Dark Star
Bur Oak Brewing Company

Poured from 12-ounce can into a tulip glass. Pitch black in color, with a two-finger light tan head. Good retention, beautiful lacing. The aroma has promise. Roasted malt, char, and coffee dominate. These come through on the taste as well. This is surprisingly refreshing. Good carbonation, light in body, crisp and dry on the finish. Overall, a very good beer. Recommended.

 

 

Bought three beers brewed by Bur Oak from CBC in Columbia. 12oz can.

Had it last week.

Not bad for a 4.8% beer. I remember that the roasted notes came through well in this beer. Easy drinking.

 

Pours a woody brown color. The head is otherworldly (ha). 3 fingers of dense, creamy, firm head. Thick rings spiral down the glass.

Aroma of a freshly opened box of raisins, with some chocolate, sweet bread, and cinnamon. Some wort, some barley.

The pale Kolsch flavors are there, followed by some molasses and raisin, with some oaky flavors. Just lots of sour raisins.

Feel is creamy and mild carbonation, semi-dry chalky finish.

Overall, I can see the art in this, but it's not jiving with my palate. I can finish it; Just too much raisin and weirdness.

From a 12 ounce can, this is a seriously dark, nearly black (with reddish highlights) beer. The head is light brown and leaves amazing lace. The aroma has a faint roast behind a light hop aroma. Very quiet smell. The taste is balanced, if not just a bit dry. More mouth-feel than expected, and a little slickness. Very drinkable, but overall just okay.

 

This beer pours just as one would think a beer in the Black Kolsch Ale style would pour. The beer itself is jet black, with a finger of khaki, fizzy head that disappears rather quickly. Very little lacing is left behind. Aroma proves dark, with notes of toasted and biscuit malts, and clove. Not too stimulating. Flavor profile follows toasted and biscuit malts, with clove, and a finishing pine hop sting closely. The flavors seem to meld and puddle together to form a beer that is easy to drink, but not dynamic. Mouth feel is medium-thin, and almost watery. Slight abrasive carbonation feel. Overall, it's a pleasant beer, and certainly provides a different experience then a regular kolsch. It still has room for refinement.

Served in a 12oz snifter.

 

 

 

12 fl oz. can, no canned on date or freshness information. Acquired a single can of this stuff as part of a mixed six pack at the local Binny's. My first beer from Bur Oak Brewing Company. Can lists a 4.80% abv.

Poured into a Duvel tulip snifter.

A - A nice dark jet brown-black pour, nearly opaque with some cola color hues showing near the surface. Good finger of solid frothy tan cream color head with decent frothiness and retention. Some good scattered chocolate lacing. Appears adequately carbonated. Looks very nice for what it is.

S - A light, wheaty / grainy aroma. Notes of lemongrass and subtle citrus. No indication of dark malt / char / roast. Very nice.

T - Taste follows the nose: very light, wheaty / grainy, minor notes of husk / graininess, very subtle nuttiness / dark fruit flavor. Again, subtle notes of citrus & lemongrass are apparent. It honestly tastes like a regular golden color kolsch. No indication of dark malt / char / roast. Very nicely executed.

M - Feel is smooth, crisp, creamy, with lingering notes of citrus / lemongrass. Very light-bodied & easy drinking stuff.

Overall, probably the best example of a legit Black Kolsch that I've had yet. Very nicely done stuff from Bur Oak Brewing, and a good firm introduction for me into their beers. Curious to try more.

Bur Oak Brewing Dark Star -----4/5.

 

Aroma is citrus, a mix of pale and dark malts and a hint of funk. The flavor is citrus/fruit, a mix of pale and dark malts and a very slightly funky/tart finish.

Black lagers are really not exciting

The Dark Star from Bur Oak is quite nice. It poured a very deep dark amber with white head that is lacing nicely. The scent is slight roast corn. The taste is evenly balanced with hints of roast and corn. The mouthfeel is medium in body with good carbonation. Overall the beer is very good and worth trying.

 

 

Served from a can in an Ohio State shaker pint glass.

There's a street near me named Burr Oak. Just sayin'. ... Anyway, this stuff pours a midnight sienna topped by a finger of tan foam. The nose comprises mild roasted malts, light rye toast, and a bit of Burton-style water. The taste brings in more of the same, along with a vague hint of smoked tea leaves (not quite lapsang suchong, but close) and clean grass. The body is a rather light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a smooth feel. Overall, a pretty tasty, easy-going beer, one that lets you have some nice "dark" characteristics without going too far with it and with a lighter-than-usual body. Not bad.