Dark Horse Reserve Special Black Bier

Bruegala 2009 sampling - Pours a pitch black with a large, light brown head that leaves some fair amount of lacing on the glass. Aroma has an average grainy, burnt note with notes of coffee and toasted malt. Hops provides a light grassy note with some dark fruit - raisin, prune notes. Flavor is a very strong acidic coffee note with a light dryness to it and lots of burnt malt character and bitter bakers chocolate/dark chocolate flavor. Moderate body and a thin texture with a modest amount of carbonation. Overall I think the coffee character of this brew really detracted from the overall enjoyability of the brew.

BPW #23 Served on tap at Dark Horse Brewing Company. Appearance is a deep black with a nice roasted brown head. Aromas are heavy roasted malt with a nice dose of roasted coffee bean. Flavors follow suite but the tongue picks up more of a chard flavor. The malt profile is very pleasant. Palate is very dry and moderately full. A real nice beer that I am glad to of tried fresh on tap.

Dan’s Bachelor Party Extended Weekend Rating #23 of 90. Tap at D.H. thanks Dan. Pours black with brown edges and thin brown head. Good amount of dark malts and coffee on the nose. Tasty roasted malts, coffee and a mild hop flavor round this one out nicely.

This beer pours a deep black, opaque with a nice dark mocha head. The aroma is mostly roast with a touch of malt fruitiness. There’s just something missing for me. The flavor has a touch of chocolate but again is mostly a mild roasted maltiness. There are some hops in there providing an interesting bitterness. It’s a clean stout that sticks to roastiness for its character. I wish there was a bit more of this character, but I’m just being picky. The mouthfeel is smooth. Drinkability is good.

12oz. Bottle: Aroma of roasted malts, slight burnt malts, chocolate, cream, light piney hops, and a hint of bitter coffee. Poured pitch black in color with a large, creamy, dense, slightly rocky, brown head that diminished but lasted throughout. Opaque. Lightly sparkling. Excellent lacing. Flavor is lightly sweet and light to medium bitter. Tastes of roasted malts, slight burnt malts, cream, light chocolate, light bitter coffee, slight hops, and a hint of wood. Medium body. Slick, creamy texture is a tad thin. Soft carbonation. Roasted malts, light cream, light chocolate, and slight vanilla finish is boring.

Pours jet black with a dark tan head. Nose is roast, some sweet coffee, bitterness, and licorice. Flavor is earth, burnt malt, some band-aid, and some ash and smoke. Nice mouthfeel gives way to lingering ashy smoke. Yellow lace abounds. Medium to full bodied beer.

Very dark very awesome liquid with a nice tight tan foam. very coffee roasty aroma. good bold coffee with a hint of chocolate flavor. Silky body and dry on the back end. very very nice.

Eagan, Mn. - Cellars Wine and Spirits - 12 oz bottle. Dark black pour with a quickly fading khaki colored head. Strong coffee and chocolate aroma. Good bold, earthy flavor with lots of black dirt, coffee and chocolate, hints of licorice. Nice, chalky mouthfeel with a dry finish. Excellent porter.