AleSmith Barrel Aged Old Numbskull

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

[1160-20080301] Bottle. Steaky roast beef aroma with a bit of oxo cube and definitive barrel aging qualities. Cloudy/murky dark brown body with quick bubbles, no head. Strange minty notes in the flavour follows up with barrel woodsy grains and toasted meat spices. Smooth medium-full body. Wonderful!
(ZBF 2008; Sint Niklaas, BE; Vintage 2005 shared by a lovely Brit bunch)

Wow what can I say, my rating on this blows away my rating from the original numbskull. 2006 Bottle 178/208 sampled with Mad_indian. Pours a murky brownish with a thin light beige-offwhite head. Aroma of bourbon, oak, caramel & vanilla. The flavor is exceptionally smooth, sweet caramel, bourbon, oak, toasted grains, and tofee. The body is great, the brew is heaven sent.

Damn, Bought from ebay and sampled with Stegosaurus. Damn this was awesome, Caramel and oak aroma but this may be the smoothest barley wine I ever had. Excellent, nut and vanilla wood flavor. Perfect blend. Bottle #178 of 208

Whoops. Accidentally had this filed under non-barrel-aged. Anyway, big thanks to Brad for sharing. 2005 bottle, 193 of 223. It’s so cool that they write that on there. Aroma is caramel-sweet, but not all that strong. Flavor is quite sweet, fruity, chocolatey... Reasonable bitterness. Definite tootsie-roll in nose and taste. Vanilla. Rum. Great stuff. Want more.

From my backlog. 2002 vintage, #68/225. Many thanks to Jason for this treat. However, this is the second bottle that I’ve had of this as I was also lucky enough to have the more recent vintage. Why did I trade away my other bottle of this!?!? Sweet lord this was outstanding! Wonderful nutmeg looking head with a deep ruby and black licorice looking colour. Right away the bourbon and oak jump out of the glass. Not too intense, but a very mellow almost intoxicating draw. Aged beautifully with mellow notes of toffee, candied fruit, and now mellowed hops. Midway through the flavour experience, a new lay of complexity comes around with a nice vinous character. Wonderfully creamy/velvety mouthfeel and texture with a pleasant warming nature on the finish. Mellow, complex, outstanding example of barrel-aging with a long and engaging mouthfeel. HOW do I get more of this!

750, capped and foiled. ’04. #31/245.
Thanks, Old_Mr_Crow! What an insane treat.
Creamy-looking medium amber and caramel. Dense but thin gray swirls. Huge caramel and toffee nose. Creamy, medium body. Dense, earthy, leafy, oaky, nutty, toasty mid-palate. Soooo complex and rewarding. Nice big sharp resiny hop bite at the end. Wonderful stuff.

Bottle #61 of 223 shared with the Fight Night Drinking Crew supplied by firemoose, thanks Mel. Pours the color and consistancy of pond water, murky brown, no head, no visible carbonation. Aroma of caramel, toffee, wood and a slight touch of wax. Medium bodied with zero carbonation remaining. Dry flavor with notes of grain, rye, caramel, toffee and slight alcohol. Although this beer is nice I think it is overrated along with lots of other Alesmith brews.

Bottle from brewery. 2006 vintage, bottle 184. Deep amber in color. Low carbonation. Big earthy bourbon aroma. A little fruity hoppiness trying to break through. Flavor is strong on bourbon and oak. Some vanilla notes, along with some subdued hoppiness. Finish is dry and oaky with some hop bitterness. Nice sipper.