Dark Horse Brewing Co.
Microbrewery
in
Marshall,
Michigan,
United States 🇺🇸
Owned by
Benchmark Beverage Co.
Associated Venue: Dark Horse Brewing Company
Established in 1997
Contact
511 S Kalamazoo Ave, Marshall, MI, 49068, United States
Description
Great beer is messy.
From the outset in 1997, Dark Horse Brewery was fueled by a relentless pursuit of excellence and creativity in brewing, with an unflinching disregard for anything that didn’t captivate the taste buds.
In truth, the journey has been filled with adversity, highs, lows, and even a bit of TV show fame. Some might even label the odyssey as reckless. Yet, it was through this tumultuous journey that Dark Horse Brewery honed its award-winning craft and culture. Producing remarkable IPAs, beloved ales, big bold stouts, sought-after session beers, wild events, and boasting more than 5000 mug club members.
Fast forward 27 years, now guided by new leadership under managing partner Chuck Mascari Jr. Dark Horse Brewing Co. remains one of the few lasting independent forces in the Michigan craft brewing scene with a brand impact embraced across the globe. Every month, over 1,000 hardcore #darkhorsenation beer fans check in to our brews on Untappd, from all over the world!
Now, we’re not only a craft brewery, but also a small distillery and small winemaker. Our Beer Garten is a unique entertainment venue for up-and-coming artists. For patrons and Marshall visitors, we offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner at our Commons Market and Taproom, and open our Beer Garten from May through October. There are six major events at the brewery every year starting with Winterfest Beer Olympics and ending the year with an 80’s themed, 4ELF Party!
With a blend of rebellion, responsibility, and boundless curiosity infused into every brew, Dark Horse Brewing Co. beers continue to stand as a testament to our unwavering commitment to exceptional quality and taste. Visit the Brewery today and experience it for yourself! Join the #darkhorsenation!
From the outset in 1997, Dark Horse Brewery was fueled by a relentless pursuit of excellence and creativity in brewing, with an unflinching disregard for anything that didn’t captivate the taste buds.
In truth, the journey has been filled with adversity, highs, lows, and even a bit of TV show fame. Some might even label the odyssey as reckless. Yet, it was through this tumultuous journey that Dark Horse Brewery honed its award-winning craft and culture. Producing remarkable IPAs, beloved ales, big bold stouts, sought-after session beers, wild events, and boasting more than 5000 mug club members.
Fast forward 27 years, now guided by new leadership under managing partner Chuck Mascari Jr. Dark Horse Brewing Co. remains one of the few lasting independent forces in the Michigan craft brewing scene with a brand impact embraced across the globe. Every month, over 1,000 hardcore #darkhorsenation beer fans check in to our brews on Untappd, from all over the world!
Now, we’re not only a craft brewery, but also a small distillery and small winemaker. Our Beer Garten is a unique entertainment venue for up-and-coming artists. For patrons and Marshall visitors, we offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner at our Commons Market and Taproom, and open our Beer Garten from May through October. There are six major events at the brewery every year starting with Winterfest Beer Olympics and ending the year with an 80’s themed, 4ELF Party!
With a blend of rebellion, responsibility, and boundless curiosity infused into every brew, Dark Horse Brewing Co. beers continue to stand as a testament to our unwavering commitment to exceptional quality and taste. Visit the Brewery today and experience it for yourself! Join the #darkhorsenation!
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Tried
from Can
from
Horrocks Farm Market
on 19 May 2026
at 00:10
8.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8.5
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Tried
from Draft
from
Horrocks Farm Market
on 20 Mar 2026
at 20:50
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 8
Can pour at LSU tasting: pours black with beige head. Aroma is chocolate and licorice. Taste is sweetish, licorice, some bitterness and roast.
Tried
from Can
on 16 Mar 2026
at 14:21
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Taster showing pitch black with no head.
The nose shows moderately intense notes of smoky bourbon.
The palate is lightly carbonated and light bodied. Lightly sweet but all espresso.
The nose shows moderately intense notes of smoky bourbon.
The palate is lightly carbonated and light bodied. Lightly sweet but all espresso.
Tried
on 22 Feb 2026
at 07:53
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Taster showing pitch black and no head.
The nose shows light adzuki with bourbon.
The palate is lightly carbonated and light bodied. Espresso throughout.
The nose shows light adzuki with bourbon.
The palate is lightly carbonated and light bodied. Espresso throughout.
Tried
from Bottle
on 22 Feb 2026
at 07:45
6.9/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 6.5
Texture 7
Overall 7
Taster showing pitch black with no head.
The nose shows moderately intense milk chocolate and bourbon.
The palate is lightly carbonated and light bodied. Milk chocolate with light adzuki and a strong coffee bitterness.
The nose shows moderately intense milk chocolate and bourbon.
The palate is lightly carbonated and light bodied. Milk chocolate with light adzuki and a strong coffee bitterness.
Tried
from Bottle
on 22 Feb 2026
at 07:42
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Thanks Steve.
Reviewed from notes.
Bottle to snifter.
Appearance: ruddy dark red to brown color with a slim cap of a little white foamy head which slid off at a nice pace to leave some light lace
Aroma: some tobacco leafy tones, caramel/toffee malts, baker's chocolate, leathery sweetness, dark fruits - more leaning towards figs, light vanilla and a touch of dark chocolate
Flavor: wraps up the prior noted aromas to earthy and sweet blend, finishes semi-dry with earthy sweetness
Texture: medium bodied, good sipper, fairly dry along the tongue but some mobility
Overall: pretty good barleywine that I believe leans closer to an English one.
Reviewed from notes.
Bottle to snifter.
Appearance: ruddy dark red to brown color with a slim cap of a little white foamy head which slid off at a nice pace to leave some light lace
Aroma: some tobacco leafy tones, caramel/toffee malts, baker's chocolate, leathery sweetness, dark fruits - more leaning towards figs, light vanilla and a touch of dark chocolate
Flavor: wraps up the prior noted aromas to earthy and sweet blend, finishes semi-dry with earthy sweetness
Texture: medium bodied, good sipper, fairly dry along the tongue but some mobility
Overall: pretty good barleywine that I believe leans closer to an English one.
Tried
from Bottle
on 07 Feb 2026
at 12:33
7.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 8
Reviewed from notes.
Can to nonic glass.
Appearance: dark brown close to black with a finger and a half's worth of khakia foamy head which slid off very nicely to leave some light lace.
Aroma: earthy to nutty scents, caramel/toffee malts, roasty semi-coffee whiffs, some chocolate then a light woodiness
Flavor: takes the prior noted aromas to blend to a mild sweetness with a sly roastiness underneath, finishes semi-dry with the roasty, toasty, nutty and earthy aspects
Texture: medium bodied, sessionable, fairly clean and mobile along the tongue and semi-dry
Overall: nicely done brown ale I believe leans closer to an English style. I would have again.
Can to nonic glass.
Appearance: dark brown close to black with a finger and a half's worth of khakia foamy head which slid off very nicely to leave some light lace.
Aroma: earthy to nutty scents, caramel/toffee malts, roasty semi-coffee whiffs, some chocolate then a light woodiness
Flavor: takes the prior noted aromas to blend to a mild sweetness with a sly roastiness underneath, finishes semi-dry with the roasty, toasty, nutty and earthy aspects
Texture: medium bodied, sessionable, fairly clean and mobile along the tongue and semi-dry
Overall: nicely done brown ale I believe leans closer to an English style. I would have again.
Tried
from Can
on 07 Feb 2026
at 12:24
7.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle shared by Johnny. Opaque black color, small brown colored head. Aroma and flavor are malts, soft roast with a nice blueberry twist in it and a nice bitterness that blends nicely with the blueberry sweetness. Nice one.
Tried
on 05 Jan 2026
at 19:39
6.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 4
Overall 6.5
Can. Pours a clear light yellow with a white head that dissipates quickly to the edges. Aroma has sweet lemon and grains with a bit of straw and grass underlying. Flavor has sweet lemon and a bit of cookie with straw and hay underlying.
Tried
from Can
on 21 Dec 2025
at 17:13