AleSmith Barrel Aged Decadence 2005

Formerly brewed at AleSmith Brewing Company
Style: Old Ale
San Diego, California USA

Bottle 35/124, thanks Chris for opening this... now please don’t bring the hate. I like bourbon and booze more than the average person but I am calling it like I see it, sorry anyone may get pissed:

Muddled brown appearance with a small fading head and spotty lace. The nose is very boozy with heavy bourbon character and oak. Also got some vapours of pepper, caramel, fig and doughy yeast. The taste has sweet heavy malt and varnish/chemical like phenols. Full blown bourbon overtones crushes most of the base Decadence flavors minus some fruity and spicy tones. The mouth feel is aggressive and very warming. This completely lacks any finesse and I am not to sure aging will help, a too long in the barrel mess IMO. Makes me sad...

Bottle #82/124 courtesy of my man, Naven. Drank after Santa came to town on Christmas Eve. Bourbon, dark fruit, oak, and malty sweetness on the tongue. Long-lasting caramel, bourbon, and alcohol finish. Bourbon predominates here. Another great AleSmith brew, but not an excellent brew. If I had to do it all over again, I would’ve aged this one 12-18 more months.

750ml bottle. Bottle # 69/280. Poured a deep and cloudy brown color with an averaged sized off white head. Aromas of oaky woodiness, vanilla, dark fruits, and some caramel. Tastes of dark fruits, vanilla, bourbon (but not over powering), wood, chocolate, and oak. Medium alcohol burn in the finish.

sampled at YEHA. Hazy amber in color. Aroma of oak, dark fruit, molasses, vanilla. Taste is nutty malt, chocolate, oak, vanilla, bourbon. Alcohol a bit noticeable. Very enjoyable.

Poured a hazy, red brown color with a medium sized, light tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of vanilla, oak, caramel malts, dark fruits, raisins, and light, floral hops. Taste of chocolate, caramel malts, dried fruits, vanilla, light bourbon, dry, tannic wood, and a bit of alcohol in the finish.

Bottle, courtesy after4ever. Pours hazy brown with an off-white ring of foam. Medium body and carbonation. Oaky caramel aroma and taste. Soem raisins and maybe bourbon in the taste? Dry pine finish.

750 mL bottle (tasting hosted by after4ever) - poured hazy brown with very slight white & creamy head; thick aromas you can just about taste of wood, brown sugar, bourbon and caramel; rich textures and no harshness at all going down as it comes to a creamy finish after the malty flavors; probably the beer that busted the taste buds that night

Bottle, courtesy of kmweaver. Somewhat of a cloudy dark brown with a manilla head. Outstanding, *well-crafted* bourbon aroma, subtle notes of vanilla and oak, just beautiful. Flavor has notes of dark toffee, pipe tobacco, molasses, smoke, bourbon, wood, some non-detracting alcohol, earthy Brit hops, chocolate and nuttiness. Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Just excellent overall.