Dark Horse Fore Smoked Stout

Brewed by Dark Horse Brewing Company
Style: Smoked
Marshall, Michigan USA

Velvety, oil black pour produces a thick fudge milkshake of a head, which eventually settles to a thin, transparent glaze. These non-imperial Dark Horse stouts really achieve another level of blackness for what they are. Aroma is full of tangy, earthy peat smoke and acrid coffee grounds; the acidic, light roasted coffee character seems to give a fresh, lively zest of grapefruit and tangerine, which is odd given that the initial impression is all dirty, wet and oxidized. No shortage of dark chocolate and toffee malt underneath. Tastes very slick and somewhat watery; though very full in texture, most of the flavor qualities are delayed to mid palate and finish. That tepid first note is one of peppermint and buttery soft taffy, which gains volume and visibility in the muted, roasty middle, and sort of stumbles into dominance after a failed coup of smoky, rough edged campfire malt. Thinly smoky. So reserved. Confusing. Buttered toast, raspberry jam, nothingness. Palate is luxuriously soft and full; a rich pipe tobacco smoke in a slow coating. It’s hard to describe how out of snyc that quieted, meek flavor is with the rest of the experience, especially with this soft, visceral and firmly muscled mouthfeel of a bloody, cocoa dusted flank steak. Finish brings the rustic smoked meats and juicy, ballsy dark coffees without reservations, which gives a frustrating picture of what this beer might have been all the way through with a little more willingness to kick ass.

thanks to bullzeye for sharing this. black pour with reddish lacings. chocolate and smoke on the nose. thickness is great and the smokey flavor was awesome.

Bottle. Not being a fan of "smoke" beers, I was very wary about trying this beer. The sell for me was that it was a stout and not a porter. For starters, I was fairly impressed with the very black, thick pour. No head what so ever. Not very much there with the aroma though. What is there are notes of smoke (obviously) and chocolate. Upon tasting it, I was surprised, but not impressed. A very thick beer! It almost feels like drinking thinned chocolate syrup. Most of the smoked malt was completely masked by the overwhelming chocolate flavors. Its almost a little too chocolaty, without enough of the smoke. However, I shouldn’t be complaining about this aspect since I’m not so hot on smoked beers. This definitely made me more open to trying more. Its another solid beer from Dark Horse, but I would rather be drinking their Oatmeal stout

Finally rating this one. Poured black with a small tan head. Smelled of big smoke, like a hearty bacon breakfast around a campfire. Taste was chocolate, smoke, some roastiness, with a dry finish. Nice and smooth. This is by far one of the better smoked beers I have had. Not too big on the style, but this one is very nice.

Poured from a 12oz bottle and served in a shaker. This stout poured an oily, opaque jet black with a thin head of dark tan foam that lasted throughout most of the glass. Some slippery lacing was left behind. The aroma of the beer was made up of smoke, light chocolate, heavily roasted malt, and also some earthy yeast notes. The flavor consisted of mildly bitter heavy roasted notes, strong smoke, strong espresso roast coffee, and some mild chocolate. The mouthfeel was medium-bodied with mild carbonation. If you enjoy smoke and roasted/charred malt, this will suit you just fine.

Had a sample of this at the Blind Pig in Champaign. Got to meet Mike, DH’s marketing guy, and Noonie, one of the brewers. Very dark pour with brown edges. Chocolaty, roasty aroma. Flavor is similar, although I didn’t really enjoy the smokey aspect of it. Smokey flavor was not overpowering though and this is a solid beer; this just isn’t a style that I actively seek out.

very dark brown, almost black, no head. not sure what i am sniffing, but it is musty. full-bodied. flavor of coffee , and, like the commercial description claims, a smokiness reminicent of barbeque. i didn’t find it all that enjoyable.

12 oz. bottle. Poured black with no head or lace. Nose was peaty, wet earth, burnt wood. Taste was heavily roasted malts, bakers chocolate, & mild coffee. As the beer warms a bit the smoky peat flavor comes on a little stronger, but not annoyingly so. Low carbonation and a somewhat dry mouthfeel.