 Ernest (4197), Boulder, Colorado, USA
Oct 26, 2007
500 mL bottle. Head is initially small, frothy, brown, fully diminishing. Body is opaque black (flashlight tested). Aroma is moderately to heavily malty (chocolate, caramel, roasted grain, coffee), with notes of vanilla, juniper, alcohol, earth, currant. Flavor is heavily sweet, lightly bitter, lightly acidic. Finish is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter. Medium to full body, creamy texture, soft carbonation, moderately alcoholic. Yeah, it’s that good. As some people have told me, it’s reminiscent of Bells Expedition (or DFHWWS on a good day). Elegant despite its size, and very rich. An Imperial that doesn’t clobber you, but doesn’t lack muscle either. Expedition is about as good, and cheaper in this country, though, so this is admittedly a tough sell due to the very high price tag ($21 or so in CO). But rest assured, it’s not a $40 drain pour like Baladin Xyauyu, and a single bottle can last you two nights. Worth trying without question, but for stocking up on? Too pricey for me.
estoppel (1014), Buffalo, New York, USA
Aug 12, 2008 Bottle #02648. Very dark black, minimal tan head, sweet nose. Vile. I allowed this to age and dry out for more than a year, but it was still vile. My girlfriend actually kind of liked it, in a way (she said to imagine a shot of espresso with way too much sugar, and just take a sip or two), but I found it to be so cloyingly sweet as to be undrinkable, as did the other two people who tried it with us. So the gf decided to add some caramel creme liqueur to this monstrosity and it was, surprisingly, better. But the beer itself is simply vile. (The gf wants me to add that it curdles like an Irish car bomb when your add the liqueur).
DougShoemaker (2560), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Aug 7, 2008 Aroma is roasted malt, dark chocolate and some fine coffee notes, jet black, a tiny tan head and a bit of lace. Flavour is a full on roast malt, coffe for days, dark chocolate too. Full bodied, very well balanced, the alcohol is noted but appreciated. Beautiful!
radiomgb (1730), Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Aug 7, 2008 Deep black in colour with a lingering but thin tan coloured head, some light patchy lacing. The aroma is sweet, only small amounts of alcohol which surprised me, roasty, molasses, chocolate and liquorice. The flavour is quite warming, lots of dark chocolate, some coffee, quite sweet with some raisins as well. Warming and sweet mouthfeel, large body, medium carbonation. Finishes quite warm, long and sweet.
Wow, this one put me on my ass. It packs quite a punch. Very intense but at the same time never overwhelming. The alcohol never became a distraction which is testimate to the brewer. Well done.
500ml bottle obtained in a trades with jasonmech77 and TheCheeseMan, thanks Jason and Dan.
Opened on February 29, 2008.
#01367.
Mitch_Wayne (77), Kokkola, Finland
Aug 7, 2008 Updated: Aug 15, 2008This very much hyped brew was a must try and I was pretty excited when I got my bottle in that nifty looking black box. When I finally dared to go all the way and stripped it and opened it up I was all ready to rock: let’s try this maverick brew.
I was left with mixed feelings, dark horizon was certainly unique and interesting but also a bit too unbalanced. Looks beautiful in a glass, matching the name pretty well. The aroma has a lot of alcohol and soy sauce, the liquorice is also present with burnt notes. The mouthfeel is thick and this is certainly what you would call vinous, the range of tastes is astonishing in a way but the alcohol is a bit too domnant for me along with the sweetness.
Overall a must try but not one of my absolute favorites. Have to try the second edition this year and see if they improve the recipe.
fishingnet (800), Brandon, Florida, USA
Aug 6, 2008 Updated: Aug 12, 2008Bottle courtesy of Retorp. Thanks Joe for letting me pull this out of your cellar when the last thing we needed to do was drink more. Pours black with a small tan head. Huge aroma of vinous dark fruits, roasted malt, coffee, dark chocolate, and caramel. Taste is the same as aroma but less prominent. Full mouthfeel with a moderate to strong amount of bitterness and warm but smooth alcohol. A damn fine brew.
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