Dark Horse Boffo Brown Ale - Dark Horse Brewing Company

barczar

Kentucky

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

Pours an opaque deep brown with amber highlights and a solid half inch dense tan head that lingers.

Aroma is very nutty, with roast malt and toasted breadcrust forming the background. There's a touch of coffee and dark fruit character adding complexity, along with floral hops. Chocolate surfaces as it warms.

Flavor is fairly roasty throughout, with toasted nuttiness hitting mid palate and lingering long in the finish. Black cherry is detected initially at the back of the mouth. It's extremely bready, with roast coffee and light chocolate intermingling into the fairly bitter, dry finish.

Body is on the full side of moderate, with fairly low carbonation and a bit of grain astringency.

Overall, a very roasty, nutty, bready, malty brew. Solid offering, perfect for cold winter weather.Not to style, but tasty!

Serving type: growler

10-19-2012 02:29:18 | More by barczar

sjones5045

New Jersey

4.01/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours pretty dark brown, I'd say darker than most other Brown Ales. THe head is pretty nice and fads quick.

The smell is very sweet and nutty. Pick up a bit of caramel type smell. Definitely like the smell of this.

The taste isn't as sweet as I was expecting from the smell but there definitely is some sweetness that goes along with a nutty taste. Kind of a toffee finish that is pretty decent. IT's a pretty smooth finish with minimal aftertaste.

Overall, its a pretty good brown ale. The only complaint would be that none of the taste, such as the toffee or nutty upfront are gig enough. Seems like you get some nice small tastes then they fad quickly. I would pick this beer up again if it were in my area.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 22:20:22 | More by sjones5045

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.81/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: Pours a clear very dark brown in color with some moderate amounts of visible carbonation and dark amber + garnet red highlights. The beer has a two finger tall foamy light tan head that slowly reduces to a mottled thin film covering the entire surface of the beer with a medium thick ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of toasted and caramel malts with a moderate amount of nuttiness.

T: Upfront there are moderate flavors of toasted and caramel malts with just a touch of brown sugar sweetness. This is followed by a light to moderate flavor of nuts with just a light amount of earthy hops. Light to moderate amounts of bitterness in the finish which linger slightly.

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

O: Just a touch too strong to be sessionable but this is an easy drinking and enjoyable beer. I could see myself going to this one more regularly if it was more easily acquired (available across the river in NYC but not super easy to find).

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 02:46:43 | More by dbrauneis

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.66/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured on-tap and served in a shaker pint, the beer is a dark brown coloring with chestnut highlights and a creamy, dense, low profile head that clings to everything. Aromas of cream and nut sweet, with a touch of roast. Flavors are heavily roasted, with a hazelnut sweetness and a bitter roast undertone. Bitterness helps to balance the brew. Smooth, creamy body with a light, sweet nut aftertaste. Slightly lingering, filmy finish, but pleasant.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2013 21:06:12 | More by GarthDanielson

blackie

Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle from Chuck's in Chagrin Falls

a: bottle into my tyranena nonic, deep mahogany brown in color with a tan head that all but disappears quickly after pouring

s: lots of nutty brown malt aromatics, toasted grain, earth, a balance of dark sugars, molasses cookies, suggestions of carob or chocolate, simple hop profile

m: the carbonation greets the palate prickly but lighter, with a light to moderate body

t: a really great brown ale flavor with lots of varying character from sip to finish, the taste opens with sweet nuts and brown sugars, moves through chocolate and molasses coated fruits, and finishes with a clean, dry nuttiness, roasted barley, cocoa, and a moderate earthy hop bitterness with a mild roast astringency, toasted nutshell from start to finish

o: a top notch brown ale loaded with character and well balanced between nutty sweetness, dry roast, and earthy hops - carries an ethereal “bigness” that belies a relatively low abv

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 02:43:23 | More by blackie

tdm168

North Carolina

4.09/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A - dark brownish amber with a soft, brownish head

S - huge aroma of bread and caramel

T - nutty, caramel, bread; incredibly malty

M - medium bodied, well carbonated

This is a malt-bomb...and I like it. This a simple beer in the sense that it doesn't offer layers of flavor, but what it does offer is really good. I'm not a huge brown ale fan, but this is one I could definitely drink.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 00:31:00 | More by tdm168

Alextricity

Michigan

3.93/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a very dark brown color -- ruby black if up to light. Particles can be seen floating throughout the beer. The head dies down quickly, and there's pretty much no lacing to speak of.

Smell: Not much of an aroma to speak of, but it's pleasant nonetheless. Very faint roasted malt aroma, and also an essence of chocolate or coffee. Quite stout-y.

Taste/feel: A somewhat mild taste up front, which I wasn't expecting. The finish is when all the malts and bits of coffee really run out on the taste buds. The feel when taking a drink is super smooth and creamy. Quite mildly carbonated. Honestly, carbonated appropriately. Bubbles are tiny and makes me wonder if this one's nitro'd...

One of the better brown ales I've stumbled upon, but what else could someone expect from Dark Horse? A tasty brown ale. I'd love a head and some lacing on this beer, but you can't have it all. Would love to have this one again. Smooth, easy drinking, solid ABV, and most importantly -- tastes good.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 17:07:05 | More by Alextricity

jsisko01

Michigan

2.73/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Appearance - Pours a very dark brown color with a thin tan head that lingers for a minute. Leaves a nice, creamy lacing.

Smell - Chocolate and toffee are most dominant. Toasted malts proceed after, but very light.

Taste - Overly sweet (in my opinion). Has a strong bitterness that dulls all other flavors present. What I can pick out is some coffee and chocolate flavors, with caramel and hazelnut in the finish.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with medium-high carbonation.

Overall - It must be because it follows the style of an English brown ale that I don't like this. It is the worst brown ale I've ever tried, but I'm used to mostly drinking American browns.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 22:49:08 | More by jsisko01

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This beer poured out as a deep brown color with some red highlights. The head is cream colored and thin just a bit of lacing on the glass and not much retention. The smell of the beer has some sweet malt aromas and hints of fresh wood. The smell is decent I just wishing it had a little more of something. The taste of the beer has a decent toasted flavor with a subtle coffee note. The mouthfeel is smooth, decent carbonation very drinkable. Overall it's a good brown ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 04:17:09 | More by Knapp85

socon67

New York

3.58/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Brown pour with a biege foam that lingers a half inch thick. Slight rings of lacing. No carbonation of note.

S - Smells of caramel and toffee. Some light grain is noted as well.

T - Really just asolid american brown. Relatively light malt base with some sweetness of caramel candy and some vanilla and toffe.

M - Easy to drink a few of these, and feel light depsite being one of the more robust brown ales.

O - I'd have this again. Not a standout but yet another good beer made in Michigan.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 18:44:42 | More by socon67

matjack85

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I picked this up as part of a build-your-own six pack for $9.99 at the Binny's store in Bloomingdale, IL. 12oz brown bottle with no freshness date.

The beer poured a nice deep dark brown color, but only produced a ½-finger of tan head. Retention wasn't long, but the lacing was decent.

Malt, molasses, caramel, and nutty aroma. A very pleasant smell.

Big roasted malt flavor with dark bread and caramel for added sweetness. I also get a mild chocolate flavored coffee taste and even a touch of hazelnut. The hop bitterness is mild, but enough to keep the sweetness in check.

Medium bodied with medium carbonation. No complaints on the mouthfeel for this one.

This is a very tasty brown ale. Not sure why BA lists it as an English brown though when the company lists it as an American brown ale.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 07:16:06 | More by matjack85

BB1313

Ohio

3.13/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass. Pours a murky dark brown, lots of haze, there's lack of head, but has nice lacing and retention. The aromas are full of chocolate and caramel malts. There's a touch of vanilla. Very malty. The flavors match the nose, but it's pretty bitter. There are subtle hints of black coffee. The flavors aren't as sweet as I was anticipating. There's not much hop flavor, which isn't expected in the style, but the bitterness is there. Lots of chocolate blended with some grains. Roasty. Nice flavors, but one note. Mouthfeel is very nice. Slick and syrupy with moderate carbonation. It's on the fuller side of medium-bodied. Alcohol goes unnoticed.

Besides the higher ABV, this is your traditional brown ale right here. It's fine, but not as interesting as I remembered.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 18:35:03 | More by BB1313

AdamMY

Illinois

2.15/5  rDev -43.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Appearance is not that great, a bit dark, and a somewhat subdued head, consisting of a fairly large set of bubbles.

Smell is great, lots of roasted malt goodness, chocolate, and caramel at its peak, and a nice fresh touch brought to it from the Hops.

Taste is interesting, prevelant hops, sublte touch of roast, not really sweet, but not really bitter. The beer tries to go straight down the middle, and seems a bit muddled in the process. Oddly the more I think about it it almost tastes dirty.

Mouthfeel is overly watery.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 21:35:46 | More by AdamMY

garuda

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Deep ruby, khaki head has decent retention and lace.

S/T - Smooth roast coffee without much bitterness. Toasted whole grain bread with pine hops coming in at the end to clean up the sweetness. Very nice smooth coffee/milk chocolate tastes.

M - Medium body, medium carb, finishes clean.

O - Well done coffee roast taste without that roast bitterness. I'd get it again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2012 22:31:56 | More by garuda

mvanaskie13

Pennsylvania

2.8/5  rDev -26.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a pint glass, color is dark amber to light brown; head is light tan and presents pretty dense and laces nicely.

Smell is a little fruity with some caramel notes and oats or toasted malt mixed in, light bitterness.

Taste is slightly off to me, somewhat sharp, lightly sour and fruity, then finishes with some caramel and toasted notes and some light fruity bitterness.

Mouthfeel is a little cloying and sweet, maybe a touch sharp/highly carbed.

Overall, an odd beer - some of the bottles tasted off in the mix pack i tasted from, but the brown was consistently sweeter, and lightly sour.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 02:00:15 | More by mvanaskie13

jtd1969

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - dark brown with slight lacing

S - dark fruit, slight chocolate, sweet malt

T - Roasty, coffee, caramel, slight chocolate, not overly sweet malts with pleasant hops.

M - medium body, light carbonation

O - Really good brown ale, very well balanced. I recommend it

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2012 20:53:26 | More by jtd1969

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

3.58/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a New Belgium snifter. Pour is dark mahogany with a bit of a reddish tint and a one-finger head that has decent retention. The nose is very mild. I get some nutty aroma, some bread, and a touch of milk chocolate.

Medium body and a fairly firm mouthfeel. The taste is mild (as all brown ales are), but quite satisfying. There are predominantly sweet notes on all parts of the palate with a little bit of bitter peppery spice on the finish. The bitterness lingers fairly nicely. Flavors include wheat bread crust, dark crackers, hazelnuts, and a touch of coffee.

Overall, this is a pretty good brown ale. Nothing to get excited about, but still a nice mild, yet complex and enjoyable, pour. I'm impressed by the finish, but I kind of wish it was a little sweeter up front to balance it out just a bit more.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 23:13:58 | More by deadonhisfeet

Apellonious

North Carolina

3.73/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle, six from the CM.

A - pours a blackish brown, thin sliver head that goes quick to a thin lace.

S - chocolate, dry hop, dark fruit, licorice.

T - chocolate, smoke, dark fruit, coffee. Something in the aftertaste that i can't quite place.

M - carbo is slightly low, a touch on the watery side

O - A good brown, especially if you like your browns on the dry side with some smoke and mild sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 00:01:54 | More by Apellonious

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

4.1/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

seved on tap in a pint glass

This beer was a hazy brown/ dark amber color that I couldn't see through. The nose is mild and barely does the taste justice. There is a light amount of coffee, chocolate and roasted malts in this brown ale. It also has a lot of an earthy spice. There is a bunch of nutty flavors in this beer as well as quite a bit of toffee. The english aspect of this beer shines though in the yeast and I think the crisp yeast flavor compliments the flavors quite well. The mouth feel could be a bit heavier in my opinion but its still quite nice. This is a very nice brown ale, about on par with bells best brown.

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2012 00:34:29 | More by TwelveOunces

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.73/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Backed by the strength of 6.5 percent alcohol, Dark Horse's Boffo Brown deliver many of the authentic flavors of traditional English brown ales... and then some!

The beer pours... well, brown- but isn't that to be expected? Its shade of brown is dark bark and is nearly opaque due to its unfiltered ale-like haze. This should ensure full flavor and aroma, but keeps the beer looking much more dense than it actually turns out to be. The beer slowly releases a very creamy, almost liquefied or gelatinous head that amounts to a medium-thick blanket but reduces to a heavy sheet of foam that lasts the session. Sparse lacing creeps up the sides of the glass but does so in timid fashion.

Rich, masculine, and succulent aromas seduce the nose with the bold scent of chocolate, mild coffee, walnut, toffee, and buttered toast. It's pronounced scent never favors one characteristic over any other, thus epitomizes the notion of balance. Any broad earthen scent from hops hides well behind the scent of nuts, toast, and coffee.

Flavors follow suit with a starchy grain flavor that reins in the flavors of toffee, then chocolate, then walnut, then toast, and then the coffeeish flavor and pine-like hops- all in that order as the beer crosses the middle of the tongue and palate. Thereafter, the beer turns towards an earthy bitterness of tree bark, damp soil, and coffee bitterness. It's focus on malt complexities early and then the broad bitterness of English-type hops late gives this beer its authentic brown ale value; although the flavors are elevated to balance out the higher alcohols.

Surprisingly, its medium-light body reveals a grain texture to accompany all of those velvety malty textures. As the mild creaminess dissipates, the beer's malty weight lifts and provides a toasty-dry, semi-sweet texture that finishes the beer with an earthy and lingering warmth.

The complexities of the beer's alcohol makes me read boldness and better-ness, but the grain flavor and texture exposes it a bit and makes me think it's pushing a bit too hard. Despite the nitpick, the beer has won me over as one that straddles Avery's Ellie's Brown Ale and Dogfish Head India Brown Ale.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 06:13:56 | More by BEERchitect

Zimbo

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.7/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

In the bottle this has a deep sweet chocolate quality with some earth and some lively fine granulated sugar. A shame that that such a gorgeous beer to smell diliutesd so much once it hits the glass.. Still, it looks great in the glass being extremely dark brown with an easy effortless 2 inchg rocky tan head and rings of lacing with every sip. There is an interesting deep damp sweet taste here with some dry earth bittereness and a trace of the forementioned granulated sugar. Not at all heavily bodies but there is a siggestion of some weight there which brings something enveloping and dominant to the mouthfeel. Very interesting and thought provoking but funnily not a beer which really goes for pleasure.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 19:08:17 | More by Zimbo

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I tried this beer at the midwest brewfest. The beer poured a dark brown and a little murky with some reddish highlights. A thin tan collar formed during the pour -- the beer looked a little flat as it was filling the glass. A bit of spotty lacing. Malty aroma, big bread taste with brown sugar with some roast and caramel Fairly astringent, medium bodied with lowish carbonation. It was ok.

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2012 00:40:58 | More by WoodBrew

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

What a nice brown ale. Really smooth and good character. The complexities don't stretch too far, but they do take a very nice ride. With all the stuff out on the market, brown ales seem to be taking the back seat as far as attention given through the brewing process. Hearty and deep and not thin at all. This is a really nice brown ale. Gotta give some love to Dark Horse.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 08:15:33 | More by RblWthACoz

JDizzle

Indiana

3.55/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle.

Its a dark brown deep amber. Lacing and head are sub par.

Good aroma of dark fruits, sweet malt, and old Tobacco

Same taste from tobacco and roasted malt. Its appealing but not a homrun.

Moutufeel is good for a brown ale. Perfect carbonation.

Overall a decent brown.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 05:31:13 | More by JDizzle

Beer_Runner

3.58/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

No enjoy by date on the label.
Slowly poured into a standard pint glass.

A: Poured to about two fingers of dark khaki head that was pretty robust and long-lasting. The brew is a very dark brown, and only a little light passes when held up to a light source.

S: The aroma is fairly mild and consists of dark roasted malt.

T: The taste has plenty of dark roasted malt flavor, and a bit of a hops bite for balance. There is also just a touch of a bready malt flavor, too.

M: It has a heavy and full body, and it is also smooth and creamy. It is very easy drinking and does not leave very much of an aftertaste.

O: This is a very good and very simple dark beer. It has a very few flavors, and those flavors blend together to create a very pleasant taste. It has a very good dark roasted malt flavor without much malt sweetness. And, the creaminess of the body is something that makes this beer standout from other dark beers.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 21:04:10 | More by Beer_Runner