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AleSmith Old Numbskull

Percentile
100
overall

bottled
common

on tap
available

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreABVStyle PctlServe in
7624.04/5.04.03/5.010%98Snifter
Commercial Description:
Bottle conditioned.
Old Numbskull is AleSmith’s first barley wine offering. You may find the name "Old Numbskull" curious. Barley wine has its origins in England and tradition is to begin the name with "Old": Old Nick, Old Sampson, Old Jock, etc. Tongue-in-cheek is often the spirit in naming a barley wine. After drinking a glass or two, you may agree that Old Numbskull feels like a fitting description. It also reminds us of the Three Stooges, one of the greatest comedy teams of all time, so it's meant to bring a smile even before the first taste. Exotic fruit aromas, along with clean ethanol, caramel, honey and toasty notes are present in the nose. At five months of age, the Numbskull flavor begins malty and the hops become more evident from the middle to the finish and linger nicely in the aftertaste. The aroma notes also show themselves in the flavor.

1999 - waxed cap
2000 - dated as such. Pictured at left
2002 - Silver foil with electric blue design and NO filling in the anvil spaces
2003 - Silver foil with electric blue design and blue filling in the anvil spaces
2004 - same as 2003 but with "Alesmith" below the logo in white lettering.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 hombrepalo (763), Chicago, Illinois, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Apr 14, 2008  
Thanks big time to ODEED. Pours a cloudy reddish-brown with a small off-white head. The aroma: WOW! Aroma of fresh hops, citrus, caramel and roasted malt all combined in a great way. The flavour: Ka-Pow!! Starts off with a delicious citrusy hops bitterness and followed by a tasty malt sweetness. The 10% alcohol is barely noticeable. This a fantastic beer and one of the best Barley Wines I’ve ever had.


nparikh (20), New York, New York, USA
4.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/104/59/105/519/20
Apr 12, 2008  
25oz bottle, not sure of the age. Gold foil wrapper. An English-style barleywine (so on the maltier side), and the best BW I’ve had so far. Very rich and powerful aroma that flies right out of the glass: honey, caramels, dried fruit, malts, treacle. Taste was a complex layering of malts, but there are hops in the long finish. Full-bodied, velvet mouthfeel. Not an expert on BW, but thought it was really impressive. One of my recent favorites.


 TheEpeeist (1448), Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/103/517/20
Apr 11, 2008  
25.4 oz bottle, at least 2 years old. Light brown with some bubbly froth. Nose is caramel with a touch of butterscotch. Taste is caramel, vanilla and toffee with a fruity hop bite. Very good but not quite special.


 AgentSteve (1374), SF Bay Area, California, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/518/20
Apr 5, 2008  
Bottle, 11% listed on the bottle w/ electric blue writing. Pours ruddy brown with a two finger, frothy, cream colored head that lingers. Nose is sweet maltiness and dried fruit, along with some sugars. The flavor is similar in complexity and sweetness. Very solid BW, not lacking in any way.


 tomthompson89 (1474), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/103/516/20
Apr 1, 2008  
nice copper color, decent little foam but not much, nose is alcohol and fruit, i think pear also some nice dark sweet malts. Flavor was oak, earthy spice, alcohol, and some nice hops as well.


 Magicdave6 (5490), London, Greater London, England
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/103/513/20
Apr 1, 2008  
Bottle at lets teabag everything in site including your sister tasting. Alround rating: This now makes sence why i wasnt hot on the barrel aged, its like a sweet vanilla liquid, like i find it hard even when sitting down and really suckin the aroma out to get much else appart from vanilla. Alc is well hidden but i found it pritty one dimentional.


nimrod (53), USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/516/20
Mar 31, 2008  
Bottle shared with Duane and Illini08. Thanks Duane! Piney, hoppy, woody, and a touch of spice in the aroma that transferred directly into the taste. Smooth finish and well balanced. I’m starting to enjoy barleywines.


 cgarvieuk (4177), Edinburgh, Scotland
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/515/20
Mar 30, 2008  
Bottle at Toms Glasgow tasting 2 ... Well first off this did remind me of the BA version all be it a bit more subdued ... Copper ... sweet vanilla nose... creamy vanilla wtill a bit overpowering ... little sharp



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