Dark Horse 4 Elf - Dark Horse Brewing Company

superspak

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle into tulip glass, Winter 2012 bottling. Pours cloudy almost opaque dark reddish brown color with a small light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of big caramel, raisin, dark bread, brown sugar, toffee, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, clove, earth, roasted malt, chocolate, and light herbal. Damn nice aromas with good balance and complexity of malt and spice notes. Taste of big caramel, brown sugar, molasses, raisin, dark bread, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, roasted malt, chocolate, toast, prune, earth, and light herbal spiciness. No bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of caramel, dark fruit, dark bread, brown sugar, molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, roasted malt, chocolate, and herbal earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice balance and complexity of robust flavors; with a nice malt backbone over the spices; and almost zero cloying flavors present after the finish. Light-medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a creamy and slick mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very nice winter warmer style. Very nice robust and balanced flavors; and very smooth to sip on. A very enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 07:14:45 | More by superspak

thegerm87

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%

06-07-2013 15:44:56 | More by thegerm87

zachary80

Indiana

4/5  rDev +1.5%

05-01-2013 19:16:48 | More by zachary80

ShanePB

Pennsylvania

2.5/5  rDev -36.5%

04-12-2013 14:49:21 | More by ShanePB

alpinebryant

Connecticut

3.05/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

A: Pours a dark chestnut brown with lots of tiny white bubbles on the top. laces well

S: Aromas of pumpkin , nutmeg , cinnamon and clove. Some dark fruit and slightly belgian yeast?

T: Too much Cinnamon here, its fresh Hot Cinnamon Trident Gum flavored first off the bat and followed by cardamom and tannic like qualities.

M: Medium to thick body with light carbonation. There is a bit of sting from CO2 but the body is thick enough to make the carbonation seem moderate.

O: Overall, its a cinnamon bomb with not too many qualities that I enjoy - and I really like winter warmers. This just didnt hit the right notes for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 21:14:48 | More by alpinebryant

baybum

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.5%

03-30-2013 13:33:44 | More by baybum

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: bottle shared by baybum at a March '13 tasting. Thanks, Ray!

Sampled this in a very interesting vertical line after One Oatmeal, Too Cream, and Tres Blueberry.

I honestly never heard of this one, but I quite liked it. Dark brown pour with a small tan head that left a bit of lacing on the glass. Nice spicy aroma, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, with a touch of icing-like sweetness. In the taste, all the spices that were there in the aroma, plus rich caramel maltiness, and a little vanilla icing; light herbal hops and roasty bitterness for balance. Medium body, smooth mouthfeel, quite enjoyable overall.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 10:59:28 | More by Rifugium

spycow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

03-10-2013 19:40:32 | More by spycow

CaptainNomihodai

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%

03-07-2013 05:52:27 | More by CaptainNomihodai

ScottO

California

4/5  rDev +1.5%

02-25-2013 04:51:55 | More by ScottO

kscaldef

Oregon

2.5/5  rDev -36.5%

02-12-2013 02:38:11 | More by kscaldef

JDizzle

Indiana

4/5  rDev +1.5%

01-31-2013 15:34:20 | More by JDizzle

patm1986

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +1.5%

01-26-2013 05:09:25 | More by patm1986

SometimesIfart

Michigan

3.49/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours black with a one finger off white head. Left no lacing.

S - Cinnamon, nutmeg, gingerbread, slight anise.

T - Mostly anise and nutmeg. A bit of gingerbread and orange peel as well. Watery too.

M - Medium bodied with light to medium carbonation.

O - Overall, a basic, solid beer that I could have again. Quite sessionable for the strenght.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 06:05:06 | More by SometimesIfart

UWBadgerFan4Life

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

01-11-2013 20:36:41 | More by UWBadgerFan4Life

Gotti311

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +1.5%

01-11-2013 16:42:53 | More by Gotti311

ypsifly

Michigan

3.91/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

2012 vintage from a bottle poured into a pint glass.

Deep mahogany with slight reddish hues on the edges. Decent head with retention and globby laces.

Cinnamon flavored bubblegum in the nose that is supported by a range of Xmas spices such as cinnamon, coriander, nutmeg, and a pinch of cardamom. Very seasonal aromas that are pleasantly balanced.

Nice amount of malt upfront that is quickly followed by the above mentioned spices and a drying hop and spice finish. Lingering spices that are strong, yet not too far off balance. For me this has all of the hallmarks of a Winter Warmer with boldness yet just enough balance to make it enjoyable.

Full enough in the mouth with no odd lingering oils or over the top bitterness/spice for my palate..

Overall, I like this beer I've had past incarnations that were higher in abv, and as much as I wish this one was closer to past versions...I'm happy with this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 09:07:37 | More by ypsifly

AlexFields

Tennessee

3.25/5  rDev -17.5%

01-08-2013 03:56:29 | More by AlexFields

FEUO

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

01-06-2013 19:49:51 | More by FEUO

divineaudio

Michigan

3.1/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

2012 bottle, 8.75% abv, nonic.

a - pours a murky, dark brown with a just a thin film of head and a few bubbles. no lacing.

s - clove, cinnamon, molasses, fresh bread.

t - thankfully the spice is more muted than in the nose. has a pronounced, earthy hop bitterness with some burnt malt laying low in the background. notes of black coffee in there as well. finishes very dry. not a very successful combination of flavors imo.

m - medium in body with not quite enough carbonation. finer co2 profile.

o - meh. dark horse beers are hit or miss for me, and this one is a miss. lacks most of the things i look for in a winter warmer, mainly the malty sweetness and a subdued hop profile. probably won't be returning to this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 01:08:34 | More by divineaudio

kirkse

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1.5%

12-30-2012 00:01:38 | More by kirkse

maximum12

Minnesota

2.75/5  rDev -30.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1.5

Thanks to whomever sent this to me. I like to think I'll look it up later & insert my gratefulness here, but I usually forget when I'm too lazy to look it up. Well, thanks. You know who you are. 12 oz. bottle.

Pour is dark brown with red foil. Nose, the nose, bejeebuzz, it's like an overturned semi- full of cinnamon on the interstate. Most of the rest of the spice rack is in there too. Light cherry, nutmeg, allspice are those I can ID.

4 Elf ain't my kind of holiday beer. The spicing was done with a backhoe: cinnamon lights up my palate like a Christmas tree fire. Loads of spice. Caramel gets a bare lick in, & there might be a gentle, earthy hop kick right at the end. Maybe. Twelve ounces? I might need some help.

A classic example of "too far" for me; I don't put this much spice in my mulled apple cider. Spicing is out of control & overwhelms the beer, & gets too close to being straight-up undrinkable. As is? An almost-average novelty.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 03:29:14 | More by maximum12

johnnyboy76

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

12-26-2012 04:08:47 | More by johnnyboy76

Pat316

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%

12-25-2012 21:39:47 | More by Pat316

Dope

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Fresh batch from Dec 8th, 2012 release. Only 8.75%

A: Almost pure black with a good sized fluffy light brown head. Quite decent lacing as it fades slowly away.

S: Nutmeg, hint of cinnamon and cocoa.

T: Nutmeg up front with mild cocoa powder. Hints of cinnamon in the middle with caramel. Finish is molasses and cloves. A little lingering cinnamon and nutmeg in the long aftertaste. Lots of other unidentifiable spices throughout the beer that I couldn't include, but it is quite complex with lots of flavors.

M: Medium bodied and slightly astringent and drying in the aftertaste.

O: Awesome winter warmer. Great variety of spices and balance of flavors. Nice roasted malt fits in nicely without making it a real porter or stout. Expertly crafted.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 20:40:57 | More by Dope