Fanbrew's Beer Universe Profile

I think New Belgium produces some good brews, but lacks the diversity to be a great brewery. In my opinion they over use their biscuity malts. I understnad that it is the balance in their namesake beer Fat Tire, but it was off base in their 1554 Englightened Black Ale, and I didn't expect it to find it in Mighty Arrow their Pale Ale.

I haven't actually been to the brewery, so I left the tour part at 3 stars.

All in all what they produce is drinkable but I would like to see them move away from the malts that they seem to rely on.

The Dark Lord is the most complex and well crafted beer I have ever had, and in the individually star ratings for aroma, flavor, appearance, and palate my ratings reflect that. However my overall score is only 3 stars because in my opinion this beer lacks the most important part of a beer. Drinkablilty!

I know drinkability is a made up word used to describe Bud Light, but I use it here to describe the Dark Lord because this is not a beer you can drink. Your aren't going to finish the 22oz bottle it comes in, and you definitely aren't going to drink it on a daily basis. It is to heavy, to exagerated, and too much for slamming beer with friends or even a meal. This beer is meant for tastings and not drinking. So with that in mind I had to rate the Dark Lord in the middle of the scale at 3 stars. The individual components of this beer knock my socks off, but as a whole it lacks for my palate.

With that out of the way let's get on to the good stuff.

The Aroma

The Dark Lord has aroma for days. If you put your nose in it you will be givng a hints of chocolate, caramel, dark fruit, and coffee.

The Appearance

The Dark Lord follows through on it's name. This beer is pitch black with a dark color foam on top of it. It sits in your cup like motor oil and when you sip it it takes about 5 minutes for it to slide back down the side of the glass.

The Flavor

The flavors in the Dark Lord are exagerated beyond belief. You can pick it apart and pick it apart again and I guarantee you will continue to find new flavors in there. I swear I tasted Chocolate, Coffee, Prunes and Raisins, Cough Syrup, and Tobacco. Mix that with the high alcohol content and you have got a winner on flavor. But more that a small glass that you are sipping on and I bet you won't be able to finish it. It is almost to much for the mouth to handle.


The Palate

The Dark Lord covers every inch of your mouth with its thick oil like body. You will taste this beer for minutes not seconds after drinking it.