Element Brewing - Dark Element (aka Dark Matter)

 
I was quite pleased when I asked my salesman about this beer on his weekly visit. I knew they had the beer in their inventory, I had already checked the bA reviews and was fully prepared to order one (or two) of the Element brews. My distributor, however, hadn't really informed their sales force about the recent addition to their portfolio and my salesman was temporarily speechless.

The Element Brewing Company is a tiny little brewery up in Massachusetts, generally described as a nano-brewery.  The beer in question is their "Dark Element", formerly known as Dark Matter.  The beer is described as a an American Black Ale and 8% abv. The beer arrives wrapped in a very nice printed paper wrapper (which is necessary when I realized the bottle itself has no label). The label clearly states bottled on November 17th, 2011, which I love! I hate having to decipher codes to determine freshness of a beer. The internet also labels it at 65 IBUs, so I'm not entirely sure what I'm getting myself into tonight.

The Dark Matter pours out a deep, dark shade of brown. There is almost no light shining through this monster brew. The foam is lively and thick, in light-coffee color. The foam lasts for days and leaves behind a mild lacing as it fades.  Even after the head has disappeared there is a steady stream of bubbles rising from the etching on the glass the entire times I'm working on this beer.

The nose is dark, rich and toasty! There is a significant roasted malt character which distinctly resembles a dark roasted coffee stout. I'm also impressed by the substantial amount of complexity on the nose! It smells very, very much like some of my favorite Quads out there: the Rochefort 10 and the Chimay Blue come to mind immediately.

On the palate, the Dark Element is equally as complex! It feels like a blend of a hop-forward IPA and a Belgian Quadrupel, this is wild! Substantial roasted coffee & toffee notes lead the way, followed by some subtle malty sweetness and yet the finish is fairly hoppy and dry. As the beer warms up, it seems the bitterness of the hops comes through more and more.

The Dark Element is definitely a pretty cool brew from just north of us in Millers Falls, Mass. If you've never had their beers, I'd suggest looking for them. We'll also have their Extra Special Oak (English Strong Ale) and their Red Giant (American Red Ale) in the store soon.

Element Brewing Company
Dark Element (aka Dark Matter)
TCSH Rating - 9/10
Aka - A delicious beer that bridges styles and dimensions!

Eli
Bibo Ergo Sum