Dark Corner (Red Cap)
Arbor Brewing Company Microbrewery

Dark Corner (Red Cap)Dark Corner (Red Cap)
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From:
Arbor Brewing Company Microbrewery
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
ABV:
7.5%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.54 | pDev: 12.15%
Reviews:
16
Ratings:
17
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 25, 2014
Added:
Jun 30, 2007
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by brentk56:
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

3.65/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: When first opened, this beer was all head but it blew itself out after about 15 minutes, and subsequent pours produced only modest amounts of foam and lace; russet brown with ruby highlights

Smell: Rather earthy, with hints of cherry cola and applesauce

Taste: Starts out with an earthy and fruity flavor that grows in a cherry cola direction by mid-palate; after the swallow, the earthy elements return for a few second but the finish is sweet, with the cherry cola dominant

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate to low carbonation - surprisingly flat given the beer's initial appearance

Drinkability: Although I prefer the Dark Horse version, this is a decent beer

Thanks, ipa2xs, for the opportunity
Oct 12, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by styleisking from Michigan

Jul 25, 2014
Photo of biegaman
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

3.7/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12oz red cap bottle thanks to swoopjones!
A collaboration 'imperial' brown ale by Michigan brewers Matt Greff (Arbour/Corner Brewing) and Aaron Morse (Dark Horse Brewing). Red caps were brewed and bottled by Arbor Brewing and black caps were brewed and bottled by Dark Horse.

A deafening sizzle was heard upon prying the cap, and therefore it should be of little surprise this bottle was clearly over-primed which made even the most sensitive of pours difficult. Like other reviewers, I'd have to scoop out a sink full of foam before being able to get to the beer.

The appearance - still capped with an abundance of sandy-toned pillow soft head - is shinning amber in colour with a tremendous glow (enough to illuminate a 'dark corner') when held to the light. Transparent but with minor haze and the occasional yeasty.

The aroma is a finely stitched concoction of booze, toasted sugar-sweet malts, and sticky resiny hops. All elements blend into one another. Increasingly the smell of smoked peet malt. A distracting soapiness (which is more likely a reflection of a slightly infected bottle); That aspect overlooked (as it should be) this is a smell hard to turn your nose away from!

A short lived bitterness is felt on the way down. The mouthfeel is far from over carbonated (despite what it's appearance would have you expect). The hops are understated amongst the sweetness and flavour of the malts, but they do leave the lasting taste of resin, tree bark, and pine.

Other dominating flavours include coffee and hazelnut. I draw on a slight bakers chocolate amongst the bready, caramel malts. A slight hint of smoke (as in smoked peet malt). The alcohol is lost between the floral and pine notes in the hops and the caramel-marshmallow roast of the malts.

A lovely brown ale recipe. While I did hesitate (which the constantly persisting head allowed me plenty of time to do) as to whether or not to review what could be questioned as an infected bottle, I opted to jot down my remarks anyhow. My reasoning was simple: all the parts seem to be there. The beer looked, smelt, tasted, and drank fine. While I'm sure it might not be to its full potential, this was still a delightful offering - and welcome collaboration concept - from two of Michigan's (many!) great brewers...
May 21, 2008
Photo of Tilley4
Reviewed by Tilley4 from Tennessee

3.45/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
On the pour, almost foamed right out of the glass. This is the foamiest beer that I've ever seen. At least 3/4 of the glass is nothing but foam and it took forever to die down.

This smells like.... dark fruit and....coffee??? What? Yep, smells like coffee to me.

Tastes sort of like a watered down Arrogant Bastard with a strong coffee finish. That's weird because after reading other reviews, I don't see that anywhere else. Weird...

I actually liked this one a little bit better than the Dark Horse offering.
Jan 26, 2008
Photo of joe1510
Reviewed by joe1510 from Illinois

2.78/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
12oz Bottle
$1.69 Single
Siciliano's, Grand Rapids

Damn! Dark Corner is about as close to being a gusher as you can get without actually being one. As I cracked the cap the foam rose to the top of the bottle but without overflowing. On the pour 3/4 of the glass ended up being thick craggy beige foam. That eventually died down enough to complete the pour. The body was a semi-hazy copper.

The aroma isn't all that inviting. There seems to be way too much earthiness, by earthiness I mean the aroma of dirt, in this beer. Once you get past the earthiness, which is hard to do, there's a solid dose of caramel and a dash of citric hoppiness on the backend.

Unfortunately the taste isn't much of an improvement on the smell. Caramel and citrusy (orange and lemon) hop sweetness come through but the dirtiness is still there. If that dirtiness wasn't there this would be a decent brew but as is it's pretty disappointing.

Not only is this brew a disappointment in the body and flavor but there's way too much carbonation present. The carbonation is too prickly and thin and causes a thin body.

This is just not an enjoyable beer. I would call this an IPA, although there is a big helping of caramel, if that dirtiness wasn't involved. Not something I want to drink anymore.

This is a complete let down. I've never sampled anything from Corner Brewery before but when I saw Dark Horse and Corner brewery each brewed the same recipe at each brewery I couldn't wait to try it. Hopefully Dark Horse's version is better but we'll see.
Jan 12, 2008
Photo of SaCkErZ9
Reviewed by SaCkErZ9 from South Carolina

2.56/5  rDev -27.7%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Thanks go out to hoppymeal for this one.

A loud pop and fizz are heard as the cap is released from the top of the bottle. In past experiences, this isnt a good sign. Today was the same story. As the beer is poured from the 12oz, red capped bottle, the pint glass is immediately engulfed with foam. One and one half fist of foam and half finger of beer. The head is stiff and meringue like. However, it is quite arduous to wait for the head to subside enough to sample the beer.

Aroma is nutty and hoppy. Nice hazelnut aroma with toffee. Earthy hops, probably english, but some slight citrusness in there as well. Sweet smelling and some alcohol in the nose as well.

Well, after nearly 20 minutes of pouring and waiting, pouring and waiting, I am able to but liquid instead of foam to my lips. I am going to remain under the assumption that I am the proud owner of either an infected bottle, or an old bottle. Nutty characteristics greet the tongue. But, with all of the carbonation, I am really unable to get a grasp of any other flavor components as my mouth is near the point of explosion as the beer hits my taste buds.

Way overcarbonated and just not right. Hard to get an idea of what should taste like, or supposed to taste like, so my review is less than positive. Perhaps I will get a chance to sample an appropriate bottle, but until then, my review remains as it stands.
Dec 13, 2007
Photo of GbVDave
Reviewed by GbVDave from Illinois

4/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12oz bottle into a 20oz imperial pint.

S: Pours a very cloudy reddish orange color with a creamy orange tinted khaki-colored head. Sticky sheets of lace.

S: Big grapefruit hop aroma. This is followed soon after by some toasted malt, fresh berries, and caramel.

T: Grapefruit hop flavor dominates. Also noted were tart berry flavors. Very fruity and tangy. Not much in the way of alcohol presence.

M: Bitter, oily, and very slippery. Finish lasts for a while and takes a turn towards sweet and malty.

D: Very good. I found this more enjoyable than the Dark Horse version. This seems like it follows the style guidlines more closely.
Dec 13, 2007
Photo of Dotcubed
Reviewed by Dotcubed from Arkansas

3.63/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
I am an an Idiot. I drank all the black caps before and saved 1 red cap bottle not thinking about it.

I liked the crismson look it had when the lite shone threw it but it looks a bit brown and dull

Pours with foam & fades away. Lacks alot of aroma. Malty. Sweeet Molases note, kinda faint.

Nice roasty taste. Kinda sweet middle with a long smooth bitterness.

I wish I had more to sit on & see what it develops into.
Dec 11, 2007
Photo of CortexBomb
Reviewed by CortexBomb from Michigan

3.18/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pour is murky amber with a huge off-white head on top. Noticeable sediments went into the glass on the pour. Lacing as it recedes. Nose is hoppy, mainly citrus with light fruit notes, definitely apples.

Taste starts out heavy on the light fruits and segues into oily hoppy tones which become sweet, and then grapefruity. Light hop bite on the finish. Not bad. Becomes abrasive when it warms like the Black Cap version though.

The mouthfeel on this, moderately full though not remarkable. Drinkability, easy enough to drink, though the rebuy possibility is moderately slim.

The bottom line: I like this more than the Dark Horse version, and there is some interesting depth present here, but it doesn't do any singular thing remarkably well in terms of flavour.
Dec 09, 2007
Photo of hoppymeal
Reviewed by hoppymeal from Michigan

3.73/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours a murky and hazy brown with a very large tan head that very slowly dissipates but never fades completely, fair amount of chunks suspended within. Aroma is sweet maltiness blending with an apple cider or homeade applesauce in the background, some smoky and roasty qualities balance nicely. Taste is very similar with the sweet malts and cooked apple, a hint of some rubber like flavors before a slight roastiness mixes with a peppery bite of carbonation and decent grassy and burnt rubber bitterness in the finish. Mouthfeel is medium, slightly slick on the tongue before a good dose of peppery carbonation bites and tingles on the tongue. Very refreshing and drinkable beer, almost sessionable if not for the abv, great mouthfeel.
Oct 03, 2007
Photo of MICAMD
Reviewed by MICAMD from Maryland

4.18/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A- What an astonishing looking beer. The off-white head is massive and does not go anywhere. It is heavy enough where it dimples the top of the beer. The liquid itself is a very murky, leathery brown. The carbonation keeps the sediment swirling around in the glass.

S- Very unique. There is a lot going on here and it is almost hard to interpret. Very fruity, lots of caramel and some earthiness. Hints of vanilla and cinnamon. I have never smelled anything like this. It smells wonderful and I love trying to figure out what I am inhaling.

T- A lot of caramel and fruitiness. There is a bit of earthiness and raisin in there. This is very unique. The alcohol is somewhat noticeable, but it is not harsh by any means.

M- At first the carbonation is a little harsh and really emphasizes how dry this beer is. But it is really smooth on the swallow.

D- I am so happy that I purchased this, what a treat. I am willing to wager that this will age fairly well with the amount of bottle conditioning and alcohol.
Sep 27, 2007
Photo of BMoney575
Reviewed by BMoney575 from Texas

3.94/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5
Sampled on 9-19-07

Pours a very cool super cloudy brown/orange, with a thick tan head that sticks on the glass like ice cream and lasts for hours.

Smell is pungent hops, with a rich maltiness in the background. Strange, almost like hoppy brown ale. I like it.

Taste is very, very different. Fruity hop flavors abound, and them comes the malt. Surprisingly complex, the malt adds a distinct coffee flavor into the mix. Very smooth, bitter, and dry on the finish.

Mouthfeel is outstanding, thick and creamy like a stout, but with enough carbonation to give the hops a kick.

Drinkability is good, though the flavors are strong.

Overall, one of the most unique beers I've ever had. It mixes hop flavors with malt flavors, and they complement each other nicely. Definitely worth a try.
Sep 20, 2007
Photo of alexgash
Reviewed by alexgash from Connecticut

3.3/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Chestnut brown body with copper edges. Thick cushion of bright khaki brown head with good retention and lacing. Brown sugar, caramel, and maple syrup malt anchor the nose, surrounded by heady, piny hops. Toasted crust and bitter hops up front. It's a numbing, piny bitterness with shades of grapefruit. Caramelly, butterscotch sweet malts try to fight through, but the hops are dominant. This beer could use a little more malt oomph to deal with the bitterness, but it's not a bad drinkin' beer. Medium-bodied with a slightly watery finish. Will be interesting to compare this to the Dark Horse brewed version!
Aug 31, 2007
Photo of macpapi
Reviewed by macpapi from Oregon

4/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Have been intrigued by this Dark Horse/Arbor Brewing Company (they call it Corner Brewery on the bottle--but the Corner is a subsidary of the ABC in Ann Arbor) since it first was rumored. Have had it on draft at the ABC, and it is fantastic in that capacity. Bottle is not far behind.

Pours a nice full medium brown color with a nice half inch tannish head. Great lacing too. An impressive, dark look.

Smell is malty and deep. Very robust and sweet with roasted aroma along with caramel and a bit of hop bite. Very nice.

Taste is very balanced. Full of maltiness with nut, caramel presence. Hops are also pretty notable. Very rich and bold.

Full and biting in the mouth. There is moderate carbonation, but a good presence on the palate.

This is a very drinkable strong ale. Well-balanced with just the right amount of sweetness, malt and hops. Though IMO it is even more tasty on draft, for those who can't make it to either ABC or Corner Brewery the bottle is a great option. Impressive!!
Aug 19, 2007
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Reviewed by ken3c from Michigan

3.87/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Cloudy dark red. Head disapates to thin whisps of foam.

Chococate aroma and something else.

With the chocolate there is a taste of mint! It's an interesting sensation in beer. Unlike the Dark Horse version, I don't taste any significant raspberries. Curious.

Less carbonation than the Dark Horse version and smoother. A middle ground might improve both.

While more drinkable than the Dark Horse version (due to the difference in carbonation), this one doesn't quite taste as good. The mintyness (which I'm guessing comes from the hops) is interesting but too subtle to be really good.
Aug 06, 2007
Photo of oberon
Reviewed by oberon from North Carolina

3.12/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Poured into a standard pint glass a dark ruddy brown with no head to speak of a hint of carbonation shows but no head,raw hop in the nose very piney something else in there but I cant put my finger on it its like mint chocolate or something like that sounds crazy but I cant really hone in on it.Flavors are out there that raw hop along with some milk chocolate and earthy nut almost flat feeling in the mouth.Hmm this is one odd beer it needs fine tuning in a big big way,very odd.
Jul 03, 2007
Photo of ypsifly
Reviewed by ypsifly from Michigan

3.28/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Undated 12oz purchased at Merchant's in Dearborn and poured into a tulip.

Dark chestnut brown with a medium head of light tan that shows decent retention and leaves a nice webby lace.

Hops dominate the nose with pine/grapefruit while the sweet malts lie underneath and just barely provide balance. Hop heads will like it, but the balance is a bit off.

The taste follows along the same lines, the malts are not up to par with the hop profile. Perhaps even more so. Lingering grapefruit aftertaste. Mouth seemed a bit thin. Adequate carbonation but this could have been better.

Not a bad beer overall, but it failed to meet my expectations.
Jun 30, 2007
Dark Corner (Red Cap) from Arbor Brewing Company Microbrewery
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 17 ratings