Session # 104 | Dark Horse | Fore | 8% ABV
American Smoked Stout | Marshall, MI | Rating: 88/100
It’s becoming fairly evident at this point that Dark Horse stouts generally taste the same. On the surface, they all share the same dark malt characteristic that puts off a damp cave aroma and taste. On one hand, this is a good thing because it gives Dark Horse a signature taste. However, with the number of stouts they produce in this Holiday Stout Series, each one is not distinctive enough to really stand out among the other releases. Today’s beer, the Fore Smoked Stout, pours exactly like the Too Cream Stout we looked at on Monday. On the nose, you get a lot of the same characters you find in the Too, which is dark roasted malts, earthiness, and damp cave. The only difference in the Fore is a fair amount of smokiness coming from the malts. A touch of booziness finishes off the nose. As the first drink hits your tongue you immediately notice that this is a bit more viscous than the Too, which I certainly am thankful for. The smoke is immediately apparent in the mouth, as is a good amount of molasses, chocolate, and burnt caramel. As you dig deeper, though, there’s a bit of tartness that comes from the depths of the beer that makes you think of chocolate covered raisins. Again, not the best stout I’ve had, but we’re definitely moving in the right direction. Of the three that I’ve had thus far, I still prefer the Tres the best. Feel free to go back and watch that one now if you’d like (just click here). See you back here on Friday when we’ll be wrapping up Dark Horse Week with one of their better offerings. Up Next: Dark Horse Special Reserve Black Bier.
Others: Alaskan Smoked Porter, Olfabrikken Porter, Founders Porter
Check out all sessions of The Hopry here.
This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Beach House “Walk in the Park”
Thank you for your continued support. Please tell a friend…
Posted by Leo Daly on August 25, 2010 at 4:38 AM
Great review, Mark. Sadly we don’t get Dark Horse here in the UK, but with the Great British Beer Festival having just finished the market has seen a few of the more uncommon US beers. Any recommendations on Eel River, Moylans, TommyKnocker (I’ve had their imperial nut brown ale with maple syrup), Big Sky and Uinta? One of the highlights of the festival was De Molen’s Tsarina Esra Reserva poured straight from a big old wooden cask. Have you had many of the Molen beers? Their Hemel & Aarde is a peated stout and it’s just beautiful.
Posted by thehopry on August 25, 2010 at 9:35 AM
Hey Leo. Thank you! The Big Sky IPA is a pretty good standard IPA. The Moylan’s Hopsickle is HUGE! If you want a hop bomb, definitely get that one. Not my thing per se, but it’s still worth checking out. As for De Molen, I have a couple of their stouts in the collection but have yet to try any of them. Can’t wait, though, because I bet they are very tasty.
Posted by Keith on August 27, 2010 at 7:35 AM
Hey Mark,
I could not agree more with your assessment of the Dark Horse stouts. Plead the Fifth Imperial Stout has been my favorite of the 5 with Tres being second. The other three just done have enough of their own characteristics to really stand out as a completely separate and distinct beer.
Can’t wait to see some more sessions!
Posted by Dan on November 3, 2010 at 6:50 AM
I too agree about these stouts. I love Four, Tres and One are good, but Too is ok at best.
Of the normally available beers I like Double Crooked Tree and Perkulator Dopplebock the best. But they had a beer at a couple fests a few years ago called “Smells Like Weed IPA” that was absolutly amazing. I wish they would bring that one back.
Posted by thehopry on November 3, 2010 at 9:59 AM
Hahaha. Yeah I think they’d sell tons of that beer. Though I’m sure they’d get the runaround with the label.