AleSmith Barrel Aged Old Numbskull

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

Bottle provided by WillBlake @ Dickinsonbeer’s Pre-TAP gathering, thanks. 2004 bottle, 220/240. Deep copper color. Heavy, heavy malt aroma. Flavor is a lot more subdued. Still malty with just a bit of oak coming through. Just a bit of bitterness at the end. I don’t see what all the hubub is about. Its a malt heavy, aggressive, west coast barleywine. The flavors have been subdued a bit by the barrel aging. Fine brew but not the craziness it seems to attract.

Re-rate: Blind at Cornboy’s 2nd Annual BW tasting, not sure of vintage. Aroma is aged, strong, and full of alcohol. Taste has a nice alcohol touch to it with strong thick biscuit flavor. 7/3/8/3/15.

Re-rate: I can’t believe I am trying this again, keeps coming back to me. This may be the best experience though. 2004 bottle, 5 years old now, shared by Indra, thanks Eric. Bottle number 159/240. Completely murky dark ruby brown pour. Small but strong and sticky head. Aroma is very oaky but bot bad, no barrel sugar. This blends well with the raisin-sugar-alcoholic characteristic. Usually I dislike this bit Alesmith makes it work. The flavor is sweet raisin with alcohol mixed together. The oak has died down a bit and some caramel sweetness at the end. No heat or burn at the end. 8/4/8/4/16

Bottle shared with the ATL crew at 5 Seasons- courtesy of Goldtwins! Bottle 161/240. Pours a relatively clear medium amber with a thin white film of a head and nice lasting lace. Aroma is caramel sweet, but not overpowering, hoppy and of course some bourbon and oak aromas, but those were very well balanced as well. Flavor is lightly smoky, sweet, candied fruits, bourbon, wood and slightly earthy. Nice balanced bitterness in the end. Very smooth overall. I think this and BA old salty would be good to try next to eachother to see which is better. Thanks again Larry.

Bottle shared with HogTownHarry, GregClow & tupalev -- my bottle courtesy of DarkElf. Vintage 2004. Bottle 35 out of 240. Pours a hazy ruby-orange with a nice size rocky off-white head. Wonderful aroma of bourbon, caramel malt, wood, vanilla, alcohol and hops. As great as the aroma is, the flavour’s even better! Just the right amount of bourbon along with caramel malt, oak, vanilla, dried fruit, piney hops, alcohol and so much more -- it’s quite complex, very well balanced and damn flavourful. Nice full body, creamy mouthfeel. I’m not always big on bourbon beers but this onereally works and is definitely the best of it’s kind I’ve had yet, it’s simply excellent.
Thanks again DarkElf!

Bottle (750ml 2004 vintage, bottle #35 of 240). Shared with blankboy, GregClow and Hogtown Harry - blankboy’s bottle, graciously shared (THANKYOU!), via trade with DARK ELF (thanks man!!!). Wonderful fiery dark red/woody brown. Nice sized foamy orange tinted head - looks deep and complex. Lots of bourbon in aroma, but also lots of vanilla oak too - strong alcohol balances things out. Sweet, smoky, and butterscotch round out the aroma. Taste: upfront, sure is lots of bourbon. But for once, to me anyway, it does not dominate and overwhelm. Dare I say it is balanced with the original base beer here, which has enough malt heft to hold its own. The bourbon complements the significant alcohol already here. Some hops peep through, along with some sweet vanilla notes. Best barrel aged yet. Probably enhances the original very good Old Numskull. Thanks again Paul and Dark Elf for giving me the opportunity to try this.

Bottle (750ml 2004 vintage, bottle #35 of 240). Shared with blankboy, GregClow and tupalev - blankboy’s bottle, graciously shared (THANKYOU!), via trade with the great trader DARK ELF. Poured hazy mahogany with a decent off-white rocky head. Smooth, elegant nose - old oak, light sweet bourbon, musty, yeasty malt and alcohol, some cream ... woody. God this is nice - just the right taste balance between oak, bourbon, alcohol, resiny hops and malt - woody, resiny, smooth and balanced - terrific. Creamy, thick, astringent, complex mouthfeel, solid body. Don’t know about the rest of you, I friggin’ loved this! Big thanks again, Paul!

A rare treat provided by Noah, htsprint1, for Rob’s incredible barleywine tasting. I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time. Lots of oak on the nose with vanilla and pine. On the palate, still quite a bit hoppy with cherry and vanilla bean coming through. Somewhat Sam Adams Millenium like as well, similar to my notes for Ambroise Vintage Ale 2001. Not overhwelming, definately not worthy of #16 overall, but solid nonetheless. Thanks, Noah and Rob, for experience.

Bottle. 2002. MN Ratebeer Winter Get-Together. Rich, bourbon, caramel aroma...very nice. Murky brown body with an off-white head. Wow! Perfect flavor! Caramelly, high alcohol, soft. Not very carbonated. Almost a 9. Very good beer. Perhaps a little overrated.

Bottle number 84 from the 2002 release, big thanks to cquiroga for the bottle. In the aroma I find oak, caramel, complex nuttiness, vanilla, butter, hints of chocolate and a touch of muted pine hops and some alcohol. I could smell this all day,...it is intense. Color is deep ruby-orange with a thin, off-white head. Flavor is sweet, brilliant caramel with a nice chocolate maltiness that blends into a bit of pine flavor and then finishes with nutty, buttery vanilla. The nutty, oak-like flavor is very nice leaving a dry, woody feeling that is slightly astringent in your mouth which balances the sweetness very well. Nice and creamy mouthfeel, sweet but not cloying and very soft carbonation.