Dark Horse 3 Guy Off the Scale Old Ale

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

Thanks a ton to turdferguson (Sam) for sharing this. Pours a still ruby amber with no head. Laces fairly well. The nose is sweet, fruity, alcohol is very well hidden for the 15%, caramel, grapefruit peel. The flavor shows very light alcohol, fruity, sweet, citrusy and a tad waxy, caramel. The palate shows no carbonation, fairly thick, a tad dry, and mildly waxy. The finish is warm and a little dry.

Wild beer. Thanks to BrianK for the share on this crazy Mofo. 15% Jeez. Pours a dark amber body with slim lacing. Aroma is boozy, hot hot hot, some brandy, sherry, and pruns and raisins. Sweet malt, very sugar sweetness, a bit chewy, and some definate etoh burn on this one. Wow nice pick up.

A- Pours a nice deep amber with a very small head that dissapates quickly. Crystal clear. S- I could smell it from the second the cap popped (granted it took quite a while to get the cap off with all the wax!). My first impression is ... raspberries? deep brown sugar notes, dark fruits, alcohol, underlying sweetness. T- This one is really a kick in the teeth in a good way. Starts off with brown sugar and roasted malt rounded out by sweet fruits, maybe subtle berry flavors. Sugar and booze on the tongue going down with a good dose of alcohol warming. M- Thick and sticky with ample carbonation. D- This is an excellent barleywine. I really wish I had another to lay down for a year or two. You definitely feel the 12 percent in this one. The prominent alcohol makes it a sipper but it forces you to savor it which I enjoy. Definitely something dark horse should be proud of.

Bottle, purple-burgundy wax, 08. Sweetish, hot aroma with strong soy sauce and booze, fresh fruit, molasses and currants, touch of yeast with oak. Bitter hops, a little sweaty. Some orange rind. Everything about the nose says "big mother." Dark amber-brown pour with little head. Bitter, salty, darkly fruity taste, very dry finish after a sweet start (but not as sweet as DFH), raisin and a tinge of bourbon. Ton of alcohol, though better integrated than some of the reviews here would suggest. Still, hot and dominating. Full body, slung with notes of resin and caramel. Complex with some nice herbal liqueur tones. Enjoyed it; in fact, there’s a lot more to like here than to dislike, and this from a very fresh bottle.

12oz bottle from Champane’s. Poured red/brown with very small head and no lacing. Wonderful aroma of dark fruit, raisins, brown sugar, molasses, and alcohol. Taste was sweet dark fruit, caramel, and brown sugar, with an alcohol burn. Mouthfeel was a bit syrupy, with very little carbonation. Overall a very good barley wine!

pours standard light brown with little to no head. aroma is cherry and alcohol. very warming flavor. tastes all 15% of it..

12oz bottle from west lakeview.... semi-transparent reddish brown pour with a thin off-white head around the edges....lots of sacharine and syrupy malt up front in the nose with some added dark fruit character as well as some soft berry notes.... sweet throughout, syrupy mouthfeel with added raspberry and dark fruit notes. i found the sweetness somewhat cloying. full body, light carbonation. still pretty hot.

Bottle 08: I am admittedly not a barley wine style fan, however, I thoroughly enjoyed this beer. Where other BWs are sweet and sticky, this one was spicy and smooth. Ruby-orange pour, flavor was spicy raisins and dark fruits. Alcohol is present here, but not in an astringent way. Warm finish, but smooth. Would be great with some age on it I’d think.