Dark Horse Reserve Special Black Bier

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

Bottle. Absolutely gorgeous aroma of roasted malt, coffee, espresso, supporting sweet alcohol, supporting bittering hops, working well with the coffee notes, giving them different edges. Nothing too fancy, but just everything I’d want in a robust porter. Flavor works together marvelously as well, bitter chocolate, sweet coffee ice cream, perfect alcohol presence. A stand-out in a category where beers are apt to get muddled in with the masses. Mouthfeel is creamy yet airy and silky at the same time. Again, just what I’m looking for, full-bodied and superbly drinkable. Is it a 5 in appearance? Tough to say...not much of a head...but this beer feels like a 5.0 to me, a glorious feeling, and the bubbles on the head that it did have were quite lively and glistening...so...a 5.0 it is.

I worship the ground that Dark Horse Brewers walk on. If I ever turn into a boozehound, they are partly responsible. It really doesn’t get any better than this. The Special Black Bier is really a stout, though not a super strong one--it drinks very easy. Not very complex--typical of most stouts--but a nice body. Dark Horse Brewery’s Uno Oatmeal Stout is also delish--recommended if you like this one. Last, their IPA is unusual and very good too.

I was very surprised by the rich flavor of this beer, It was recommended by a beer store. This is one of my all time favorite beer!

Wow! Killer! Great rocky, textured, foamy tan head with lots of lace. Opaque black color. Deep roasty malty aroma with the traditional aromas associated with that. Just a little dark fruit in the tast. Great body and smooth long finish. Close to being a session beer but not quite. A masterwork!. Having this draft at Bodega Brew Pub downtown La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Not a big aroma, but the flavor is HUGE. It is a perfect blend of coffee, chocolate and even a slight hint of smoke on the after taste. Clings to the palate and goes down smooth. Nearly Perfect.

Six-pack of bottles purchased at Flanagan’s in Appleton. This is an awfully good Porter -- I think it’s the highest-rated Porter I’ve sampled. Pours black and oily, with a dark tan foamy head that leaves nice lace. From the bottle, it has strong coffee and cocoa aromas, and those transfer to the flavor. Almost a baker’s chocolate flavor as it warms. EXCELLENT for a cold night. Despite the heavy aroma and flavor, this is quite sessionable. Trying to find other Dark Horse beers in the Valley

Very thick and rich for a porter...looks inviting! Great aroma: a lot of chocolate and even some espresso...a good dose of malts and vanilla. I really like it! The flavor is robust and more like an imperial porter, definetly. Great, creamy and thick mouthfeel. The vanilla comes through in the flavor, as does the coffee. Perfectly roasty. Yum!

Bottle shared with my brother. Thanks for this one!! Extremely pleasant sweet milk-chocolatey aroma. This can be smelled easily from afar. Awesome! Closer inspection of the aroma reveals more roastiness with slight oak notes. Magnificent! Opaque, pitch black color with a brown head and gorgeous lacing. Start is somewhat ill-defined, turning extremely roasted in the middle. Coffe-like with mild astringent oakiness to finish. DOesnt have the sweetness that the inital nose promises, but this is still very coffee-like and EXTREMELY ENJOYABLE.