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Tag Archives: Dark Horse
Dark Horse Scotty Karate
Dark Horse Scotty Karate
Scotch Ales are to the maltheads what DIPAs are to the hopheads. Bold flavors, booze, high ABV, but not much hop character at all.
Dark Horse Scotty Karate has a smell that will draw you in immediately. Butterscotch, a hint of cinnamon raisin toast, and oak. The lightly toasted malt makes a big appearance with smoked peat, butterscotch, dark fruits, and booze following it up. There is just a touch of hops, but not enough to get in the way or overpower anything.
Smooth, complex, tasty, and you’d never guess it’s pushing 10% ABV.
Great example of the style.
Grade: A
Dark Horse Sapient Trip Ale
Dark Horse Sapient Trip Ale
After a run of authentic Trappist ales recently, I’m interested in an American taken on the version with Dark Horse Sapient Trip Ale.
The color is lighter than I expected for a Belgian Trippel. The fluffy white heads deflates rather quickly, but it is sticking around with tenacity. Lots of banana and sour malt in the nose. Similar flavors with more of the slightly sour malt and some clove and spice in the finish. Very smooth and crisp. Not even a hint of the powerful 8.5% ABV. Very little hop presence.
It tastes good, it’s easy to drink, but I think I’d rather have a Rochefort 10 or La Trappe Quad anytime.
Grade: B
Dark Horse Reserve Special Black Ale
Dark Horse Reserve Special Black Ale
Dark Horse Brewing’s Reserve Special Black Ale. It is indeed black with a creamy dark tan head. Lots of roast and toffee in the nose. Kind of smells like a Heath Bar. Wrapped in bacon.
Big, bold flavors in the first sip. Dark, bitter chocolate, smoked meat, roasted coffee. Late hop bite, too.
I really dig on this one! 7.5% ABV doesn’t hurt, either. As they mention on the site, it’s not quite a porter, not quite a stout, but golly is it good!
Grade: A