AleSmith Barrel Aged Wee Heavy

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

Bottled 2004, number 28/234. This dark brown ale poured with a nice tan head that dissipated quickly, eliciting a very malty aroma. There is a distinct alcohol note to the already smoky flavor that leaves a bourbon taste on the tongue. I light up a Trinidad Fundadore and view my spring garden in a California back yard, with magpies and jays seeking worms. I listen to Yusef Lateef screaming his life into "Like It Is." This is a definition of the essence of life! Possible the best beer I have had.

2005 vintage bottle #98/222 from Alesmith brewery. Dark mahogany brown with garnet highlights around the edge and absolutely no head. Big caramel, chocolate, and whiskey aroma. Thick velvet mouthfeel. Initial taste of smooth yet oddly crisp wood, transitioning to a chocolate and caramel taste, which is immediately replaced by the bourbon and vanilla tastes and finishes with a tobacco and spice taste intermingled with a nice alcoholic sweetness. Excellent.

2005, I can see this getting better in 3-5 years, thats how good this brew is. Had never had a regular Wee Heavy from Alesmith for some reason. Intense brew, dark rich and had a finish like no other. Alc and acidity keep this very focused but still it’s big. Barrel aged nose of burbon is tied into chocolate and dark coffee type aroma. Haunting. Powerful mid palate. Thanks to Tom at O’Brien’s SD and his Alesmith tasting for this. Maybe the best beer I’ve ever had.

The Wee Heavy might have been my favorite Alesmith beer, and so I knew this would just rock f*%k’n hardcore. Pours dark mahogany with a tall tan head. Sweet and buttery flavors from the bourbon, that makes you scream "SEXUAL CHOCOLATE!". Rich caramel flavors with a vanilla and faintly smoked finish. No excess alcohol at all, so smooth its unreal.

Bottle #17... DLD06.... This beer rocks!... Lightly hazy, caramel-colored ale with a small, fizzy, off-white head. The aroma is a wonderful blend of chocolate, coconut, oak, vanilla and sourmash. This bottle’s still a little hot. Lots of bourbon, caramel, dark fruit and chocolate in the flavor. Full-bodied and silky with lively carbonation. Finishes bourbony, malty and bone-dry. Given a choice, I would have layed this one down for a while, but I had to share it with my "drinking buddies" at the Hampton tasting. Another world class beer from Peter! Thanks goes out to sprinkle for the trade.

Rating #1200

Courtesy of toncatcher who opened this gem at the fordest tasting sharing it with fordest, padrefan98, wetherel and of course toncatcher. I’ve been waiting a very long time to try this special elixir. Pours a clear amber with weak tan head. The aroma has nice woody barrel age qualities that smack you with a booze coated wooden plank. I also get soft caramel candy and faint peaty earthiness. YUM!! The taste starts with an explosion of flavors that seem to hit all at once with wood, booze, wood, creamy caramel candy, and then more caramel, peat and even more caramel goodness. Wow. Everything seems pretty well balanced allowing for a nice woody, slightly sweet yet drying booze sensation as well as great notes of creamy caramel, peat and earthiness from the base beer. Sure glad toncatcher opened this one for us.

An important side note: very few chairs were broken during the fordest tasting.

Bottle # 139. This dark pungent brew has very little relation to the style category IMO, it’s a creation that is worlds beyond. The barrel aging has imparted a complexity that is perfectly balanced among the base flavors. Truly one of the best - if not the best - beers I have ever encountered.

I already forget what batch I had, but I am pretty sure it was the 2005 release. I had been sitting on this brew for a while waiting for the right time to taste such goodness, and the time was a friends birthday. Poured a deep brown hue with a light tan head. Aromas of oak, scotch, peat, and caramel. The carbonation mellowed out quite a bit and helped accentuate the beers flavor and the age helped subdue the oak overtone. The flavors were amazing...... vanilla, chocolate notes, some smokiness....mmmmmmmmmm...... amazing.... Damn I love alesmith!