AleSmith Old Numbskull

On tap at the brewery for RBSG 08. Pours a clear, amber-brown with a small, off-white head. Bitter hops aroma, with some malt and figs notes. Very bitter taste, of hops and a hint of sweeter malt. Lingering clean bitterness. Really tasty and drinkable barley wine.

On tap at Alesmtih during the RBSG Pub Crawl Tour on 08/01/2008. Clear golden body with a small creamy light tan head. Big hop and caramel aroma. Sweet caramel and big hop flavor, some citrus and light floral hints. Medium full body with moderate carbonation.

Silver foil, blue lettering, sliver color in the anvil, 750 ml bottle. Pours a ruddy brown with minimal head, pours a little stronger and thicker on the second pour. Nose is musty roasted rich malts with an underpinning of slightly minty leaf hops; very rich and full on the palate, starts with ruby malts then moves towards a lovely cocoa character before finishing with a warming oaky scotch character and a hint of leafy hops. Wow is about all I can say.

Bottle from 2006. Thanks to Paul and Josh for these bottles! Copper cloudy pour with a thick tan head. Rich malty aroma combined with a huge fruity presence. Hops, honey, caramel malts, and a little heat on the finish... Well balanced and it really mellowed out with some age. Another fine beer from Alesmith! N’yuk- n’yuk-n’yuk!

Sampled @ Alesmith, RBSG. Kind of absurd that I had BA Numbskull (twice) already and didn’t try regular Numbskull until @ Alesmith, but whatever. Clear dark amber color, moderately thick tan head. Alcohol, hops, and spicy malts in well balanced proportions on the nose. Robust hops, spicy malts on the taste, lingering hop and heat finish. Another barleywine right up my alley.