AleSmith Wee Heavy - Barrel Aged - AleSmith Brewing Company

paytoplay

California

4.97/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2005, I can see this getting better in 3-5 years, thats how good this brew is. Had never had a regular Wee Heavy from Alesmith for some reason. Intense brew, dark rich and had a finish like no other. Alc and acidity keep this very focused but still it's big. Barrel aged nose of burbon is tied into chocolate and dark coffee type aroma. Haunting. Powerful mid palate.

Thanks to Tom at O'Brien's SD and his Alesmith tasting for this. Maybe the best beer I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2008 18:17:52 | More by paytoplay

BOLTZ7555

Arizona

4.97/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bottle 96/222 of the 2005 batch sampled courtesy of Sparky27 @ Hellbilly’s Hellraiser 3.0...THANKS ERIC!!! This one has to take the top honors of the night (and Rodenbach Alexander, Southampton RIS, and Toronado 20th were in the Hiz-Ous)...rusty penny/maple syrup pour with a razor-thin caramel head. Aroma has strong barrel-notes; oak, bourbon, toffee, and molasses. Flavor is sweet malt, candied sugar, dark fruit, brown sugar, and freshly spliced vanilla bean. Quite thick and sticky...WOW!!!

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2011 06:25:46 | More by BOLTZ7555

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.95/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Wow, what can I say about this one. Bottle #205/234 from the 2006 edition. Needless to say I am absolutely thrilled to be getting to open this one. I wish I had someone to share it with, unfortunately this one is going to have to be handled on my own, well fortunately for me anyway J I had this sitting in the fridge for a good little bit until I decided to open it up on a whim last night. I let it warm up to around cellar temp before I decided to unwrap the gold foil and pop the cap open on this one, letting loose all the mayhem that ensued. The glass of choice for this one would of course be my brand new and now personal favorite 22oz Terrapin snifter, which I am finding myself use for just about everything now.

Appearance - The pour was nice with a very opaque, deep, dark, mahogany brown color coming out of the bottle. Nothing really spectacular as far as the head goes, with really only the slightest crown of tan coming over the top for a few fleeting moments before vanishing almost as quickly as it came into a thin line around the rim. No side glass lace either as this one was looking more like a motionless abyss.

Smell - The aroma was breathtaking. The rich smell of Bourbon was almost overwhelming at first. I had to really let it breath before I could take in just how good this one actually was. Really full aroma, one of the most complex I have ever come across. The barrel aging has transformed this beer into something that is nowhere close to the way it once was. Huge bourbon smells now mixing with a nice oak like aroma, hints of vanilla and earthy tones, the malt from the original gone. Just breathtaking the transformation that took place on this one.

Taste - The flavor was just a beautiful continuation of the aroma. It started out with a huge rush of bourbon, a touch hot, but endlessly complex. Letting it warm brought out gorgeous notes of vanilla, some dark fruit, perhaps raisins, and a good touch of what almost seemed like peppery spices as well. Really just fantastic. Nice oak flavor, barrel aging really doing a job here now. The old Wee Heavy is long gone, now being replaced by this masterful barrel aged beer. I was enormously impressed here and to be honest have to score it perfectly just based on the transformation.

Mouthfeel - It may have been low on carbonation, but the feel of this one did not suffer at all. It was almost like a perfectly aged old ale by now. This was really just so silky smooth, a full feel on the tongue that just lingered on forever. I don't think it could have gotten much better then this.

Drinkability - What is there really to say that I haven't already. I sipped on this one in my glass for a few hours I think. Never really getting tired of it, and I actually was a touch sullen when the last drop eroded away. It was just the perfect nightcap. There was no way though that it was only 9%, way underrated here. This was easily north of 12% and you could feel it, this one really started to put a hurting on me after a little while, but still, it was tremendously good and really in a class of its own.

Overall I thought this was easily one of the best beers I have ever had. The only thing it lacked was a little bit better initial presentation, but aside from that, it was just sublime. I could have had a dozen bottles and would open one every night. I just think it was amazing the transformation this one undertook. Some Barrel agings just do not go over well, this one on the other hand just went perfectly. I could not have envisioned it being any better. Just perfect I would love to have it again, and can only imagine what the Speedway must be like, if I can ever manager to get a hold of a bottle of that one!

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2008 10:42:59 | More by mikesgroove

tpd975

Florida

4.9/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Huge Huge Huge thanks to fishingnet for this one. 06 Version Bottle 163/254

A: Pours a murky amber hue with a small offwhite head. Very little retention and no real lace.

S: Wonderful barrelific aromas. Tons of fresh oak, vanilla, and wafty booze. Subtle smoky aromas hide beneath with brown sugar coated dark fruits.

T: Alesmith knows how to barrel age beers. As we all know the base beer for this one is world class to start with. The great part is the base beer is still there. Wonderful sweet malt, caramel, brown sugar, and toffee can all be picked out. The barrel does push it to another level though. The way the oak, vanilla, and booze seem to meld into the base beer is perfect.

M: Full in body, rich, smooth, wonderful.

D: I could sip this one all night long.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2009 15:41:31 | More by tpd975

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.88/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

750ml bottle acquired from an SD friend in my time of need. Thanks for the opportunity, Scott. 2004 vintage, #33 of 234, gold foiled cap.

Poured in a Rapscallion glass, poured with a 1/8" tan head over the brownish burgundy brew. Bubbles quickly retreated to the edges, leaving a few bubbles in the center, and a light film elsewhere. Aroma is dark fruits, leathery lightly smoky malts, and soft intensity of rounded edges alcohol. Taste is <wow> super rich maltiness upfront, smoke wisps again floating around, with a dry booziness in the middle that almost takes your breath away with its near evaporation, and closes with a return of the deep malt, warming all the way down, and even leaves the gums a little numb. Mouthfeel is velvet smooth, and retains ample carbonation for a BA brew. Drinkability is high because I want to enjoy this again, but know that I probably won't.

Feels weird to enjoy a brew that people would pay hundreds of dollars for on eBay, since I didn't and couldn't pay that much for it. Just have to bask in my fortunateness and luck.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2007 02:28:35 | More by ppoitras

scottoale

California

4.85/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From the limited special offering of 234 bottles of J.P.Gray's Wee Heavy scotch style ale, this comes in a 750ml. green glass champagne bottle with silkscreened label (also numbered) and a gold foil on the cap/neck. This is #196 and it pours a beautiful deep, darkish burgundy red with a half inch of a creamy tan head. Nice delicate lacing, trailing behind each sip.

Oak,smoke, cherries and alcohol send your sense of smell into delerium...is this beer, an ultra fine-wine or a liqueur ? It smells insane ! Gotta taste it.

The flavor is almost too complex for a mortal human like myself to describe accurately. Starts off like a cherry flavored tequila with oak making it's presence in a most mellowing manner. It loads the palate with sweet fruity flavors to the sky, the alcohol then runs away with it to the point where you wonder "what the hell am I drinking ?" It's a bit sweet yet balanced, then turbo-charged with a potency that brings to mind, a fine cognac indeed...but this is beer ?

The mouthfeel is velvety-smooth, round and filling. The warming down the gullet is incredible. The oak does amazing things to the ageing of a beer of this caliber, while it is delicious and only young at this stage, proper ageing of this wonderful creation will probably go down in history books. Luckily, I'm cellaring my last three bottles, as I'm sure these will age like no other...can hardly wait !

This is an ale of around 10%ABV, while easy to drink by a veteran of very strong ales...you best respect and sip this one, no kidding !!!

A hearty cheers to AleSmith for a one-of-a-kind ale of distinction...wish the best to the fortunate few that get to savor this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2006 02:02:41 | More by scottoale

brew3crew

Ohio

4.85/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Thanks to the random guy at jackie o's for the pour!

A-carmel brown with no head whatsoever

S-very well melded bourbon and carmel. Very inviting

T-follows the nose. Vanilla bourbon and awesome. Simply splendid

M-medium body and oh so smooth

O-wow. Unexpected treat. Almost perfect

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 14:42:40 | More by brew3crew

tarface23

California

4.8/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The father of an AleSmith brewer brought a bottle of 2004 on the Quaff Campout. You know, the ones in the old green bottles.

We tasted it amongst barrel aged Numbskulls and Decadence of various vintages, but angels sang when we tasted this one. Creamy, rich malt with a little sherry oxidation note. Everything came together so smoothly.

I wish I had the patience to save some beers a few years...

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2010 06:37:13 | More by tarface23

PeterIngemi

Massachusetts

4.8/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

drinking bottle #517/972 of the 2009 vintage released in 2011

A- dark dark brown, almost black, very minimal head

S- amazing oak, dark fruit, burbon, caramel, toffe, very complex, molasses... Smells amazing

T- very smooth up front going into an incredible blend of burbon, caramel, vanilla, toffe, and tons of barrel character, finishes with a touch of alcohol and dark fruit.

M- very low carbonation, medium mouthfeel, very very smooth, I love the low carbonation in this beer.

O- incredible, I am so fortunate to be able to be drinking this. Amazing.... I don't know what else to say... So much barrel character! So derrricious!

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2012 02:49:51 | More by PeterIngemi

rye726

Colorado

4.75/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Vintage '06. Thanks Mike!

Pours a hazy, woody mahogany with a silky tan head.

Nose has whiskey, dark pitted fruits, oak, vanilla, cocoa, raisins, figs, caramel and toffee.

Very well balanced flavor profile. The barrel aging is subtle yet compiments the beer perfectly.

Creamy body has a delicate carbonation. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2010 21:39:53 | More by rye726

Beerzebub

District of Columbia

4.7/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From seaoflament in a trade. Thanks!

2005 bottle, #217/222, poured in a big wine glass at 57 F/ 14 C.

The coloring is fully revealed by a complete lack of head. Deep reddish coffee brown fades to a golden brown topaz around the edges, quite attractive, crowned by a very thin ring of tiny bubbles, and basically no lacing. Almost no perceivable carbonation, but the bottle did release a gentle hiss when opened.

Aroma of caramel and bourbon barrel - almost just like a particularly caramelly bourbon with a tobacco aspect, minus most of the alcohol. The malt and the bourbon barrel are fused seamlessly and deliciously, with notes of light roast coffee, raisins, vanilla, and something immediately and surprisingly evocative of yellow curry.

The flavor shouts "I am barleywine!", driven by sweet, sticky, dark caramel. The bourbon barrel certainly makes its presence known, but it is balanced and very well integrated, more restrained in the flavor than it is in the aroma. Coffee, tobacco, raisins, mixed spices, and a bit of chocolate, all steeped in dark bourbony caramel. Good long finish, with the malt eventually giving way to dry, very mildly bitter, spicy wood in the very end.

The apparent lack of carbonation is compensated for by a full, thick, silky maltiness. This is no thirst-quenching quaffer of course, but is a pleasure to drink nonetheless. The deeper I drink of this, the more entangled I become in a web of pleasure it spins about my soul, so that I desire to drink deeply of it endlessly and endlessly.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2009 08:25:25 | More by Beerzebub

rallison

California

4.7/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Vintage 2005. Bottle #148/222.

Pours with a minimal head - not quite still but quite low carbonation.

Nose is very balanced and pleasant - bourbon, caramel and vinous fruits play together quite nicely.

The taste is quite nicely balanced at this point (5 years out!) with a heavy emphasis on vinous fruits and mellow bourbon layered beautifully on top of a soft caramel/toffee base. There almost seems to be a presence of juicy dark berries on top of everything, rounding things off nicely. Lovely.

No alcohol heat is left. The carbonation is very low, but works nicely in this case, giving the beer a very pleasant, soft character.

Minimal oxidation.

Excellent beer. At this point, the 2005 vintage is drinking very nicely. Very mellow and very rounded. Now would be a good time to open a bottle (I point this out to the multitudes of you with bottles waiting to be opened). With that said, given the minimal oxidation, it could probably handle another couple of years - but, I don't necessarily see it improving either.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2010 08:26:45 | More by rallison

kmcnair

California

4.68/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle number 216 of 234.

A - Pours a cola like deep brown hue and doesn't foam up at all, the crown is totally absent. A hard pour generates not much more than a few suds that collect on the sides of the glass.

S - Aroma is a lovely boquet of smoked malt, figs, raisins, chocolate, scotch, toasted oak and vanilla. You can really bury your nose into this one, it smells fantastic.

T - And a taste... it just brings it all home. Wow... you put the Scotch strong ale into a Bourbon barrel and everything just falls into place. Sweet dark fruits like figs, raisins, dates and prunes dance with a hint of smokey malt, vanilla bean, bittersweet chocolate, brown sugar, maple and subtle oaky alcoholic bourbon overtones.

M - Soft and wet on the palate, nicely thick, rich and creamy in the body and finishes with a great warmth. Carbonation is almost completely absent.

D - The Bourbon Barrel effect on AleSmith Wee Heavy is a winner. Take something thats already quite good and make it several times better. This is a slow and easy sipper that will warm you up and content you on a quiet night. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2006 06:33:18 | More by kmcnair

popery

California

4.65/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

2012. Pours a dark brown with a small amount of bubbles. The head is beige and dissipates relatively quickly. Nice enough lacing though. Aroma is a well blended mix of bourbon notes and the wonderful flavors of the base beer. There's vanilla, oak, bourbon and a bit of booze mixed into molasses, caramel, fresh dough, toasty malt sugars and all sorts of other warm, friendly flavors. Taste is sweet and warm. It's a lovely beer. I realize that I'm sorta repeating myself here, but the rich malt flavor of the base beer is impeccably blended into the bourbon barrel flavors. Alesmith is one of the very best at barrel aging, and it very much shows in this beer. Feel is smooth and full. Never gets too sticky or boozey. This is just a phenomenal beer. On a sidenote, I don't think it will get any better with age. This beer is drinking wonderfully, right now.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 06:20:52 | More by popery

pschul4

Illinois

4.61/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from Ehammond1 in a secret streakers BIF. Eric is the fucking man

A- Pours a murky cola brown with a half in tan head tha leaves a lil lacing

S- Bourbon jumps out at your but some caramel and peaty malts are in there as well. Smells wonderful to someone who really liked bourbon

T- Bourbon up front. Dark fruits, caramel and those peaty malts are present in the middle of the taste with bourbon cleaning up the end. So good

M- Low carbonation leads to a very smooth mouthfeel. Very nice

O- Not much more to say, this is delicious and I'm going to enjoy savoring this over the course of the next hour or so

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 23:48:46 | More by pschul4

jpiper

Ohio

4.6/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2006 42/254 - shared with my wife. Boy does she love these non-hoppy Alesmiths.

Builds just the smallest tan head upon pouring with lace remaining through the session. A muted grayish caramel brown color to the beer.

The nose is malty. Caramel malt, oak, and lots of it. One of the more delicious smelling beers I can remember pouring.

The taste can't be as good, and it isn't quite. But it is delicious. There's some good balancing bitterness to this malty brew, but perhaps a little too much. Someone said peat - I can taste and smell that too. Honey? Definitely oak, toasted malts. Let it site between sips and the bitterness lingers longer than I'd hope. Alcohol very well hidden. The flavors are well mingled.

Minor carbonation barely tickles the tongue and the oak makes it incredibly smooth. Not chewey, but not thin. Just smooth, smooth, smooth.

Drinkability? I could sip on this all night long. Almost wish my wife weren't downing half of this.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2008 04:12:02 | More by jpiper

hoppymeal

Michigan

4.58/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

05 Vintage, #184 of 222. Pours still, just a few bubbles hanging around the edge of the glass, regardless of how vigorously I pour. Brown and ruddy in color, a decent haze of sediment. Aroma is outstanding bourbon barrel characteristics, sweet vanilla, great woody notes, big and bourbony alcohol, some aged, worn leather, salty grilled meat and dark rich fruity maltiness all combine in the complex aroma. Taste follows with some nice oaky woodiness, strong, sweet vanilla, only hints of the malty wee heavy style that lay beneath. Good alcohol bite and a dry oakiness wind up the taste. Slightly slick feel on top of the tongue, some peppery alcohol before a warming alcohol breaks into the party and thins things out. Somehat drying in the finish. Outstanding beer, alesmith is doing the barrel ageing very well. Would love to see some barrel aged blends some day from this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2008 02:28:28 | More by hoppymeal

Bierguy5

Ohio

4.58/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to mcallister for sharing this gem. 750 ml, 2005 vintage, bottle 176/222. A murky mahogany color, with very little head. Not a huge shock for this beast.

Wonderful aroma going on here. Bourbon, oak, vanilla, a hint of smoke, and a good amount of caramel malt. Some alcohol is noticable as well, but not overly burning. I took about 5 minutes to do nothing but smell this beauty.

Good amount of sweetness up front. Bursting with malt and booze up front. Heavey amount of caramel, with minimal fruit. Great bourbon, woody oak and vanilla notes. Long lingering warming finish.

Good body, low carbonation. Lots of complex flavors and aromas working here. Very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2008 00:33:43 | More by Bierguy5

kleffman

California

4.55/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hand numbered bottle #161 split with a friend, and poured into the Alesmith tulip glass they sold a couple years ago.

Immediately upon opening the barrel and bourbon aromas attacked me. Poured a dark reddish brown with just a bit of head. Small bubbles rise to the surface just fast enough to hold this thin head. When swirled in the glass I could create an amazing pillow on top and unleash the aromas of bourbon, vanilla, oak, and alcohol.

Where did the Wee Heavy go? Totally a different beer, just like the Barrel Aged Decadence was. Incredible flavors of dark fruits, maybe overripe grapes. Vanilla, bourbon, caramel, raisin. Extremely complex. Let it sit on your tongue and it evolves into different things never before experienced in a beer.

Actually quite a nice mouthfeel. Unlike the previous reviewer this had some carbonation that tingled the mouth a little. Not high carbonation, but just enough to unleash it's aromas.

This is drinkable in the sense that I could keep sipping this all night long. It's really a finely crafted masterpiece. As mentioned below, this is second only to the Decadence old ale that was barrel aged. Glad I waited in line for this gem.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2007 18:42:24 | More by kleffman

mcallister

Ohio

4.53/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2005 bottle 176 of 222

Pours a very acrid uncarbonated lazy shade of dirty russett. Not much of any head...at all.

This smells amazing. Some may say too much in way of bourbon and oak I say bring it on!! Huge vanillan oak with thick bourbon, cream fresh aroma, more charred wood character, milk chocolate, brandy reduced fig, stale malts, roasted malt, hints of peat and smoke with more dark fruits hidden beneath the thick woody aromatics.

Big beer but sightly thin in the middle of the mouthfeel. Long never ending finish that shows loads of residual sugar, brown sugar brandy reduced dried fruits really shine through on the finish with a slight warming alcohol. Much sweeter than anticipated. Bourbon, huge vanilla toasted oak, charred woods, with much more caramel in the mouth to balance and add complexity. Dates, fig, dried fruit, creamy on the finish. Slight prickle as well. Bit roasty with only hints of peat showing through. An absolutely amazing beer that I look hugely forward to enjoying again in the future. Thanks Peter!!!!

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2008 23:02:08 | More by mcallister

drgonzo3705

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2006 Vintage poured before the BA Blackout release party. Thanks to one of the Cincy guys (Was it Rich?) for cracking this one. From the notes:

A: Pours a deep caramel color on the border of opaque and translucent. Little head on the pour which quickly died to a few splotches and a thin ring around the glass.

S: Big whiff of bourbon hits your nose with a sweet vanilla oakiness blended with the rich peaty toffee malt aroma.

T: Much like the nose, not as big as I thought it would be. Bourbon is very pleasant with the toffee and peat laden maltiness. Rich sweetness but not too much, nicely balanced.

M: Medium body with adequate carbonation. Could have been a bit thicker for my tastes but still very nice slick mouthfeel overall.

D: Damn good. I love the non BA version, and I now love this one too. I would have no problem taking care of a bottle by myself.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2009 01:02:17 | More by drgonzo3705

jale

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Shared this bottle with an awesome friend(turdfergison).

A: Pours a dark brown with tan head.

S: Bourbon, roasted malt, caramel and some smoke.

T: Sweet roasted malt up front. Nice mild bourbon flavor that is not overdone. Alcohol is well hidden. Just a hint of chocolate in the finish.

M: Medium-heavy body with good carbonation.

D: The fact this is not a RIS really adds to its drinkability. I could drink many more of these.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2011 20:35:09 | More by jale

ehammond1

California

4.48/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle (2009)

(Aged for 2+ years)

Cloudy dark brown with only a small brown head that doesn't leave much in the way of lacing. An excusably average looking beer.

The nose is quite wonderful--this is what barrel-aging beers is all about. Rich, deep aromas of wood and bourbon, vanilla and caramel, earthy dark chocolate, and some cream combine magnificently. A beer transformed.

The flavor is just as magnificent and rich: bold barrel notes, vanilla, earth and wood, some maple sweetness, and mild dark chocolate, with just enough alcohol presence.

Full bodied with low to moderate carbonation, and just a bit oily. Perfect.

A joy.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 19:49:25 | More by ehammond1

largadeer

California

4.47/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: 2006 vintage, bottle 63 of 254, drank side by side with the '06 barrel-aged Old Numbskull. Dark ruddy brown in color, opaque except for some slight transparency around the edges. A thin tan head forms from a vigorous pour, settling quickly to a ring. This is slightly more carbonated than the barrel-aged Old Numbskull, but it's by no means bubbly.

Smell: Rich and malty with a big oak barrel presence. Nutty, toasty, semi-sweet. Hints of vanilla and figs. This has a cleaner aroma than the barrel-aged Old Numbskull.

Taste & mouthfeel: Chewy toasted malt, tobacco and earth, chocolate and vanilla, huge oak flavor but not overtly bourbony. Malty, but drier than I was expecting. This is a mellow beer to begin with, but barrel aging has smoothed it out even more. No heat whatsoever despite the high ABV, and the low carbonation makes for a silky mouthfeel. Excellent stuff, not quite as outstanding as BA Speedway, but clearly better than BA Old Numbskull.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2008 21:46:26 | More by largadeer

gford217

Georgia

4.47/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to Derek for this 750mL bottle, 2005 vintage #181/222.

Pours a deep, clear copper with a very fleeting, bubbly tan head that dissipated immediately and left no lacing.

The aroma is very good with more bourbon than I was expecting. However, even with the big bourbon presence, there are plenty of signs of the underlying beer with caramel, toffee and lots of dark fruits.

The taste has a huge bourbon sting up front and in the finish. In between there is the sweetness of caramel, toffee, raisins and some brown sugar. The bourbon starts to meld much more smoothly with the flavor as this warms and adds plenty of oak and vanilla from the wood as well.

The mouthfeel is very slick with minimal carbonation. The barrel presence is very evident, both with the boozy burn and the dryness of the finish.

This is a very boozy Scotch ale that will be tasty for those folks who really like a bourbon-heavy taste. Another world class brew from Alesmith.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2009 03:06:23 | More by gford217