Dark Horse Fore Smoked Stout

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

From a 12oz Bottle. Purchased at Riley’s Wines of the World in Madison, WI. Pours a completely opaque, dark black color with a thin layer of fine bubbled tan head that quickly dissipates to a thin brown ring. Aroma of toasted hazelnuts and light charcoal briquette smoke blends mildly with some organic brown sugar and dark chocolate. Pleasant dimensions, but a little bit too subtle to be as enticing as it sounds. Light to medium bodied, softly carbonated mouthfeel; a bit undercarbonated. The smoked malt is a great touch; it’s subtle enough to add a satisfying layer of complexity without going out of control. Almost a little bit conflicting, as the juicy meatiness of the smoke conflicts with the dry roast bitterness of the roasted malt. Dark black chocolates and heavily roasted coffee linger with some charred alderwood. Dry, ashy finish. Like the other beers in this series, I feel this one could use a bit more mid-malty chewiness. Good execution and potential, but needs aa bit more body and malt complexity for my tastes.

Bottle. Pours pretty darn black with a little bit of a brownish head. The nose is chocolatey with a bit of toffee and peat. I’m shocked to see 8% listed here. Dark Horse keeps surprising me with that kind of thing. The flavor is filled with chocolate, nuts, coffee and a finish like barbeque sauce. I don’t get a lot of the meatiness or smokiness, it really is kind of tangy like a sauce, but even that is minimal. I’d say this is a stout first, a smoked beer second.

12 oz bottle. Pours syrupy thick black with amber at the extremities and an orange- brown head. The aroma is very chocolatey with some hints of hickory and a little bit of espresso. The flavor is bitter chocolate, coffee grounds, woody hops. Some hickory notes come out toward the finish, though more like wood chips than the smoke. Some ash and charcoal in the aftertaste. Very drinkable.

Thanx to Ogglethorp for this.pours black and thick like 20weight. No head formed but still had carbonation on the tounge.Lots of chocolate and smoke aroma.Mouthfeel was silky.Flavors of smoke, coffee and chocolate, close to a liquid campfire.finish was a little warming but overall delicious.

Bottle shared graciously by Slob. Appearance was brown to black, clear brown (not reddish or mahoganey) edges, weak lacing, especially for a stout. The aroma was smokey, barbecue, burnt peat, even some light grassy notes. The flavor was burnt, smoke, choco-cocoa, peaty, grassy, very similar to a scottish ale with some ash in it. The mouthfeel was silky and oily. This one didn’t win me over, but it was a neat experience and one that I’m yet again in-debted to my good tastin’ bud, Bert. Thanks, Bert!

Deep chocolate aromatic nose. Even the pour its self is black. Thin tan head, if you can call it that. This is some serious stout. A little chocolate up front. BIG long somewhat suripy toasted carmel and malted bitter ending. Nice warm lingering bitter aftertaste. Profile remains constant to the bottom of the glass. A serious stout for dark beer lovers.

Bottle. Thanks to solan for sending me this one. Pours a thick black body with a nice thin head. Aroma is of chocolate, malt, nutty. Flavor is of bitter chocolate, smokey malt taste. Sugary and slightly dry. Very smooth and the 8% is undetected. Nice brew, this one hit the spot.

Botle from the pops. This shit definitely black. Small tan head that fades. aromas of roasted malt, chocolate, smoke (but only cause I know it is supposed to be there). Flavor is full with light chocolate, coffee, hops, and a little more smoke than the nose, but still not overwhelming by any means. I like my smoke controlled. I smoke enough as it is. This is a very drinkable "smoked" beer. And I like that. It makes this style accesible.