AleSmith Old Numbskull

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

From a silver foiled wrapped neck and cap, green 750 ml. bottle, mine is the one with electric blue design and the blue filling in the anvil spaces, so 2003 vintage, a blurb and serving instructions on the back of bottle, poured carefully to leave the sediment in bottle, sampled at cellar temperature in a tulip glass. Poured a hazy golden orangey hued bright amber with a tiny off-white head that quickly settled into a fine lacing, very minimal amount of sticking. Aromas of caramel and raisins with figs, lightly tropical fruity as well, floral and ethanol alcohol. Good moderate carbonation and a crisp, dryish alcohol, velvety smooth fullish medium bodied mouthfeel, close to perfect for the English barley wine style. Pleasant sipping ability, delicious and balanced taste, raisin, plum and a light fig fruitiness, a subtle caramel with a honey sweetness, a soft tropical fruity hoppiness emerges towards the middle, a nice, cushy bitterness, the alcohol has an ethanol-like flavor, mild, but warming in the palate, and a dry, sweet malty, fruity alcohol finish. This was a bottle I acquire in late 2005 and forgot about, left to age in my basement, an excellent example of an English-style barley wine, well done.

slightly hazy amber with a nice tan head that leaves a thin film. aroma nicely balanced rich malty dried fruit and piney hops. warm alcohol and dried berries as well. bittersweet spicy flavor. caramel and dried fruit with a nice hop presence. spicy bitter dry finish. warm alcohol. creamy carbonation. fairly thick. very good barley wine.

nose caramel and alcohol. flavor is smooth caramel and bisccuit. quite tasty not hoppy enough though

A fantastic beer. Very mellow and malty to start out with but has a nice bittering finish to the beer. The aroma is sweet and caramely. At this moment I cannot think of a better barleywine that I have had. Although I am sure that I have not found the best quite yet. Very good beer. ---re-rate--- Fresh bottle. Lots of alcohol, sweet caramel, and some pine hops. This beer is still very good. I’ll keep the rating as is. ---re-rate--- Fresh bottle. 8-21-2009 Thanks Dave (Strykezone). Aroma is slightly oxidized, but it works in this. Very ripe caramel and fruity yeast. Caramel, non-aggressive hops- well, balanced. The yeast profile really makes this beer. Yum.

nice malty nose. pours with no head, cloudy amber color. taste is amazing, biscuity, malty flavor. smooth bitter finish. mouth feel is smooth and creamy. now my favorite b wine.

Bottle. 2005, I think. Opened this to celebrate the new year with some friends. Lots of sediment in there. Damn good aroma of piney and floral hops to go along with vanilla, caramel and some fleshy fruit (pineapple, pear) The mouthfeel blurs the line between barley wine and IIPA. Very dry, hoppy and astringent. It’s balanced with a little malty sweetness from caramel, honey and those fruit. Very good, and strong. Would be excellent if the hops were toned down just a bit.

On tap @ the Linkery tonight, as well as many other times throughout town. I had a pint of this tonight, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I realized when I got home that I had never rated this one. The pour is awesome. even with the small head, this beer looks divine. The aroma was very "belgian" to me, something I haven’t noticed in the past. Taste is fruity with some faint caramel in the background. My only gripe is that this beer is pretty hot in the finish. This beer screams hangover to me. Strong, very strong.....would age well.

Pours out a deep amber color with a very small head. Aroma is some what sweet with hints of hops. Flavor is great. It has a nice sweetness to it at first and changes over to a nice warming bitter finish. Great brew!