Dark Horse Plead the 5th Imperial Stout

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

In short: A monster stout. Mega-full body, somewhat chocolaty and more drinkable than it should be
How: Bottle by way of JCB. Thanks a lot Jason, that’s a kick-ass beer.
The look: Black body topped by a medium tan head with low retention
In long: That thing is loaded with dark malts, the bottle is optional, they could serve this in a plate with a fork and a knife. Black chocolaty malts and more black chocolaty malts. Low-medium medium roasted level. Flavour of chocolate similar to that of a chocolate cake or maybe nougat, but not a black bitter chocolate bar here. Tar, molasses and other flavours you can find in a extra-strong imperial stout. The full body mouthfeel is incredible here, round and pillowy. Alcohol is incredibly well hidden, feels like a 6% session stout with a huge heavy body. It doesn’t have the complexity/richness of some of the best mega-heavy-stout (i.e. Dark Lord) but this was nonetheless scarily easy to drink for its size. Being the drunk pub-crawler that I am Plead The Fifth is a weekly ritual for me. But it’s the first time I drink the beer.

Bottle: Near black with a finger of brown head. Heavy aroma of roast and coffee with light chocolate. Very rich and smooth. Tastes roasty with chocolate and espresso. Again, a very smooth blend and balance. Light smokey and woody notes. Finished dry with a little ash and light bitters. Overall quite excellent.

Bottle courtesy of BlackForestCO. Pours a thick viscous crude motor oil black with a nice rich brown head. Aroma is coffee, chocolate, roasted barley. Flavor is coffee, chocolate, hops, very nicely balanced. Awesome imperial stout.

Botella. Thanks a bunch for sharing this one Plovmand. Pitch black colour with a nice tan head. Aroma of roasted malt indeed with coffee and choclate. Great mouthfeel. Flavour of roasted malt with coffee, chocolate and a pleasant bitterness. Well lasting pleasant roasty malty finish.

Bottle. Pitch black body with a thick brown head. Lots of roasted malt, chocolate and dark sugar. Smooth creamy thick body. Lots of roasted malt, coffee, chocolate and some hops i flavour. Alchohol is very well hidden. With a slightly more hops it would be fantastic.

Roasted aroma with coffee and mild vanilla, fine imperial stout aroma. Medium to full bodied. Flavor is also strongly roasted with same coffee and vanilla, hops dominate in drying aftertaste. Fine IS.

about 33cl bottle, thanks a lot plovmand for sharing. aroma of coffee, roasted stuff. flavor is well composed, rown sugar, chocolate, sweetness.

Thanks again BillVanE! Finally got a chance to try this wandering through his cellar, and it was great. Nice roasted malt upfront in the nose and every sip i took. A nice smooth taste that has a bit of an alcohol burn at the end, but i wouldn’t have guessed it was a 12% burn. Everything an Imperial Stout should be without going way over the top, which adds to the drinkability of it. One of the best beers ive have from Dark Horse, and would love to have more.