AleSmith Barrel Aged Old Numbskull

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

A rare treat provided by Noah, htsprint1, for Rob’s incredible barleywine tasting. I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time. Lots of oak on the nose with vanilla and pine. On the palate, still quite a bit hoppy with cherry and vanilla bean coming through. Somewhat Sam Adams Millenium like as well, similar to my notes for Ambroise Vintage Ale 2001. Not overhwelming, definately not worthy of #16 overall, but solid nonetheless. Thanks, Noah and Rob, for experience.

Bottle. 2002. MN Ratebeer Winter Get-Together. Rich, bourbon, caramel aroma...very nice. Murky brown body with an off-white head. Wow! Perfect flavor! Caramelly, high alcohol, soft. Not very carbonated. Almost a 9. Very good beer. Perhaps a little overrated.

Bottle number 84 from the 2002 release, big thanks to cquiroga for the bottle. In the aroma I find oak, caramel, complex nuttiness, vanilla, butter, hints of chocolate and a touch of muted pine hops and some alcohol. I could smell this all day,...it is intense. Color is deep ruby-orange with a thin, off-white head. Flavor is sweet, brilliant caramel with a nice chocolate maltiness that blends into a bit of pine flavor and then finishes with nutty, buttery vanilla. The nutty, oak-like flavor is very nice leaving a dry, woody feeling that is slightly astringent in your mouth which balances the sweetness very well. Nice and creamy mouthfeel, sweet but not cloying and very soft carbonation.

Warm glowing copper with a fine layer of light tan head. Hard to nail down the aroma--I spent several minutes enjoying the lovely fumes before I could articulate anything. It’s a really bright, high-frequency smell. Lighty toasty caramel, a little dusky mango fruitiness and a touch of mint, overlayed with a comforting old wooden building kind of character. The flavor reveals more dried fruit, toasted caramel, and tons of alcohol. The alcohol presense, while not understated, is quite soft and delicate. The flavors are gentle and blended. An interesting astringency shows up in the finish a good 20 seconds after swallowing, preparing the palate nicely for the next sip. This is a barrel aged beer that seems to use the oak to bring everything beautfiul already in the beer together, rather than to merely increase the volume. Thank you so much Hezron, for sharing this gem with me!

Having had a number of bourbon-barrel aged beers lately, this one is done well. Dripping with sweet fruity caramel and boozy vanilla, this has a woody astringency that makes the whole quite drinkable. Positively creamy head and body. A little hot. Thanks to FalcoAlto for the bottle.

Bottle courtesy of SDbruboy.Thanks Cliff for this treat. Nose is wonderfully complex and not overdone by the oak aging.Hints of bourbon,vanilla,oak,caramel and fruits walk hand in hand down the aisle to complete a storybook marriage. Warning: This should be savored and not chugged.

MN Winter Get Together, 2006; Vintage 2002: Murky brown color an no head. Aroma of wood and bourbon. Mmmm... sticky sweet malt taste with a healthy dosage of oak and vanilla. The bourbon is very subtle and nicely compliments the beer instead of obliterating it. Thanks Footbalm!

Absolutly fantasic. I was able to try this next to some 1999 old numbskull. This beat the 1999 out of the water. Oak and caramel dominate the malt aroma. Ads some citrus hops and a tad bit of fruits and you’ve made one helluva invitign beer. A bit of alcohol shines throgh rich fruit, sweet malts, caramel again and a hint of citrus hops to finish it all. Beats the hell out of the regular old numbskull. Thanks footbalm!