AleSmith Barrel Aged Old Numbskull

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

2004 bottle 66/227 - Here’s a special beer for rating #400. I was traveling and couldn’t save this bottle as it was likely to be overheated in the car sometime. So what else could I do? I downed it myself the night after the release party. Barrel Aged Numbskull pours murky brown with no head. It has a strong malt aroma with a hint of bourbon. The flavor is sweet and intense. It’s mellowed nicely in the barrel and is smooth instead of overly hot as many barley wines can be. There’s very little carbonation on the palate and not much hops coming through. The sweetness masks the 10% ABV and the warmth in the throat at the end is the only cue to its strength. This is really good, if perhaps a little TOO sweet.

2004 Bottle released September 1, 2006, bottle #84. The brew pours a cloudy amber with a barely there head, with an amazing alcoholic sweet and caramel aroma. The taste is very full bodied and malty with an exceptional sweetness that isn’t too sweet, it’s just right. The carbonation is low but isn’t nonexistent; I’d say this beer is certainly ready to drink; the slight carbonation is nice when compared to other barrel aged beers I’ve had that have gone completely flat. I’m always happy with Alesmith they know how to please.

a bottle received a while ago from crosling - numbered 208/225, from the 2002 bottling. lightly carbonated and a nicy ruby color with a head slightly darker than beige. sublimely balanced aroma of malt, woody oak, a tiny bit of alcohol, as well as the common barley wine elements of earthy hops and big rusty flavors. the hops were quite subdued after 4 years but still apparent in overall bitterness and in the finish - the body exhibits characteristics of vanilla bourbon, caramel malt, green northwestern hops, slightly alcoholic astringency but not more than enough to let you know that it’s there. dark reddish fruits - plum, prune, red grapes, raisins. phenomenal beer, with my only criticism that i wish it were thicker because it feels a little too attenuated and light.

Rating #1500 - I’ve been holding onto this one for a special occasion and after a rough week at work I think #1500 was a good occasion. - Thanks to zathrus13 for sending me this 750ml bottle #69/240 2004 vintage in a trade! - You rock Jeff! - Pours a nice dark mahogony with ruby highlights and a nice creamy tan head that faded quickly to a ring but laced the snifter well from then on. Aromas of oak, vanilla, some faint citrus orange that has been pulled from the original with age. There is also a little faint caramel in the aroma as well. Flavor is just plain beautiful. Caramel, and toffee notes begin and are accented by some faint orange citrus flavors, nice oak, smooth vanilla, some raisins. So complex it is tough to describe all of the flavor.. This is the smoothest barleywine that I have ever set my lips on.. The barrel takes all of the rugged hops from the original and replaces them with those vanilla and oak flavors that smooth the edges and make this so perfect to drink.. I hope someday when I get to heaven or maybe I should say if, there is an endless barrel of this waiting for me!! Incredible stuff...

Bottle shared with a friend who had no idea of what he was opening.....nice hazy amber pour, little to no head at all. Whooo...big alcohol nose, nice woody, vanilla-orangy vinous aromas. Bourbon cask notes litter the room with this one. Regular Numbskull was never one of my favorites---I liked it a lot--not just at the very top of the list. Now this version is an entirely different story. Nice toffee sweet malt flavor, raisins, plums, more bourbon wood everwhere in the taste. Complex is a great word here. Some light bitterness in the end...and what a sad moment to reach the end of this bottle. I’m the only one who liked it...spent a great deal of time convincing my friend the beer wasn’t "spoiled". Don’t know how, but I’d like to get another bottle. A fantastic concoction by one of my favorite brewers.

I drank this a while back, and I must have forgotten to rate it, but this was an exceptional brew, very malty and pretty strong. A really nice beer overall.

A hazy brown amber beer. With an aroma of sweet citrus, bourbon, and malt. A sweet full bodied flavor that completely fills your mouth. Just a nice mix of alcohol, malt and bourbon. I can’t say enough about how grateful I am to whoever brought this to noogfest.

Opened on 8/06 and Complements of Sick_boy282, you my boy Blue. This beer is simply amazing. Call me selfish but I barely gave out a sip to my girlfriend of 5 + years. Pours a dark muddy brown, very opaque, and the thin off-white head had very tight tiny bubbles. Lots of lacing in the glass. Mature, thick, creamy, yet soft body, perfectly balanced. A good of amount of sweet character behind a strong bitter wall of burbon/ caramel/ vanilla/ woody notes. Very full in the mouth, seems like it comes from all angles and touches a wide variety of taste buds. The lasting taste is like a balance of flan or tappioca pudding with a smokey alcohol bite. Very savory, and probably one of the top 3 beers I have ever had.