AleSmith Old Numbskull

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

Poured muddy brown like creek water with a dirty white head. Aroma is big and malty, nutty, carmel and bread. Almost smells chewy. Flavor is nuts, carmel, and bread. Good body with a dry finish. Very average BW.

I’m reading over the commercial description here on the Old Numbskull, and AleSmith’s little mini-litany defending the Numbskull’s name is making a whole lot of sense. It definitely thumps the skull with a fair bit of force and alcohol, that’s for sure, but I’m uncertain whether I’m really into the whole business of knocking my senses around with muscle bound beers. The real fault is my own inability to translate the salient features of Barley Wines into appreciable characteristics. Even the notorious Old Numbskull, a namesake I can deeply relate to, is above (or below) my sensory radar, depending on whether I’m feeling haughty or humble. All the same, I was stoked to give another AleSmith a try, especially while AleSmith was 1-1 for my taste buds. Again, thanks to my philistine palate I’m unable to appreciate what so many find in the flippantly and friendly titled Old Numbskull. It pours a lovely semi-translucent auburn color, with a wooly brick of foam sitting atop like a life raft in a choppy sea. The smell gently curls out and away from the beer, intimating barbeque smoke, stale pears, an arcane cheesiness, grapefruit, soft peach notes and hops to the nose. Na’er have I smelled something quite as nice, or as interesting. Nothing is exciting as a smell my nose can really ruminate over, and there the Old Numbskull brilliantly succeeds. The denser dunce of the flavor tasters, my own tongue, failed to become the aesthete my nose is. Instead it grappled with a stifling, cloying alcohol, itself accompanied with a spritzy malts. A bit of warmth introduces slivers of licorice flavor to the beginning and a gentle taming of the ethanol, but nothing so radical as to change my opinion of the flavor. The abundance of alcohol is nothing to admire, but the palate is something different. It’s well balanced and light, springy but smooth, almost like I could chew it. Probably one of the finest mouthfeels of any beer I’ve had; a drink entirely welcome to be supine on my tongue. Still, I regret connecting with the Numbskull as a concept more than a beer, which, with great irony, may make me the greatest Numbskull of all. A true testament to the frivolity the brewer’s extol so much in their beer christening.

’06 Bottle, Pours a reddish brown with a small off-white head. Aroma is of burnt caramel and alcohol. Alcohol is present in both aroma and taste, but not overwhelming. Taste is of spicy caramel with light fruitiness. One of the better barleywines that really defines the style. This is definitely a winter warmer.

Bottle sampled at Sunset Grill in Alston Mass. with the Stegosaurus as part of our boston/salem tour. To me it appeared amber with a beige head. Caramel malt is the first smell that grabs your attention. I though the finish was a mild hoppiness. It was smooth. I think steg was slightly dissapointed.

Starts off sticky sweet, with a whiskey vibe. Then the hops kick in to give it some kick and the malt rounds out the body. Feels smooth on the tongue, almost creamy. 10% ABV isn’t too high for a barleywine, but this feels especially potent right now. A tasty barleywine, has even more style than some of its brethren, but I still prefer the Olde School.

No smell? Why is there no smell to this amber coloured brew with the french vanilla head? I’m scared. The taste is sweet, almost sickly sweet with a sharp hoppy finish. Great maltiness taking place in this one. Hops are prevalent. Not cloying like a number of other barleywines... Not bad, but not the best

Bottle sampled at the Suset Grill with the Mad Indian. Pours bronze with a one finger thick fizzy off-white head. Aroma of alcohol, caramel malts, and floral hops. The flavor is slightly sweet up-front, alcohol, caramel, and finishes with a sharph bitter hoppy ending. Good brew, i was expecting a little more i guess.

Redder than most barely wines, nice head and decent lacing. Nose is sweet necter, taste a chewy candy. Smooth finish.