Frog Island Spruce Ale (brewed By Dark Horse)
Dark Horse Brewing Company

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Dark Horse Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
ABV:
10.5%
Score:
Needs more ratings
Avg:
3.81 | pDev: 2.89%
Reviews:
2
Ratings:
2
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 05, 2011
Added:
Jul 09, 2006
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Ratings by Brenden:
Photo of Brenden
Reviewed by Brenden from Ohio

3.7/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I have no idea when these notes are from, but it was the only time I was ever in the area. I figured this beer would be gone by now (I was told it was a one time thing), but I'll try reviewing anyway for whatever it's worth.

The color is a medium brown with lots of red shining through the body. The off-white head is small but thick and fluffy. It fades after some time to a thick foam that leaves patchy lacing not abundantly but not ignobly, either.
I'd never considered a barleywine with spruce before, but it's an interesting concept. The barleywine element is there in the nose: toffee, caramel and dark fruits sweetness with a bit of spiciness and an herbal hops bitterness, then the spruce comes in hard. It's not a bad aroma, but the spruce actually seems to clash just a touch and I understand why most spruce beers tend to be IPAs or complimentary to a more piny type of flavor.
Fortunately, it pulls it off in the flavor, and the spruce does simply add to the hops character and flavor rather than clashing. The sweetness is mild and alcohol makes a strong presence but isn't overbearing. There's a bit of citrus lingering as well, and the earthiness in the flavor works well.
The body is medium with a fairly thick, creamy smoothness developing from a light initial crispness. The finish goes a little slick. It's slightly too light for the style in my opinion, but good otherwise. High ABV lowers drinkability a bit.
May 05, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of mcallister
Reviewed by mcallister from Ohio

3.91/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer is contract brewed at Dark Horse Brewing Company for Frog Island. Sampled at Dark Horse Brewing Company.

Brewed with actual limbs from spruce trees.

Deep scarlet, very opaque, brown hues when not held up to light. Fluffy half inch head with great retention. Sticky thick lacing.

Spicey, toffee, caramel malt esters. Big spruce aromas with other fruity aspects, blood orange, hops and some raisin.

A piney, sprucey earthy flavor with thick caramel malts. Creamy mouthfeel and an oily hop finish. Dried fruits abound.

An interesting take on a beer. Very good and drinkable.
Jul 09, 2006
Frog Island Spruce Ale (brewed By Dark Horse) from Dark Horse Brewing Company
Beer rating: 3.81 out of 5 with 2 ratings