Dark Horse Smells Like A Safety Meeting India Pale Ale

Dark Horse Smells Like A Safety Meeting India Pale Ale. 8.5% ABV, 48 IBU. Dark Horse Brewing, Marshall, MI.

Reddish hue, fully opaque, slim beige head. Interesting look for an IPA. But, I can dig it.

In the nose: Deep and malty, earthy and herbal, lots of fruit, but not the typical citrus and tropical everyone trots out. More berries, stone fruit, apple. I like it. Most unusual. And highly "dank."

Sidebar: I get it now. This brewery used to have a beer that was unimaginatively called "Smells Like Weed." This name is more subtle, and evokes the true phrase that comes up when co-workers wish to blaze one together.

In the mouth: Big bitterness busts out on the palate, blitzes the tongue, leaving a trail of hoppitude. It's a powerhouse. Full, rich body. Major malt. Much complexity. Whole lot going on here. I can't help but like it. It's nearly a double IPA, almost a barley-wine, even. Not sure why they don't name it as such.

S.L.A.S.M. is our most Aromatic IPA. This India Pale Ale is very reminiscent of the hop’s cousin in the Mulberry family. Lots of hop aroma with just the right amount of bitterness as we like to keep balance around here. Between the secret blend of the most DANK hops we can get our hands on and a "more than healthy" dose of double dry hopping, this beer can be announced to the nose from across the room that someone is definitely having a Safety Meeting.