AleSmith Barrel Aged Old Numbskull

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

First barrel-aged batch (2002) busted out by Guy poured orange with a slight haze. Aromas of vanilla, bourbon and leather lead to dark fruit flavors along with strong sherry, and hops plus brown sugar and flan syrup...or more like the nantes coconut seed dessert.

February Houston Tasting. Thanks to Maltomeal for this beer. Reddish amber pour with a thin mocha head. Nose of dark fruits, malt, bourbon and hops. Flavor is toasted malts, bourbon, vanilla and molasses. Rich and syrupy. Very tasty beer.

2007 bottle shared with bman1113vr. Pours with a dark amber hue with a light brown head. Flavor is highly alcoholic all the way through, with a very sweet ending. Aroma is of dark fruits, bourbon, alcohol and molasses. Syrupy mouthfeel with a thick texture and lively carbonation. I am not the biggest fan of Barley Wines, but this is definitely winner. Complex taste, and aroma make this beer amazing!

My 1600th rating with bottle number 51/449 for 2007. Marked at 11%! Bottle comes from WeeHeavySD (BIG THANKS). Shared with m4est88. Served at cellar temp. Pours with a large, creamy, off-white head over a chestnut body (clear on the first, and slightly opaque by the last pour). Legs run above the excellent lace. Head stays for the duration. Aroma is magnificent ("period")! Brown sugar, bourbon, oak, vanilla, burnt flan, cotton candi, dark fruits, barrel, dates, char, raisins and maple. Very sweet. Taste is hoppy up front with tons upon tons of caramel and toffee with vanilla bourbon notes sneaking through. White oak, very smooth, pine molasses, marzipan, splinters, and a touch of alcohol in the very, very long aftertaste. Syrupy mouthfeel, light tingling bubbles. Warming. Extremely drinkable, but with enough complexity to remind you that this is a big time sipper.

Special thanks to Daknole for sharing this. Bottle #384, 2007. Aroma is raising, red apples and caramel. Flavor is more sweet caramel and somewhat mellow. Not too strong on the alcohol and a slight bitterness.

2006 bottle #45/208. Looks just like the regular version, orange with minimal head. It smells boozy, whiskey, etc. The taste immediately revealed the difference between this and the regular Old Numbskull, booze. It was as if the barrel-aging was fighting the original character of the beer with vanilla and booze. The beautiful, bitter hoppiness I have tasted in numbskull was defeated by brute strength. This was a nice complex beer but I feel like the barrel-aging obscures some of the best aspects of an already terrific beer. Serving type: bottle Reviewed on: 08-06-2008 03:59:56

Thank you Daknole for sharing this incredible beer. Murky red-brown with hardly any head. Smokey aroma with loads of rustic sugar aromas, including caramelized honey, condensed milk, vanilla. Incredibly nuanced, sublime flavors party in the mouth. A truly superlative and memorable beer.

Bottle thanks to Darknole. Nice toffee and caramel smell. Syrupy feel to it. Very strong smell. Extremely cool beer. Caramel and toffee come back inthe smell with bourbon mixed in. Great!!!