 SamGamgee (1140), Isla Vista, California, USA
Jun 29, 2009 12oz bottle. Almost black color with a beige head. Milk chocolate aroma with emphasis on the milk part; creamy, burnt, and a bit smokey. Dry and roasty in the finish with some chocolate sweetness to start, and a firm hop bitterness. Medium bodied with medium carbonation. You might guess that this was lower in abv by how it drinks.
illidurit (725), Santa Cruz, California, USA
Jun 28, 2009 Bottle courtesy SamGamgee. Pours blackish with brown highlights and a dark tan head. Aroma is straightforward milk and dark chocolates, with maybe a lactose note. Super roasty flavor with black, roasted, burnt barley notes and an even bitterness. Dry, maybe a bit astringent. Still pretty good.
zathrus13 (1232), Mount Laurel, New Jersey, USA
Jun 25, 2009 Bottle, thanks Shawn. Pours black, with a brown head. Aroma is chocolate, coffee, malt, and some hops. Flavor is chocolate, hops, coffee, and dark fruit.
Brigadier (1097), Chagrin Falls, Ohio, USA
Jun 22, 2009 12 oz bottle
Thanks for someone for sending this as a bonus. Now that it is available locally I may have to pick up a sixer in the future. While it is not a spectacular porter it is well enough done to merit the roughly $10 price point for six bottles. I hope more Dark Horse makes it way to Ohio soon.
Aroma / Appearance - The tan thin head and black fluid body contain a mix of smoky chocolate, rich coffee, and maltiness. It smells much like you would expect a porter to smell, especially one from a brewery who knows what they are doing.
Flavor / Palate - Smoke, bittersweet chocolate, and an intense roasty aspect form the base of a solid experience. Without being over the top in coffee grounds it gives a smooth espresso-like flavor to the finish. At 7.5% ABV it is very drinkable and worth investigating further.
ewestern (163), Ohio, USA
Jun 8, 2009 Black beer with a frothy dark tan head, very nice lacing. Sweet malt aroma like chocolate covered dark fruits, powerful but not overly so. Aroma is more powerful than the flavor but flavor is much the same. Bit of a sour bitter finish. Coffee in the finish. Nice and easy to drink.
shawnm213 (539), South Bend, Indiana, USA
Jun 6, 2009 pours a deep brown with a tan head. roasted malts, bittersweet chocolate, toast, coffee, nuts, liquorice. very smooth and drinkable. slightly sticky and creamy mouthfeel. pretty happy with this one.
Nephilium (508), Ohio, USA
Jun 3, 2009 Nice coffee/roasted aroma to start with, just hints of chocolate. Pours an opaque black, with a dusting of light tan head. The flavor of the beer comes across with bitter coffee and chocolate notes. Nice full mouthfeel, and very drinkable. A good solid beer, and yet another reason I’m happy that Dark Horse has started distributing to Cleveland.
carlb (18), East Lansing, Michigan, USA
May 27, 2009 Poured a beautiful silky black with rather modest head. The head is dark-brown, like the "crema" on the espresso. Has an oily look and dissipates within a minute to a thin film. Chocolate notes on the palate. Rather light formation of Belgian lace. Nice lingering. Medium body. Not as dense as the color and pour suggested. Subdued roasted notes. Hints of coffee. Some bitter hops. I like it, but am not overly impressed. I expected more ale yeast character. While I will not seek it out, it is better than a great many beers.
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