AleSmith Barrel Aged Old Numbskull

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

Bottle, compliments of JohnC. My notes indiciate bottle #36, but it was the same bottle as Suttree’s, and I was yelling across the room, so I probably heard wrong. Dark ambery orangy color. Lots of sweet malt aromas, with vanilla and oak. Flavor was very well balanced. Sweet caramelly maltiness and some nice fruit like maybe prunes. Lots of vanilla and oak in the flavor too, but not anywhere close to overpowering. This is one of the most in-balance oak-aged beers I’ve had. Very very impressive.

2002, 95 of 224, gold foil top, huge thanks to Hairofthedog for this one! Decided to start my final 25 before 1000 with a bang. Pours a medium, hazy amber, nice, fading head. Aroma was surprisingly hoppy for having this age, nice meld of earthiness and faint citrus, and decidedly alcohol driven. Flavors were immense, complex, and balanced. Earthy hops, toffee, caramel, and faint vanilla, some raisin and cherry fruit as well. Bourbon was very faint, and completely integrated into the beer. This is the way barrell aging should be done. Fantastic.

JohnC Rocks! And so does this brew! Pours a hazy amber, Aroma of oak, vanilla, cherries, smoothness. Hops and malt balance perfectly with the wood. This is something special.

Bottle #26. Oh Lordy, where to start? Brownish Orange, no head. hint of bourbon and sweet malt in the aroma - very nice aroma, but really fails to convey what’s comming. A veritable laundry list of flavors - bourbon, vanilla, oak, caramel, toffee, raisin, prune, lead up to an earthy hoppy finish. Beautifully balanced, wonderfully blended. Certainly lives up to the hype!

Big thanks to whom ever was generous enough to break this out that the ‘Nooga fest. I had stepped out for a moment and almost missed this exquisite treat. Fortunately my wife snagged a taste for me (she’s the best!). Bottle #26/225 (2002). Looked a hazy amber color in my glass. The aroma was caramel with toffee. Sweet and inviting. The flavor explodes with toffee, dark fruit, chocolate/coffee, and the bourbon barrel is barely noticable. Very creamy texture anbd warm. An absolute taste sensation. It saddens me to know that I will likely never get my own bottle of this.



Beer Cellar brought a 4-year vertical to Noog 4! Could not even believe it. 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006. General notes were that 2002 & 2004 were much lighter in color than the later years. 2002 & 2004 had enough years on them that they stole the show, with 2002 showing much fuller integraion of all flavors with caramel being the central flavor profile. 2004 was also well integrated but having a touch a chocolate not found in the 2002. 2005 was one of Jen’s favorite but I thought 2005 & 2006 needed more time int the bottle to get the ultra smooth flavors found in the oder bottles. 2006 was still very boozy and the wood was almost overpowering. No change in score. This stuff is awesome!

A reddish orange appearance with a minimal head. A whiskey and cherry aroma. This one is a little bit on the sweet side with some oak notes. The flavor is cherries, burbon, strawberries, with a nutty presence. The aftertaste is somewhat bitter and warming. An excellent beer.

Hazy dark amber hue with a frothy, eggshell head. Oak aroma is well integrated. No overt alcohol overtones. Peat, caramel, brown sugar and dark bread aromas. Reminds me specifically of a whisky I’ve had before but I can’t remember which (maybe I should rate them, no? *snort*) Heavily sweet, lightly acidic flavor becomes a moderately sweet, lightly acidic finish with moderate alcohol (warming, not hot). Medium-full body, oily texture, soft carbonation. The bottom line is: not quite as smokey as I would like and a little much alcohol even though it’s not a bad taste. Still, damn good.

smells like apricots and citrus with dark fruits. sooooo appreciative to get to try this. thanks whoever brought this for the fest. black licorice and grapefruit-y flavors. pretty frickin decent. dry finish