Dark Horse Plead the 5th Imperial Stout

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

12oz bottle. Vanilla, black liquorice, rich, oily roasted malt, chocolate, dark fruit and some bright hops. Pretty standard fare for an Impy, but put together well. Pours a thick, oily near pitch black with a thick, but quickly fading khaki head. Toasted and brandy soaked vanilla bean, oily roasted malt, a hint of smoke and ash, some dark bitter chocolate and a touch of coffee on the tongue. Fairly thick and creamy on the palate, but somehow a bit more is left to be desired. Well put together, but not overly spectacular.

On tap at the Blind Pig in Champaign. Mike and Noonie from DH were there for the Stout Tasting party and it was a good time. Poured into a tulip glass, black with a small brown head sitting atop of the liquid. Roasted malt, dark chocolate, and just a hint of coffee. Similar flavor that got more and more complex as I let it warm. A little thin on the palate. I’m going to look for this in bottles because this will be a good one to age and come back to in a year or two.

Big thanks goes to Crosling for busting out this gem. Poured a thick, tar black with a great tan head that left nice lacing. Sweet, full aroma of chocolate and coffee. Flavor is based on the thick, sweet chocolate backbone with undertones of vanilla, a bit of unidentified spice, and roasty coffee. Thick and smooth, great textures. Great beer that I am glad I was able to try.

Darkest Mahogany no head,molasses and big fusel linement type odor not offensive but lets you know your not going to chug it and be conscious,medium to thin body , no carbonation , strong expresso and burnt malt flavor,some anise rum notes very warming,Please make more

2005, 12oz. bottle, with thanks to Duane for this treat I’ve been after for some time! Wow, pours the darkest oily black I think I have ever seen, with a difficult to rise thin covering of a dark brown head that drifts to a nice ring; minor lacing. Stunning in the glass! Aroma is dark chocolate, espresso, molasses, dark fruits and light vanilla. Flavor provides plenty from the aroma, with chocolate, espresso, and dark fruits in the forefront, and a nice roast and the slightest of hops bites on the backside along with a good overall warming. This is well done, and hits me just right! Sure hope I can trade for a stockpile when it’s released again...

12 oz. bottle via trade with kenb - Pours a thick dark brown color with no head. Aroma is chocolate, vanilla, dark esters, and roasted malt. Very nice. Flavor is alcohol, chocolate, and dark esters. Finish is slightly dry, bitter, and vinous. Medium to full body. A very good beer. Thanks Ken.

2005 bottle: Deep black core with a dark brown cap that instantly leaves. Awesome nose of peanut butter chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, bourbony plums. Velvetty body with soft carb. Milk chocolate body with underlying notes of raisins, plums and vinious fruits. A bit thin in the finish, but leaves a lasting dose of bittersweet chocolate and vanilla. Good stuff.

Blacker than black. Dark chocolate notes predominate. Easy drinker. A fine stout if you ask me.