Dark Horse 4 Elf Winter Ale

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Pours opaque chocolate brown that lets a peep of light through at the bottom. Roast malt aroma has a cinnamon hard candy overtone. Flavor is smoky and woody, just a hint of candy. Texture is smooth but a tad thin.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Pours dark brown with reddish highlights. Foamy tan head. Roasted malt with aromatic spices. Cloves, allspice, nutmeg and a hint of cinnamon. Taste is lead by the roasted malt, with the spices taking a backseat with the exception of the cloves and allspice, which are not as prevalent as they were in the aroma. Mouthfeel is full and almost creamy. I'm usually not a fan of spiced beers, but Dark Horse has done a wonderful job in using the spices to enhance the beer rather than making this an over spiced holiday brew which occasionally does occur. An interesting seasonal beer.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

Bottle: Poured a deep brown color ale with large foamy head with good retention and minimal lacing. Aroma of spices (nutmeg and light cinnamon) with a well balanced sweet roasty malt body. Taste is also very well balance between some sweet malt with notes of nutmeg and light cinnamon and maybe some white pepper? Body is about average with good carbonation and a nice creamy body and no apparent alcohol. Very well done with great balance while being easily drinkable.