AleSmith Barrel Aged Wee Heavy

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

Cloudy brown, no head. Whisky, butterscotch aroma - not particularly diactyl, but noticeable - and hints of cherry and apple. Very syrupy palate. Some alcohol heat, and whiskey, vanilla, then smokey malts, then note of caramel. Nice notes of port or cognac, as well. Sampled at Noogfest2

KP’s fest. Huge thanks to Degarth for sharing this beauty. Im sorry again for that ping pong paddle to the shoulder. This beer was damn good and something I really hadnt ever expected to try. Not sure what bottle # this was. Aroma is actually filled with moslty bourbon which became the them for the beer as it dominated most of the other flavors and aromas. Lots of wood, thick caramel, vanilla oakiness, and fruity esters. Very smooth and sweet flavor with lots of thick dark caramel malts, light herbal hops, and obvioulsy lots of bourbon flavor for a sharp, yet pleasant finish which included a bit of a tannin like astringency. Very complex and a phenomenal beer, but the bourbon was a bit too much overall. Thanks again Joe!!

Aroma is dominated by bourbon, but I can detect ample caramel malt, dark fruits, toasted toffee and mild notes of licorice. Body is dark brown, not muddy, and holds a diminishing, frothy tan head. Holds flavors of raisin, stewed prunes, licorice, oak, caramel, vanilla, bourbon and a massive and sustained malt backbone that can more than stand up to the many different flavor components. It’s a joy to drink and feels very nice on the mouth. It only has the faintest suggestion of peat smoked malt.

Bottle, 2004-edition. Clear red brown coloured with a small off white head. Aroma of dried fruits, wood and caramel. Sweet flavour of dried fruits, wood and caraamel with light dusty notes.

sampled at "An Evening with Pantanap #1": thanks to ughsmash for trading this a long time ago. 2004 vintage, 750ml bottle. pours murky ruby with small off white head around the rim. nose has lots of port-wine, oak, vanilla, and cherries. flavor has tobacco, oak, vanilla, port-wine, some alcohol, caramel, some smoke, and tar. really wonderful blend of barrel infused flavors. only a tad thin. pretty fantastic stuff.

(Bottle 75 cl) Pours a clear orangey brown with a very limited head. Aroma of raisins and bourbon - a very distinctive and pleasant aroma that is. Good, full body, slightly tart with massive alcohol. Notes of dried fruit - raisins in particular - raisins soaked in rum, or rather Bourbon as the oak and vanilla really shines through. Lots of roasted malt. Subdued bitterness. A lovely brew. 020606

Bottle (750ml). Shared with blankboy, garthicus, GregClow and jerc - thanks again to Irishboy for the . Deep mahogany pour, smallish frothy beige head. Woody, oak/vanilla aroma, mild sweet roast, floral and herbal-sweet. Taste - same - roasty sweet, vanilla/oak woodiness, borderline carbonized - quite different from the regular Wee Heavy. Average slick body, astringent, alcoholic and somewhat burnt - excellent stuff.

’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.