Dark Horse Reserve Special Black Bier

Style designations mean little here. Theoretically a Porter, this presents like an Imperial Stout; that was my guess before logging onto here. Put it in a blind taste test up against an Impy and see.
Like many a well-done Impy, this is very good, and you know pretty much what to expect in such.

Pours about as perfect as you can get, imo. Thick, black, with a good sized head that lasted quite a while. Half way done with the glass and still ahs lacing on the entire glass. The alcohol up front that mixes with the chocolate and malts nicely on the finish. 8% porter that is this smooth? :banned:

Bottle from Sprinkle. Pours a very dark black color. Little foam. Looks quite thick and oily. Strong roasted malty aroma. Lots of burnt foreign stout like qualities. Rich bitter and roasty. Bittler hoppy/roasty finish. Alcohol is very well hidden.

<i>Bottled.</i> Okay, what’s with the crude drawing of the donkey from "Hee Haw" on the label. Anyway. Pours Pretty stoutish black, with a thin tan head. Big smell and taste of coffee, toasted carob, hint of licorice. I think there’s a pretty good-sized charge of hops here, and some of it may be American C&C. Somewhat of a Kingsford briquette aftertaste and quite a lot of bitterness. Perhaps this harshness might be covering up harshness from alcohol, but I definitely taste that, too.

This was yummy! Black colour with a thick brown head and tons of lacing. Lots of roast aromas, almost burnt malt. The flavour is phenominal, one of the best porters I’ve had! There is a bit of coffee like flavour in there, but not bitter or astringent flavours. I get chocolate and roasted malts again. Dry finish and a nice mouthfeel that is either missing from all other porters, or puts this one a bit out of the regular porter category.

Pours black with small tan head. Big chocolate malt and nutty aroma. NICE!!! Flavor is quite bitter. Malts, chocolate, roasted nuts. Also a little hop bite. Good stuff.

Bottle courtesy of hippie4beer pours black w/ a fluffy, foamy head. Light mouthfeel w/ bittersweet, dark chocolate and dark roasted malt flavor. Good brew.

Via trade,sorry can’t remember from who. Anyway, black with strong roasted aroma. The taste was extremly bitter which surprised me. Hardly any carbonation. Sharp bitter finish. I don’t know, I like my porters alttle sweeter. This was an o.k. brew, but I’m just sayin........