AleSmith Barrel Aged Wee Heavy

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

750 ml bottle shared with Crosling and Rye726 poured a cloudy dark brown with a small lingering tan head. Aromas of carmel, oak, molases, light bourbon and light dark fruit. Palate was medium bodied and smooth. Flavors of carmel, molasses, dark fruit, oak and light bourbon with a smooth lingering carmely finish. A bit of a disappointment this one.

750ml bottle. 2006 # 182/254. Man... when I opened this one up, the aroma was all solvent, chemical and harsh alcohol. Brutal. Let it sit for about an hour and things have toned down... a bit. Lots of bourbon, vanilla extract, charred caramel. Plenty of wet wood. But still, there is a harsh chemical aspect to the aroma. Especially isovaleric acid upon warming. Stinky sock crossed with wood tannin. Bizarre and slightly off-putting. The cap popped off without a hiss at all. A vigorous pour yields a nearly still beer. Dark, dark cola brown with a thin ring of khaki around the edge of the glass. Thankfully, the beer doesn’t taste as bad as it smells, though it lacks in complexity. The flavor is really dominated by the barrel aging. And not necessarily bourbon, per se, just lots and lots of wood presence. Dry oak, vanilla and coconut extract. Dry toffee, bitter baker’s chocolate. Really lacks the chewy, malty, smoky complexity of the regular, non BA offering. Not a whole lot to say. It doesn’t taste bad at all, just lacks something. Medium bodied on the tongue. Firm texture. Fairly lively carbonation despite the near lifeless pour. Dry throughout the palate especially on the finish.

Honestly, a big disappointment. I love the regular AS WH, and I was convinced that this one would rise to the top of my BA AS ratings, but the absolute chemical aspect of the nose and the lack of complexity on the palate really let me down. It’s not a bad beer by any stretch... Maybe just not suited for aging. Perhaps the fresher BA bottles are the ones to drink. Oh well... Thanks Marc!

4th September 2008. The saltiness of the non barrel version is now emphasised. Vanilla dominates and woody tones come to the fore surpressing the chocolate of the non barrelled version. Spirity warmth in the finish. Nice beer but the barreling detracts from the base beer in this case.

2006 bottle drank in 9/09 Pour looks like a freshly spat in dip cup with a thin head. Nose has lots of run-raisin, bourbon, smoke, and brown sugar. Taste is apple, bourbon, liquid smoke, molasses, beautiful balance of sweet with astringent.

750ml bottle # 98 / 254....2006. Pours a deep cola brown with a frothy sea foam like beige head. Nose hold a good amount of bourbon, vanilla and light oxidation. I pick up aromas of black cherry and caramel as well. Some flavors of tobacco, brown sugar, bourbon, vanilla and roasted malts. A great brew, might have been even better about 6 months ago.....

2005 Bottle – Shared by ygtbsm94. Thanks Brad! Rating #1900 – Dark brown, off white creamy head. Bold sweet bourbon and burnt caramelized toffee chip aromas warm to swirls of dark fruits and vanilla oak. Toasty brown sugar and boozy coconut flavors are well textured over soft layers of old vanilla wood and fruity smoke from beginning to end. Full bodied and smooth, pillow soft carbonation, soft bourbon oak finish. One word….spectacular…

Thanks to Sam for this one. ’06 bottle. Dark brown body. Aroma has lots of bourbon, vanilla, light tobacco, sweet brown sugar. Flavor is heavy with bourbon, has some brown sugar, and a lactic touch. Light peat and tobacco round it out. Body is thick and syrupy.

Bottle,this was a good scotch ale before added to bourbon barrel,the bourbon is way to overpowering and makes this a okay beer with hints of chocolate and vanilla,very sweet and almost no head.CHEERS!!