Dark Horse Reserve Special Black Bier

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

12 oz. This is more of a stout than a porter. Pours dark brown with a dark tan head. Aroma is roasted malt, coffee, some some and chocolate. Flavor is roasted malt, chocolate and coffee and hint of smoke. A fine beer it is but this is not a porter. This is an much a stout as Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfest is. The last thing I wanted on a hot humid Chicago summer day is this. Will keep the rest till the fall and enjoy them during Bears games. Re-rate: 7/10 and 7/11/08. Regardless of what this brewer calls this beer it is just plain delicious. This beer is a better coffee stout than Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfeast and a more complex beer. Flavor is full of roasted malt and coffee. Will buy again.

I picked this 12oz bottle up back in Michigan-enjoyed back in Ireland. Pours pitch black, and a bit thick-very enticing. There is a small 1/2 finger cream colored head that fades to lacing around the glass. The smell hits you right away and it’s roasty, chocolatey, and coffees. It is really great and between the appearance and smell it really gets you ready to taste it. Very smooth, plenty of chocolate and coffee tones in the taste as it goes down. There is a bit of earthiness and smokiness as some other reviewers have indicated, but it’s mostly all chocolate and coffee. There’s enough carbonation to let you notice it, but it doesnt dominate and feels good in your mouth. It isnt as full as you might expect if you judge it straight from its pour, but its great to the last drop. I’ll definitely recommend this to others and try to get my hands on another the next time that I see it. It reminds me of a couple of Foudners beers and that’s always nice for me.

12oz bottle from Acknud. Pours opaque with a milk chocolate head. Nose of toffee and chocolate. Finish was very chocolaty and and creamy.

I love these dark horse stouts and porters. They all pour pitch black from the bottle with a small tan head. Aroma was roasty, lightly burnt, chocolate. Flavor was very smooth and chocolatey. Had a decent body on it too and no alcohol was noticeable. I wish ohio and michigan could switch beer.

bottle: pours a very black with a good creamy espresso foam coloured head. aroma is a great roasty adn some fantastic dark chocolate. the flavours mirror the aroma jsut seem more poerful on the palate. the roast and dark chocolates are near perfect. the finish is excellent with more of the chocolate.

Smells of sweet barley. Pours a thick chocolate head. Strong bitter palate. Very rewarding. This is a special porter. Dark Horse knows how to find unique notes roasted in intense flavors. Bravo.

Poured dark black with a nice caramel colored head. Aroma was subtle but favored a strong coffee smell. Taste was of strong coffee with a hint of dark chocolate. Coffee flavor was a bit overpowering at first but finished very well. Palate was smooth all the way through.

Poured into pint glass - pitch black, mocha brown head dissipates to a thin film...porter or a stout? Subtle aromas of nuts and roasted malt. Wow this is good - flavors of sweet dark chocolate, roasted malt, black coffee bitter aftertaste, and yes hops as an afterthought. If we are calling this a straight up porter this may be the best I’ve had, and even better than most imperial stouts I’ve had. Love it.