Dark Horse 4 Elf | Dark Horse Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Dark Horse Brewing Company
Michigan, United States
darkhorsebrewery.com
Style: Winter Warmer
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.75%
Availability: Winter
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by granger10 on 11-27-2003
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 842 | Reviews: 208
Reviews by mountdew1:
3.99/5 rDev +5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a goblet. Almost completely opaque very dark reddish brown. Poured with a 1 finger bubbly head that was gone by the time I carried it to table. Small amount of lacing remained. Aroma was flightly fruity sweet, kind of a smokey spiced grape juice. Nicely flavored, a bit sweet, but not overly so. A bit of banany clove flavor. Felt good in the mouth, nicely coated, a bit of stick, not much carbonation. Overall a good example of a winter warmer without being too heavily spiced.
490 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a goblet. Almost completely opaque very dark reddish brown. Poured with a 1 finger bubbly head that was gone by the time I carried it to table. Small amount of lacing remained. Aroma was flightly fruity sweet, kind of a smokey spiced grape juice. Nicely flavored, a bit sweet, but not overly so. A bit of banany clove flavor. Felt good in the mouth, nicely coated, a bit of stick, not much carbonation. Overall a good example of a winter warmer without being too heavily spiced.
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More User Reviews:
4.38/5 rDev +15.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Pours chestnut brown with a cream colored almost beige 3 finger head. Light accentuates cranberry hues around the sides of the body.
If there were a festive smelling beer, this is it. Cranberries, holly, nutmeg, pecans, cinnamon, gingerbread, Red Hots, peppermint, hot cocoa...there's no better smelling holiday beer, I guarantee you.
The flavor starts out slightly piney, but quickly develops into banana nut bread, gingerbread with red hots, prune, cinnamon, nutmeg, followed by slight baked brown sugar and molasses. It's just so incredibly festive I can't help but rate it so high.
Buzzing carbonation, alcohol heat, and a dry rubbed finish.
Overall, as a Christmas/Holiday ale, 4 Elf NAILS it. I mean just NAILS it. Nothing better captures the aromas, flavors, and warmth of the holidays. Best holiday beer, and beyond impressed.
840 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Pours chestnut brown with a cream colored almost beige 3 finger head. Light accentuates cranberry hues around the sides of the body.
If there were a festive smelling beer, this is it. Cranberries, holly, nutmeg, pecans, cinnamon, gingerbread, Red Hots, peppermint, hot cocoa...there's no better smelling holiday beer, I guarantee you.
The flavor starts out slightly piney, but quickly develops into banana nut bread, gingerbread with red hots, prune, cinnamon, nutmeg, followed by slight baked brown sugar and molasses. It's just so incredibly festive I can't help but rate it so high.
Buzzing carbonation, alcohol heat, and a dry rubbed finish.
Overall, as a Christmas/Holiday ale, 4 Elf NAILS it. I mean just NAILS it. Nothing better captures the aromas, flavors, and warmth of the holidays. Best holiday beer, and beyond impressed.
840 characters
3.81/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours a dark brown color with a huge foamy off white head. Good retention. Leaves a lumpy, uneven head with spotty lacing.
Aroma is heavy on spices, ginger, molasses, graham cracker, cinnamon, and a hint of caramel. Very pleasant.
Tastes like a porter. Lightly roasted chocolate and nuts. Brown sugar. A small amount of hops. Gingerbread is still there, though not as strong. Very faint cinnamon. A little too heavy on the spice, though. There's really not much going on in the taste, unfortunately. It just kind of lacks character, if that makes sense. A little more hop bitterness than expected here.
Medium bodied. LIttle carbonation. More of a sipper at 8.75%.
Overall, started out with good potential, even after the first sip, but really faltered from there. Still a solid brew, but not DH's best, so don't go out of your way for this one.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours a dark brown color with a huge foamy off white head. Good retention. Leaves a lumpy, uneven head with spotty lacing.
Aroma is heavy on spices, ginger, molasses, graham cracker, cinnamon, and a hint of caramel. Very pleasant.
Tastes like a porter. Lightly roasted chocolate and nuts. Brown sugar. A small amount of hops. Gingerbread is still there, though not as strong. Very faint cinnamon. A little too heavy on the spice, though. There's really not much going on in the taste, unfortunately. It just kind of lacks character, if that makes sense. A little more hop bitterness than expected here.
Medium bodied. LIttle carbonation. More of a sipper at 8.75%.
Overall, started out with good potential, even after the first sip, but really faltered from there. Still a solid brew, but not DH's best, so don't go out of your way for this one.
850 characters
3.81/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours into a becker a deep roasted walnut brown with a creamy half finger tan colored head atop,great color and love the creamy head.Winter mulling spice and sweet alcohol in the nose,alot of nutmeg is detected.Lower carbonation with a creamy feel,it slides down easy.Spicy to the hilt on the palate with some cake-like notes,like a CHRISTmas spiced cake,the alcohol sweetness gets bigger as it warms.This a winter sipper,like others have noted, you can't drink to much of it,a full on spicy winter warmer here.
511 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours into a becker a deep roasted walnut brown with a creamy half finger tan colored head atop,great color and love the creamy head.Winter mulling spice and sweet alcohol in the nose,alot of nutmeg is detected.Lower carbonation with a creamy feel,it slides down easy.Spicy to the hilt on the palate with some cake-like notes,like a CHRISTmas spiced cake,the alcohol sweetness gets bigger as it warms.This a winter sipper,like others have noted, you can't drink to much of it,a full on spicy winter warmer here.
511 characters
3.31/5 rDev -12.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12oz bottle
A: Dark brown almost like a really dark tea.
S: a hint of vanilla ,nutmeg,malts and cinnamon.
T:roasted malts,cinnamon and nutmeg.
M: very smooth and lightly carbonated.
O:it's a nice one for these breezy nights.Not my favorite winter warmer but not my least favorite.Worth a try.
311 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12oz bottle
A: Dark brown almost like a really dark tea.
S: a hint of vanilla ,nutmeg,malts and cinnamon.
T:roasted malts,cinnamon and nutmeg.
M: very smooth and lightly carbonated.
O:it's a nice one for these breezy nights.Not my favorite winter warmer but not my least favorite.Worth a try.
311 characters
4.14/5 rDev +8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
2008 release. Deep murky opaque dark brown pour with a quarter inch of tan foam on top. Aromas start with roasted malts entwined with a bold mix of spices. Clove is upfront with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and holiday bread baking spices. Notes of chocolate and some fruit accents. Reminds me of baking Christmas cookies and of rich spice cakes.
First sip brings smooth semi-sweet roasted malts wrapped in a warm blanket of spices. Clove, nutmeg, ginger and some cinnamon. Tastes like a spiced dark rye bread. Flows down with a bit of sweetness and lots of lingering spice. I can see how some may find it overly spiced but to me it was very enjoyable.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, creamy and smooth. The malt body here is well placed and the alcohol is never too much in the flavor. This ends up being quite warming in the end and the mix of spices really work. I personally enjoy the forward clove aspect. A stellar spiced brew from Dark Horse. Paired well with some Carr Valley Menage cheese and fun to drink in the summer. Thanks hoppymeal!
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
2008 release. Deep murky opaque dark brown pour with a quarter inch of tan foam on top. Aromas start with roasted malts entwined with a bold mix of spices. Clove is upfront with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and holiday bread baking spices. Notes of chocolate and some fruit accents. Reminds me of baking Christmas cookies and of rich spice cakes.
First sip brings smooth semi-sweet roasted malts wrapped in a warm blanket of spices. Clove, nutmeg, ginger and some cinnamon. Tastes like a spiced dark rye bread. Flows down with a bit of sweetness and lots of lingering spice. I can see how some may find it overly spiced but to me it was very enjoyable.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, creamy and smooth. The malt body here is well placed and the alcohol is never too much in the flavor. This ends up being quite warming in the end and the mix of spices really work. I personally enjoy the forward clove aspect. A stellar spiced brew from Dark Horse. Paired well with some Carr Valley Menage cheese and fun to drink in the summer. Thanks hoppymeal!
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4.13/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
On tap.
Arrives a deep, dark brown, nearly black with virtually no head. No lacing to speak of.
Aroma is roasty: coffee and chocolate with a bit of nutmeg, tree nuts and cinnamon.
Tasty beer. Lots of chocolate goodness as well as those yummy holiday spices in just the right amount as well as a bit of fig and a bit of booze.
Mouthfeel is rather thin.
Nice holiday beer.
371 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
On tap.
Arrives a deep, dark brown, nearly black with virtually no head. No lacing to speak of.
Aroma is roasty: coffee and chocolate with a bit of nutmeg, tree nuts and cinnamon.
Tasty beer. Lots of chocolate goodness as well as those yummy holiday spices in just the right amount as well as a bit of fig and a bit of booze.
Mouthfeel is rather thin.
Nice holiday beer.
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3.55/5 rDev -6.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
2.58/5 rDev -32.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.75
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.75
4.27/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
I've had several 4-packs of this beer now. 12oz bottles, all from 2015. Pours somewhat opaque brown with a medium sized tan head; some lacing. Yeast on the bottom of the bottle carries over into the glass. Smells mostly of sweet malt and ginger with some nutmeg, clove, allspice, and toasted caramel. The taste follows very closely and has kind of a gingerbread vibe; ginger, clove, malt, and caramel. The alcohol is fairly present but less noticeable when it warms up. Above average body and average carbonation. Overall, it fits the style well as a spiced, malty, and boozy beer.
589 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
I've had several 4-packs of this beer now. 12oz bottles, all from 2015. Pours somewhat opaque brown with a medium sized tan head; some lacing. Yeast on the bottom of the bottle carries over into the glass. Smells mostly of sweet malt and ginger with some nutmeg, clove, allspice, and toasted caramel. The taste follows very closely and has kind of a gingerbread vibe; ginger, clove, malt, and caramel. The alcohol is fairly present but less noticeable when it warms up. Above average body and average carbonation. Overall, it fits the style well as a spiced, malty, and boozy beer.
589 characters
3.99/5 rDev +5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 ounce bottle w/o bottling/vintage dating.
Pours dark and murky, slight darker head, leaves fine scattered lace bits.
Dark chocolate nose.
Flavorful. with more chocolate, dark caramel malty notes.
Pleasant and warming winter warmer.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 ounce bottle w/o bottling/vintage dating.
Pours dark and murky, slight darker head, leaves fine scattered lace bits.
Dark chocolate nose.
Flavorful. with more chocolate, dark caramel malty notes.
Pleasant and warming winter warmer.
238 characters
3.57/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.57/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Taste is cinnamon, clove, and dark roasted malt. This one hits all of the expected notes in a winter warmer. While I have others I prefer in the style, I certainly would not pass this up.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Taste is cinnamon, clove, and dark roasted malt. This one hits all of the expected notes in a winter warmer. While I have others I prefer in the style, I certainly would not pass this up.
189 characters
4/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Nonic Pint.
Appearance: Very dark, chocolaty brown with decent light tan head.
Smell: Nutmeg, clove, allspice and an undefinable sweetness.
Taste: Some spice upfront, but a very sweet core of fruit (plum, cherry, berry), chocolate and even light coffee. The spices are evident and lingering on the finish, with nutmeg, clove and allspice. There may be some English-style hops as well, but it could be mainly the spices.
Feel: Medium to full body with moderately low carbonation. Finish is more sharp than truly dry.
Overall: Some Porter/Stout notes with this Spiced Winter Warmer. It actually reminds me of a ramped up Anchor Christmas Ale, which is mostly a good thing, but this beer is not quite as harmonious. Still, this is a good choice for the Holidays.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Nonic Pint.
Appearance: Very dark, chocolaty brown with decent light tan head.
Smell: Nutmeg, clove, allspice and an undefinable sweetness.
Taste: Some spice upfront, but a very sweet core of fruit (plum, cherry, berry), chocolate and even light coffee. The spices are evident and lingering on the finish, with nutmeg, clove and allspice. There may be some English-style hops as well, but it could be mainly the spices.
Feel: Medium to full body with moderately low carbonation. Finish is more sharp than truly dry.
Overall: Some Porter/Stout notes with this Spiced Winter Warmer. It actually reminds me of a ramped up Anchor Christmas Ale, which is mostly a good thing, but this beer is not quite as harmonious. Still, this is a good choice for the Holidays.
803 characters
4.4/5 rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.91/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dark Horse 4 Elf from Dark Horse Brewing Company
Beer rating:
3.8 out of
5 with
842 ratings
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