Dark Horse Raspberry Ale

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

On-tap at the brewpub, served in a pint glass. L: Unfiltered hazy, light colored caramel appearance with a thin beige head of sudsy foam that quickly dissipated into a fine bubbly skim. S: Raspberry jam spread over lightly toasted multigrain bread, framing the edges is slightly funky, earthy yeast. F&T: The soft carbonation leads to a watery feel in the mouth, I would have like more of a crisp, creamy feel. The mouthfeel is just too flat for me, especially for an ale fresh from the tap. The malts taste like your generic, average amber ale, biscuits and a little graininess, touches of toasted caramel. As advertised, the raspberries add a mild sweet tartness, too subtle for me, disappears as you near the end. Finishes on the sweet side, caramelized sugary malts with a largely neutral watery tartness, the aftertaste makes this a bit off putting, sort of like sugar water filtered through grainy, sourdough bread. The only beer that I have been truly disappointed with from Dark Horse, a brewer that I have a healthy regard for. This doesn’t have any of the rich and bold flavors I usually associate with Dark Horse, once again, quite disappointing.

Bottle pours a hazy golden color with a thick white head. There is little to no aroma. Light mouthfeel leads to a brew that tastes like a light beer with no raspberry flavor either. Not good.

12 oz bottle found in back of fridge wife bought on a Wi trip May 07. Thought at first this was past its prime but maybe not. Mild aroma of raspberries and some wheat. Hazy yellow body with particles floating all over the place. Flavor has some raspberry mild and some tart with mild to medium carbination. Belch on finish left a decent raspberry on the palate, go figure. Light on fruit flavor compared to most I’ve had from Wi.

Bottle. nice aroma of raspberry’s. the flavor was not very strong. overall a decent ale. nothing special

Bottle from Stine. Hazy yellow gold. Tart raspberry in the aroma and flavor. I felt it was rather dominant raspberry flavor with some wheat and lemon tartness. Odd that some say no raspberry at all, and some say it was strong. Either way, it was ok. Nothing special, but a decent fruit beer.

This tasted like a raspberry spritzer. Basically, carbonated water with a little raspberry syrup. Minimal beer flavor, mostly just seltzer. blech.

Poured a light golden with a lot of sediment. Had small white head. Aroma of sweet raspberries. Tasted a little bland with little hops, little grain, and a well balanced taste of fruit. Was a well balanced and refreshing beer but not one that I would buy again.

Pours cloudy orangish amber with white head. Very light raspberry aroma (wouldn’t have known it, if it wasn’t printed on the label). Flavor to match... not nearly enough to call this a Raspberry Ale...