Dark Horse Tres Blueberry Stout - Dark Horse Brewing Company

Odelay3126

Michigan

4.46/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Beautiful dark stout with foamy brown head. Berry Beers are not typically my favorite but the Blueberry taste is not sugary or overwhelming. Coffee and caramel taste pairs perfectly with the blueberry. There is a strong Chocolate aftertaste but not too bitter. Very nice beer for anytime of the year.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 20:13:03 | More by Odelay3126

PieOhMy

Minnesota

4.19/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Poured into snifter.

A Pours thick and syrupy. Murky dark purple/black. One finger brown head fades fast.

S Well, blueberry for sure. Caramel, chocolate along with a nutty scent.

T Blueberry. They aren't lying with the name. Second wave of flavor is coffee, raisin, and chocolate. There is tartness that hits after this. The blueberry again. A nice bitter taste in the end.

M Thick, full. A little evanescence. Flows pretty smooth.

O Hey, I don't like false advertising and Dark Horse wasn't lying with the name. Lot's of blueberry in the smell and taste, even a little in the color. It actually works really well. Blueberry, coffee, chocolate: Delicious.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 02:34:19 | More by PieOhMy

tastybeer

North Carolina

4.24/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Dark brown-opaque with a creamy mocha brown head. Ok retention and no lasting lace. Aroma is dark and roasty with the light sweetness of blueberries. A surprisingly pleasing combination that goes really well together. Taste is chocolately and malty, kind of lactose-esque, with blueberry weaved in throughout. It adds a lot to the smoothness and the suck-down-ability. I'm not trying to drink this fast but I definitely seem to be. Mouthfeel is smooth, slick, soft, and blankety. Stout appropriate. Overall I think this is a nice change of pace. I was a little weary of the blueberry at first but it works really well with this style.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 22:49:19 | More by tastybeer

Neorebel

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours an inky, solid black, brimming with off-white foam. Some lacing is present as well. Taking in the aroma, I could tell that this brew would exceed my expectations. Fruit flavored beers have always been very hit or miss with me. The smells I picked up were those of luscious desserts and bakery treats. Natural blueberry muffin, pie crust, cappuccino, dark roasted malts. The flavor of the blueberry was front and center, but there was an unexpected and pleasant smoked character as well. Slightly bready, it coats the mouth nicely with a moderate chewiness and a crisp finish. Don't hesitate to pick this up, even for those wary of fruit beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 16:18:09 | More by Neorebel

craft_shannie

Indiana

3.78/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

pours black, three finger coffee head that dissipates quickly. you can smell the blueberries immediately on the pour. nose is pretty much all blueberries - and kinda artificial blueberries, at that. taste isn’t gimmicky though. probably the crispiest stout i've ever had; lots o' carbonation that seems to fit. balance of malts against the sweet blueberry is right on. its unlike any stout that i've had & i have to admit - i like it.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 23:23:45 | More by craft_shannie

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.16/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

12 oz bottle, no bottled-on date, poured into a snifter.

A- Pours black with a finger of brown head, recedes to a collar.

S- Smells pretty nice, massive blueberry aroma, hidden beneath are some roasty malts and chocolate.

T- Really tasty blend of blueberry, chocolate, coffee and roasted grain.

M- Medium-bodied, carbonation is a bit higher than it needs to be, but the feel is smooth and dry.

O- This was a very pleasant surprise. The blueberry flavor and aromas are very juicy and pie-like, and fits nicely with the chocolate and roast. Very tasty stuff.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 07:01:17 | More by WillCarrera

boilermakerbrew

Indiana

4.36/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A- Pours black as night and pretty thick. Small, one finger head forms and is tan to chocolate brown. Retention and lacing are both pretty good.

S- Strong blueberry is tamed when intermingled with lots of dark roasted malts, coffee, and chocolate scents. Coffee is moderately to very strong on the end of the scent. Interesting mix of contrasting flavors.

T- Just like the scent, but with slightly muted blueberry flavors. Starts with the lighter blueberry flavor and quickly moves into traditional stout flavors. Coffee and bitter chocolate are prominent flavors, with some good roasted malts in there too. At the end of the drink, a stronger coffee bitterness finishes the beer with a moderate bite.

M- Higher in carbonation than most stouts, but fairly thick and creamy. Stronger in alcohol feel than the ABV would suggest, but not overpowering at all.

Overall, a very interesting and different fruit infused stout. I like the blueberry flavors more than cherry that usually comes in stout. Not sure if I'd get this again, but a very interesting and solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 01:11:19 | More by boilermakerbrew

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.76/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

12 oz bottle into a Samuel Smith pint glass.

A: Pours a nearly black color, similar to the Too cream stout. Aggressively poured, this features a four-finger tan colored head. Like its brethren, it seriously looks like an imperial stout.

S: There is some unsweetened chocolate and roasted barley here, but beneath that is a slight hint of blueberry. Not enough to kill the balance by any stretch, but enough to interest the olfactory senses.

T: At first, the typical notes of roast, chocolate, and coffee open things up. But then the finish comes, loaded with blueberry. I feel like the blueberry notes do a good job of not getting in the way of the stout qualities - some sips sees the roast/chocolate win out, others see the blueberry as the dominant flavor. Ultimately, the two elements blend together reasonably well.

M: Compared with One and Too, this seems rather thin. This aids drinkability admirably, however it doesn't have the decadent feel of the other two.

O: Not a pure stout, but it works well as a stout/fruit beer hybrid. The blueberry does a good job of blending in with the base, never fully overpowering things. I'd gladly drink this one again.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 21:43:23 | More by ThisWangsChung

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.79/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Served on-tap at Drop Off Service in New York, NY

A: Pours an opaque jet black in color with some very dark amber highlights and a very light amount of visible carbonation. The beer has a half finger tall dense dark tan head that reduces to a very thin film covering about half the surface of the beer and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light to moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light aromas of dark roasted malts and blueberry.

T: Upfront there are light flavors of dark roasted malts which are followed by some light flavors of natural blueberry - the blueberry is not sweet or artificial tasting. Very light amounts of bitterness in the finish which fade almost instantly.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth.

O: Overall the beer is very well balanced between the flavors from the malts and the blueberry. I thought this was pretty interesting but not sure I would have another in a single session.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2013 01:47:17 | More by dbrauneis

metter98

New York

3.95/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Drop Off Service, New York, NY

A: The beer is jet black in color. It poured with a thin dark tan head that died down, leaving some wispy lacing on the surface and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Light aromas of blueberries are present in the nose along with some hints of dark malts.
T: Like the smell, the taste has flavors of blueberries but these are balanced off by flavors of underlying malts.
M: It feels medium-bodied and slightly smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The beer has a nice balance between fruity and stout flavors. It is very easy to drink for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2013 00:51:10 | More by metter98

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.86/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a bottle into a shaker pint, the beer is a dark, opaque, black-ish color with a thin, filmy, brown head that clings around the glass. Aromas of blueberry tart and sweet, with a heavy dose of roasted coffee in the backbone. Flavors are rich and creamy, with a mocha backbone giving rise to a subtle sweet blueberry ribbon of sweetness. The fruit imparts a blueberry muffin character to the brew, and there are roasty highlights throughout. Very robust, on a smooth, full body. Roasty and fruity aftertaste, with a balancing bitterness. Clean, slightly dry finish. Very good.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 00:37:09 | More by GarthDanielson

Doc_Hops

Pennsylvania

4.21/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A- Tres Blueberry pours BLACK- a jet black color with absolutely no light passing through, not even on the edges of the glass. The head is booming at first and then slowly retreats to a thin layer.

S- Lots of roasted malt in the beginning giving way to some sweet blueberry notes. It actually smells like a blueberry pie that has burnt crust.

T- Malt definitely dominates the palate. Lots of burnt/ roasted notes but the underlying sweetness definitely comes from the blueberries. Somewhat dry finish on the back end with a lingering aftertaste that is all dark fruit.

M- Good, full bodied beer here. It's silky, perfect for the style and somewhat high in alcohol but you would not know it based on the mouthfeel.

O- quite a tasty brew. It's got everything you would look for in an American Stout with some nice fruit notes. It's very smooth and fairly easy to drink. This brewery is definitely on the rise for me and I cannot wait to try more of their stuff.

Serving Type- 12oz bottle poured into an over-sized wine glass. Thanks for reading.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 04:13:07 | More by Doc_Hops

BeerZack

North Carolina

3.59/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

Pours opaque black with a thick one finger brown head that sticks. The nose reminds me of Blueberry Morning breakfast cereal. A sweetened dehydrated blueberry aroma flits above the surface, but underneath is an almost nutty bran muffin and hint of dark chocolate. The flavor is not quite as integrated as the nose. It starts off with an artificial blueberry flavor with a tinge of sweetener that somewhat sloppily transitions into a moderate roasty finish by way of a kick of tartness and astringency on the mid-palate.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 01:39:34 | More by BeerZack

Jfriz25

Wisconsin

4.31/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Appearance- Pours pitch black with a gorgeous mocha colored head. It fades a bit too quickly into a thin ring around the glass but it was great while it lasted.

Smell- Lots of dark roasted notes and chocolate come through first. There is a really fresh blueberry smell as well. Blueberry came out more as it warmed.

Taste- The blueberry is less pronounced than in the nose but it is still there behind the coffee and dark roasts. A little bitterness lingers at the end.

Mouthfeel- Very smooth and full but not quite silky. Moderate carbonation that becomes a little too bubbly at the end.

Overall- Blueberry is one of my favorite flavors and I think it really worked in this one. I look forward to picking up a couple of these up every winter!

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 01:35:38 | More by Jfriz25

Sesmu

Massachusetts

4.24/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

For some reason I never really found a beer with blueberries that I actually liked. Tried from time to time, but didn't really seek out since every time I was disappointed. Well, decided to give this one a try...

A: Very low head of brownish color, dissipating very quickly. Black color body with some brown coming through when brought to light. Nothing blueish :)

S: Blueberries in the aroma, but somewhat faint at first. Something chocolaty and the roasted malts. When the beer warms up, blueberries start to come through stronger and stronger. Towards the end of the bottle they dominate the aroma.

T/M: Smooth, almost creamy mouthfeel. Medium body. Fruity, especially when it warms up. Very subtle taste of blueberries though, they are present, but are well integrated and don't really stand out on their own. (Maybe that was the problem with the blueberry beers I've had before.) Chocolate, caramel, roasted malts, coffee undertones. Slight bitterness behind bigger sweetness. Finishes on a sweeter side with yet more blueberries.

O: Well, I finally found it. Not that I was looking really hard, but it was a nice surprise. Thumbs up to Dark Horse brewers for mixing blueberries with stout so well. Very pleasant drink, mellow and lulling. Also have to add that at the end those 7.5% abv start to get through.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 04:20:37 | More by Sesmu

rlee1390

Indiana

4.19/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A-Black, nicely carbonated, one finger tan head.

S-Blueberries, sweet wonderful blueberries. Some malt and chocolate round it out.

T-Nice undertones of blueberries. Mainly chocolate and roasted malt with slight coffee.

M-Medium bodied and very carbonated.

O-I have mixed blueberry lagers and stouts before but this beer takes the cake. Blueberry is not artificial, nor overpowering in the taste. A great beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 20:55:57 | More by rlee1390

Big_Twofifty

Wisconsin

4.36/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a dark motor oil thickness with ½” mocha colored head with large bubbles that dissipate quickly, settling down to the thick, space hole black body of the beer. When held up to the light the only light seen is at the periphery of the glass.

Smell: The first smell is like being in a patch of ripe blueberries, it is quiet prominent. The blueberries are then overwhelmed by the roasted malt and coffee aromatics. It is a complex marriage between the blueberries and the roasted, malty, coffee notes. At times the smells are cohesive and complement each other nicely, but then with the next inhalation one seems to overpower the other.

Taste: Unlike the smell, the flavor at the forefront is the roasted charred malt and overbrewed coffee, definitely an unexpected twist. The blueberry notes take a backseat to the more robust, intense flavors of the malt and coffee initially. As I drink more of the beer the blueberry and its sweetness, albeit still mild, does become evident. It was a very enjoyable blend, combining a mild fruity and sweetness of blueberry with the roasted malt and coffee. Mhmmmm, a blueberry scone and coffee, the perfect breakfast beer.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, not as thick of mouthfeel as it appeared when pouring, but still a pleasant feel on the palate. It had a slightly bitter hazelnut finish.

Overall: Everything about this beer intrigued me from the start, the simple label, the blueberry in a stout, the Dark Horse branding. I had to give it a try. The beer had plenty of surprises and the only disappoint, if any, was that the blueberry was a little underwhelming. However, still turned out to be a very good beer, and one that I would most certainly pick up again.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 04:20:09 | More by Big_Twofifty

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.01/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Typical stout appearance. Near black opaque body with a thick beige head. The aroma brings the blueberries right away. Blueberry, chocolate, roast. Smells very inviting. The flavor offers more roast and chocolate initially, with blueberries coming in mid palate. Quite tasty. Medium bodied with a bit of sweetness, but not nearly as much as I was expecting. Dry finish. I would definitely have this again.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 03:22:08 | More by Huhzubendah

nickapalooza86

Wisconsin

4.16/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Got a single from a local bottle shop, never had a "fruit stout" before..

Pours very dark, not motor oil thick like a imperial, but very very dark, can not see anything through it. about a finger of a deep mocah head, really good looking stuff.

at first smell it is like fresh blueberry muffins, followed by a nice roasty chocolatey charachter, then comes right back to blueberry.

the taste is a bit of let down given the nose... drinks like a standard stout with a tiny splash of blueberry sweetness. I will say it is a good stout base though, chocolate, roasty, a bit of bitter coffee and the blueberry comes through a little at the end.

mouthfeel does not dissapoint for a non imperial stout that is for sure, medium mouth, but really coats the palate almost like they brewed it with oats... Really nice!

Well, it is not quite what I expected, but that is not a bad thng, really nice, blueberry is up front in the nose but takes a back seat on the taste. Really good stuff!

Time to buy a couple 4 packs!

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 16:54:35 | More by nickapalooza86

tut2528

Illinois

4.16/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

A: pours black as night, with a nice dense, 1 fingers worth of dark tan/mocha head formation.

S: big chocolate, roasted malt, with a nice sugary and blueberry note to balance this one out very nicely. i also pick up on a slight lactose creaminess.

T: big roasted malt, and dark chocolate here again. but there is a nice blueberry sweetness that compliments the bolder flavors. in fact the finish is dominated by the blueberries and there's even a nice cream finish.

M: this is much thinner than I was expecting, and definitely wish it was more viscous, but this one goes down rather quickly. just a touch of sweet blueberry and chocolate left on the palate.

O: i love blueberries so this was a must buy. and i personally thought it was rather enjoyable. i was wondering how much blueberries would actually be noticed, but as this brew warms up, the blueberries really start to come forward.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 00:49:26 | More by tut2528

tectactoe

Michigan

3.86/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a very, very, very dark brown - let's just call it black, pretty thick looking with a nice, creamy and frothy leather-tan head that perches and doesn't go anywhere for a while. Would you be surprised if I told you this beer smells like blueberries? Probably not. But it does. It's got a very dense and sweet blueberry aroma that piles high - it doesn't taste as authentic as I was hoping, though. It's not bad, but the blueberry aroma is more like a blueberry syrup or a blueberry concentrate than an actual blueberry. Nitpicking much? Nevertheless, it still smells delicious, and I'm a big fan of blueberries. Some light fudgy, dark chocolate notes play around in the back, but tremble in the shadow of the blue fruit.

The body is a tad thinner than expected, especially given the thick looking pour and the "glorping" noise this beer makes as I swirl the glass. Blueberry overtones are cast throughout the entire sip. Filling in the spaces are some deep, bittersweet fudge and very mild coffee notes. The malt itself has a large roastiness to it, adding some bitterness to the mix as well. There is certainly a notable hop presence here, being mostly leafy and herbal. The blueberry comes out more and more as the beer warms up, until it becomes mainly dominant with blueberries. But then again, what else would you expect from a blueberry stout? There is a nice contrast between the sweetness from the blueberries and the bitterness from the roasted malts and hops. Once this beer gets near room temp, however, the blueberries dominate and the sweetness comes alive even more. Aftertaste is filled with more berries and a heavy coating of thick, dark fudge as well.

Drinkable and overall pretty tasty. Nice fruit addition without being too gimmicky or played out. Blueberry might be a little too much as this one approaches warmer temps, though. Although I still don't know how I feel about fruity stouts - this one may make a believer out of certain skeptics.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 11:43:09 | More by tectactoe

SportsandJorts

Michigan

3.3/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Type: 12 oz bottle
Glass: Pint
From: Tippins in Ann Arbor
Price: $2.25 for 1

Appearance: Dark black opaque beer. A little bit viscous. Tannish head that almost looks a little blue. Really good looking beer

Smell: Sweet blueberries, taken over by the roasted malts.

Taste: roasted malts, bitter dark chocolate, and finally a hint of sweet blueberries. The taste falls way short for me, the blueberries are just a hint and the beer comes out much to bitter, when I was wanting a sweet stout

Mouthfeel: pretty thick. ends quite bitter. bittersweet blueberries linger

Overall: I was expecting a lot out of this one but it underwhelmed and am i glad i bought a single rather than a four pack, or even two for that matter.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 00:01:04 | More by SportsandJorts

sleuthdog

Illinois

3.74/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into GI pint

Pour: Dark black like you'd expect a stout to be. Had a big three finger brown head with large bubbles creating a rocky appearance. Head stayed for a short time and settled to a brown film.

Smell: Malty chocolate at first quickly followed by sweet ripe blueberries. Actually does smell like a chocolate dipped blueberry or a chocolate chip blueberry muffin. I can almost see the crunchy sugar pieces on top of a blueberry muffin as I smell a sugar sweetness, too. It also reminds me of a blueberry pie because I'm getting a graham cracker smell reminding me of pie crust. Outstanding and unique smelling beer!

Taste: Roasted malts and bitter chocolate dominate with some char and coffee. Actually quite bitter and not what I was expecting from the smell. The blueberries hit mid palate but not in a sweet sense but an astringent way. This beer is complex and changes each time I take a sip. It seems to become a bit more blueberry forward as it warms.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and a very drinkable stout. Not too heavy and smooth and creamy feel.

Overall: I love blueberries so I had to give this one a shot. What I can say about this is that it is very interesting. A great beer? No. A solid, not typical offering? Yes.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 01:36:21 | More by sleuthdog

Efay

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Was craving a new stout, when this specimen came into my local beer shop. I absolutely love blueberries so I had to get a 4 pack.

A- Pours jet black, nothing more. There is about 2 fingers worth of frothy, brown foam. Awesome retention rate of foam and beautiful lacing.

S- You get a whiff of ripe, sugar sweet blueberries and dark roasted malted goodness. Not too complex, but it smells good.

T- Its very bittersweet. Sweet blueberries clash with dark malt that has a coffee taste. Theres also some bitter dark chocolate that compliments the sweetness. Ends with a bitter hop-like taste.

M- This is where I was pleasantly surprise. It was extremely drinkable. Not much carbonation on the tongue and light for a stout.

O- This is an excellent stout. Has the usual characteristics an average stout but the blueberries and hoppy finish just make this beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 01:04:39 | More by Efay

Star80

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle with a thick layer of sticky sludge at the bottom. What is this? Yeast? Leftover blueberries?

A - It pours out a very dark black, with a brown head.

S - Smells wonderful, lots of blueberries, some chocolaty smells and dark roasty smells.

T - Taste is where I get a little mixed up. Big dark chocolate followed by some blueberry sweetness, followed by a lot of chalky, bittersweet flavors. Actually the finish has a really dry, annoying aspirin-like bitterness. Not at all what I was expecting.

M - Mouthfeel is still quite smooth.

O - Overall I bought this due to all the fans and heard it was one of the best of the series. Not sure if the bottle sludge matters or not but possibly it does, who knows. Interesting but flawed.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 23:39:37 | More by Star80