 goldtwins (3733), Nesconset, New York, USA
Mar 23, 2005 Updated: Apr 23, 2006
Poured a mostly clear deep copper with a orange tint. Very thin off white head. Aromas of alcohol, sweet dark fruit, toffee, bourbon, and wood. For some reason it reminds me of something my wife uses to clean the kitchen. I do think the aroma is great it just reminds of the cleaner. Malty flavors with toffee, bourbon and plenty of alcohol. The flavors are well balanced with the bourbon aspect but the alcohol stands out. As this warmed up however it became more balanced and the alchol hidden, which is odd since the warmth usually brings out the alcohol. Full silky body.
2nd bottle on 4/20/06 #161/240
StFun (298), Indiana, USA
Sep 3, 2008 Very very nice Barleywine, and the only one of the BA Alesmiths that I thought was *just* right. This one really is a winner. Everything you expect from Old Numbskull, with the addition of wood, vanilla, and bourbon. The wood and vanilla step up front, and the bourbon takes a backseat, which just adds to this brew’s complexity. Nice toffee and carmel notes, with some deep dark notes as well. Nice malt backbone and hop profile. This one is outstanding.
tjthresh (1289), Greenfield, Indiana, USA
Aug 31, 2008 Pours brown with no head. Huge robust aroma of toffee and vanilla. Heavy bourbon flavors of vanilla and oak. Full bodied with an oily mouthfeel. Sweet finish with a long alcoholic burn.
fiver29 (303), Strongsville, Ohio, USA
Aug 23, 2008 Tasted at Cleveland tasting on 8-23-08. Thanks!! I am rating this as part of a vertical tasting. There was an 04 and a 06 tasted this evening. The older version has a minor aroma, but it still has complexity of strong caramel and bourbon overtones. The newer version has an alcohol aroma added and more brown sugar aromas. Taste is unbelievable in both versions. The older version had no carbonation. That was a bit of a let down in a sense. The younger version had a nice amount of carbonation. The older version had a more caramel taste with bourbon and oak that you expect from an alesmith ba. The younger version has more alcohol taste, more toffee, brown sugar, and is overall a better brew at this point. Overall I enjoyed both brews. I wouldn’t let this age more than a few years. Its good now. Don’t wait.
Old_Mr_Crow (1014), Seattle, Washington, USA
Aug 16, 2008 Bottle brought to after4ever’s tasting. Rating from old notes.
Toffee and vanilla aroma, close to the Drake’s bourbon barrel barleywine but drier. Toffee, bits of oxidized hops, lots of wood, gentle vanilla. Beautiful. So good, in fact, that I turned down a shot at as-yet untried Dark Lord in order to get a second bottle of this. I’m looking forward to it!
sersdf (861), chicago, Illinois, USA
Aug 14, 2008 thanks andrew. this was awesome. as always with alesmith, the balance and craft was impeccable. the barrels were very subtle and perfectly incorporated. nutty, honeyed, and fruity. better than the already-amazing numbskull.
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