Dark Horse Reserve Special Black Bier

12oz bottle. Pours a deep black with a thick toasted brown head. Aroma is sweet and light, with hints of roasted malt, caramel, chocolate, and molasses. Taste is medium-bodied and dry, with an initial taste of chocolate, coffee, tobacco, and smoke giving way to a crisp finish of roasted malt. A little lighter and drier than most porters, but in a very good way.

A thin, crema-like head with a dark and fragrant aroma reminiscent of dark chocolate and red wine. Actual flavor is an incredible, grassy, nutty, earthy blend that has a definite "burnt" flavor not unlike that of creme brulee. The finish is long and becomes less intense, giving way to a somewhat musty note. Obviously meant for sipping, try this beer alongside of a sharp Wisconsin cheddar.

Bottle pours black with a light head followed by little aroma. Head retention is very fast. Has a light mouthfeel that follows with a velvety silky smooth character. Tastes are complex of chocolate and coffee and is very tasty.

Pours black and oily without any discernible head. Very nice roasted grain, chocolate malt aroma. Medium body. Taste is thick and roasty with a nice hop bitterness. Make sure to let it arm a little, it really lets out some nice flavors. The bitter dry roastiness comes through nicely in the finish. Very nice.

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.

Appearance: Pours a black body with a thin, off-white head. Smell: Roasty chocolate malts with a hint of smoke and a sprinkling of licorice dust. Taste: Rich dark maltiness with flavors of lightly sweetened chocolate and licorice. Touch of smoke. Smidgen of nuttiness along the way. Meager amount of earthy bittering hops. Drying, chocolatey finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. Drinkability: Very nice. Packed with flavor, but relatively light enough to pound down a few of these, even at 7:00AM in the morning.

Draft at Jerry’s. Black with big, foamy brown head / Toasty coffee and chocolate nose / Medium to full body, some sweetness, with dry hoppy finish / Flavors of roast coffee, bittersweet chocolate, and vanilla / Straight-forward flavors, very well balanced. A dry stout, I’d say.

Well, Dark Horse hits one out of the park with this one. This brew is flat out awesme, and under-rated at 3.9. Pours jet black with a nice thin tan head. Looks like coffee being poured, no light escapes. Aroma is all malt and coffee, but the flavor delivers even more. Chocolate, coffee, roasted barley, toasted malt, with an alcohol tinge at the end. Hops are there, but play a supporting role. Smooth, creamy, and delicious. Much more impressed than I thought I’d be. I’ll be drinking this one again...very soon!