Pours black as tar with a thin dark brown head that dissipates quickly, leaving a ring of foam wrapped around the edges of the glass. No lacing.
The aroma is smoke with dark fruit, dark chocolate and dark roasted malt. A light sweetness to the aroma is noticeable.
The taste is dark, rich and bold. Starts with a dark fruit and a molasses flavor with a light smoked taste. The smoked flavor is present from start to finish, but is not intrusive and gives the beer some nice warmth and character. The middle shows some dark coffee flavors that continue into the finish with a nice roasted malt flavor wrapping things up and hanging around in the after taste.
Medium body with light carbonation. A bit lighter on the palate than I was expecting from this beer, but it has a creamy smooth mouthfeel with a dry finish.
Overall, an impressive offering from Dark Horse. Well balance with a nice level of complexity. The smoke is noticeable, but is not over the top, and adds some nice character to the beer. This beer is big and bold and would be perfect on a cold winter night! Try one!
Poured into my snifter as dark as night with a half inch of thick, brown foam. Retention retreated quickly. The little bit that formed an orbit around my glass, lightly created splotchy lacing.
Aroma is roasted malt which is definitely the biggest. Also found chocolate, smoke (seemed forced - fake), and some dried fruit which seemed to give a sweet scent.
Sweetness and dried fruit up front (possibly molasses sweetness) with a quick and long transition to roasted, dry malts. There is a slight smokiness to the finish. Roasted malt lingers into the after taste.
Lots of carbonation, more than I expected. Medium body. Dry like the desert on the finish.
Dries out so quickly that it was hard for me to really find it refreshing. It is a good stout with well rounded stout flavors, while the smoke ads a twist. Not a big smoked beer person but this one does it subtlety enough to stomach. Enjoy!
"Well ya see, Norm, it's like this... A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers." - Cliff Clavin, of Cheers