AleSmith Barrel Aged Old Numbskull

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

2007 Bottle #365 Thanks to Lagunitasfan for this Christmas present! Drank it in my suite in Vegas and what an amazing beer. Poured dark brown with plenty of egg shell colored head. Taste was mainly alcohol and dark fruit. I really enjoyed this masterpiece from Alesmith. Quite a lovely BW very highly recommended to any who can get there hands on some.

Bottle at Holiday Alesmith tasting. Most recent release. Nose is oak and vanilla, mixed with alcohol. Smooth mellow flavor, but strong booziness. Really good beer.

750ml bottle graciously shared by wolf! Bottle number 287/449. Nice aroma of chocolate, vanilla and raisons. Red/brownish in color good head. Taste was a sweet sugary, plums/dates and some other dark fruits. Malty and a hint of bourbon. Nothing really overdone though. Texture was perfect as are most Alesmith beers. Very creamy and smooth. All and all another winner by Alesmith the best brewery in the US..... Thanks wolf for sharing such an exclusive brew.

Big ups to Hophead22 for sending this gem my way. Bottle 287 of 449. Poured a nice ruby red/ brown color with small off white head. Aroma is dark fruit, chocolate, vanilla, and bourbon. Taste is sweet, vanilla, dark fruit, and bourbon. Finished very smooth and creamy with a nice alcohol warming finish. Flavors were blended together very well and very drinkable. Only wish i had more to drink!

Much thanks to hopdog for bringnig this rare treat back from his trip to CA. Bottle 152 of 449 from the 2008 release. Pours a lightly hazy chestnut amber with a medium bubbly off white head that laced. Aroma was a ton of vanilla, oak, chestnuts, dark fruits, bourbon and walnuts. Flavor of the same great mix...just so nutty, toasted malt, caramel, vanilla and ok. Really happy I had a chance to try this.

750 ml bottle from the 12 December 2008 release. Pours a dark brown color with a small khaki head. The aroma is strong and complex with whiskey flavors dominating and barley, caramel and darks fruits supporting. The flavor pretty much follows the aroma, the Whiskey dominates with dark fruits filling in the sides. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. The finish is long with lingering vanilla and bourbon. Overall: One of the best barrel aged barley wines on the planet.

750mL. 2007. Murky dark brown with a small off white head. Dark alefruit aroma, figgy and nutty, some alcohol.. Deep earthen fruitiness, apple and prune. Vanilla and walnut tones. Bourbony finish with some alcohol heat and cogener presence. Mouthfeel is heavy, somewhat still.

2007 Bottle just purchased yesterday. Pours a pretty dark, reddish brown. Quickly diminishing tan head. Aroma of alcohol, bourbon, wood, caramel, dark fruit, earth with only a faint hint of vanilla. Flavor had a nice amount of sweetness, with a good blend of flavors. A tad on the alcoholic side still, but with some age that will not be a problem. Alot of caramel and dark fruit. A really nice palate. In fact, I do not have much criticism of this beer. However, I would argue that it is only really good for the style and not as elite as its rating suggests (for me at least).