Dark Horse Reserve Special Black Bier

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

<i>Bottled.</i> Okay, what’s with the crude drawing of the donkey from "Hee Haw" on the label. Anyway. Pours Pretty stoutish black, with a thin tan head. Big smell and taste of coffee, toasted carob, hint of licorice. I think there’s a pretty good-sized charge of hops here, and some of it may be American C&C. Somewhat of a Kingsford briquette aftertaste and quite a lot of bitterness. Perhaps this harshness might be covering up harshness from alcohol, but I definitely taste that, too.

This was yummy! Black colour with a thick brown head and tons of lacing. Lots of roast aromas, almost burnt malt. The flavour is phenominal, one of the best porters I’ve had! There is a bit of coffee like flavour in there, but not bitter or astringent flavours. I get chocolate and roasted malts again. Dry finish and a nice mouthfeel that is either missing from all other porters, or puts this one a bit out of the regular porter category.

Pours black with small tan head. Big chocolate malt and nutty aroma. NICE!!! Flavor is quite bitter. Malts, chocolate, roasted nuts. Also a little hop bite. Good stuff.

Bottle courtesy of hippie4beer pours black w/ a fluffy, foamy head. Light mouthfeel w/ bittersweet, dark chocolate and dark roasted malt flavor. Good brew.

Via trade,sorry can’t remember from who. Anyway, black with strong roasted aroma. The taste was extremly bitter which surprised me. Hardly any carbonation. Sharp bitter finish. I don’t know, I like my porters alttle sweeter. This was an o.k. brew, but I’m just sayin........

Really very dark brown, nearing black, with a fluffy head reminiscent of a pile of cocoa powder. Mostly sweet aroma, but with a healthy dose of roasted malt and light coffee. Brown sugar, caramel, hot chocolate, maple syrup, pumpernickel bread and some mild, Earthy hop character. The body is smooth and creamy, but lacking a touch in heft. The sweet malt is there in the flavor, but the roasted bitterness really takes over and dominates in the mouth. The balance is nice and the alcohol is extremely well hidden. A nicer beer than I was expecting.

Opaque black, with an extremely fine medium mocha head that sticks around and leaves nice lacing. Nose is a touch of roast malt over brown bread, with an excellent hint of candied fruit. Excellent broad spectrum of malt flavors. Manages to be both subtle and complex. Bit of leafy hop as it warms. Great stuff! Complexity carries through to the palate, where the dark, bready malt leads the way, but is well-supported by yeasty, chocolately, and coffee notes. Medium-full in the mouth, but there is excellent acidity to keep it balanced. Very long. This batch is well-carbonated, and the beer is incredibly drinkable for its strength. A fine beer for a session or a meal.

This beer pours a shiny black color with a thin light beige head that turns wispy quickly. Very little lacing apparent. Roasted malt and caramel aroma. Medium-bodied and smooth with a pleasant roasted character. Coffee, malt and hops flavors make this one enjoyable. The finish is hoppy and leaves a charred wood aftertaste. One of the better Porters I have tasted in awhile.