AleSmith Decadence 2008

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

dark orange in color with a small white head.the aroma is sherry,tobacco,earth,and a slight twang at the end.flavor is much of the same with the funky twang standing out even more.seems like this would be a good beer if it wasnt infected.

Pours a dark brown/amber. Nose is definite funk, some sourness, sweet malt, mild noble hops, earth, grains, bread. Flavor is a strange, sour, funk, sweet malt, sugars, toffee, candy, loads of fruitiness, pear, grape, vinegar, apple, BIG cherry. Infected, but I liked it a lot.

courtesy of Solan. Not sure where this barley is going. Pours dark golden, beige head. Aroma is malty, sugary with bad notes of vinegar. Flavor, malty with some nasty sourness that seemed borderline infected. Some caramel, brown sugar, some dark fruits, boozy and yeasty finish. Not great and least favorite of the whole Decadence serie.

Very sweet and candy-like barleywine style ale. 4oz pour at a beer tasting. Unique balance.

Bottle courtesy of hellbilly, paired with an awesome peach cobbler at Atlas Bistro -- many thanks! Pours like date juice with an off-white head. The aroma is hot with alcohol against a backdrop of creamy malt. Builds in flavor, but in a strange direction -- reminds me of cherry cough syrup, toffee, and underripe peaches. Not a very unified beer -- aging might make all the difference.

750 mL bottle. This guy pours a deep cooper brown. Nose is full of sweet caramel and toffee, English malts. Flavors follow with a nice caramel creaminess, caramelized brown sugar, a bit of dried dark fruits. The yeast is different flavored then the yeast Alesmith usually uses. Breadiness taste more wood-like with some pumpernickel maybe? Mouth is full with a creaminess to it. This should only get better with age. Glad I picked up a few for that very purpose.

22oz bottle. I don’t think this was infected. Its definitely not acidic. I think people just didn’t get what Peter was going for. Nose is slightly tart with lots of caramel and grain. The nose smells very young, everything is a little muted. I think this needs more time. Flavors are very good though. Up front is a strong berry tartness, slightly slightly sour but still very drinkable even to the non sour lovers among our group. Finishes with a very nice cherry vanilla caramel finish. I think Peter did exactly what he set out to do, make a traditional english barleywine the way they used to taste. Evidence has shown that alot of styles had some wildness in them at the time. I’m not sure how he got it here, but it didn’t seem wrong for the style. I think this is a tasty beer but not as good as the 07 or 05. About on par with the 06.

750. Pours ruddy brown w/ burgundy highlights. Good sized, creamy, tan head with good lace. Smells big and malty sweet with some toffee, red fruit and a hint of alcohol. Tastes sweet and caramelly and fruity malty. Big sweet malt flavors with toffee and caramel as well. Full body, good carbonation. Falls a little flat for me.