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!
8.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 9
Overall 9
Bottle shared at RBBWG 2023. Opaque black color, no head. Aroma and flavor are malts, roast, umami, bourbon, soy sauce, liquorice still there but fortunately a little less than the original. The barrel aging really improves the beer. Very solid.
Tried
on 09 Dec 2023
at 15:15
8.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Sampled at 2023. Pours black, no real head. Scent is soy, full, intense, still got a woody profile. Taste is full, still quite thick and bombastic, strong woody , bourbon presence. Sure, it's aged, and shows soy, but this isn't over-the-top to me. Still way more enjoyable than the majority of (fresh) imperial stouts nowaydays.
Tried
on 09 Dec 2023
at 15:11
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
9/XII/23 - 12Fl. Oz. bottle @ BBGG winter 23-24, BB: n/a, 2016 vintage (2023-1145) Thanks to Kraddel for sharing the bottle!
Clear dark brown beer, practically no head. Aroma: oxidized, earthy, dried fruits, earthy, good roast, dusty. MF: ok carbon, medium body. Taste: malty, good roast, some caramel, pretty bitter, dry, spicy touch, a bit oxidized, some alcohol, sugary. Aftertaste: caramel, lots of alcohol, bitter, dry, more alcohol, a bit sugary, malty.
Clear dark brown beer, practically no head. Aroma: oxidized, earthy, dried fruits, earthy, good roast, dusty. MF: ok carbon, medium body. Taste: malty, good roast, some caramel, pretty bitter, dry, spicy touch, a bit oxidized, some alcohol, sugary. Aftertaste: caramel, lots of alcohol, bitter, dry, more alcohol, a bit sugary, malty.
Tried
from Bottle
on 09 Dec 2023
at 15:00
8.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
9/XII/23 - 12Fl. Oz. bottle @ BBGG winter 23-24, BB: n/a, 2013 vintage (2023-1144) Thanks to Kraddel for sharing the bottle!
Clear dark brown beer, small creamy beige head, unstable, non adhesive. Aroma: lots of alcohol, malty, grains, raisins, earthy, dry impression, more alcohol, caramel malts. MF: soft carbon, medium body. Taste: bitter start, lots of caramel, sugary, soft acidity, a bit earthy, good roast, dry, spicy touch. Aftertaste: lots of alcohol, bitter, nice roast, alcohol, dry and earthy, caramel, some chocolate, lots of alcohol, some bourbon, chocolate, decent!
Clear dark brown beer, small creamy beige head, unstable, non adhesive. Aroma: lots of alcohol, malty, grains, raisins, earthy, dry impression, more alcohol, caramel malts. MF: soft carbon, medium body. Taste: bitter start, lots of caramel, sugary, soft acidity, a bit earthy, good roast, dry, spicy touch. Aftertaste: lots of alcohol, bitter, nice roast, alcohol, dry and earthy, caramel, some chocolate, lots of alcohol, some bourbon, chocolate, decent!
Tried
from Bottle
on 09 Dec 2023
at 14:45
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
9/XII/23 - 12Fl. Oz. bottle @ BBGG winter 23-24, BB: n/a, 2012 vintage, grey wax (2023-1143) Thanks to Kraddel for sharing the bottle!
Clear dark brown beer, small creamy beige head, unstable, non adhesive. Aroma: very oxidized, cardboard, soy sauce, malty touch. MF: soft carbon, medium body. Taste: some alcohol, sweet, soft acidity, soy sauce, bitter, dry, some alcohol. Aftertaste: a bit earthy, meh, sourish touch, lots of alcohol, coffee.
Clear dark brown beer, small creamy beige head, unstable, non adhesive. Aroma: very oxidized, cardboard, soy sauce, malty touch. MF: soft carbon, medium body. Taste: some alcohol, sweet, soft acidity, soy sauce, bitter, dry, some alcohol. Aftertaste: a bit earthy, meh, sourish touch, lots of alcohol, coffee.
Tried
from Bottle
on 09 Dec 2023
at 14:30
8.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
9/XII/23 - 12Fl. Oz. bottle @ BBGG winter 23-24, BB: n/a, 2017 vintage (2023-1142) Thanks to Kraddel for sharing the bottle!
Clear dark brown beer, practically no head. Aroma: nice, good roast, alcohol, some chocolate, nice, a bit oxidized. MF: ok carbon, medium body. Taste: good roast, dark chocolate, a bit dry, earthy, coffee, sweet malts, caramel, bitter, lovely! Aftertaste: sweet, cardboard, malty, good stuff, grains, good stuff!
Clear dark brown beer, practically no head. Aroma: nice, good roast, alcohol, some chocolate, nice, a bit oxidized. MF: ok carbon, medium body. Taste: good roast, dark chocolate, a bit dry, earthy, coffee, sweet malts, caramel, bitter, lovely! Aftertaste: sweet, cardboard, malty, good stuff, grains, good stuff!
Tried
from Bottle
on 09 Dec 2023
at 14:15
8.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Canned, 355 ml, shared with Luka, kajser27 and MiroB. Dark brown with tan head. Chocolate, coffee, medium bodied. Bit thin in finish. Medium sweetness.
Tried
from Can
from De Bierliefhebber
on 19 Nov 2023
at 23:00
7.8/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Can from Livonia Liquor. Pours a hazy straw gold with a finger of white foam that lingers. Mango, citrus and pineapple aromas on the nose. Palate is similar with a nice citrus and pith note, finishing with some tropical fruit. Balanced and leans dry on the finish.
Tried
from Can
from
Livonia Liquor & Fine Wine
on 08 Oct 2023
at 17:53
7.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7
Backlog September 2011. Deep reddish amber body under a small beige head. Aroma has malt, caramel, Christmas spices and dry fruit. Taste is sweet malt, caramel, chocolate, dry fruit and lots of Christmas spices. Medium body with same aftertaste. Nice spicy ale.
Tried
on 21 Sep 2023
at 16:37
7.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
12oz bottle pours out cola brown topped with a small head. Nose is winter spice notes malts and some sweet rum. Taste is more of the sweet malts spice and rum.
Tried
from Bottle
on 05 Jul 2023
at 02:29