Dark Horse Round-Up

I am finally getting around to writing up a trio of Dark Horse beers enjoyed by me and the VP.  All three were purchased in the bottle shop at Capone’s Restaurant, in Norristown, PA.  Don’t let the location scare you, this place is diamond in the rough for beer lovers, in bottles and on draft alike.

The line up was Dark Horse’s Too Cream Stout, Double Crooked Tree IPA, and Tres Blueberry Stout.

Too Cream Stout - a milk stout coming in at 8% ABV.  Starting with a nice, almost smoky nose, it poured without much head for a stout.  Not too much in the way of mouthfeel, but it has more body than a porter.  As for flavor, it was quite roasty, and had little in the way of chocolate or coffee notes so common in many stouts - this was actually a nice aspect of this beer.  Also, it was not overly sweet as many milk stouts are.  Overall, an interesting beer.

Double Crooked Tree IPA - a double IPA with a powerful ABV of at least 12%.  Bright citrus flavor typical of good IPAs, and a nice carbonation but not overly fizzy.  It stands up well against your run of the mill double IPAs, but tastes a little ordinary after having tasted things like Pliny the Elder, or even 90 Minute IPA.  The nose was the only time the high ABV really comes through, which is surprising for an over 12% beer.  Overall, a perfectly drinkable, tasty double IPA, but nothing particularly special.

Tres Blueberry Stout - a stout made with blueberries with an an ABV of 7.5%.  Well, when Dark Horse says blueberry, they mean it!  The nose on this beer is nothing but blueberry, almost jam-like.  It has a good chewy mouthfeel and body, but it was a little over-carbonated for my taste.  You have to be in the mood for something a little weird and off the norm to try this beer.  It has a true, blueberry flavor along with a nice bodied stout.  Not a great aftertaste, but nice up front.  I am glad I tried it once, but I would probably not pick it up again.

A complex, diverse lineup.  I am glad I tried them all, and will keep picking up different Dark Horse beers when I get the chance.

Dark Horse Pekulator

Dark Horse Perkulator Coffee Dopplebock:  A coffee dopplebock.  You can taste the coffee.  It definitely has a different mouthfeel compared to coffee stouts and porters.  I think I may have to consult with El Presidente as to what the main aspects of a doppelbock are.  Double-headed demon on the label, which is cool, but no abv %, which is uncool, Dark Horse.  It is tasty out of the bottle.  No glass pouring this time.  I toyed with the idea of doing a full-on review, but I think a Citizen Review will suffice.  Maybe I will come back to this beer again.  Overall, enjoyable.

Check out more from DARK HORSE BREWING COMPANY here!

Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA (Citizen Review)

Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA:

"I enjoyed this IPA at work with some beer-loving colleagues. When asked how it tasted by one of the aforementioned co-workers, I replied that it was crisp and refreshing, not overly hoppy, quite nice. Another co-worker chimed in with an added description of the citrus, namely grapefruit, taste prevalent in the beer. I did not think of grapefruit immediately myself, but my crisp and refreshing comment certainly complemented this description, and after having a second serving of this IPA and letting the beer acquaint itself with my palate more thoroughly, I, too, could taste the grapefruit. At 6% abv, this beer invites you to finish off a six-pack. Another fine product from Michigan breweries. I would definitely bet on this Dark Horse."

Check out more of Dark Horse's beer [HERE]

--From the office of the Vice President