Dark Horse 3 Guy Off the Scale Old Ale

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

12oz bottle that’s freaking impossible to open. Thanks Gurst! Pours a red-tinted amber with good carbonation and a thin lacing of a head. Aroma is sweet but not cloying, with loads of dark fruit, caramel, berries, and toffee. Taste is smooth and full, with plums, figs, cherries, caramel, and molasses dominating. For a 15% ABV, there’s hardly any bite to speak of as well. A delicious winter warmer.

12oz. bottle, with thanks to jasonm from over on BA for the great bonus! Pours a clear garnet, with a one finger tan head, good retention and lacing. Aroma is fresh dark fruits, berry juice, and light cherry and caramel. Flavor is more of the same, with stronger plum, raisin, and caramel; the alcohol is well hidden. The sweetness is certainly there, but didn’t find it too much. I’d call this one underrated, and found it to be quite tasty. Thanks again Jason!

Clear red tinted pour with a white head. Malty raisin aroma with fruit and sweet berries. Mellow raisin flavor with lots of alcohol.

Beer Tasting at Heritage Liquor(Maplewood, MN) - Pours a deep mahogany with nose of chocolate-covered plumb and raisin. A hint of musty red wine quickly dissipates. Comes across the palate as smoky raisin and red wine-infused chocolate, Maple syrup flavors and texture are coming to the forefront as the beer warms. Thick, lingering film left on the palate after every sip. Amazing in taste and complexity.

Bottle at GABF 2008. Brown - offwhite head. Nutty, roasted, nice malty, raisins, sweetness, cherry, berries, caramel, light hoppy. Very well balanced. A bit too sweet.

Pours brown with a red hue and a thin tan head. Smells of dark fruit, spicy, some resiny hints a touch of pepper. Tastes of dark fruit, sweet malt, nicely balanced out by some underlying bitterness. Enjoyable.

Pours a dark ruby red with a small off white head that lingers and nice small bubbles. Aroma is very strong prune and plum notes. Some bit of spice and alcohol are also present but mainly very sweet. Flavor starts very malty and extremely rich with the same sort of fruit of prune and plum but with a creamy and sugary sweetness that fills the mouth and sticks to the tongue. Alcoholic finish but still rather smooth because of the sweet thickness. Full body and very rich. Nice barley wine all around but a little too much on the alcohol which is apparent.

Bottle at GABF 2008. Hazy amber coloured with a medium sized off white head. Sweet aroma of dried fruits and caramel with notes of cookies. Very sweet flavour of dried fruits, sherry, cookies and hops. Light hoppy finish. Well hidden alcohol.