Dark Horse Bourbon Barrel Aged Plead The 5th - Dark Horse Brewing Company

TriGuy20

Illinois

4.88/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had at Twisted Spoke, Chicago, IL on tap. In tulip glass.

A: Oil black with nice dark tan head.

S: mmmm this smells great! Vanilla/ Dark Chocolate/ Bourbon/ Molasses/ Dark Roasted Coffee

T: The bourbon comes through nicely with the vanilla showing upfront with a nice bitter chocolate finish.

MF: Creamy and rich, this beer coats the palate like velvet. The finish goes on for a while.

D: For 14% abv this beer is amazingly easy to drink. Per this style 8-12 oz is plenty as it is quite rich.

Overall:
This is one of the finest stouts I have ever had. The use of bourbon barrels is done to perfection. Bravo Dark Horse for making such an incredible drinking experience.

Serving type: on-tap

01-03-2011 04:11:04 | More by TriGuy20

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.58/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I had this on tap at the Dark Horse 4elf party. Glad it was on tap as there were very few (VERY few) bottles for sale.

It was served in a plastic cup (boo...), a 10oz pour (sort of boo...), but was delicious (hooray). This was dark, black dark, very opaque with a thin but still existent ring of foam.

It smells like a big beer, which of course it is, without smelling like alcohol. Strong malty aromas, sweet and roasty, with some dark fruits and a well integrated bourbon. Since having this glass I've had many bourbon aged stouts over the holidays, and I can say that the nose on this one is right up there.

Very very tasty, the bourbon is not overbearing, it really complements instead of contrasting the roasty stout base. Cocoa, raisins, vanilla, bourbon, this is just excellent. No burn in the aftertaste, just lingering sweet bourbon flavors. It feels big and heavy, everything about it says this is a major beer, and you have to be careful or you're gonna get buzzed.

This is especially good considering that you can't taste the alcohol in such a strong beer, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2011 16:56:11 | More by TurdFurgison

jrallen34

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to Eric who brought this to our tasting, poured into my Narke glass. Normally, I don't review a beer twice, but the difference of on tap vs bottle justifies it as if its an almost entirely different beer...Black pour with a light tan head, not there for long, ok lacing, but low on carbonation overall...The aroma is totally different, slightly weird. Its all creamy peanut butter with chocolate, actually its really awesome, but has me perplexed as on tap it was tons of vanilla and bourbon. A tad too rich for me, but its good...The taste gets us back on track, more oak, chocolate and bourbon come through, still missing the vanilla though. Finish is bitter, adds to keep the experience interesting. The alcohol is hidden well, creamy from start to finish.

This was good, but not as good as tap where I was blown away. Worth trying for sure, but get it on tap.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2010 00:09:40 | More by jrallen34

Sean9689

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle provided by TurdFurgison, thanks Eric! Poured into 3F wine glass.

A - Pours black, a fingers-worth of tan/mocha head, some good lacing and a thin cap on top which hangs around.

S - Peanut butter, tons of it. Like a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. Sweet milk chocolate, light on the bourbon, oak, caramels, expresso. All very rich and decadent on the nose.

T - Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, chocolate, some dark fruit notes, oak, smooth bourbon character, coffee beans. I was really impressed how smooth and rich this was for 14%, very well-done. Bitter chocolate finish.

M - Full body, rich, thick, and creamy finish.

D - I never did get to try this on-tap, but I was very impressed with this out of the bottle. Def a top-notch -bal, no doubt about it. Still can't get over how easy this was to drink for 14%. Recommend.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2010 23:59:17 | More by Sean9689

rembrant

Ohio

5/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap at The Comet---

Looks...I expected the barrel version of a favorite big stout to be special...that's why I drove cross town eagar to blow my beer budget.

The first goblet looked like blackness,anticipation,and motor oil,with a few bubles on top that only briefly tried to make a head. By the second pour,all thoughts of Quaker State or Valvoline were gone. I saw the blackness of the universe 30 sec before the big bang,I saw pure bliss in a glass and in my hands...so...I upped the score a bit.

Aromas- Coffee,Molasses,Dark fruit galore,a subtle but clean bourbon whiff.

Taste ....Oh my,Oh my my. The signature Dark Horse malts,amped up for the base Plead 5 with an elegant maze of dark chocolates,dark toffeee,and espresso that dance about,stepping up then back and joining in a roasty stout chorus. The Bourbon is done just exactly so. It neither hides nor dominates, it's like a great bass line in a song,well defined and somehow not getting in the way of the beerness.
Dark Horse has quite a knack for getting flavors to work discreet and distinct yet simultaneously with a seamless flow and blend. Things ebb and flow and it all is done so well.

Here,the Bourbon and barrel play their part, the potent ABV lurks like a subsonic energy,warming but never raw. It's so nicely ASSEMBLED....it makes me wonder how they orchestrated this stuff.

Mouth Spot on. A little stickiness on the lips,but it's good. The carbonation never calls attention....in a lack or an excess. It has good life but no fizzy. The finish is long and elegant with a smooth bitersweet mocha-espresso,sparks of fruit notes and on the other channel,the bourbon and hints of the wood,the oak and a touch of vanilla and char.

Drinkable....I had 3.if I had the money and someone to cart me home,I'd have sucked down more until I became a grinning fool.

the only beers I can compare are KBS and CBS. This better displays the Bourbon,does BA beyond my best hopes.

Since Stout is my main beer and Bourbon my main liquor...this is heaven.

Note...When first done I understand Plead was around 14% abv,but so in could be exported to Ohio (etc) that got lowered to about 13% or a bit less...likewise for Double Crooked Tree.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2010 03:20:29 | More by rembrant

tewaris

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from a small sample, poured on tap, at Heritage Liquor's annual Beer Geek Christmas.

Pours pitch black with a dark brown bubbly collar. Tough to comment on retention and lacing but looks like a classic barrel aged stout. Excellent aroma, full of vanilla and chocolate notes with plenty of sweetness, but no harsh alcohol. Bourbon is certainly present, and dominates the aroma but only in good ways.

Taste is similar to aroma with bourbon shining, bringing a great oak-vanilla element to taste and enhancing the chocolate. Bittersweet with coffee like acidity that was absent in the nose, and seems a little over the top. Finishes clean and bitter. The body is a little thin for my liking and carbonation a tad higher. If this is actually 14% ABV, it drinks amazingly easy!

One of the best examples of Bourbon Barrel aged beers in the sense that Barrel aging has made an otherwise average RIS excellent! Do not pass it up if you ever get the chance to try it!

Serving type: on-tap

12-10-2010 03:51:26 | More by tewaris

cadaugherty

Illinois

4.8/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap at Local Option a couple times and at Stub&Herbs on Darkness Eve. This is a beer that I will always seek out whenever it is available.

Appearance- Dark black with a thick and creamy head of foam that sticks around long past most BA stouts.

Smell- The bourbon jumps out immediately and dominates the nose. With some patience the chocolate and roasty malt come out.

Taste- Bourbon, bourbon, and then more bourbon. It is amazing and worth every bit of effort to get. Drinking this beer on draft just makes me want to get a bottle and let it sit for 2 years and see what happens. Chocolate and vanilla are very present along with some oak definitely comes through.

Mouth- Thick and lustrous. Rich with a full coating that makes your mouth want more and more.

Drink- Yea it is heavy and thick, but it is also just so delicious that none of that matters. You can drink all you can handle and it won't be drinkability (more likely alcohol and coordination) that stops you.

I wake up craving this beer, even if I had this in bottles I could never age it because it would be impossible to resist.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2010 08:28:03 | More by cadaugherty

emerge077

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Second time trying this, too bad it's served in such a tiny glass. I can only imagine the pure devastation that a growler would bring.

Jet black with a sticky cap of mocha foam. It sticks around for the duration, and adheres to the sides. Did I mention sticky? Doesn't look all that different from Plead the 5th, it seems to have definitely retained carbonation after time in the barrel.

Deep fudgy chocolate and blackened, fried plantains dripping in brown sugar syrup. Not overly sweet, but with a vanilla barrage from the barrel. Dark roast and bittersweet chocolate figure large in the equation. Rich flavor, blackened roasted barley, toasted marshmallow, vanilla and chocolate intermingling, with a light sweetness peeking through in the middle. Even carbonation, and with a bigger swig the alcohol is evident, but creeps by unnoticed when sipped. It has an unwavering intensity that is impressive. A solid A+ RIS from Dark Horse.

Serving type: on-tap

11-05-2010 02:13:44 | More by emerge077

JamesJSmallIII

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This is my first review. I didn't really think I'd ever actually review beers on this site as I just use it as a tool. I just felt compelled to make this one my first review, as it was both a surprise and a delicious treat. I had it on tap at a place called The Station Taphouse right near the Downingtown R5 station outside of Philly. 5 bucks for 10 oz. Pretty damn good for Philly prices. I'm doing this the next day from memory, I'll keep it general, don't hate.

A: Dark, Impenetrable. From what I remember not the most amazing head but this is a heavy brew. A little brown foam on black.

S: Heavy malty scent. Slight ovaltine smell in a good way. Vanilla goodness with coffee/oatmeal-ish balance.

T: Awesome. More coffee/choco/oatmeal creamy goodness, with a beautifully strong bourbon flavor, all rounded out by some woody creamy vanilla. Super barley flavor hiding in the back, burnin' your throat.

M: This is the strongest part of this brew. So thick and foamy to start, and then it dissolves on your tongue and throat and leaves you with that whiskey burn. Some may psh-ah the not-to-well masked alcohol, but I don't think it was their intention to be an easy drinker, and I effing loved it.

D: Overall I thought this was too easy to finish. So good, I could have drank two somehow if I wasn't driving. At 14% you're gonna get some burn, but I still think its deceptively drinkable. An unexpected and memorable stout from Dark Horse, gotta give them more credit from now on.

Serving type: on-tap

10-28-2010 13:21:22 | More by JamesJSmallIII

strangefate

Pennsylvania

4.65/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Hulmeville Inn, 10/10

Pours pitch black with the slightlest brown head that fades quickly and little lacing. The scent is of bourbon and chocolate with a hint of vanilla. The taste is bourbon up front, chocolate, toffee, vanilla, and some of the oak from the aging. This tastes incredible. This is thick and hearty and creamy, a great feel for the style with a good light carbonation level.

At a great beer event at the Hulmeville Inn with a great tap list, I started with this and closed with this, with many beers in between. It was good enough to want to go back and have another, despite having many other high ABV beers in between. I can't wait to have this again.

Serving type: on-tap

10-18-2010 20:46:47 | More by strangefate

AgentZero

Illinois

4.58/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

As I jumped onto the train for an hour after work for nothing more than to travel to some unknown bar on the southside of Chicago, only to blow 6 hours out of my day and tick a beer, I remembered the words of NickD: "We will not go quietly into the night! We will not go thirsty without a fight! We're going to tick on! That beer is going to survive to be ticked!" And to those own who were suprised at my travel to taste this rarity I replied: A true ticker is not dissuaded by something as trivial as distance, time, or common sense.

Found on tap at Maple Tree Inn, who knew?

A - Not much more you can ask from the beer than this. Forboding in it's blackness, the mocha head slowly bubbled up, and rose to over two fingers in length. Thick and viscous, this beer left some surprisingly fine lacing on the sides as it slide down the glass. Truly a masterpiece in terms of look.

S - Huge chocolate on the nose with some hidden dark fruits as you become acustom to the smell. The barrel aging brings out a lot of sweet vanilla, which melds nicely with the cocoa. Bourbon is present, but nicely muted, doesn't smell hot at all.

T - This is quite chocolaty, it is the first thing you notice about the beer. The bourbon plays a strong role, but the cocoa keeps it from tasting hot at all and allows you to enjoy the bits of oak and very present vanilla in this beer. As you continue the drink there is a nice bittering sense of espresso on the end which helps to balance the flavor out. I was disappointed, as this bittering espresso grew fainter the more of this I drank, and I was left with more and more of the chocolate. It still tasted great, but lost a lot of its complexity as it warmed up somehow.

M - Very chewy, but managed to be quite thin on the end. Obviously a full bodied brew. Soft carbonation.

D - This is a beer that can kill you. At 14% it drinks like about something at 8%. I drank this quite easily and found myself having to concentrate hard on putting one foot in front of the other. A great beer that I would love to have again.

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2010 04:34:42 | More by AgentZero

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On Tap at Hulmeville Inn in a fricken pint glass, are you guys trying to kill me!?!???!?

A- Bourbon 5th is a big ol black stout, it looks dark as night. Really thick looking to, not on the thin side at all. The liquid kinda coats the glass. A very minimal dark brown cap on top not leaving any traces on the glass.

S- While not the most explosive nose on this, 5th remains a big ol roasted malt masterpiece with malts(duh), getting a nice chocolate base with cocco and some underlining vanilla. Dark fruits play a big part in this and bourbon is there but muted. Smells delicious:)

T- Regular 5th is smooth as silk and this bourbon aged one is just as smoooth, if not smoother. The bourbon does not overpower and sort of takes a backseat to the base beer. Chocolate, deep roasted malts, dark fruits, vanilla and some bourbon. This is not hot at all.

M- For the supposed 14% this is not hot at all, no heat whatsoever. Creamy, thick, coating, inviting. Thick bodied, almost barely carbed up. This just glides down. An excellent feel on this bad boy.

D- Ok, 14% is very high and all, nowhere near a session beer. I drank my pint with ease. I would drink more but I have to stay alive, if I was at home drinking this, bourbon 5th would be a all dayer. Im not a big stout guy lately but this one is worth the damage that the alcohol will do over time. This one is a winner and possibly the best bourbon aged stout that I ever had. I drank this along with older vis and bourbon black and this one took the cake.

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2010 22:47:10 | More by onix1agr

oglmcdgl

Pennsylvania

4.88/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A pint on tap at the hulmeville inn. Oh boy this is going to be a trip.

A- comes to me with a small cap of dark brown head that settles almost instantly leaving just the faintest of rings. Black in color with a small hint of dark brown at the edges.

S- dark chocolate and bourbon vanilla with some smokey wood and char. Lots of brown sugar and molasses. Touches of dark fuits.

T- molten chocolate fudge cake and blackstrap molasses. Bourbon soaked vanilla beans with dark roasted malts. Light stone fruit and coffee hit way in the back.

M- sooo smooth and creamy with a full body and a bit of chew to it. Very lite carb but its perfect for the brew. Just the lightest touch of boozy heat.

D- for a 14 abv pile driver of a brew Im blasting through this pint. This is one amazing brew. Up there with the best barrel aged stouts in the world no doubt.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2010 23:09:10 | More by oglmcdgl

nkersten

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes, on tap at local option. Pours black into a snifter, no head and a very small ring of tan foam that sits at the edge of the glass. Smells of sweet dark cherries, vanilla, light bourbon, and milk chocolate. Taste is chocolate covered cherries, bourbon, and oak with a very slightly hot finish - not nearly as boozey as i would expect for 14%. Delicious. Mouthfeel is very thick and coating, light carbonation helps keep it from being too sticky, perfect for the style. For a massive, high abv stout, this one is surprisingly drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

09-26-2010 15:03:37 | More by nkersten

NorthsideFred

Illinois

4.97/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I had this phenomenal beer on tap, in a snifter, at Local Option. A tip of the cap to Jim, probably one of the most knowledgeable bartenders in Chicago.

A - Pours pitch black with a creamy tan head. Decent retention and nice lacing.

S - Smells wonderful. The first thing you smell is the chocolate, wow. Also some roasted malts, vanilla, and of course bourbon, but the bourbon is very subtle.

T - Damn! This is sooo good! The taste is rich chocolatey goodness. It is so damn smooth. Not hot at all, which is amazing for 14% ABV.

M - This is full bodied, with a rich creamy, silky smooth feel. Almost like chocolate milk.

D - This is eminently drinkable. I sucked two down, and would love another if I had the time and money.

This is an incredible beer. I almost question the accuracy of the ABV: 14%? Really? WOW!

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2010 17:10:33 | More by NorthsideFred

glazeman

Illinois

4.8/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the tap at Local Option in Chicago into a snifter. As a precursor, I really enjoyed the standard version of PTF and had high expectations for the BA version.

A: 1.5 finger mocha head with excellent retention and excellent lacing

S: Bourbon, chocolate, and vanilla were than main smells of this beer. I thought all were in excellent harmony and balance. This is truly a remarkable smelling beer.

T: As with the nose, the main tastes I got were bourbon, vanilla, and chocolate. Wonderfully balance, wonderful flavors, nothing in excess or out of place. This is hands down one of the top 3 tasting beers I have had to date. Better than Dark Lord, Parabola, BCBCS, BCVCS, Ivan, Hunahpu etc.

M: Again, spot on as far as the viscosity and carbonation goes. Not supper thick, but it sits on the tongue nicely, is smooth, and has a wonderful aftertaste.

D: Sky high drinkability. The only thing that could hinder this is the ABV at 14%. With that being said the alcohol was pretty much undetectable to me as this beer was not hot at all.

Overall: This is my favorite beer to date. I was close to giving it my first all 5's but refrained. If I could choose one thing to drink all fall, winter, and spring, this would be it. This beer in every way exceeded my already high expectations and is proof to me that barrel aging an already great beer, if done correctly, can make it even better. I really hope they bottle this at some point. An absolute must try if you ever make a trip down I-94 to Marshall, are in Chicago anytime soon and can make it to Local Option, or at pre-darkness day at Stub and Herbs!

Serving type: on-tap

09-14-2010 15:38:50 | More by glazeman

djmitche

Illinois

4.47/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I had this in a snifter at local option and the strong recommendation of the server.

A: Dark and thick with a decent chocolatey brown head and some reasonable lacing.

S: The other reviews suggest that the nose only emerges as the beer warms, but even at serving temperature this has a nice roasted nose with coffee and a bit of heat. There may be a hint of honey in there, too?

T: I'll admit I worry when I see "bourbon stout" - they tend to be extremely sweet and thick. But this was advertised as overcoming that problem, and delivered. There's roasted malt, bitter chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, and enough bitterness to keep you mind off the possibility of cavities.

M: As hinted above, this is less chewy than most beers of this style, although it does thicken up as it warms

D: This is no session beer, but it is not limited to dessert and breakfast purposes.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2010 02:12:05 | More by djmitche

sidetracked

Illinois

4.72/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Dark Horse. Served in an 8oz(?) snifter--black with a thin light brown ring of head.

Smell is bourbon, dark roasted malts, and dark chocolate with a light woodiness.

Taste is semi-sweet chocolate, coffee, and roasted malts with the bourbon and wood coming through nicely at the finish. As it warms some molasses-like sweetness begins to come through at the finish.

Full bodied and smooth with a slight chewiness. Becomes slightly syrupy as it warms.

Really great balance of bitterness and sweetness. Just the right amount of bourbon aroma and flavor allows others smells and tastes to come through. One of the best barrel aged stouts I've had.

8/28/2010

Serving type: on-tap

09-06-2010 19:51:43 | More by sidetracked

rudylaw

Illinois

4.78/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

On tap @ Local Option

Pours quarter to midnight black with a small deep tan head.

Vanilla, chocolate, molasses, candy and bourbon in the sniffer.

Exact same in the taste and it is a sweet concoction of epic proportions! As it warms, it gets that much smoother. Everything is balanced.

Medium to low carbonation with a chewy, slick mouthfeel. A true sipper for an early fall afternoon. It hides the 14% rather well... but it's still 14%!

Dark Horse has it's lynch pin here. While I quite enjoy Plead the 5th, the barrel wasn't just kind to this beer and to me, it gave it up on the first date, cooked me breakfast and paid for my cab home!

Serving type: on-tap

09-04-2010 20:35:47 | More by rudylaw

MasterSki

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Local Option. Served in a snifter. The perfect nightcap for a Thursday night filled with drunkenness and debauchery.

A - Filled to the brim, so it's hard to get a handle on head volume/retention. Thick ring with a bit of film on top, and some spotty lacing as the beverage is consumed. Ominous black body.

S - A lot of dark roasted grain character, with an earthy and fairly mellow bourbon character. I'm not sure what barrels were used, but they certainly seem to be of high quality. This really needs to warm up, and even then it isn't the most aggressive nose.

T - The taste is quite excellent, with a hefty amount of dark roasted grain, caramel, vanilla, butterscotch, and other sweet things. Again, the bourbon makes its presence known through barrel flavors and depth, rather than in-your-face harsh whiskey.

M - Shockingly little warmth for a 14% beast. Full body, with sufficient carbonation to keep it from getting too syrupy. Stick finish, with only light tannic character.

D - This was quite drinkable for the ridiculous ABV. I'm tempted to trek back to Local Option for another pour under more sober conditions. Also, kudos to Dark Horse for enhancing an already excellent beer with tasteful and well-integrated barrel-aging. They've also done a good job keeping the beer from thinning out too much or getting too astringent.

Serving type: on-tap

09-04-2010 04:43:03 | More by MasterSki

Lukafer

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at Dark Horse, served in a snifter.

Appearance is black and oily, with a thin tan head that leaves great lacing. Smells are bourbon, oak, some chocolate, smells delicious. Taste is some sweet malts, bourbon, oak and some smoke, very good. Mouthfeel is sticky, chewy and just enough carb or this style. This beer is really boozy, but in a really drinkable way. I only had one, because it was early afternoon and I didn't want to get too plowed, otherwise I could've had a few. This is a very good beer!

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2010 03:20:52 | More by Lukafer

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap at DH and at Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Fest

Pours 1 finger of creamy dark tan head that has amazing retention. Color is an oil black.

Aroma: Warming bourbon, thick rich chocolate. Roasted malts. The nose is fairly muted.

Taste: Much better here. Bigger bourbon flavors, oak, sweet chocolate, vanilla, caramel, dark fruits, and raisins.

Mouthfeel: Creamy, smooth, and warming. Full bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. Ends rich, sweet, and malty.

Overall, a solid -bal aged stout. Great flavors and very drinkable. Very impressed with DH on this one.

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2010 15:06:20 | More by mothman

SuperNova777

Indiana

4.83/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This was great starter @ 11 a.m. for our Michigan brew tour

A:Poured into a snifter with harldy no visability throught it, dark along with hints of ruby with a small heads that quickly resides

S:Lots of complexity going on here, from the vanilla to the chocolate maybe some molases. Very inviting

T:Purly Delicious, Lil vanilla and coffee flavor up front then some bourbon on the backburner. Super smooth going down, hard to believe that this one is 14%, almost no alcohol hitting here. Definitly could drink a few of these but probably shouldn't

M:Very nice, a little thicker but very easy drinkability

D: So So good, I'm glad I opened up with this on it got me ready for the next 10 hours of drinking. Easy to drink, great flavors and complexity, and just delicious. I will be heading back to Dark Horse soon and hopefully i will be able to snag this again before its all gone

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2010 01:25:37 | More by SuperNova777

alleykatking

Indiana

4.72/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at Dark Horse. Pretty stoked to try this one out. Served in a snifter.

A- Pours a deep dark brown...almost black color. Dark chocolate colored head very little dies to a ring on the glass. Some streaky lacing on the glass. A very nice looking beer.

S- This has big roasted malt in the front of the aroma. Some light vanilla and dark cocoa in the middle. Don't pick up any wood notes but I do pick up hints of bourbon in the back end of beer. Typical coffee notes as well with a slight smokey presence as well. Light alcohol hits the nose and sticks to it.

T- Good roasted malt bites from the front with a light vanilla and cocoa ending. Some toffee and coffee notes toward the middle that adds to the sweetness. This beer isn't all sweet though which is where it turns into a bourbon laced beer. Light bourbon notes through the backing leading to a warming alcohol as you drink this one down. There is also a return to light roasted malts to this that add a finishing character as well. This is what a bourbon barreled beer should taste like to me.

M- Heavy mouthfeel. Carbonation is prefect for the beer although I think a little subdue for the style. Nice heavy roastd malts left on the palate with a touch of chocolate. Bourbon and light roasted malts left on the aftertaste. Flavors were bold and clean tasting. Everything mixed together pretty well but still had strong single flavor qualities to it.

D- This to me was a perfect style of a bourbon barrel beer. The higher ABV (14%) limits this to a couple snifters at best. I do enjoy this beer and hope they do something like making a short bottle run of it. Dark Horse knows how to make their beers very drinkable and I have never had a problem doing just that. Cheers to you Dark Horse!

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2010 19:37:28 | More by alleykatking

MbpBugeye

Ohio

4.93/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Obviously the first beer I sampled from Dark Horse's living room at the Brewers Guild Fest in Ann Arbor 2010. I was excited to get to try this one as Plead the 5th is one of my favorite beers.

Quite vinous at times but chocolate and bourbon squash that. There is dark fruits, vanilla, oak, chocolate, bourbon and alcohol.

Taste is fantastic. This beer beat out CBS, KBS, Black Note and lots of other big stouts with major hype that were at the fest. We ended up going back for more of this. Our resounding favorite of the day. Theres nothing too frilly about it. Its just a big ass stout with dark fruits, coffee, chocolate, molasses soaked in oaky and vanillay tasting bourbon barrels.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2010 21:58:51 | More by MbpBugeye