you will, the description of Pepper Porter listed on the brewery’s website:

Imagine Robert DeNiro sitting in your darkened parlour near the fire in his Louis Cyphre persona smoking a Tuscan cigar. This may be the beer with which to save (or lose) your soul. 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.

Holy. Moly.

I poured Pepper Porter into a standard glass and took note of its hues. The ale settles into the glass as an absolute abyss, impenetrable by light waves and adorned with a thin cappuccino-colored crown. However, when I looked at the stream flowing from the bottleneck into my glass, I noticed that the beer actually has a dark mahogany quality to it.

When I took a whiff at the mouth of my glass, I was first greeted by the Nutty Dwarf who was resting on the shoulders of Smokey Juggernaut. In a way, I was reminded of smoked almonds. Ya know, the ones you snack on `cause they’re delicious! As I continued walking down Olfactory Road, I came across the wayward pilgrims known as Boozy Breeze and Punch o’ Pepper. My nose actually began to scrunch up, both delighted and beaten by the elevated ABV and the inclusion of spiciness.

Needless to say, I was excited to drink.

Taste-wise, Pepper Porter brings quite a bit to the table. My tongue was first bathed in a sensation of grim sweetness, a flavor-combination not uncommon for a rich porter. It’s a dark brew, for sure, but there’s nary a trace of bitterness to be found. To this end, I think that this concoction might lend itself to being served with dessert. However, buyers must beware: after swallowing, my mouth was awash in a peppery-aftertaste. This might be off-putting to the unsuspecting drinker, but I actually enjoyed it, as it seemed to inject an additional element of warmth into the drinking experience.

The light carbonation and creamy mouthfeel only reaffirmed my belief that Fade to Black (Volume 3) could be served with dessert. Hell, pitting a bowl of vanilla bean ice cream against this porter in alternate swallows seems like it could be a transcendent post-dinner exercise. If you’re less inclined to snack on some sweets but still looking for food possibilities, I’d guess that using the brew in a marinade would give a steak a real black-pepper uppercut.

Fade to Black Volume 3: Pepper Porter is not going to be funneled by fraternity pledges. It’s not going to pounded by college bimbos who need liquid excuses for hooking up with strangers at bars. It’s not going to be used in any case races. And for that, it should be grateful.

The Left Hand Brewing Company has proven that ingenuity can be evoked in sequels. Pepper Porter is a truly unique beer, and by giving it a whirl a drinker will be able to actually add experience points to the `ole life-meter. If you have even a fleeting desire to sample a rich, peppery, smokey, smile-inducin’ brew, look no further.

The brewery compares its product to DeNiro in Angel Heart. That’s fine. But I think I see Left Hand’s third incarnation of Fade to Black as more comparable to Marsellus Wallace.

And for that, I give a most-appropriate mark: A