Dark Horse 4 Elf Winter Ale

Brewed by Dark Horse Brewing Company
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Marshall, Michigan USA

18-Sep-06 (12 oz bottle: Obtained 15-Apr-05 in trade with Eyedrinkale, thanks Mike!) I might as well say this right up front... This beer is frigging amazing! I’m drinking nirvana. It brings peace and tranquility to my hectic life. All of life’s worries are completely forgotten as I savor each and every drop of this delectable beverage. This Vintage 2001 winter ale from Dark Horse is about five years old now and is wooing me in just about every possible way with a wonderful complexity of genuinely delicious flavors and a terrific evolution from start to finish. The initial attack: rich, dark, moderately bitter, roasty malts combine with sweet, dark fruits and plentiful spices (especially nutmeg and clove), and are balanced by a mild cherry-like tartness that’s makes me reminisce about some of my favorite wood-aged dark ales. Tremendously flavorful, and so many flavors, all in exceptional balance. A light smokiness begins to emerge in the mid-palate, increasing intensity for a delightfully smoky finish. And given the age, I’m amazed that the typical chocolate and earthiness I get in most aged dark ales isn’t present. In other words, I think this beer still has much more life in it and would still be amazing a few years from now. The nose shows a more chocolaty maltiness, not so much roast, but the nutmeg and clove are ever-present. Inarguably full-bodied and round right into the long finish, but with the bitter roast and spices lingering on the palate for several minutes, even the mere suggestion of a cloying nature is outside the realm of possibility. Carbonation is still ample but gentle on the palate. The color of the light-blocking body is deep, deep, deep, deep brown with a bit of ruddiness at the edges. Fairly small, tan head when poured, but given the age of this beer, it’s entirely forgivable as far as I’m concerned. Nevertheless, a modest ring of bubbles clings to the edge of the glass for the entire session. I’m not one to gush so effusively over a beer very often -- I’ve had a lot of amazing beers in my life, but this beer is truly one of the most complex and exquisite holiday ales I’ve ever had. I had no idea this beer was this good or this RARE. I’m really sad that I drank this beer at home alone instead of at O’Brien’s so my other Ratebeer buds could experience just how incredible this beer is. I bow my head in appreciation to the talent that was responsible for making this bottle of beer. And a second bow to Mike for magnanimously sending me this rare treat.

Very dark ale, spice flavor can’t quite place, good blend between the hops and maltiness, very good seasonal beer

Bottle thanks to dukefan. Deep mahogany with a decent sized beige head. Aroma is delightful with notes of chocolate, clove, spruce tips, ginger bread, pumpkin pie and allspice. Taste is of roasted malt, chocolate, spruce and pumpkin.

Bottle thanks to dukefan. Pours a dark brown with orange hues and beige head. Aroma is spicy, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, ginger and spruce. Flavor of strong clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, malt and alcohol. Mouth feel is heavy body with low carbonation. Overall, a very interesting beer, this is Christmas in a bottle.

An excellent winter warmer in August while watching Aaron Rodgers shred up the Buffalo Bills in a preseason game. Ironic that this one is called "4" elf since it was this game that cemented the fact that Rodgers is currently a better QB than the guy who wears number 4 in the twin cities. Anyway, the beer was good. Murky dark brown with a little crud on the bottom and a thin tan head that was gone fast and laced a little. Aroma of nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, malt, toffee and allspice. Taste of clove, nutmeg, toffee, toasted nuts, cinnamon and light alcohol. Creamy mouth feel and a spicy peppery finish that does have some warming effects – odd for a 6.5 percenter. Pretty good stuff.

ogglethorp rules! dark brown pour. small tan head. Christmas cookie/cake in a bottle! Caramel, toffee, raisins, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, coffee cake...damn the flavor is the same! Spices abound. Sweetness but not cloying. I want more. Please.

courtesy of frampin. pours dark brown with beige head. Aroma is just wonderfully loaded with spices; ginger and cinnamon. Just felt like sniffing a pine tree. Flavor, spices are as in aroma, very present, mostly ginger and cinnamon. Malt is also to be noted adding a ncie chocolate profile to the beer with hitns of cocoa nibs. Medium carbonation, and seems to be more than the announce d6.5%. Interesting festive beer for sure.

Bottle thanks to Kan for this one. Dark brown to opaque with beige/tan head. ARoma is spicy, cinnamon, right on the money christmas aroma. Flavor is nutmeg, cinnamon, intene, slight coffee, once again, like christmas, dry. Medium to light body. Tasty but wouldn’t want to have more than one bottle at a time, thanks kan!