About
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!
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7.3/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7
33cl bottle from Farmers bar. Thin ring beige head. Clear black pour. Chocolate. Very smooth
Tried from Bottle on 27 Apr 2019 at 13:58

6/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 4 Flavor 6 Texture 8 Overall 6
Bottle. Pours a clear very dark ruby color with a thick beige head and great retention. Decent lacing. Boozy imperial aroma. Creamy body. Nondescript taste. Maybe molasses and dark fruit and booze. Sweet, not bitter. No bad flavors, just lacking any signature flavor. Barely any maple flavor. 8.75% ABV is warming, but fairly hidden.
Tried from Bottle on 24 Apr 2019 at 00:30

8/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
12 ounce can into pint glass; no can dating, but was just released. Pours lightly hazy pale golden yellow color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and rocky white head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice dense foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, mango, honeydew melon, red apple, citrus peel/rind, wood, light peppercorn/pine, cracker, corn, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/earthy hops, pale malt/maize, and light-moderate fruity yeast notes; with great strength. Taste of big lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, mango, honeydew melon, red apple, citrus peel/rind, wood, light peppercorn, pine, cracker, corn, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, woody, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, mango, honeydew melon, red apple, citrus peel/rind, wood, peppercorn, pine, cracker, corn, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/earthy hops, pale malt/maize, and light-moderate fruity yeast flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance, and no astringent hop flavors after the finish. Very clean on lager flavors, not overly yeasty. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium-plus carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately crisp, bready/grainy/sticky, and fairly resinous/rindy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 4.5%. Overall this is an excellent hoppy cream ale. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/earthy hops, pale malt/maize, and light-moderate fruity yeast flavors; very smooth, crisp, and refreshing to drink with the modestly bitter/drying finish, not aggressive. Very flavorful and not watery for the ABV. Feels like Centennial, Columbus, Amarillo. Very juicy, vibrant, and fairly dank/earthy hop complexity; with a great clean pale malt/maize backbone, and restrained fruity yeast notes. A very enjoyable offering. Very impressive, still stays true to style, not overly hoppy/bitter.
Tried from Can on 22 Apr 2019 at 02:39

7/10
Kruidkoek, licht rum, soort belgian strong ale basis.
Tried from Bottle on 21 Apr 2019 at 21:26

7.8/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7
Bottle, many thanks zvsn, smallish creamy head, opaque extremely dark brown color, cocoa, toasted dark bread and spiciness, lots of toasted and charred notes. Balanced and really nice and enjoyable.
Tried from Bottle on 21 Apr 2019 at 20:47

7.5/10
Unclear amber with white head. Sweet caramel malts, rye, orange peel, grapefruit, toasted pineapple, earl grey tea with lots of sugar, spruce, resin, light dank onions. Big sweet and bitter. Full body and soft carbonation.
Tried from Can on 20 Apr 2019 at 23:05

7.5/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 6 Overall 8
Can at home. Unclear amber with white head. Sweet caramel malts, rye, orange peel, grapefruit, toasted pineapple, earl grey tea with lots of sugar, spruce, resin, light dank onions. Big sweet and bitter. Full body and soft carbonation.
Tried from Can on 20 Apr 2019 at 21:05

6.9/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Keg at BD Soho, 10/04/19. Mahogany brown with a well presented khaki covering. Nose is fruit loaf, dried fruits, light booze, toffee. Taste comprises dates, stewed fruits, raisins, toffee, brown sugar, faint cocoa sprinkle, light spice. Medium plus body, fine carbonation, semi drying close. Ok stuff but lacks depth for the ABV.
Tried on 20 Apr 2019 at 07:42

7.2/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
17th February 2019 Level 6 bottleshare. Thanks to New Ken. Semi opaque dark brown beer, small pale tan head. Smooth and fairly light palate, modest fine carbonation. Mellow dark chocolate malts. Dominant but smooth bourbon, fruity with a mild wet wood undertone. Little cellar dankness. Smooth finish. Rich and flavoursome but a little flaccid.
Tried from Bottle on 19 Apr 2019 at 10:24