AleSmith Old Numbskull

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

Serve in Snifter

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This bomber came into my possession during a recent stop at Hi Time Wine in Costa Mesa, while I was traveling to California. The presentation was handsome, with the green Champagne style bomber being adorned by silver neck foil, and white and blue lettering.

As I poured out the contents into a tulip, a classic looking barleywine emerged. The color was garnet amber, with a clear body, and a sparse head. Carbonation was rather low, and the head died down to long legged lacing. Aromatically, the west coast hops were not as prominent as some of the other examples of the style. The smell was balanced, or some would even say driven, by the malt, with a musty sweet odor evoking more English examples. Deeper breaths however clearly indicated the presence of piney American hops.

Taste was deliciously sippable, with the initial impression being made by sweet and caramel malt until the citric hop oils literally took over. Finish was peppery and pungent. The beer felt sticky and a little coarse on the palette (which was undoubtedly due to a young age). I can see this one aging quite nicely, but alas I only bought this single bomber. Drinkability was good despite the intensity, since I like the characteristics it possessed. Not the epitome of the style, but a very good example.

(Bottle, 0.75 l, at Gallows Bird, 20120523) The beer poured mahogany coloured and clear. Its head was small and white. Aroma had malts, hops and sweetness. Palate was full bodied and warming with medium carbonation. Flavours were malts, fruitiness, tangerine, hops, mild sweetness and medium bitterness. Aftertaste was malty, hoppy and bitter. Low sweetness was really nice as were the fruity hops. Bit harsh.

75 cl bottle thanks to Rasmusott. The last beer at the tasting on 5/5/12, and I’m transcribing directly, and take notice of the regularity of the word "stuff". Hazy amber red pour, nice consistent off white head. Aroma has buckets of American hops, citrusy and piney - but aged! Nice caramel and raisins, lovely malt profile, sherry, tiramisu, a hint of ripe pineapple. The taste is just what an American barley wine should be - love malt profile - caramel, raisins, lovely malty stuff and a good deal of hoppiness - citrusy and piney (centennial and stuff) - lovely stuff!

Shared 750 ml bottle @ Cosmic Comic Cafe. Pours a a deep, dark, reddish amber with a medium, yellowish-brown head that leaves quite a nice lacing. Aroma is quite sweet with caramel, resin, molasses, some pith and pine, a hint of ethanol and dried fruit as well. Taste begins stingy pith and caramel with caramel and resin taking more space in the middle, grapefruit on the finish with some dried, dark fruits as well. Quite sweet though not too much. Palate is full, quite oily, a bit sticky.

Pours clear deep red with a beige head. Aroma is nice fruity hops, peach, plums, pine, darker malts, caramel, thick orange, weak resin and overall pretty american barley winish. Taste is ripe fruits, hops, pine, reish dryish bitterness, syrup, caramel, peach, thick orange and an overall fresh feeling to it! Drinkability is top notch!

Bottle from secret santa, pours a deep ruby/brown with a large khaki head. Aroma is doughy, figs, caramel, honey. Taste similar to aroma but sharp, with toffee and bitter hops on the finish. Very nice!

Pours cloudy golden brown color with an off-white head. Caramel and hoppy aroma. Flavor is smooth and dense hoppy and medium sweet caramel malty flavour. Fruity hops and mild spiced finish. Good stuff!

Reddish brown appearance with a big, tan head. Very nice, floral hoppy, toasty toffee, fairly sweet caramel malty aroma. Somewhat floral hoppy bitter, sweet, toffee, dark sweet flavor. Balanced and very nice.

Pours a reddish brown color with a tan head. Aroma apples, grapefruit and caramel malts. Taste is sweet with dark fruits and caramel/toffee. Very low carbonation and smooth. Medium to full mouthfeel.

Poured from the bottle. Poured light, with a nice white head, and thick lacing. Aroma is dark fruit, some ethanol. Flavor also has the dark fruity flavors, some heat with the alcohol. The beer is thick and oily.. Doesn’t finish as dry as I would expect, leaves some sweetness. But it is good. I do notice some bitterness from the hops. I am thinking citrusy hops.

Bottle @ home. Aroma is very rich malt, big hops and caramel. Flavour is sweet and malty, caramel, hops, spice. Awesome. Lazy rate great beer.