Dark Horse Too Cream Stout - Dark Horse Brewing Company

alexgash

Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Viscous, oily black body. Even with an assertive pour, there is only a very small, lacy, cocoa brown head. Nose of rich milk chocolate, vanilla ice cream, dark fruits, sugary coffee, and molasses.

Slight roasted malt flavor up front, quickly replaced with sweet milk chocolate and sugary dark fruits. Dries out with notes of coffee, baking chocolate, and peat. Oily mouthfeel with a full body and modest carbonation. Perhaps a little bit rougher than the other holiday stouts by DH, but still not bad at all.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2007 23:12:34 | More by alexgash

Wasatch

Utah

4.08/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks stouty1

Pours a clean dark brown/black color, some carbonation, no head or lacing afterwards. The nose is sweet roasted malts, slight vanilla, and some toffee/coffee. The taste pretty much follows the nose, sweet malty, and a nice touch of toffee/coffee. Medium body. Very drinkable, a very nice Milk/Sweet Stout, glad to have a chance to check this brewery out, this is my first, but I do have another from them, and hopefully a couple of other's coming in trade. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2007 23:50:15 | More by Wasatch

DaPeculierDane

Wisconsin

3.85/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours jet black with no head and a thin dark brown ring. Not all that appealing. Nose is light but contains some nice elements of hazelnut, vanilla, sweet cream, and roasted malt. I don’t catch any coffee or chocolate oddly enough.

Tastes light bodied, fruity sweet with a metallic front, and ultra mild oatmeal tangy finish. Mild lactic quality that gives way to more sweetness and fruit as it warms. Body mellows as the minute carbonation settles. Becomes very drinkable around 55 degrees or so. Again, nice roasted malts, plenty of vanilla/hazelnut spice, but not much in the way of coffee or chocolate. I don’t mind that though. This is a nice beer. The body is perfect as is the balance. Smooth, creamy, and delightful.

Ultra drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2007 01:26:50 | More by DaPeculierDane

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

(Served in an American pint glass)

A- This beer has a jet black body with a dark brown bubbly head that fades quickly. This body is too dense to see any carbonation.

S- This beer has a roasted black malt aroma with a dark roasted coffee bean hint. There is a slight smoke note to the malt that comes through when it warms.

T- This beer has a dark bitter black roasted malt flavor with a hint of coffee and a slight note of cream when it is warm. There is a soft chalky hint and a slight astringency and inky note in the finish. The overall taste is pretty dry.

M- This beer has a light mouthfeel with a bit of a watery texture.

D- This beer has a pretty light thin body and the taste is pretty dry for this style.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2007 23:24:51 | More by rhoadsrage

mrasskicktastic

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours an oily black with under a millimeter transmission depth. This may be the darkest beer I''ve ever had. No head off the pour. None at all. An attempt to excite the head got only a single tiny bubble thick layer that dissipates in moments. There were a few specks of lacing on the glass, but nothing substantial.

S - Chocolate and burnt malt mesh with a bit of an underlying sweetness (lactose perhaps). It actually smells a bit weird.

T - Robust bittersweet chocolate with a hefty backing dark roasted strong coffee beans. The aftertaste has a light coffee bitterness.

M - Thick, slick, smooth and very refreshing. I love the texture of these dark horse stouts.

D - Pretty good. This is an extremely pleasant and hearty milk stout. It is more of a dessert beer, but one could session it (I suspect the abv is too high for that though). Dark Horse impresses me yet again. I should note that this might have had a really strong hop profile or a ton of bitterness - I wouldn't know since I had devil dancer a few hours ago.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2006 03:01:27 | More by mrasskicktastic

benito

Oregon

3.1/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

From a single bought at Cloverleaf.

A: A vigorous pour produces nothing more than a fizzy, thin head. Otherwise it's oil black and leaves the glass unfazed...no lacing, no swirls, nothing.

S: Sweet, with lots of creme brulee and rosewood.

T: Good espresso sweetness up front, almost marshmallowy, followed by a burnt, bitter bite toward the end and a peppery, dry finish. The second half of this isn't at all what I would have expected from a cream stout. But the initial flavor is spot on. What happens halfway through? Why? The flavors themselves aren't inoffensive or inappropriate (in fact, I enjoy a slightly bitter finish to an otherwise sweet stout). But the transition is sudden and jarring.

M and D: A little thin, but it has a good length of flavor. Very easy to cruise through a pint or two of this.

Overall, this is a fine, if unexceptional stout from Dark Horse. It's a moderately bitter sweet stout with all the right elements, but they don't really come together all that well.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2006 18:59:19 | More by benito

headhopper

Michigan

3.7/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours pitch black with zero head. I mean....none. Looks like dirty motor oil. Thats not a bad thing necceseraly.

S - Its creamy and smokey. Ofcourse there is chocolate and some roasty/toasty smell.

T - Cream, chocolate , and some roasted coffee beans. Almost like a chocolate covered smoke log???? Goes down somewhat dry. It has a little bitterness too , but not much at all.

M - lets see... creamy. It coats your mouth with a pleasant cooling creamy feel.

D - Very easy drinking. Nothing offensive here. Maybe the faint smokiness could turn some people off, but its very subdued. I could have a few, but its a bit filling. Over all though, there is nothing complex here.

This was a good beer. I picked up a few singles and will seek out a full 6 pack now. Seems to hit the spot if you want something sweet after dinner and want a beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2006 14:46:16 | More by headhopper

thelagerheads

Michigan

4.65/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

$1.67 12 oz bottle
Cloverleaf Fine Wine & Spirits
Southfield, MI

Take the bottle and pour it deep into the glass and when the last bubbles froth and foment at the festering fizz top shake the last drips of the bottle onto the surface of the beer. You'll see little bubbles shoot off the top and slide like electricity to the glass sides and die there. This really has nothing to do with this beer but it's something I've noticed from doing this a few times now. All right...deep hued chocolate, coffee smoke, burnt wood and a mild sweetness in the taste of the dregs at the roof of your mouth. One of the best stouts and cream stouts I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2006 05:32:45 | More by thelagerheads

Crosling

Colorado

3.58/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Opaque black color, just as every single Dark Horse stout, but with a thin, and quickly diminishing light tan head. Espresso and chocolate aromas, with hints of vanilla, roast and brownies, quite the vibrant little blend of malt aromatics. Flavor has some oxidation, just like the aroma, but this is also a 2004 example. Body is slightly undercarbonated and it is thin, but not watery. Slightly bitter and astringent malt, but still decadent and enjoyable, with chocolate and cream flavors. Quite the treat.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2006 00:11:50 | More by Crosling

dirtylou

Washington

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

12oz single, received via trade from nsjer05

appearance: pours a very dark, opaque black colour into a great dane imperial pint glass. dark and oily, not much head at first but then a thin super dark chocolate brown head forms...looks delicious!

smell: big and roasted malt presence, noticeable floral hop presence, creamy, cocoa powder, sweet dark chocolate, light coffee

taste: smooth and rich...heavy roasted malt flavour, fresh floral hop presence that is a nice compliment, dark chocolate, very nice and roasty cream stout, another winner from dark horse

mouthfeel: super creamy, slight bitterness, very very nice

drinkability: quite easy drinking

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2006 00:50:06 | More by dirtylou

rrwiltse

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Damn, this is one creamy stout! They say its brewed with real milk, and by God, you can tell! Not much of a head (I guess I mean none really), just like their Oatmeal Stout. Deep deep dark in color. The mouthfeel is exquisite! I don't normally like melted milkshakes, but in this case I'll take it! Strangely enough, I had this while eating a slice of Banana Cream Pie. Now, I normally don't care much for Banana Cream Pie, but Holy Cow, did this pairing go awesome together! Really! These guys can make some stouts!

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2006 01:44:57 | More by rrwiltse

Shovelbum

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours thick. A dark brown head makes an attempt to establish itself, but is gone before I’ve even raised the glass. The body is black as a black hole swallowing all light that enters its grasp. Rich aromas of chocolate and roasted malt. The flavors follow suit with a robust roasted malt that is balanced by a moderate sweetness. Flavors of chocolate and espresso round out the bill. Mild background bitterness adding support as well. Creamy and full bodied mouthfeel with low carbonation. Drying.

Doesn’t seem to have as much of the dark vinous fruit qualities present in many of the richer stouts. Instead it hones in on the interplay between the roasted malt and creamy sweetness, and nails it.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2006 01:07:59 | More by Shovelbum

Jredner

Florida

3.43/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Massive coffee and malt aroma. Pours deep black with no real head. Rich dark baker’s chocolate flavors followed by coffee. Other than a marked lack of roastiness this doesn’t feel like a sweet stout. Mouthfeel is very creamy so no false advertising here.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2006 16:57:45 | More by Jredner

karst

Missouri

3.1/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

My third of the series - One, Too, & Tres.

Pours black and raises a brief 3 - 5 mm of fine head that quickly falls to naked black disk of black with new blubbles unable to sustain the thinest ring. Aroma inviting and similar to the anonymous fruit found in the flavor. Round mouthfeel with a little more body than most stouts. Roasty flavors combine with sweet chocolate and light caramel with that haunting unnamed fruit.

Initially unpleasent bitternes becomming less objectional as you become accustomed to its astringence. I can't figure out the hops which provide a functional IBU level. Swirl bring up a burst of bubbles. More efferescent that you would suspect from the brief head. This helps the finish - as the roasted flavors fade.

I am hoping to visit this brewery soon and get beer fresh from the tap. This trio was from Corral Liquors Granite City, Ill.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2006 23:02:12 | More by karst

Frozensoul327

Michigan

4.28/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Another proof the Michigan has perhaps the best micro breweries anywhere in the country. Poured out to a flat, thick black color of day old coffee. Nearly no head or carbonation, only traces of dark reddish brown foam around the edge of the beer and touches of lace of the same. Aromas of roasted malts, wood, bourbon and a definite smoke element. Nice. Taste was very well crafted and complex. Flavors of earth, wood, coffee and dark chocolate, with spice and molassas toward the finish. Mouthfeel was nice and chewy, with a smoothness to it that is almost silk like. A good level of drinkability for being a heavy beer like it is. A Recommended brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2005 00:47:40 | More by Frozensoul327

weeare138

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appears a black color with a foamy tan head. Lots of scaly lacing all over the glass.
Smell is very creamy, with chocolate, roasted malt, and vanilla.
Taste is of the same aromas. Pretty darn good.
Mouthfeel is roasty, full bodied, mildly sweet and filled with a coffee bitterness that is mostly pleasant.
Drinkability is nice. Very good brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2005 06:57:41 | More by weeare138

walleye

Michigan

4.05/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

from the bottle. poured black, with a tan head. aroma sweet dark chocolate, , coffee, caramel, cocoa. flavor the blend of the chocolate and coffee was right on for me than got those nice roasted malts. a little on the chaulky side but good. this is the 2nd dark brew from dark horse I have had, got one more to go and I am looking forward to it

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2005 18:41:11 | More by walleye

shapudding

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Apparently they don’t date these puppies! No dating. Pitch chocolate brown with a bit of caramel head in tight form that mainly was a thin ring and a tiny dusting just in the center. Deep, dark, and rich aroma. Thick and heavily scented of coffee, chocolate and hops. Creamy smooth feeling, it just glides along your tongue... schweet. Carbonation is just barely present in the background. Wonderful flavors, deep and dark, roasty and lovely. Black strong coffee, vanilla bean, bittersweet chocolate, hoppiness, caramel malts. Such good flavors and feeling in this. Nice one for the lovers of ports and stouts, as it has a lot to give to you.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2005 03:56:25 | More by shapudding

putnam

Michigan

4.6/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Dark Horse is obsessed with black colored beer!
Aromas of cocoa, espresso and spring rain on moss. The bottom of a pot of burned coffee. Flavors are mild, without any astringency, and dry. Roasty woodsmoke flavors accompany a silky-textured, unfizzy, medium-bodied mouthful of soot, vanilla, charred anise and beet sugar flavors.
Remarkable for its easy drinkability, especially considering the color. Easily the most drinkable of the Dark Horse black biers and probably the lowest in alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2005 21:54:39 | More by putnam

ken3c

Michigan

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Motor oil black with a similar viscosity. A very thin head bubbles up after the pour and recedes to barely a ring.

A burnt aroma dominates with some carmel notes.

Sweet and creamy at first and then burnt and astringent like a strong coffee. The aftertaste is carmel.

Smooth. Low carbonation. Thick.

Very nice. I like a nice head on beer but everything else is very good.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2004 04:00:07 | More by ken3c

CortexBomb

Michigan

3.93/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours out normal stout black, and starts out with a tan head, but the head only lasted a few seconds before it faded into memory.

Smell was strongly roasty with a sweet tinge that milk/cream stout usually have on the edge, but it didn't blow me away.

Taste on the front end is very gentle, a milky texture and taste and then the roast and coffee tones visit on the back of the tongue, along with a mild bitter. The top of the mouth maintains a slightly sweet, almost sugary milky tone throughout while the finish gives a gently bitter tinge before going away quietly with just a faint coffee flavour left over. Pretty good.

Mouthfeel is full, and the almost milky texture in the front makes it stand out from the pack. It's not as viscuous as the uber heavy stouts, but it holds its own.

Drinkability is pretty standard for stout, good for those of us who regularly drink it, unmentionable for those who don't.

Quality milk stout, not top of the pack by any stretch, but worthy of a try.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2004 23:24:21 | More by CortexBomb

tavernjef

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Stark black, opaque and thick set, no head, a few dark brown bubbles urge up around the edge, lace is nil as well. Aroma has a mild tone and overall low-keyed nose, has a good portion of vanilla, hazelnut, sweet chocolate, and caramel, has a thin roasty hint along with some kind of undetermined fruityness. Taste has a balancing act between mild roast qualities and sweet malts and fruits. The fruit seems like pear and slight orange which sits mostly underneath a moderate bittering black malt astringency, coffeeness, and burnt barley. The flavors are quite nice, not overly intense or brutish, it favors more of a smooth, rich smoothability and drinkability. Where as the feel and body goes, so goes the drinkability with this stuff. Sweet creamy body and bulky rich feel, slick and buttery, bold and slides right down. Finish is a partial mix of cocoa and roasty drying and tidbits of the sweeter stuff sticking.
Dark Horse seems to have their brews solidly built, as I have yet to be diappointed by one yet. The stouts are all top notch treats. As is this.
Another thanks to trbeer for setting me up with such a fine display of brews!

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2004 02:24:15 | More by tavernjef

beergeek279

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in the 12 oz. bottle, into a pint glass. The color is black with very little head in the pour, even with the vertical glass. The smell is a roasty and lactic bitterness. The taste has the lactose bitterness up front with a bit of coffee and very slight chocolate character coming through as well. Mouthfeel is average. As for drinkability, possibly have a couple, but the lactose seems like it wouldn't be too sustainable.

Thanks to trbeer for the beer. A solid cream/milk stout that features a nice lactose bitter taste (hope I'm not lactose intolerant!). Quite good, and one I'd have again.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2004 06:03:57 | More by beergeek279

SheepNutz

Kentucky

3.83/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz. bottle poured into a tulip-style glass. It pours midnight black with two fingers of dark brown head, not tan, I mean brown! There is a bit of lacing left on the glass. The smell has a bit of burnt malt, chocolate, and espresso. A little light though. The taste is full of roasted malt, with some black coffee bitterness. It is rounded out by a sweet caramel and chocolate finish. Not too many hops present. The mouthfeel is fairly strong and heavy on the tongue. The drinkability is fairly good as well. Not a bad cream stout!

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2004 04:00:30 | More by SheepNutz

Realale

Missouri

3.53/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Jet black and opaque. Huge 3" fine brown head settles slowly to a thick complete cap.

Nose is caramel and roasted hazelnut over sweet malt. Some chocolate and a bit of fruit - candied cherry. Definitely unique, and quite complex.

Malt drives the palate, with the chocolate leading the way. No hint of the caramel or nuts on the palate. Hmm. Not overly complex, and quite a let down from the promise of the nose. Its long with just a touch of bitterness on the finish.

Very good bottle-conditioned mouthfeel gives some life to an otherwise slightly boring midpalate, and helps lengthen the finish. My hope is that this bottle is simply a bit past its prime. Regardless, an interesting beer and worth picking up.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2003 18:13:00 | More by Realale