Dark Horse Reserve Special Black Bier

Brewed by Dark Horse Brewing Company
Style: Porter
Marshall, Michigan USA

12 oz Bottle: Poured an oily textured opaque black, with a smallish fading tan head. Aromas were amazing, big nose of coffee/espresso, roasted malts, slight earthiness, and sweet vanilla notes in the background. Definately made me excited to take a sip. Flavor doesn’t disappoint in the least, balanced with a lot going on. Up front are what you would expect after smelling this one, lots of coffee and other roasted flavors, but out of nowhere come the hops (slightly overbalanced with the malted characteristics but appreciated none the less). The balance doesn’t end there however, even into the dry hop finish, which lingers then disappears to reveal the espresso notes present long after swallowing. Mouthfeel was very soft and full. Dark Horse finally brews something in the same league as their IPA’s.

bottle. dark black, aroma of chocolate and coffee. flavor is rich chocolates, roasted malts and coffee. This is a great beer. It may be my new favorite.

Pours jet black with a dark tan head. Mostly lasting, some lacing. Aroma is big with chocolate and coffee. Flavor is bitter dark chocolate, coffee, rosted malt, molasses with a big hop presence. Full bodied with a smooth velvety texture. Flavor fills the mouth for a very long finish.

Pours opaque black with a two finger foamy tan head that dissipates quickly, moderate lacing. Aromas of roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, smoke, molasses, soy sauce. Flavor is very roasty with semi sweet chocolate, molasses, coffee, vanilla, smoke and a gentle hop zing in the finish. Seems very well balanced, absolutely delicious. Mouthfeel is substantial for a porter, moderately creamy and slightly oily with gentle carbonation. Is this really a porter? I’ll take this over many stouts any day, great stuff.

Bottle courtesy of artusory, thanks again Ryan! Oily opaque black pour with a somewhat creamy yellowed-light tan head. The aroma is really big with roasted malt, chocolate and coffee with small tinges of cherry and some hazlenut...very inviting. The flavor doesn’t let down at all, tons of coffee and dark chocolate notes as well as a nice rostiness, a bit of nuttiness and some dark fruit elements. Oily slick mouthefeel that is also quite rich with a nice balance of sweet, bitter, roasty, and savory. The finsih really sticks with nutty and roasted elements...the soft carbonation of this beer also lends to the flavor and aromas. Overall a really damn nice porter, very rich and flavorful without being too thick. More and more I wish Dark Horse would distribute to Ohio because they have yet to dissapoint. Wonderful brew!

12 oz bottle thanks to willblake, thanks Jon. First let me start by stating two things, 1. Dark Horse is a great company and 2. Dark Horse sucks mule cock for not distributing beers in Jersey. Poured a thick looking solid black with a spotty bubbly light beige head. Nicely complex with notes of molasses, capacuino, maple syrup, cherry flavored tobacco and vanilla. Creamy mouthfeel with a full body and average carbonation. roasted malty flavor with notes of coffee, burnt coffee and even a slight smokeyness. This one was so good I considered killing willblake and stuffing him in a closet just to get his six ounces.

(Sampled 7-7-08) 12 oz. bottle poured into shaker- poured midnight black, HUGE off tan head formed and got in the way, very heavy roasted malt aroma with a slight note of molasses and coffee in the background. Hits the mouth with a heavy and wide body, the malt just dominates the tongue, some mild bitterness on the finish from a few hops and the malt kicking your butt one more time. Break out the smokes kids, it’s time to have some BEER!

Pours black creamy dark tan / brown head. Aroma is roasty, burned coffee, sweet malt. The taste is astonishingly wonderful! Chocolate bitter sweet joy.