AleSmith Barrel Aged Old Numbskull

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

Bottle sampled @ RBSG 05’ (Montréal) Grand Tasting
Light murky color, an average sized off-white head and decent lacing. Nose of aged caramel, a bit stale with lots of sweetness and aged hops present. The flavor has strong bourbon notes and a hit of acidity that made me cringe, it’s still not the beer I was hoping for. Maybe a bit much hype? The finish isn’t balanced with flavors going back and forth, couldn’t really decide what it wanted to be when it grew up. My notes say "strong, rancid, no smoothness" but I thought I’d shine it up a bit for the audience.

2005 RBSG - 2002 courtesy of DYCSoccer17. Dark brown pour, aroma is vineous, oakey. Noticable bourbon flavors, smooth, vineous. Quite delicious. Alcohol is still fairly evident, however this is extremely smooth.

Side by side with the O.N. Poured a dark brown body with a small off-white head. Aroma is nutty with carmel and bourbon. Flavors are quick bourbon with carmel malts, nuts, oak, alcohol, and a subtle hop finish. A very good BW.

Bottle RBSG05 157/225. Aroma is slightly bourbon-like with some vinous and peppery notes. The barrel is apparent in the nose. Hazy copper/amber color with a tan/yellow head. Boozy to start with some bourbon and vinous notes. Nice and smooth with some alcohol to finish. Like the regular Old Numbskull, this finishes quite hot as well. The barrel doesn’t really add or retract from this beer, although it does give it a different flavor. Kind of like the difference between Yeti and Oaked Yeti. Either way, this didn’t really live up to the extremely high expectations for me.

2008-03-01. 2005 Vintage. Sweet boozy aroma, sweet malt, wood, hints at molasses (7+) Similar flavour, sweet malt up front, dry alcohol bitterness to round it out. Rich but not over powering (8+) Smooth medium palate is a bit under carbonated but still quite lovely. Nice, I think some age has improved this one. Bottle, Shared by the British contingent at Zythos Festival, St. Niklaas 8/3/8/4/17-18 - 4.0 <P>RBSG 2005. Unknown Vintage. Eagerly anticipated, this was a let down. Orange amber body with a small off white head. Aroma seems more alcoholic than the regular, as does the flavour but this might drop off with age. Flavour seems to have a mild acidity lurking underneath, and similarly pleasant hops as the non-BA but overall I don’t know that the barrel added anything I am appreciating. Shows all the alcohol and flaws that I praised the Old Numbskull for lacking. 7/3/7/3/14 - 3.4

RBSG 2005: Poured caramel brown in color with a medium head. Big caramel and malt aroma. A bit of nuts in the flavor along with malt. Big alcohol. Perhaps a bit more flavor than the original and very good.

ah yes, i had to go all the way to tha noog to have some of this beast. very darkish amber color, cloudy and thick. I get alot of alcohol and burnt carmel on the aroma. Very thick body, it tastes like im taking a shot of carmel flavored rum and there is a peanut brittle thing going on. Its really full of lots of goodness and alcohol, love it.

Bottle #26 Big thanks to JohnC for this one! I’d love to do the BA version side by side with the regular, both are excellent Barleywines in any case. Deep amber color with a small head typical of Barleywines. Rich caramel aroma with a resiny hop note to it. The alcohol comes through lightly in the flavor but is dominated by a rich smooth caramel and dark dried fruit blend of flavors. Very creamy and smooth palate. Probably my favorite of the American Style Barleywines.