Smells Like A Safety Meeting
Dark Horse Brewing Company
- From:
- Dark Horse Brewing Company
- Michigan, United States
- Style:
- Imperial IPA
Ranked #2,535 - ABV:
- 8.5%
- Score:
- 88
Ranked #17,423 - Avg:
- 3.95 | pDev: 9.37%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 142
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 04, 2026
- Added:
- Apr 26, 2014
- Wants:
- 39
- Gots:
- 250
SCORE
88
Very Good
88
Very Good
Our most Aromatic IPA. An 8.5% India Pale Ale that is very reminiscent of the hop’s cousin in the Mulberry family. Lots of hop aroma with just the right amount of bitterness as we still like our balance around here. Between the secret blend of the most DANK hops that we can get our hands on and a "more than healthy" dose of double dry hopping, this beer can be announced to the nose from across the room that someone is definitely having a Safety Meeting.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Hefsbeercaps:
Rated by Hefsbeercaps from Ohio
3.67/5 rDev -7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Jul 09, 2021
3.67/5 rDev -7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Jul 09, 2021
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Whyteboar from Michigan
4.34/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured an orangish amber color and sported a 2 cm vanilla colored head that dissipated fairly quickly, yet managed to leave a little lacing,
I could actually smell this a little, unusual for me. Citrus peel was the net affect, all I could get.
The taste is mostly WC bitter (and that part is really quite good, nice and piney, solid) with a supporting mélange of flavors from the citrus family. Almost, but not quite, a nod to NE IPAs.
The feel is full yet crisp. Just a *hint* heavier than I prefer my IPAs, but as I was enjoying the flavor so much I won't complain.
OA, another local beer that I've overlooked too long. This will be another annual purchase.
May 04, 2026I could actually smell this a little, unusual for me. Citrus peel was the net affect, all I could get.
The taste is mostly WC bitter (and that part is really quite good, nice and piney, solid) with a supporting mélange of flavors from the citrus family. Almost, but not quite, a nod to NE IPAs.
The feel is full yet crisp. Just a *hint* heavier than I prefer my IPAs, but as I was enjoying the flavor so much I won't complain.
OA, another local beer that I've overlooked too long. This will be another annual purchase.
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.41/5 rDev -13.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.41/5 rDev -13.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Sept. 2015: On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger, Hazy orange colour, low off-white head. Herbal aroma, also hints of citrus fruit / orange marmalade. Well hopped flavour, medium sweet, with herbal, resinous and grapefruity notes, and a massive bitterness in the finish and aftertaste.
Dec 15, 2022
Reviewed by Pivopijak from Washington
4.05/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.05/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
draught
Medium orange and amber color. Good amount of sweet spiced, medium roasted malt, with an almost spiced, light toffee aroma. Moderate, soft bite, tangerine peel hop character, with a medium light roast malt note, to the taste.
Oct 31, 2021Medium orange and amber color. Good amount of sweet spiced, medium roasted malt, with an almost spiced, light toffee aroma. Moderate, soft bite, tangerine peel hop character, with a medium light roast malt note, to the taste.
Reviewed by dbl_delta from Pennsylvania
4.02/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Undated can into pint glass. Pours a deep, slightly hazy amber with a coarse, off-white head. Nice lacing. Initial impression is a very nice balance of resinous hops, grapefruit, and caramel malt. Mouthfeel is medium and not quite sticky. Finish fades to bitterness. My first DIPA from Dark Horse, and it's a good experience.
Dec 26, 2019
Reviewed by tp1962 from Illinois
5/5 rDev +26.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +26.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Wow! This is a Diamond well hidden! Excellent imperial IPA! Very well could be in my top 5 of all time Imperial IPA’s. I found this over the holidays at Friar Tucks. I have friends coming over during the holidays and this is getting shared! Well Done Dark Horse!
Dec 15, 2019
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
3.33/5 rDev -15.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.33/5 rDev -15.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Bottled 5/9/16; drank 5/28/16 @ the Yarchives.
Semi-opaque red/orange appearance.
A rough pour yielded a small white head; nice, frothy lace.
Cane sugar, rye & grapefruit notes in the nose.
Medium thick mouthfeel.
Baking soda, caramel & grapefruit flavors up front; dry rye notes on the finish.
The nose is better than the flavor, but this is an interesting, unique misfire.
Sep 28, 2019Semi-opaque red/orange appearance.
A rough pour yielded a small white head; nice, frothy lace.
Cane sugar, rye & grapefruit notes in the nose.
Medium thick mouthfeel.
Baking soda, caramel & grapefruit flavors up front; dry rye notes on the finish.
The nose is better than the flavor, but this is an interesting, unique misfire.
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois
3.96/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
How have I not had this before? Making up for lost time I guess. Orangey amber body with a finger of light tan foam. Smell is classic but not very potent: piney and herbal hops, caramel malts, and a kiss of citrus, more dank than bitter. Guess this is what a safety meeting smells like. Taste brings huge grapefruit and caramel, with brown sugar, orange, pine, earth and dank hops, little on the sweeter side of the ipa spectrum. Body has a bigger presence by not heavy, decent hop textures, has more resinous feel as it warms.
Sep 11, 2019
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