Elevator Dark Horse Lager - Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus

joepais

Maine

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Csmiley for sending this one out to me
Bottle poured into a pint glass produced a finger worth of white head that faded to a good lace. The body of the brew was an interesting reddish brown color.

The aromas were a little roasted and bready yeast, it was very light and subtle. Basically what I look for in a lager when it comes to smell. The flavor was roasted and sweet at the same time. It was crisp and light in the mouth with good carbonation. It was a easy brew to drink and was looking for more when I finished it

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2010 02:12:14 | More by joepais

MbpBugeye

Ohio

3.55/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Poured into a pilsner glass. Big crazy head thats nearly out of control. The head retention is insane. Its like a meringue dolloped on top of this beer. The beer itself is a deep caramel color with lots of effervescence. The color is actually kinda strange looking.

S- Strange smell. Toasted malts, maybe some cornmeal, aluminum, and some cinnamon like spice.

T- Light flavor. Cinnamon, faint hops and biscuit malts.

M- Low carbonation, slick, heavy body. This is a lot heavier than I expected. Goes down well and is thirst quenching.

D- Pretty sessionable. Finishes clean and dry. Easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2010 04:07:14 | More by MbpBugeye

nrbw23

Ohio

3.45/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A- Pours a dark brownish red with a cream colored head and leaves no lacing.

S- Light roasted malts with hints of chocolate and a touch of a smokey smell.

T- Not too bad but nothing also to write home about. Kind of bland and follows the nose.

M- Lighter side of medium and nice carbonation.

D- Easy drinker for sure, not something out would go out and seek but then again I wouldn't turn it down either.

Serving type: on-tap

01-03-2010 08:36:22 | More by nrbw23

Freethyhops

Alabama

3.88/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle served in a pint glass. no sign of a best by/bottled on date

Bottle thanks to Ryan011235, always nice to get something from a brewery I've never heard of.

Pours a transparent dark amber almost brown color. less than a 1/2 finger of head that dissipates to a then film almost immediately. Not a whole lot on the nose. A hint of toasty sweet bread. The taste is dominated by roasted barley and a bready malt backbone. A little sweetness kicks in before it finishes slight bitter and dry. This beer has the crispness you expect from a lager while providing nice roasted characters. The mouthfeel is quite pleasant, as well. An overall easy drinking and enjoyable brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2009 03:21:18 | More by Freethyhops

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.78/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I am going to be making a concerted effort to dive through the pile of things I need to try in the next couple of weeks. So I started out last night with this one. Served cold and poured into a pint glass, it was consumed on 09/09/2009.
 
Nice pour here, very dark and nearly completely black in color with the exception of some touches of red around the sides and the bottom of the glass. Nice tan head came up and over the top and settled down after a few minutes, dropping a nice amount odd side glass lace in the process. Aroma was light, lots of caramel malts and bready notes dominate. Warming it brings out light notes of grain as well. Smooth taste here with a medium body that was well carbonated. Nice feel across the tongue with very sweet notes that seem to get stronger as it rolls forward. Almost a peat like touch to it as well at times. Very drinkable as the flavor was not over powering and the light ABV made it go down quite nicely.
 
Overall a nice little lager I have to say. Not the biggest fan of the style, but I have to admit this kind of worked for me. I would have no issue at all with trying this one again any day!

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2009 15:42:27 | More by mikesgroove

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a deep clear amber, with little over a finger of off-white colored head. Pretty good retention here, staying rich across the surface, with some nice patchy lace back. The aroma is some toasted bread and light notes of toffee and cocoa sweetness. I'm getting a bit of nuttiness too, as well as some spicy floral hops behind the other flavors. This isn't particulary robust in the nose at all.

The taste is tight toasted malt character, as well as some lighter chocolate roast and sweet caramel. The backend is fairly green tasting with citrus and a spicy bitterness. Pretty clean feel on the finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a sharp and crisp feel. Overall refreshing presence for the most part.

This was decent. Definitely a little darker tasting than you would expect from a normal lager. I'm not sure how old this bottle was, but it seemed to have a bit of fade on it. I'd like to re-review in the future with a fresher sample.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2009 16:59:57 | More by Kegatron

BeerBelcher

Ohio

3.05/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this on-tap at the Huntington Field ball-park in Columbus. While I was pleased to find an alternative to Bud Light, I can't say this beer is anything to get too excited about. Dark-brown body, light frothy head. Minimal aroma. Flavor was Newcastle-ish; some light toffee roastiness accompanied by wateriness. Not bad, but hardly terrific.

Serving type: on-tap

07-05-2009 17:17:12 | More by BeerBelcher

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I give this beer more credit than grouping it with the Euro Dark Lager catagory. The beer makes a very nice little German-style Dunkel.

A dark brown beer lands in front of me and takes on a similar appearace as the Porter that I had just before. Less assertive with the cocoa, nuttiness, and smoke, the Dark horse simplifies things with its lagering. No phenolics or fruitiness, the beer has a good medium toastiness with mild earthy notes from European hops. Big on melanoidins, this beer delivers a rich and creamy mouthfeel that is the showcase for this beer. Sweet with toffee to taste but not sweet feeling on the palate. Nuttiness does rise as the beer warms but never competes with Brown Ales or Porters.

This might be the closest to style beer that the Elevator offers... if compared to good Dunkels.

Serving type: on-tap

05-20-2009 15:04:26 | More by BEERchitect

rayjay

Hawaii

3.88/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Yet another csmiley choice from Black Booty 09.

A very dark copper color, maybe dark brown, but not black (no that there's anything wrong with that). Lots of white foam, some lacing.

Sulfur on the nose giving away it's lager roots. That dominates over all else.

Nice noble hop punch that fills your sinuses, and gives way to a rush of malt sweetness, then finishes somewhat dry with the sweetness and bitterness just barely hanging in there. Clean, robust, balanced, not heavy. Just a simple refreshing session beer.

Above average all around. Nice medium-light mouthfeel that's refreshing and inviting.

Cheers to session beers!

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2009 05:21:06 | More by rayjay

ndekke39

Ohio

3.55/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Split a bomber of this with a good friend. Decanted into a pint glass.

A: Orangish-brown, light haze, thin white head. Seems pretty average for a dark lager.

S: Definite lager aromas. Very nutty, yeasty, rich dark malt aromas.

T: Definite nuttiness. A hint of something like popcorn. Strong maltiness overall. Clean finish.

M: A tad on the watery side. Very little carbonation.

D: A nice, drinkable lager. The first dark lager I think I've had. I'll definitely try this one again!

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2009 01:41:06 | More by ndekke39

sleazo

New York

3.75/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A_Pours a chocolate like brown which ranges through the spectrum from dark to milk when viewed against a light. A smallish tan head caps the brew. Retention is poor but the lace is fairly solid.

S_The nose is a nice blend of chocolate and a small dose of vegetal hops.

D_A smooth sweet liquid greets the tongue upon first sip followed by a burst of chocolate and caramel roasted malt. The finish is rather dry and speaks of light hopping. Some hints of hay in the aftertaste. There is also a bit of a metallic element as well that manages to detract from an otherwise tasty beer.

M_A thicker lager with just the right ammount of large bubbled carbonation.

D_The words, smooth and easy drinking come to mind as my glass quickly empties. A mostly clean tasting lager that is pretty tasty overall.

Thanks to csmiley for the opportunity to sample this.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2008 00:31:43 | More by sleazo

mashedpotatoes

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Above average brew. Gives off a floral smell with roasted malt character. Not quite as dark as the name suggests but does taste more like a schwarzbier than a lager. Mouthfeel is average and is on par with red/amber lagers with a bit more weight to it. Drinkability is fair given the well balanced nature of this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2008 00:21:37 | More by mashedpotatoes

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 ounce bottle, it's Elevator's first bottled beer (purchased at Blacklick Wine and Spirits). Served in a pint glass, the beer pours dark brown with some red tints too. Head retention is average, lacing is very good. Aroma is toasted malt and nuts, with a bit of chocolate and hops. Taste is similar to the aroma, but the hops come out more in the finish. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's on the creamy side and has average carbonation. Drinkability is pretty good, it's very smooth and very easy to drink with a dry finish. Overall I think it's a good, sessionable dark lager (5.3% ABV). I'd definitely pick this up again, it's a good choice and the first bottled selection Elevator is selling in the Columbus area. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2008 01:25:21 | More by bluejacket74

blakesell

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the tap into a wine style tasting glass.

Appearance- Beer pours a dark brown with big red hues. Carbonation is gone iwth no lacing whatsoever. A small spot of bubbles appear on the top of the grog.

Smell- Light roasted malts with hints of chocolate, coffee, some smoke, very balanced. Smells to be quite a passable schwartzbeer. No wonder it got the bronze at the GABF.

Taste- Light and flavorful. Creamy and roasty, wow. Really takes those past unpleasant beers out of my mouth. Same yeast as the previous beers, but clearly a different breed. Very well brewed.

Mouthfeel- Creamy, malty, medium bodied, medium in carbonation, not astringent, not warming, very nice drinking.

Drinkability- Very smooth, will be revisited in the future for certain.

Serving type: on-tap

05-06-2008 16:37:19 | More by blakesell

BigBry

Alberta (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

One of the seasonal beers on tap at the brewpub, on my last trip to Columbus. $5.00 for a 16oz pint.
Clear dark brown, with a slightly off white head that has alright retention, minimal lacing. Mild aroma of toasted malt and some fruitiness. Flavor of malt, slight chocolate and a bit nutty. Balanced off with some floral hoppiness. Dry and clean finish. Decent overall, nice example.

Serving type: on-tap

03-22-2008 19:32:31 | More by BigBry

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draught at the brewpub. Pours a mostly clear dark brown color with a medium and fluffy beige head that has decent retention. Patchy lacing. Aroma of roasted nuts and malt, with hints of hops. Medium, smooth body with a nice roasted character. Notes of malt, chocolate and nuts along with a decent amount of hops. The finish is dry and roasty with a lingering mild hoppiness. Pretty good all around.

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2007 20:35:18 | More by Dogbrick