Haandbryggeriet Dark Force

Brewed by Haandbryggeriet (Norway)
Style: Imperial Stout
Drammen, Norway

Bottle. Pours black with a big tan head. Nose is hard to pick apart, Some dark pit fruits with toasted malts. A bit of booze as well as the above mentioned. Brew seemed to be way over carbonated.

Black, opaque with a thin tan head that had minimal retention. Aroma was mostly of coffee notes bout there was a slight vanilla note to it. Flavor was subtle sweet with dark chocolate, a good coffee profile to balance it out. No real wheat not to it. A medium body to it. A good dry finish. Smooth all the way. Good.

very black in color with a thin mocha colored head and good lacing. light alcohol paired with sweet vanilla notes in the aroma faintly reminded me of vanilla extract. excellent vanilla and subtle coffee paired with a very mild sour tatse. nice thick mouthfeel and a slightly dry finish.

Black,with a rich brown head. Coffe and blueberry aroma Flavor is also coffee and blueberry, with the fruit flavors slightly more prominant. As it warm, vanilla and bourbon comes oyt. Very interesting brew!

Bottle **Summary** - With about a year and a half on it I decided it was time to crack this open. As I try to clear cellar space I have to dip into the good stuff every once in a while to keep the palate interested. There are only so many IPAs, pale ales, and session ales that I can drink before getting bored. This one comes highly recommended despite the price tag. **Aroma / Appearance** - A giant head presented a lovely contrast to the deep black oily fluid beneath. Sweet with hints of raisins, smoke, black coffee, cherry, and fresh chocolate it also contains pleasant fruity undertones. The total package is everything you could ask for in an imperial stout. **Flavor / Palate** - Chewy from the very start it coats the tongue and throat in a layer of flavor. This includes anise, smoke, coffee, raisins, dark chocolate, and a smooth lightly bitter finish. After this and the sour I think this brewery may get more attention in the future.

Pours deep brown with a medium tan head that diminishes quickly. Nice chocolate and coffee nose with a touch of licorice. The flavor is similar but a bit less full or complex. A bit thin in the body.

bottle, pours with a surprisingly short lasting mocca colored head and a deep black beer. lots of chocolate in the nose combined with a fresh fruitiness and a good portion of noble hops, simple but inviting. It develops nicely in the mouth due to the now very obvious fizzyness, nicely dancing on the tongue, releasing flavors of dry chocolate, sherry, beet molasse and fudge. The finish is short ,rather chalked and dry but with a good balance. Overall I only get the fizzyness from a wheat beer, no other thing reminds me of that style. The alcohol is warming but never hot or even burning, excellent! A not very complex but charming beer.

50 cl bottle. Pours a pitch black body with a large foamy brown head. Moderate visible carbonation. This head just won’t quit. Very chocolaty and roasty nose with some dark fruits, licorice, and a touch of alcohol. The flavor is a bit overly roasty for me, to the point where it’s actually pretty acrid tasting. A lot of dark fruits in there too, but so burnt and ashy that I just can’t enjoy it too much. Mouthfeel is full and fairly thick with a slightly oily texture and moderate fizzy carbonation. This just isn’t that pleasant to drink. Reminds me of chewing on a really burnt piece of steak. Bummer.