AleSmith Wee Heavy Scotch Ale

Brewed by AleSmith Brewing Company
Style: Scotch Ale
San Diego, California USA

2001: A medium thick tan head sits atop a beautiful red-brown/mohagony body with lots of lacing hugging the glass. The aroma is slightly sweet and malty with a peaty smokiness and a slight bitterness as well as the slightest bit of alcohol. The flavor is bitter sweet, malty and slightly salty wtih a slight smokiness and notes of alcohol. Full bodied, smooth and slightly warming.

750 mL bottle. Pleasant sweet aroma of malt with a wonderful earthiness. Buttery malt and alcohol taste with a dark bitter smokey earthy finish.

From Voldby, DK. Bottled, 140209. Dark brown with beige head. Aroma of dried fruit and malt. Flavor is balanced sweet to the dry roasts. Some smoke and a hint of the alcohol.

2007 vintage, aged at least 10 months, probably a little longer. Pours a very dark and cloudy, melted dark chocolate color. A small, foamy tan head leaves behind random spots and flares of lace. Bold, agressive notes of vanilla and boozy oak hit the nose first, followed by luxurious waves of chocolate, caramel, molasses, and lightly smoked peat. There’s a touch of saltiness to the nose, which I commonly find in Scotch Ales. The flavor is well blended, with oak and vanilla again imparting their signature tastes to this malty brew. Chocolate, molasses, and caramel show alot of sweetness, with a hefty dose of earthy hops attempting to balance things out. Raisons and figs emerge, adding fruity depth and complexity. I even picked up a touch of cinnamon. Medium-full bodied and very smooth, the only problem I have is that the alcohol isn’t as well hidden as I’d like. While smooth, it goes down hotter than expected, with the heat lingering in the back of the throat. This is truly a great brew, with just a few minor flaws.

750ml, 2005 vintage, cellar aged approx. 2 years. pours mahogany with white head. nose is brown sugar very sweet with traces of smoke, along with licorice, dates, a very sweet and tantalizing nose. first sip impressions and this is really rich and smokey, sharply charred wood. the sharpness in increased by biting alcohol that is really off-putting, very woody, not much smoke to balance it and sorta sweaty, and prunes. mouthfeel is a tad thin, alcohol smells and burns. lacks more smoke and sweet malts. wow this bottle did not age well at all. i feel a re-rate coming on soon.2.9.

10/10/07, another rating of an 06 bottle. pours dark ruby-brown with thin off-white head around the rim. nose has a wonderful port wine aroma with caramel malt in the background. as it warms up it becomes more smokey and alcohol is noticed more in the nose. flavor of sweet plums, woody smokiness, toffee, tobacco, and slight chocolate. awesome flavor. carbonation is low and body is medium. smooth finish. alcohol is very well hidden, you don’t taste it at all. a great beer. very barleywine-esque so perhaps it’s the barleywine of scotch ales. i bet this would hold it’s own against a barrel, maybe i should try that one soon...and i’ll have to rate a fresh one to see how it compares to this 1 year aged one. 4.2.

Pour is deep ruby brown with dense tan head...smell is quite malty and very smokey...richly fruity with a fantastic mouthfeel....sweet raisins, prunes, chocolate, caramel...alcohol almost not noticable...nice flavorful finish...damn this is good...

Dark reddish brown w/ a tan head. Sweet w/ tastes of carmel & dried fruit. Lots of malty taste. But a touch too sweet for me. Very good, but not great.

Bottle from HiTime; poured a ruby tinted brown; with a large off white head. Aroma is sweet, earthy, smoky; hints of dark fruit and yeast. Very good mouthfeel; creamy and a bit chewy. Alcohol was completely hidden for me. Flavor was complex, yet subtle. Main flavor of caramel malt, peat and some smokiness; some sweetness, chocolate and hops as well. An amazing version of the style.