AleSmith Decadence 2005

Formerly brewed at AleSmith Brewing Company
Style: Old Ale
San Diego, California USA

This is really delicious beer. Somewhat of a style hybrid, has some of the characteristics of a barleywine as well, rich and sweet candi sugars, brown sugar and vanilla, with some caramelly chocolate maltiness , with some resiny hop bitterness and well masked alcohol in the finish. This is quite a satisfying little treat.

5-25-08 bottle shared by the wonderful Miketd
Dark red brown color. Smell is sweet malt and has some small fig or fruit notes in there. Flavor is actually enjoyable - it is sweet and hoppy and drinkable and satisfying. Nice palate. Overall, fairly yummy.

750 ml bottle

Rating #800 - Sitting in the cellar for a special occasion I decided to crack this open for a milestone. It seems to be at a nice age for drinking. If you have a bottle on hand I would try to drink it within the next six months. While it is still a bit warm some of the flavors are beginning to mellow.

Aroma / Appearance - There was no head despite a fairly aggressive attempt to create one while swirling. The deep red body was mellow and created a sticky line of lacing around the top of the glass. The nose of caramel, cedar and cherry syrup reminded me of an aged barleywine. Very thick it caught in the nose and lingered.

Flavor / Palate - The thick warm mouthfeel could have been toned back a little bit but the 11% alcohol is not over the top. Molasses, caramel and resin crawled across the tongue towards the throat. The wet finish highlights the conversion to chocolaty resin. With a little more time this would not be as enjoyable; I’m glad to have opened it when I did.

Bottle shared by miketd. Thanks!
Pours dark amber to maroon and is mostly opaque. Smell is light, thin aged, mellow sweetness, and tea leaves. Taste is hoppy caramel with a slightly watery sweetness. Still a surprising hop characteristic. Interesting, but I prefer the BA version highly as well as the 06 Decadence.

Bottle shared by miketd at lb4lb’s tasting. Poured a murky, caramel brown color with a thin beige head that disappeared. Aroma of caramel-covered fruit (plum, fig) and some raisin and toffee. Moderate sweet malt entry with some moderate caramel, light fruitiness (plum and fig) and raisin leading into a lightly yeasty finish with some alcohol. Smooth and full on the palate.

750ml bottle. thanks to andrew for sharing this cellared rarity.... poured a muddy reddish caramel brown with a thin wispy off-white head that dispersed and accumulated around the edges. some white suspended particulars could also be seen.... chewy caramel malt aromas with some added dark fruit. maybe just a tad papery but that could just of been me. all of which were nicely blended together..... flavors continued on with that thme. well blended essences of caramel/sugary malt and dark fruits with even a small dose of hops in the finish with a little booze in the end as well. smooth texture and really drinkable.

Bottle. Thanks to Jimmack for the pour. Amber cloudy pour. Aroma is malt, dark fruit, wine, and etoh. Flavor comes thought in a less dominant way giving priority to the etoh and malt. eh.

Bottle, shared generously by jimmack. Hazy gold / amber pour. Aroma is sugary malt, dark fruit, and just very nicely blended. The sugary flavor also held together well, as the plum, candy sugar, and other malty sweetness is not all mushed together, but separate and nice.