AleSmith Barrel Aged Wee Heavy

Brewed by AleSmith Brewing Company
Style: Scotch Ale
San Diego, California USA

750ml bottle @Noogfest4.0-pours a few white bubbles for a head and dark brown color with orange tint. Aroma is somewhat sweet medium single malt, wood, dark fruit. Taste is smoother and sweet that aroma, sweet medium single malt, wood, dark fruit, vanilla. Minimum carbonation.

Bottle at Noogfest Four-O. Pours cloudy orange-brown with not much head. The aroma is rich caramel, some toffee, and a hint of butterscotch. The flavor is toffee, brown sugar, faint bourbon, and a hint of port. Good.

Noogfest Four-O

Bottle. Caramelish copper pour, thin head and nice lacing. Booziness is evident right off the bat in the nose, with some smoky malts, distant but effective. In the flavor the peat notes are fairly obscured by booze, some caramel and slight fruity esters. Sticky on the tongue, balanced well and finishes easily. Enjoyed the regular Wee Heavy more, and this one doesn’t seem to be sticking to the style very much. That doesn’t effect my score, but just sayin’.

2005 Vintage - Bottle #112 (of 222). Appearance: Pours a dark reddish-brown body with a small, tight, off-white head. Smell: Ah, the expressive aroma of oh-so delicious bourbon with its notes of vanilla, oak, and brown sugar. Plus, there’s also nuts, fruit (even raspberry), spice, and a truck load of malt. Taste: Rich, creamy, candylike maltiness with literally tons of toothsome sweetness. Slight praline taste. As much punchy bourbon flavor possible without becoming unpleasant and excessive. Quite fruity, with flavors of the typical dark fruits plus, maybe, those raspberries from the aroma. Smokey peat component. Dash of spice. Warming, drying, vanilla finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium carbonation. Smooth, creamy mouthfeel. Drinkability: Very tasty bourbony boost to what was already an excellent beer. Happiness really is a choice.

’05 118/222. Pours a hazy amber brown color with no head. Aroma is bourbon, vanilla, oak, caramel, some peat. and some sugary sweetness. Flavor is malty, bourbon, vanilla, oak, caramel, brown sugar, some peat, and a nice sweet bourbon alcohol finish.

2006 Bottle #113/254 sampled with Mad_indian. Pours Dark brown with a orange hue, and a thin beige head. Aroma of vanilla, bourbon, oak, smoke, and dark fruit. The flavor is smooth, bourbon, oak sweet vanilla, smoke, and dark fruit. Alcohol is well masked, good body, excellent brew.

2005 Barrel Aged, bottle 27/222 I believe; the silver pen markings have worn a bit on the rear of the bottle. I’ve been saving this beauty for a long time. Opened with Katie while homebrewing on May 11. This really blew me away. I knew it was going to be good, but it exceeded my expectations. Pours still and silky with thick legs on the snifter walls. Dark burgundy center with lighter edges. Looks like a viscous brandy. Nose is truly incredible; loaded with oak barrel and softened bourbon tones above vanilla extract, chocolate, coconut, toffee, caramel and a slight hint of smoke. Extremely quaffable, by far my favorite component of its character. Divine balance in the flavor, with ultra-subtle transitions between the rich oak, molasses and vanilla tones, and the warming bourbon, sugary caramel finish. A pleasant nuance of oxidation sting comes into play at the very end. Smooth body, I wanted to drink this for hours. With a bit of carbonation and a bit less heat from the bourbon, this is nearly perfect for my taste. My favorite of the Alesmith BA lineup. Holy hell!

Bottle from ebay trade 2006 #113 of 254. Sampled with the Beer god Stegosaurus. Ahh Alesmith how we love you. Hazy brown pour with orange hue, Thin beige head. Aroma of alcohol, oak, dark fruit, smoke and black patent malt. Taste was unbelievable , really smooth the alcohol was blended perfect a little thin in the mouth but fantastic as the oak, vanilla and dark fruit flavors grips your soul and makes you beg for more. A+ mork.