Oil Of Gladness
Dark Horse Brewing Company
- From:
- Dark Horse Brewing Company
- Michigan, United States
- Style:
- American Barleywine
- ABV:
- 11%
- Score:
- 91
- Avg:
- 4.09 | pDev: 7.33%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 28
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Nov 22, 2020
- Added:
- May 06, 2017
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 18
SCORE
91
Outstanding
91
Outstanding
Collaboration with 3 Floyds Brewing Company
Dark Horse! 3 Floyd’s! The two breweries got together to make a tribute beer paying homage to the Infantry Brigade of the Union Army during the US Civil War known as the “The Iron Brigade”. These “Black Hats” consisting of Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin regimens were fierce warriors with iron dispositions without a doubt. More importantly, they were also beer drinkers and Craft Brewers and if they weren’t busy kicking some Rebel ass and encampment was anticipated for long enough, they would often turn a batch of homebrew to take on the trail to the next battle. “Oil of Gladness” was one of the many nicknames given to the beer these brave men were brewing out on the war path.
85 IBU
Dark Horse! 3 Floyd’s! The two breweries got together to make a tribute beer paying homage to the Infantry Brigade of the Union Army during the US Civil War known as the “The Iron Brigade”. These “Black Hats” consisting of Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin regimens were fierce warriors with iron dispositions without a doubt. More importantly, they were also beer drinkers and Craft Brewers and if they weren’t busy kicking some Rebel ass and encampment was anticipated for long enough, they would often turn a batch of homebrew to take on the trail to the next battle. “Oil of Gladness” was one of the many nicknames given to the beer these brave men were brewing out on the war path.
85 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by GRPunk:
Reviewed by GRPunk from Michigan
4.09/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 oz. bottle ($4.59 from Copper Vine) poured into a Mantra snifter
A- A conservative pour creates 1-finger of brown head. The body is near jet, showing darkest brown edges when held to light. The head settles to a light film and the stick left behind is great.
S- Very barleywine-like at first, big fresh leafy hops. Tobacco. Hints of chocolate come through on further inspection. Herbal hops and some raisin. Just a little booze as it reaches a warmer temperature (surprisingly masked for 11%).
T- Hmm. Hoooy with a big malt backbone. Dark chocolate, tobacco leaf. Some raisins and stewed stone fruit through the middle. Herbal hops again at the end.
M- Full bodied. A sweet middle gives way to a dry finish. Lightest hop bite. Smooth warmth masks the high ABV.
O- It's a nice sipper. My first experience with a different style (black barleywine). It's like a hoppy imperial stout or chocolatey barley wine. What I hear of both brew pubs, it sounds like a natural joint venture.
A-4 S-4.25 T-4 M-4.25 O-4
Jun 25, 2017A- A conservative pour creates 1-finger of brown head. The body is near jet, showing darkest brown edges when held to light. The head settles to a light film and the stick left behind is great.
S- Very barleywine-like at first, big fresh leafy hops. Tobacco. Hints of chocolate come through on further inspection. Herbal hops and some raisin. Just a little booze as it reaches a warmer temperature (surprisingly masked for 11%).
T- Hmm. Hoooy with a big malt backbone. Dark chocolate, tobacco leaf. Some raisins and stewed stone fruit through the middle. Herbal hops again at the end.
M- Full bodied. A sweet middle gives way to a dry finish. Lightest hop bite. Smooth warmth masks the high ABV.
O- It's a nice sipper. My first experience with a different style (black barleywine). It's like a hoppy imperial stout or chocolatey barley wine. What I hear of both brew pubs, it sounds like a natural joint venture.
A-4 S-4.25 T-4 M-4.25 O-4
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado
4.14/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.14/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Dark brown body, nearly black; thin, wispy head but lasting; rings of foam encircle the glass. Rich dark malt, dark pitted fruit, and some boozy notes in the aroma; cocoa; baker's chocolate. Rich and flavorful taste; dark chocolate dusted with cocoa; tempered sweetness, a bit dull (i.e., not too sweet); well-balanced bitterness with a bit of a boozy edge. Heavy body; oily and velvety; some alcohol heat yet nicely offset with the residual sugar.
I have no idea when this beer was brewed and bottled. It could be a couple of years old, it could be recently re-issued. Regardless, this is a righteous and intensely enjoyable barleywine. The black side of things (I'm guessing a lot of dark and patent malts along with a healthy dosing of dark roasted malts) are top notch. Very, very enjoyable.
Aug 09, 2019I have no idea when this beer was brewed and bottled. It could be a couple of years old, it could be recently re-issued. Regardless, this is a righteous and intensely enjoyable barleywine. The black side of things (I'm guessing a lot of dark and patent malts along with a healthy dosing of dark roasted malts) are top notch. Very, very enjoyable.
Reviewed by larryi86 from Delaware
4.13/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.13/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Thank you FlintB for this
12 oz bottle, 2017, poured into a teku
A- Dark brown, almost black, with a two finger mocha head.
S- Charred oak, citrus, molasses, piney, some stone fruits, touch of caramel.
T- Charred oak, dark fruits, molasses, caramel, some citrus, piney finish.
M- Smooth, medium to full body.
O- A tasty barley wine and easy to drink.
Jul 26, 201912 oz bottle, 2017, poured into a teku
A- Dark brown, almost black, with a two finger mocha head.
S- Charred oak, citrus, molasses, piney, some stone fruits, touch of caramel.
T- Charred oak, dark fruits, molasses, caramel, some citrus, piney finish.
M- Smooth, medium to full body.
O- A tasty barley wine and easy to drink.
Reviewed by BlackBeerPirate from Illinois
3.94/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Taste: rich, spiced, dark fruit, boozy, hopped, roasted malt, slight sweet. Same with the fermented dark fruit nose.nose. Reddish black/brown hue, semi clear, tan head, with a webbed lattice of lace. Medium/Full body. Complex. 45 IBUs
Mar 26, 2019
Reviewed by Hopheadjeffery from Illinois
4.07/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.07/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Tasted in a Rastal Teku from a 22 fl oz bottle on January 31, 2019. Bottled 10/13/17 and stored in a climate controlled cellar. Notes of dark dried fruits and caramel malt.
Feb 13, 2019
Reviewed by Jeffo from Netherlands
3.05/5 rDev -25.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.05/5 rDev -25.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Got this one from rutger this past summer. Cheers!
From a bottle into a snifter
Collaboration between FFF and Dark Horse Brewing.
APPEARANCE: Clear dark brown pour yields a three finger, medium looking, creamy, light tan head with great retention. Bistre brown body with lower levels of carbonation. Head slowly recedes to a full cap and leaves decent lacing on the glass.
SMELL: Caramel, dark fruits, grapes, raisins and dates, leather and tobacco on the nose. Plenty of dark crystal and perhaps Special B malts here. Bold enough.
TASTE: Some dark fruits, dates, grapes, leather and spicy alcohol up front. Some more booze at the swallow, moving into a bold and lingering finish of caramel sweetness, dark fruit flavors, dates, plumbs, raisins, some definite leather and tobacco flavors, as well as a good bed of spicy alcohol.
PALATE: Medium body and medium levels of carbonation. Creamy on the palate, goes down smooth for the ABV and finishes mouth-coating. Some heat lingers.
OVERALL: This reminds me of a couple attempts at homebrew I’ve made. Mostly batch 40. Like the homebrew, this one is alright. There’s character here that is worth contemplating but in the end, it’s not enjoyable enough to warrant a return visit. Thanks again for the box of loveliness, dude!
Dec 23, 2018From a bottle into a snifter
Collaboration between FFF and Dark Horse Brewing.
APPEARANCE: Clear dark brown pour yields a three finger, medium looking, creamy, light tan head with great retention. Bistre brown body with lower levels of carbonation. Head slowly recedes to a full cap and leaves decent lacing on the glass.
SMELL: Caramel, dark fruits, grapes, raisins and dates, leather and tobacco on the nose. Plenty of dark crystal and perhaps Special B malts here. Bold enough.
TASTE: Some dark fruits, dates, grapes, leather and spicy alcohol up front. Some more booze at the swallow, moving into a bold and lingering finish of caramel sweetness, dark fruit flavors, dates, plumbs, raisins, some definite leather and tobacco flavors, as well as a good bed of spicy alcohol.
PALATE: Medium body and medium levels of carbonation. Creamy on the palate, goes down smooth for the ABV and finishes mouth-coating. Some heat lingers.
OVERALL: This reminds me of a couple attempts at homebrew I’ve made. Mostly batch 40. Like the homebrew, this one is alright. There’s character here that is worth contemplating but in the end, it’s not enjoyable enough to warrant a return visit. Thanks again for the box of loveliness, dude!
Reviewed by CanConPhilly from Pennsylvania
4.17/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
L - massive, dense hazelnut head atop a dark brown body.
S - dark fruits, fruitcake, molasses, orange marmalade.
T - dark fruits, char, coffee, chocolate, smoke, and some fruit cake spices. Low bitterness. Low sweetness. Low booziness.
F - medium-full body with average carb.
O - super-tasty. Damn.
Nov 25, 2018S - dark fruits, fruitcake, molasses, orange marmalade.
T - dark fruits, char, coffee, chocolate, smoke, and some fruit cake spices. Low bitterness. Low sweetness. Low booziness.
F - medium-full body with average carb.
O - super-tasty. Damn.
Reviewed by Junior from Michigan
3.45/5 rDev -15.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
3.45/5 rDev -15.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
L - Very dark brown, almost black, cola like color and viscosity with a thin mocha head.
S - Sweet caramel malt and alcohol.
T - Sweet and roasted malt and black licorice, with a bitter boozy finish.
F - Lightly carbonated and boozy.
O - The look and aroma of this beer gave me high hopes. This carried through the initial taste. The finish was not good.
Jun 07, 2018S - Sweet caramel malt and alcohol.
T - Sweet and roasted malt and black licorice, with a bitter boozy finish.
F - Lightly carbonated and boozy.
O - The look and aroma of this beer gave me high hopes. This carried through the initial taste. The finish was not good.
Reviewed by stortore from Illinois
4.08/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.08/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
22 ounce bottle into a tulip snifter. Bottled by 3 Floyds 10/13/17, had 5/5/18.
Pours near black, mostly opaque, with a one and a half inch foamy head with good retention and thick, foamy lacing. Aromas of citrus and resiny hops, licorice, caramel, malt, tobacco, some chocolate, light figs and brown sugar. The taste is similar- malt, citrus hops, pine, caramel, chocolate, some licorice, light tobacco. A good amount of bitterness at first, that tapered as I worked through the bottle. Smooth, a solid full body, well carbonated.
It’s really more like a black IPA to me, but it’s very enjoyable under any tag. Good hops, a solid malt backbone, a good collaboration.
May 14, 2018Pours near black, mostly opaque, with a one and a half inch foamy head with good retention and thick, foamy lacing. Aromas of citrus and resiny hops, licorice, caramel, malt, tobacco, some chocolate, light figs and brown sugar. The taste is similar- malt, citrus hops, pine, caramel, chocolate, some licorice, light tobacco. A good amount of bitterness at first, that tapered as I worked through the bottle. Smooth, a solid full body, well carbonated.
It’s really more like a black IPA to me, but it’s very enjoyable under any tag. Good hops, a solid malt backbone, a good collaboration.
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!