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Dark Horse Reserve Special Black Bier

Percentile
98
overall

bottled
common

on tap
available

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RatingsAverageScoreABVStyle PctlServe in
5533.87/5.03.86/5.07.5%99.3English pint, Stem glass
Commercial Description:
Our Reserve Special Black Bier is a full bodied ale. Each batch is brewed with heavy roasted and chocolate malts to give this beer its unique flavors of coffee and chocolate. The color of this beer is black, and when pured into a glass it will have a deep brown head of foam.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 WabashMan (801), Noblesville, Indiana, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/59/104/516/20
Nov 30, 2007  
Pours black, with visible sediment upon close inspection, with a very small, thin, dark brown head. I downgraded the appearance, for the lack of head, though I notice the most recent rating claims a "rick foamy tan head," which is similar to the commercial description, so perhaps my bottle wasn’t as it should have been. Otherwise, however, the beer is very good! Nose is chocolate, a little licorice, and dense bread. Flavor is rich and full. Roasty, coffee, and chocolate flavors abound. Long lasting on the palate, and generally good from front to back. Considering I rated it down for the head issue, this may be the best porter I’ve had the pleasure to try.


 marchcow (664), Coralville, Iowa, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/515/20
Nov 19, 2007  
Sweet malty porter aroma. Dark brown with a rich foamy tan head. Flavor is very porter-like. Rich dark chocolaty malt. Some hops bitterness to balance. Fairly straight forward but good. Palate is soft and even. Well balanced with a good light bitter duration.


 prosqtor (408), Appleton, Wisconsin, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/104/519/20
Nov 11, 2007  
Six-pack of bottles purchased at Flanagan’s in Appleton. This is an awfully good Porter -- I think it’s the highest-rated Porter I’ve sampled. Pours black and oily, with a dark tan foamy head that leaves nice lace. From the bottle, it has strong coffee and cocoa aromas, and those transfer to the flavor. Almost a baker’s chocolate flavor as it warms. EXCELLENT for a cold night. Despite the heavy aroma and flavor, this is quite sessionable. Trying to find other Dark Horse beers in the Valley


 KAF (441), Coralville, Iowa, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/516/20
Nov 5, 2007  
Pours very dark brown with a quarter inch thick brown head. Aroma of cocoa and roasted malt. A nice bitterness to it with a bit of roasted coffee.


 wmubronco1992 (180), Coldwater, Michigan, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/515/20
Nov 1, 2007  
bottle - part of 6-pack purchased at Wacky’s, right next door to the Dark Horse Brewery. Pours dark as night. Small tan head, just a little lacing. I’m not a big porter fan, but this is good. Very smooth drinking The description is accurate, serious chocolate and coffee flavor in this one. This would be great with a hearty meal. The Dark Horse never disappoints.


 shadey (1496), Rochester, New York, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/104/517/20
Oct 23, 2007    Updated: Oct 24, 2007
12oz bottle acquired in trade with Styles. He informed me the bottle was approximately 2 years old, which puts it sometime around the second half of 2005 or early 2006. Poured into big brandy snifter. Oily black pour with a nice thin head of dark tan silk. Aroma is a rich dark chocolate and roast. As it warms I’m also noticing some dark fruity notes. Nice smooth aroma. The flavor is just as smooth with plenty of chocolate and some dark fruit sweetness, like natural brown sugar. Pretty nice. The body is silky and smooth, with low carbonation that is very welcome in a beer of this flavor profile. I’m not blown away, but I’m impressed with the attention to detail. Very nice stuff.


 xmarcnolanx (792), Kirkwood, Missouri, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/517/20
Oct 18, 2007  
On tap GABF 2007. Very nice oaky, wet hopped beer. Aroma is very hoppy and coffee. Taste is slightly astringent, malty, and bitter, with a slight harshness. Solid. Would age well.


 mreusch (723), Olathe, Kansas, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/516/20
Oct 17, 2007  
Bottle, pours a dark black with a frothy one finger dark brown head, good lacing. Roasty aroma of cocoa, nuts, and coffee. Flavor is a heavier malty roast with more coffee and chocolate. Palate is medium-full with medium-low carbonation and a dry finish. Not a bad porter; Dark Horse is living up to its reputation quite nicely.



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