 A few weeks after beginning production, it was discovered that the name Indian Peaks was already in use by another Brewery, so the name was changed to Left Hand, in honor of Chief Niwot (the Arapahoe word for "left hand") whose tribe wintered in the local area.Left Hand's doors opened for business on January 22, 1994.Their first batch of beer was Sawtooth Ale In October of that year.