Dark Cloud - Mother Earth Brewing

oberon

North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a deep garnet with a thin but well retained off white head,a nice mix of cocoa and roasted nut in the nose,rich aromas.Flavors are well rounded with a mix of sweet caramel malt and bitter unsweetened chocolate,a nice earthy/roasty finish makes it highly drinkable.A very nice dunkel lager,not overly sweet but just the right amount,well done.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2010 22:05:06 | More by oberon

blackie

Virginia

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a: tall lager glass, average off-white head atop a clear, dark cocoa brown ale

s: nutty roasts predominant with some darker caramels or toffee providing a light sweetness, really heavy on the munich malt it seems

m: medium carbonation, lighter bodied, not as bright and lively as might be expected, but the smoothness works well

t: again, full flavors of nutty malts on a clean lager structure, not sweet but there are some persistent heavy malt sugars, hops contribute little flavor but a light spicy bitterness graces the finish with a lingering woody, diluted molasses flavor

d: love a flavorful lager, easy on this hot spring night, I do feel that it may have been better rounded out by dialing back some of the darker malts - but the big flavors that come through at present are pretty appealing

sixer kindly carried up by a friend, dig the label too

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2010 03:49:53 | More by blackie

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

So glad these guys are available here in the Triad now! Poured this into a standard pint glass. Pours a deep dark brown with a thin tan head on top. Retention was pretty weak and it left little-to-no lace on the glass. Scents of molasses, dark breads, toffee, and some licorice.

This beer is fairly full-bodied with a good carbonation backing. Sweet flavors of bittering dark chocolate, toffee, molasses, and a good mealy finish. Bitterness is very low on this one. This is all malts and I like it. Very good beer. I'd get a sixer of this and enjoy it immensely.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2010 19:09:39 | More by Onenote81

wedge

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a very dark copper-brown under a small - but thick and creamy - cap. Rich, dark and fruity aroma...kind of toasted, raisin-bready with a hint of toffee. Mildly sweet dark malt flavor. Toasty caramel and chocolate with a slight bit of bread crust and finishing tartness. Lightly bitter, medium-light bodied, and a little creamy. Pretty good...I've liked everything I've had from these guys so far. Easily drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2010 23:18:36 | More by wedge

jwhancher

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Received a few bottles as a gift. Poured into a pilsner glass.

A: Pours a clear dark amber with slightly tan head. Head was two fingers thick and took its time to slowly fade.

S: Some good roasted malt character with toasty notes. Solid malt profile aroma.

T: Nice chocolate & caramel malt profile. Very pleasing. A bready character comes through.

M: A bit on the lighter side. Nice carbonation. Even on the sweet/bitter category.

D: Excellent in drinkability. With a lighter mouthfeel & very solid malt profile, I could see myself flying through these.

Wasn't sure what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised. Will go nicely with a hot sausage w/sauerkraut later tonight.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2010 20:57:42 | More by jwhancher

cvstrickland

North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dark Cloud pours brightly-clear and smoked-garnet in color with a finger-thick capping of fine-bubbled pale-ecru foam atop. Drippy rings and slumping blobs of soft lacing denote the sip lines onto the sides of my Mother Earth shaker pint glass.

The aroma is mild and sweetly toasted, with a mellow tang of soft dark fruit and a note of creamy toffee.

The taste is lightly sweet and mellow with a dryly-toasty malty backbone. A mildly spicy hop backing brings a nice balancing to the proceedings and provides an unobtrusive trace of bitterness. A dark, lingering, molasses candylike malt-note remains on the palate post-swallow, urging the drinker to have another swig.

The drink is medium-bodied with sedate carbonation, and is highly-quaffable, to say the least. This particular Mother Earth beer is mild, refreshing, and pretty damned delicious, but could never be accused of overpowering anyone's tastebuds, making this "dark" brew a pretty clever full-time offering from the new guys on the block. Given the targeted regional clientele and it's traditional loyalty to BMC pale lagers and the like, Dark Cloud is both an easy step in the craft direction for those more experimental drinkers amidst the masses, and a damned fine treat for hardcore "subtle beer"-loving geeks alike.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2010 17:24:44 | More by cvstrickland

callisbeers

North Carolina

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

Poured a dark blown color with a small tan head that diminishes to a ring quickly. Lacing is minimal. Good blend of sweetness and maltness. Drinkability and mouthfeel is very good with this one due to the light body and medium carbonation. Great session beer for the winter months.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2009 03:31:46 | More by callisbeers

atsprings

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Flying Saucer served in a standard pint-glass a very dark brown with a thin khaki head that diminishes to a ring and leaves spotty lacing on the glass. Aroma is slight fruit and dark malts. The taste is a nice blend of sweet fruits, dark malts, molasses and slight dried fruits. The beer is fairly light bodied and smooth with mild carbonation. This is an enjoyable beer, especially for the colder months.

Serving type: on-tap

11-16-2009 19:19:39 | More by atsprings

evantwomey

North Carolina

3.83/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a reddish-brown, 1-finger head with good lacing and good retention. Excellent clarity. Nose is clean with a sturdy helping of dark fruit aromas, toffee, caramel, and a hint of roast. Reminds me a lot of a doppelbock like Celebrator, just less intense.Taste follows the nose, the same flavors are there but a little muted. Some malty sweetness up front, finishes smooth and silky, no bitterness. Clean throughout, no off-flavors to note. Mouthfeel is very nice - full and smooth, but not cloying, so the beer remains refreshing. I would have no trouble burning through a few of these.

This is my first beer from this new brewery, and I'd have to say I am pretty impressed. If I see this on the shelves I wouldn't hesitate to buy a six-pack. Definitely worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2009 02:10:50 | More by evantwomey