Dark Horse Rod

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

On tap at Capone’s. Ha, ha, should I be enjoying Dark Horse’s Rod? Poured a deeper and cloudy/muddy amberish color with a smaller sized off white head. Aromas of some citrus, toastiness, and a trace of herbalness. Tastes of stronger herbalness, toasted grains, citrus, and some caramel. The herbs are definitely more present in the tastes.

From the tap this poured a slightly hazed chestnut body topped with a full, off-white head. Lots of lace. The aroma was a floral/herbal/grassy spiciness over a quiet malty sweetness. In the flavor the malts are a combo of nuttiness and a soft caramel sweetness. The blending of hops and a handful of spices mash them all into an earthy, herbal bitterness, not unpleasant, but not inspiring, either. Don’t know about its aphrodisiac qualities. My car had broken down and I was too fatigued from doing several miles of hiking for my parts to react. Not a bad session ale.

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Draft at Hopcat. Poured hazy brown color with an average frothy off-white head that was mostly lasting with good lacing. Moderate to heavy toasted malt, hoppy and herbs aroma. Medium to full body with a smooth texture. Medium to heavy bittersweet flavor with a medium to heavy bittersweet finish of moderate duration. Interesting complex beer and I hope the stimulative factors do not work, I am traveling from home.

Sampled on draught during Autumn Brew Review 2009 in Minneapolis, MN. Pours a semi-clear amber colored brew with a thin off-white head. Aroma of caramel malt, some citrus zest, mild herbs and a touch of vegetable. Taste is medium bodied, some tart berries, herbal spice and a hint of multi-grain malt. Finish is semi-dry with some mild bitterness that quickly disappears.

On-tap at the brewery. Reddish brown, IBU of 10, with taste from an unlikely team of herbs found in various teas, including hibiscus. Above average mouthfeel.

Bottle at GABF 2008. Clear brown - offwhite head. Dark bread, nutty, ryebread, caramel, sweetness, raisins, dried dark fruits. Plain.

Draught at Capone’s: Aroma of malts, light citrus, light hops, and slight chocolate. Very deep amber/brown in color with a small, tan head that diminished but lasted throughout as a thin film on top. Hazy. Very sparkling. Lightly sweet, light to medium bitter flavor. Tastes of hops, citrus, malts, and grains. Medium body. Slightly dry, slightly chalky texture. Average carbonation. Hop and malt finish is lightly sweet and lightly bitter.

Draft at Nessun Dorma in Milwaukee. The beer pours to a deep hazy red-brown body with a creamy foam tan head. The aroma is a nutty malt with herbal hops and a nice specialty malt base. The flavor builds upon the nutty specialty malt base with the herbal hops and some really hard to describe things. It was blended really nicely, however. The palate was medium bodied with a rich malty texture. This beer was very good.