AleSmith Barrel Aged Old Numbskull

Brewed by AleSmith Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
San Diego, California USA

2006 bottle 143/208 thanks iowaherkeye. opened without any hiss and poured a chestnut brown with a little ring of bubbles on the glass and a still appearance. aroma is quite sweet, custard, vanilla, and light bourbon. the smell is rich and desert like and the vanilla is intense. flavor is just as the aroma leads on with rich custard vanilla, light barrel wood, mild bourbon and toffee. I enjoyed this with friends in a snowstorm in vermont with over four feet of snow outside and a fire roaring so the whole experience was somewhat surreal.

2007 #109 Dark nutty brown with a small bubbly beige head leaving minimal lazing behind. Aroma is deep fruity with sweet honey and caramell, light bourbon, vanilla, caramelized sugar, light raisins and toffe. Flavor is extremely fruity, caramelly and vinous with impressive waves of bourbon, brown sugars, yeasty fruit esters and a dry lovely balanced ending lingering on and warming you forever. Its probably the age but the bourbon was really well integrated and only provided a nice extra dimension. Smooth slightly sticky and medium to full bodied with subtile carbonation as with most AleSmith beers.

Thanks to Marc for sharing this! Hazy caramel color. Nice vanilla, molasses, very light toasted malt, bourbon, some tropical fruits. Thick and syrupy body. so smooth finish but also has a nice alcohol burn. Perfect for a cold, rainy night. 2002 version, bottle 202/225.

202/225 2002 ver. Cloudy amber dark brown color, bourbon, vanilla, red vinegar, dried mangoes in the nose. Bourbon is still fairly strong, body is a bit a mellow with caramel, milk chocolate, butterscotch, balsamic vinegar in mouth. Fairly warming, the booziness is fairly high, even eight years later. Very good winter warmer. Probably a year or two past prime, but damn, still an amazing beer and get barrel aged beer.

(on bottle) Malty and barrelaged son of a gun. soft mouthfeel. and with an alcoholic taste - marzipan and wood. Very warming, almost burning to the finish. Bourbon and vanilla for a long time. This beer seriously needs company b some food; roast, baked beans or smoked fish.

Bottle 318/448. Deep brown-amber pour with a thick off-white head. The nose is really intense. Rich sweet malts with a bit of light sweet oaky vanilla, some light caramel and cocoa as well. There is a very intense oaky character but there is also a lot of herbal character and a touch of light chewiness as well. The hops have faded in aroma but still lend a kiss of resinousness that accentuates the oak tannins. On the front of the palate it is sweet but restrained. The middle shows more of the malt contribution of the base beer. A bit of sweet candy and a bit of ginger and clove spiciness over a rich caramelly maltiness. There is a little bit of cocoa on the back as well as a bit of vineous flavour. Soft spicy/woody flavour. Complex but balanced with great integration of all of the components. This is what barrel-aged beer should taste like. Really incredible stuff.

Bottle shared at our christmas tasting. This bottle was from 2006 and marked as number 13/208. The same experience as in Wee Heavy. The aging in bourbon barrels is taking over too much. It looses its balance and complexity - I know some people really dig it - but i think its a shame. It appears moisty brown and redish without any head what so ever. The taste is soo dominated of the vanilla and to that, there is some caramel amd malt flavours along with notes of alcohol. A pleasure to taste this for sure but to narrow minded due to the bourbon barrels I think. Thx for sharing M

Got a sample of this at Kuhnhenn Winter Solstice. Caramel brown, apple cider color with thin off-white ring around snifter. Aroma of bourbon, oak, dark fruit, sweet malt. Taste is medium sweetness, lightly bitter. A bit boozy, with soft carbonation and medium mouthfeel. Pretty good.