Dark Tsar
Thorn Brewing Company

November 15th, 2013 - The Dark Tsar is an epic name, as if drawn from a dystopian space aged future where autocracy rules the stars. One imagines a smoldering, shadowy figure, sitting high atop a glowing throne, ordering the destruction of solar systems on a whim. And hey, it's a great beer, too! Not as serious or dramatic, but close. The broth is dark and black, sucking in what little light Thorn St.'s dimly lit room outs out, and the head is an inspiring two inches of thick foam. One can even observe the geological stratification of the bubbles, as the larger, dominant bubbles migrate upwards, while the smaller newborns are tamped down near the bottom, ground down like sand. The nose is harsh, cutting with booze, but soothing with well roasted malt and soy sauce, and even tempting with the dark bitterness of cacao nibs. It's raw, mean and even a little unapproachable, but the taste is far easier to digest. Here the booze is flaring too, but echoes aging bourbon and freshly cut cedar. The burn is intense - like a star too close in orbit - but powerful and energizing, even as it is dangerous. This is an excellent beer, and produces a powerful new gravitational pull on me overtime I pass Thorn St.