AleSmith Wee Heavy - AleSmith Brewing Company

ktrillionaire

Florida

3.63/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to someone (probably spycow) for sharing this at Bryna's recital / beer auction.

A - It pours a ruddy mahogany hue, and is capped with a tawny froth that is quite short-lived.

S - The nose is very raisin-y, with some sweet caramel and spicy molasses notes; dried medium and dark fruit is also suggested, maybe even the whole bag of trail mix, nuts and all. Unfortunately, there is a slight cardboard thing with the nose which is holding back my estimation of what is an otherwise nice aroma.

T - The flavor delivers more luxury than the aroma does; where the aroma is interesting, the flavor prefers decadence. The booze is noted, the dark fruit and caramelized sugar is ramped-up, and the general intensity is a degree more. There is a semi-strong note of oxidation that takes away from the rest of the palate, but the brew tastes delicious nonetheless.

M - The feel is just ok; not enhancing nor detracting. Medium-bodied.

O - This did not blow me away, but I certainly enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2011 02:06:22 | More by ktrillionaire

Bendurgin

Maine

3.63/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tulip. Pours dark brown with a three finger foamy beige head. Nice retention and good sticky lace.

Raisins and chocolate are Most noticeable in the aroma. A little bit of bourbon in the aroma too. Very rich and a sweet and just a little boozey. Grapish flavor with a little bit of bitter cocoa. The taste is somewhat metallic to finish.

Medium body with soft carbonation. A little bit of a tannic finish. Pretty solid flavors here. A little dry and I am not fond of the metallic finsh. Otherwise pretty solid brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2011 04:24:39 | More by Bendurgin

DarthKostrizer

California

3.63/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Look: Pours a coca cola brown color with no head at all. When I swirled the beer there was maybe a 1/8 head but I was not at all impressed with the look of the beer

Smell: Upfront the beer carries a rubbing alcohol or nail polish burn and that is backed up by some dark fruits

Taste: Upfront are some figs and raisins that are backed up by a slight chocolate note and finishes with a bit of alcohol this was the best part of the beer

Mouthfeel: Full body and feels thick with very little carbonation

Overall: I had high hopes for this beer because I typically love Alesmith products but this one for me missed the mark

Serving type: growler

11-22-2011 01:47:54 | More by DarthKostrizer

merlin48

Kentucky

3.68/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle was $12.99 at the Dilly Deli in Cincinnati. Pours a clear, dark mahogany body topped with a skimpy beige head that quickly falls into spotty patch lacing. Aroma has a surprising chocolate essence, followed by toffee, dark fruits, and fresh white grapes. A mild note of smoky Scotch whiskey completes the bouquet. Mouthfeel is thick and full, with subdued carbonation. A bit fusel with alcohol as it warms. Taste is more chocolate than any other malty taste. Some scorched coffee notes mix with the bitter chocolate as a wave of dark fruits enters the picture. Becomes vinous and fusel as it warms to room temperature. Lots of rum soaked dark fruits toward the finish. The roasty chocolate and coffee seem out of place here. A bit of a struggle to finish as the big alcohol is anything but subtle. A slight disappointment, given the exceptional character of other Alesmith offerings I've been fortunate to sample.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2006 22:53:39 | More by merlin48

MarineHokie

Connecticut

3.7/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

750 ml bottle

A - Pours deep mahogany, leaving a slim ring of foam around the rim of the tulip glass. Seemed a little bit undercarbonated.

S - Vinious, port like, earthy, & peaty.

T - Sweet dried fruit then smoky oak and malt flattens across the tongue. Drys with an oaky crisp finish.

M - Fairly thin bodied and alcoholic.

D - Just sweet enough to make one enough. Split the 750 with two other folks.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2006 15:44:13 | More by MarineHokie

BlindPig

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A- 1/2-3/4" tan head. Dark brown blackish body. Bits of lacing that are there just not covering top.
S- Alcohol, plums, other darker fruits, and some light spice are all there. Is on the sweeter side and maybe a bit of a earthy note.
T- Coffee nots in it with fruits showing too. Alcohol does come through in taste and a light warming (gets quite a bit bigger as it warms). All the fruits start to come through more as it warms also. Light bitterness in taste but mostly all fades away in the aftertaste. The fruits stay in the mouth in the aftertaste.
M- Body is a bit on the thinner side for such a big beer. Probably medium to thin body with low carbonation. Smooth also.
D- It was ok for a glass but I couldn't drink a whole bottle. I just don't think this is my style. It is a sipper though.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2006 02:26:48 | More by BlindPig

jscondon

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

a transparent deep darkend cheerry red beer that pours with an immense 2 inch head which slowly subsides to a few mm. the aroma expelled by this magnificently colored beer is one of cherries and vanilla. i am expecting some malt madness for sure. i was not dissapointed, and while this beer has a great up front flavor it is less rewarding in the finish. there is a nice maltiness to the front of this with a carmelized long boil flavor that i find typical of this style. a slight sweetness hits the tounge initially followed by a kettled flavor (peat smokiness or something of the like). caramel fills the middle very nicely but then the flavor drops out to a metallic taste. this off flavor is then followed by a stong alcohol flavor and some chocolate aftertones.

in all i really liked this beer, but the end really dissapointed me. i can't get past the metallic and strong alcohol flavors before the nice chocolate finish. i will get this one again and see how it ages.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2008 01:18:07 | More by jscondon

SPLITGRIN

Kentucky

3.73/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Black cherry red body shows a high level of carbonation and hosts a deep tan head with large bubble concentration. Nose is very fragrent with strong tones of dark chocolate cherry and malt. Screams for a sweet ride ahead. Lichtly burnt malty goodness enters toe mouth. Very seet as previewed by the nose. Body is long and noticeabley high in alchol. Many characteristics resemble port greatly. Malty feel is doninent throughout and almost syrupy twords the finish. A extremely sweet over the top Scotish style. Mouthfeel is of sweet burnt malt. You couldnt drink much more than one of these 25 oz. 9% alc. bottles.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2006 21:53:22 | More by SPLITGRIN

CharlieMurphy

New York

3.73/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Deep dark brown with some light beams in the shallow end. Off white cream head stays low on the border.

S: Like brandy and scotch, whew! Don't know what to think about this as those are the only flavors i get on the nose.

T: Less brandy and even less scotch, but some port, peat, pinot noir, caramel malts, and finally some dark fruits. ->That's drawing a lot out of it, the taste is overall mild.

M: Low carbonation and could actually use a little more of it.

O: Meh, probably won't buy again, but it is really a decent beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 03:31:38 | More by CharlieMurphy

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.73/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle poured into a CCB snifter. No bottle date. Shame, Alesmith! Reviewed from notes.

Appearance - Deep brown. A bit translucent. Decent retention and lacing.

Smell - Butterscotch and caramel. Everything you'd expect from a scotch ale. But hops? What is that? Way too hoppy.

Taste - Much like the smell. Caramel, toffee, butterscotch. It's all cut by the hop flavor. Strong hoppy flavor in the finish, without being bitter. Too much.

Mouthfeel - Good mouthfeel. The hop bitterness cuts the sweetness. Really nice. Not bitter, but balanced.

Overall - Off-style from the hops. Good, but not what I expected.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 17:02:40 | More by Alieniloquium

DogFood11

California

3.75/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

750 poured into a tulip it forms a tan head that leaves ring like lacing and the head fades to an out ring. Deep copper to brown body with medium carbonation.

This is one of those brews that you can get almost everything thats going to happen from the smell and appearance. Very rich chocolaty, deeply toasted and slightly charred give it some bitterness (although not much) and a bit of a smokehouse backer, add in the sweet side of caramel malts and you have the backbone and it translates to the taste nicely. As it warms it shows off more of the fruity phenols but its still takes some due dilligence to find.

Notes: I thought this was a bit of a boozy brew in the smell and taste and sometimes a little harsh around the edges. Porter'ish w/ a tough finish. I absolutely love Alesmith beers. They've set such a high standard that for this brewery this was just ok to me. Still well above average for the style.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2006 04:11:05 | More by DogFood11

CAMRAhardliner

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I picked this up at Downtown Wines in Boston for $14.20.

Pours dark brown with cherry red hints. The head is smallish but never dissapears and coats the glass in creamy lace. The aroma shows brown sugar, vanilla, mollases and a good amount of booze. The taste is more complex. Fresh bread, licorice, stewed pears dusted in cocoa powder, toasted oak, rum soaked christmas cake, raspberry jam and English hops all pack into the flavor. The mouthfeel is thinner than I expected with a wonderfully textured carbonation. The finish is too boozey.

This beer is probably better with age. Its nicely complex and nuanced, but too sweet and boozey for my tastes.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2007 03:10:08 | More by CAMRAhardliner

avaulteriam

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This one was pretty big. Smell was initially strong of tootsie rolls and dark chocolate. Eventually, dark fruits came out. The taste was different, almost no hop character, other than the what is supposed to be there. Smokey and silky. Nice body, though somewhat one dimensional. Could have used some more chocolate character perhaps?

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2008 22:35:05 | More by avaulteriam

dirtylou

Washington

3.8/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle split with blackie, obtained in a trade with Solomon420

appearance: poured into a chalice, dark plum-garnet-mahogany body, light beige/khaki head with only slight lacing

smell: nice wee heavy aromas...raisin, sweet malt, milk chocolate tones, light booze, caramel, booze covered cherry, fig

taste: This is a very nice scotch, but the alcohol is a bit hot which makes this one quite obviously inferior to the Lake Louie's in my eyes...booze is way too hot for me but if you can get beyond that you have a nice smooth scotch...milk chocolate covered raisin, booze covered cherry, plum and other dark fruit, roasted grain, sugar sweet malt

mouthfeel: nice smooth body with a big alcohol follow through

drinkability: judged to the highest standard, its a little underwhelming

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2006 23:35:46 | More by dirtylou

dogfooddog

Panama

3.8/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

nose is a concern, note is vaguely like vinegar, with hints of raisins or other dark-sweet fruits. Not what I would expect from any scottish ale.

taste is much better - sweet glowing sense of old ale (not barleywine), hints of fruit or other typical notes. Lacks the character this style gains from wood-fermentation, though I see such a variant does exist.

this is not my favorite wee heavy, but a very decent example with improves into the bottle and higher temperature. I would really like to try the wood-aged version of this...

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2006 02:53:50 | More by dogfooddog

BeerBelcher

Ohio

3.8/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

This is a BIG beer. Unlike some other 10% ABV that surreptitiously sneak up on you, this one bares its character with the first sip.

Pours sort of muddy-brown, with scant head that quickly fades. Aroma is a touch smokey, peaty, and alcohol ester-y. Unmistakenly Scotch Ale. Flavor is a smokey, butter-scotch-y, slightly sweet, and peaty. Very good. Mouthfeel is odd - simultaneously both sweet and dry.

I know I've had this before - can't believe I haven't rated it. Thanks to SurlySober for bringing it up from Cincinnati.

This isn't a beer for every occasion, but it's good. Enjoyed this out of one of my thistle glasses...just kidding - it was from a tulip.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2009 17:20:19 | More by BeerBelcher

Floydster

California

3.83/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Glass at Beachwood BBQ in Seal Beach for six dollars this afternoon, wanted to try this as soon as possible before cracking my barrel aged version in the next couple weeks

This was only the second scotch ale or wee heavy style beer, so I do not have much to base the taste off of other than its overall characteristics as a beer

Poured into glassware that looked a flower vase with a deep brown color with burgundy accents throughout, resembled chocolate syrup, 3/4 inch creamy light tan head that stuck around for quite some time, good lacing as well

Smell was a bit overwhelming because of all the different things going on, lots of chocolate, some molasses, toffee, caramel, vanilla, other sweet malts, and a faint hoppy aroma

Taste was very good with malt that attacks the taste buds, I got maple syrup, figs, and dark fruit at the beginning, particularly plums and raisins, lots of brown sugar and a little cinammon, when the beer warmed it got even sweeter but surprisingly easier to drink because it was not as carbonated, miniscule hop profile provides some balance but all the different tastes are subtle enough that the beer is not overpowering with any one quality, got chocolate flavors told the end along with other candy-like sweetness, overall this was a great tasting sipper

Very nice thick body but too much carbonation, would have went down a lot smoother if it was not so cold and there were less bubbles, taste lasted a long time, good mouthfeel

I could drink another one of these maybe, it is heavy on the stomach and too sweet at times, not a session beer in any sense, the ABV is high enough to knock somebody on their backside as well

Cannot wait to try the BA version now, not Alesmith's best but still damn good, would definitely have again, next time out of a bottle to see the difference from the draft version, highly recommended even though it is an expensive beer

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2007 07:29:07 | More by Floydster

ibbjamin

California

3.83/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Paid $14.99 for a 750ml bottle from Perry's Liquor in Livermore, CA. Poured into a large snifter to review.

Gives a big head; off white and tightly knit with some frothage up top. Dark brown in color with deep ruby coming through when held to a bright light. A nice quarter inch layer of retention and thick trails of lace.

Aroma is sweet and malty yet still well balanced with a touch of earthy hops. Mild fruity notes of plum and raisin and even hints of thick molasses and toffee. Not a very big nose, but intriguing and complex nonetheless.

The first mouthfull reminds me quite a bit of an imperial stout; dark chocolate and expresso with roasted malts.

The mouthfeel differs from that of a stout though as it is not quite full bodied and not nearly as thick and viscous. Still relatively thick and goes down nice and creamy. Lively carbonation and nice drinkabilty.

This is one style of beer that varies greatly from beer to beer. I thought this to be a more mild Imperial Stout than some of the other's I've tried in its style.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2010 03:44:19 | More by ibbjamin

winomark

Missouri

3.85/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Medium brown hue; looks very viscous. Almost no head. Aromas of sweet alcohol, smoke, and candy. Suprisingly dry palate compared to the nose. Lots of smoke and malt with a long lingering finish. Mouthfeel is extremely flavorful and long. A good beer for a cool evening watching the World Series. Another great brew from Peter and the crew at Alesmith. Definately worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2004 13:41:23 | More by winomark

IrishRedRock

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beautiful bottle, as seen in the picture. Popped the cap off to hear no hiss of escaping carbonation. Poured some into a snifter, same result. Uterrly, lifelessly flat. Like red wine. Thankfully, it doesn't need any carbonation to taste nice. Aroma is limited, as you might guess, from not having any head atop, but traces of nutmeg, spice, chocolate and malt vinegar are evident in the nose.

Mouthfeel is flat and without carbonation, but "smooth" (no carbonation). Dark fruits are the most prominent flavor to balance the thick chewy malt and the touch of alcohol. Hoppy burps taste like cherries and plums. One I would gladly drink again, especially if the bottle had the carbonation I think it's supposed to have. Maybe AleSmith had some QC problems with this? I dont know. I'll give it a go again, if I should come across it.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2005 01:46:11 | More by IrishRedRock

IceAce

California

3.85/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep brown body with flashes of ruby around the edges. Nose is haevy with earthy malt sprinkled with an occasional alcohol ester.

Entry is an eye-opening combo of deeply roasted malt and mouth-pleasing fullness. The full malty goodness continues thru the midtaste while the finish is a decadent mix of malt, piney hop, and alcohol.

This brew just pleads to be served with a slow-cooked brisket.

Serving type: on-tap

01-03-2006 04:34:52 | More by IceAce

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750 ml bottle. Served in a pint glass, the beer pours dark brown with a half inch tan head. It smells like caramel, peat, toffee and molasses, overall the aroma is very sweet and malty. The beer tastes like caramel, raisins, toffee, figs, burnt coffee and a bit of licorice. Mouthfeel is full, but with a good bit of carbonation that I think is too much for this beer. Drinkability is good, it's smooth and creamy, but as the beer warms the alcohol heat is very noticable in the finish. It's definitely a sipper. Still, I think this is a good wee heavy. I would buy this one again.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2007 00:02:39 | More by bluejacket74

stevenseg

Michigan

3.85/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Scotch ales are typically very caramelly and the alcohol heavy. I am looking for a very robust flavor and have never been disappointed by Alesmith ales. Give me a great Scotch ale!

The Wee Heavy Scotch ale pours nice and dark. I think I may have overdone the pour as I ended up with a little too much head (not a bad case when you're not talking about beer). It's probably going to be a little flat for me. The head is nice and sticky and has some staying power. It sits atop a nice dark and thick brown body.

The nose is very sweet. Almost like a wine or blunt cider. Very little hops or peat roasting evident. The Wee Heavy reminds me more of a barleywine.

There is a very caramel-like taste coming through. I love it. The malts are roasted to perfection. Not much hop bitter on the back end, but that's not what Scotch ales are about.

I cannot judge the mouthfeel aside from body. My daughter knocked over the bottle and totally ruined the conditioning. It seems like it would be balanced, however. Wee Heavy is a very heavy-bodied beer, though, and I think I like a little less in Scotch ales. The caramel notes and a slightly lighter body would be heavenly and...

...really improve the drinkability. As it stands, the Wee Heavy taste is outstanding. Like I said, a lighter body would be nice, but I understand it's hard to get the sweetness without some viscosity. Overall Alesmith has not let me down again.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2009 04:21:12 | More by stevenseg

maximum12

Minnesota

3.85/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to bring for sending this impressive, hefty-looking Alesmith bomber in a fall '09 trade. Devoured on vacation, split with my mother & wife, June '10.

Emerges like a dark & stormy night, turbid red. Fairly standard for a wee heavy, peat, scotchy malts are in the house.

This is a good Wee Heavy. Hand hard on the scales of the sweet malts, with a baseboard of smokiness & peat holding it up & restraining it from going hard-candy, like a fire on the upland Moors. Toffee, wee bit o' caramel pop out of the mix. Very easy to drink for the style, almost light on its feet. Seven-eight ounces of this stuff just doesn't last very long.

Very good beer, & spot-on example of the style. I've been consistently impressed with Alesmith, & this one's no exception.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2010 01:40:26 | More by maximum12

sentomaster

Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Nose- Nutty, toffee, sweet sugary phenols, caramel toastiness

Taste & Mouth- Buttery, toffee, powdered chocolate, roasted chestnuts. It manages to be uber sweet while staying just south of cloying thanks to baked and roasty flavors. Just a touch of figs. Slick and creamy. There's also a bit of light, soft, dark-wheat bread (think outback steakhouse bread loaf). Light fizzle of carbonation picks it up and carries it across the finish line with a big comeback from the roasty, nutty and toffee flavors. Nice earthy hops come through very lightly at the end.

Drink- A very nice beer and it certainly holds its own. Not sure it quite lives up to it's status for me. I would say Founder's DB beats it hands down, but they are very different. This is much lighter and softer in it's flavors than DB, which has more robust dark fruit profile. Neither are like the true "wee heavy" styles from Scotland (Traquair, Bellhaven, Orkney) which disappoints me.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2011 21:08:54 | More by sentomaster