Drew Reviews The “Black Horseman” From Surly Brewing

If you’re even remotely a fan of the underground rock and metal music scene, there’s no doubt that you’ve heard of King Diamond before. I liken them to a darker, heavier, but equally thematic version of Iron Maiden. They’re an acquired taste, but like them or not, they certainly have their own style.

They’re exactly the kind of band that you’d expect to do a collaboration with Minnesota’s very own – Surly Brewing. Is it startling? A little (but what do you expect from King Diamond?) Is it awesome? Definitely. I’m the type of guy who loves darker brews, so needless to say I was thrilled to get my hands on the Black Horseman. Here are my findings.

The Black Horseman is a Danish Style Black Lager (sounds fancy right?) which means I expected it to be a darker, more rich concoction – which, it was. The texture is somewhere in between the Dark Phase Stout and The Darkness. Not too thick, not too thin – just right. There’s just enough body to it without making you feel overly full (which many dark beers have the tendency to do.)

Surprisingly, it peaks at only 5% ABV. That might sound like a lot compared to many mainstream beers, but by Surly’s standards it’s relatively low in terms of alcoholic content. After the first drink, I noticed notes of cocoa and dark bread on the front end. The after taste is slightly sweet and rich, which makes for a pleasant but bold drinking experience from start to finish. If you’re like me and you love darker beers, you gotta give this one a try.