Dark Horse 3 Guy Off the Scale Old Ale

Brewed by Dark Horse Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Marshall, Michigan USA

Pours a deep clear ruby red with a brief off-white head and some lacing. Aroma is pure raspberries, lightly tart and quite sweet. Very fruity taste, I can taste the sherry but also cranberry, quite a bit of grainy tannin which needs to age a bit, and loads of hops & alcohol in the finish. Body is very very thick and gooey with good carbonation. I am kicking myself for opening this gem so soon - it will be absolutely staggering in a few years. Bad, bad, bad me! Thanks to Ughsmash for the trade!

Fantastic Barleywine. Pours a dark orange with frothy head. Armoa is huge, all hops and malt. Flavor is much the same, with some candy, toffee, and fruit thrown in for good measure. The malt and hops work great together on this one. Nice carmel presense as well, with nice noted of cherry. I really liked this one in every way, I wish it was more readily available.

Pours a nice head that’s surprising considering the alcohol content. Huge aromas of kettle caramelization, cream sherry and old vine zin. Flavour much of the same with a bit of bitterness and fusel on the finish. Intense amount of caramel and sticky sweet candied fruit. Quite a bit of viscosity here. Half the bottle would’ve been more than enough for myself. Just a bit young and I’m sure this improves greatly with age.

Bottle thanks to Sephiroth! I appreciate it Hans! Hazy copper pour with fizzy tan head. Sticky palate. Sweet caramel malts, oak, and raisins on the nose. Flavor is caramel, fruits and slightly sweet. Light hop presence on the finish, alcohol is there, but is not overwhelming

Bottle thanks to miketd, thanks once again Mike. Poured a clear red-copper color with a moderate beige head that faded to a layer. Aroma of sweet caramel malts, light floral hops, and so sherry-like boozy fruit. Moderate caramel sweetness leads into a moderate hop bitterness with undertone of fruit, including some citrus (lemon, grapefruit), some light berry, and a bit of booziness. Smooth and slick on the palate. Will probably be much better in about a year or so.

Acknud, you kick ass! Nice bottle here from a world class trader! Brown/amber pour with a little head. Aromas of raisins, molasses and strong malts. Flavors are sweet and hoppy...surprising at the least. I taste syrups and sugar and the alchohol is hidden beyond belief.

Bottle. Aroma of dark dried fruits, caramel, wood, citrus juice, and sherry. Hazy deep amber brown hue with a small khaki head that mostly diminished and left some spotted lacing. Flavor is sweet caramel, raisin, sherry and finishes with a touch of bitterness. Palate is full bodied and oily soft. A fantastic Barely Wine with the best hidden 15% ABV I’ve ever encountered. This brew feels aged with the hops mostly subsided. Very good and very deadly.

As a self confessed Barely Wine freak and life long Milwaukee resident, I was pleased to pick up the 12once bottle. The title and the wax seals conjurers up images of a killer long lived work of brewing art. The reality is not to fare off. Not as complex or as thick as some others. Brown sugar and baking spices come over the glass, but the beer is not very aromatic. Sweet! with low carbonation. Almost no hops. The alcohol is well hidden. A well balanced (boring) barley wine. If you are looking for something’s really off the hock try the lighter but more hopy Pilgrims Dole from new Belgium or thicker almost Cognac like Dogfish head’s Olde School. Both have quality’s this one lacks. Nice try Dark Horse