 CharlesDarwin (1379), State College, Pennsylvania, USA
Jan 20, 2006 Updated: Nov 26, 2006
This beer doesn’t feel like a 4.0 to me. Amazing pour of cloudy murky deep red Pontiac sunset. Fire and flowing orange. Head of soapy ivory. Standard lucious barleywine aroma, I love so much. Reminiscent of my early days of b-wines. Wow. Pine trees, hibiscus, mango candy, oranges dipped in chocolate all mingle in the flavor. But, eventually this is all swamped with hot hops, that are just a little too over the top for me. I bet this is good with lots of age. Needs to let the hops settle and gather a touch of oxidation (how often do you say that?). Surprsingly chocolate, with cherries dipped in choco liquer, laced with cinnamon on toast. Hops burst onto the scene, then fade into a supporting role, with a stable of lemongrass to round. A little acerbic for me. But, I’m a stickler on b-wines. Middle is fruit and rich with creamy apricots and figs. Finish is a long toasted hazlenut and roasted prok. Light artisanal butter run. Three-tiered and respected for that, but the hops are just too out of control and unbalanced for me, like a wild young labrador retriever amongst the rushes. Slightly jarring.
dalekliz (163), San Diego, California, USA
Aug 29, 2008 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.
maniac (1963), Richmond, Virginia, USA
Aug 29, 2008 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.
ElGaucho56 (376), USA
Aug 24, 2008 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.
ucusty (1016), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
Aug 21, 2008 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!
JMFG (1117), Florida, USA
Aug 17, 2008 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.
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