AleSmith Wee Heavy - Barrel Aged - AleSmith Brewing Company

glid02

Georgia

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

Bottle shared by Grant - thanks! From the 2009 release, I failed to record the bottle number.

Pours a slightly hazy golden-brown color with a half-finger tan head. The head recedes into a patchy layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of robust caramel malts with large amounts of vanilla and hints of spicy bourbon. Also present are large amounts of sticky toffee and hints of earthy hops that balance it all.

Tastes very similar to how it smells. Thick caramel malt flavors with large amounts of toffee kick things off. Joining in shortly thereafter are large amounts of vanilla flavors with hints of boozy coconut. Midway through the sip the sweetness from the malts subsides a bit and light earthy hops make an appearance. The hops, vanilla, and caramel malt flavors carry through to a mildly bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is very good. It's got a heavy thickness with smooth carbonation.

Drinkability is also very good. I finished my glass quickly and could easily have a few more.

Overall, if there's one thing I know about AleSmith, besides the fact that they don't make a bad beer, it's that they know their way around a barrel. A very well done beer and one that's well worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2011 01:03:01 | More by glid02

FosterJM

California

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

1071st Review on BA
Bottle to Snifter
750 ml

2009 Vintage

Thanks to ???? for sharing
Thanks to MrHirschybars for the tasting.

App- A good mix of browns and ambers with a little bit of crimson thrown in. A deep beer with a nice capped ½ finger of head that fell quickly to leave a couple dots of cling.

Smell- Besides the actual Creme Brulee beer from ST, this smelled a shit ton like bruleed sugar. A little burnt a little sweet and a little creamy. Had notes of toffee, butterscotch and vanilla.

Taste- A very layered beer with tons packed in. The sweetness of the sugar comes in 1st and then moves to the bourbon and a little bit of smokey damp malts. Brown sugar, vanilla and some cocoa. Not overly harsh or boozy. Very well done.

Mouth- Medium bodied with a good dose of medium amounts of carbonation. Leaves residual bourbon and smooth vanilla and burnt sugar.

Drink- This was my last beer of the night and I was blown away by everything there. This was definitely in the top 5 of the night. A simple amazing beer with layers upon layers of flavors.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2012 22:24:47 | More by FosterJM

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to BigFish for sending this to me in one of my first trades.

This review is for the 2006 vintage, bottle 150/254.

Pours a very dark chestnut brown color that's completely opaque with dark ruby/mahogany edges when held to a light source and a thin half finger light beige head that quickly fades into a thin lasting ring.

Amazing complex aroma with lots of smokey roasted chocolate malt, caramel, toffee, roasted coffee bean, licorice, earthy oak, vanilla and a very prominent bourbon presence.

Slightly hot medium body with a nice, silky viscous malt presence with lots of chocolate, roasted coffee bean, burnt toast, caramel and licorice. Very roasty with subtle hops and a huge bourbon presence that is slightly hot and somewhat dominates the flavor. It isn't too overpowering however, allowing the other notes to shine. Slight tannis and a heavy oak and vanilla presence. Absolutely delicious! Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2010 02:16:44 | More by corby112

Phelps

Arizona

4.45/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle number 565 of 972; vintage 2009, released 2011. Poured into a snifter and tasted against regular Wee Heavy, which is already one of my favorite scotch ales.

Deep maroon, dark yet fairly clear. There’s not much head to speak of, and it disappears to become a very thin ring within a few seconds.

Buttery nose. Tons of toffee, butterscotch, caramel, burnt sugar, some dark fruits. Also included: earthy hops, bright figs, cola, alcohol. Like a blend of brandy and red wine.

The flavor is So. Damn. Smooth. Bourbon, brandy, vanilla and new oak along with touches of toffee and sticky alcohol. The heavy whiskey flavor is semi-harsh, but met with brown sugar, a touch of maple and butter. The blend is incredible.

Medium-full, creamy body, smooth as velvet. Not much carbonation to speak of, but it’s alive nonetheless. Alcohol is big and numbs the tongue. It also comes through the nose just a bit.

If I had to choose something bad to say about BA Wee Heavy, I’d say the barrels take over the base beer just a bit too much. But hot damn, this is a tasty brew. Sweet, oaky, bourbony, and incredibly smooth.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 23:44:49 | More by Phelps

Halcyondays

California

4.43/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

25.4 oz. bottle, 2006 Barrel-Aged Vintage, #224/254, procured in the April 1st, 2008 release, drunk 4/4/08

A: Pours a dark brown, with a small white head, good retention, and great thick lacing.

S: Maple syrup, cognac, vanilla, Madeira wine, peat smoke.

T: Definitely a peaty maltiness, huge brown sugar notes, hint of Islay whisky and vanilla. Good amount of lactic acidity, probably from the barrel aging, also has a really good long lasting aftertaste you get from a good whisky, really tasty stuff.

M: Very smooth, has a softness in its character making it very easy to drink, nice prickly carbonation.

D: I definitely think the Barrel Aging has improved the Wee Heavy from Alesmith, which was already a great beer. It gave it more complexity and in the end made it much more interesting, I'll definitely buy another bottle or 2 at the next release, a beer that certainly grows on you as you drink it.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2008 22:31:54 | More by Halcyondays

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750mL bottle from the most recent release (I think), didn't get the bottle number. Graciously shared by jale (thanks a ton Jim!).

This pours a deep brown color, strongly translucent, with a nice tan cap. The aroma is otherworldly, very very inviting. Toasted and roasted malts, very sweet caramel, smoked malt or peat, and very well integrated yet rich bourbon. Wow, I could (and did) spend a lot of time just sniffing the beer. So good.

It tastes just as it smells, so many flavors and all of them coming in strong. The strongest components are sweet malts and bourbon, and the smoke is more of a complement to the other flavors, just adding a little something rather than defining the overall character. Toffee, dark fruits like plums or raisins, a little alcohol heat, cocoa, bourbon, smoke. Everything is there and it all works.

Somewhat heavy body, as befits a drink this flavorful, and decent carbonation even after its time in the barrel. This is a beer that I will always look for from now on. This and the BA Speedway.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2011 16:34:33 | More by TurdFurgison

OStrungT

California

4.4/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle #206 out of 234

This beer pours a very dark brown. It has a very small head. It is light tan. It fades slowly, leaving many thick laces.

This beer has a rather pleasent scotch aroma. I can smell some figs, and a dark fruit aroma as well. Plumbs and raisins. It also has a slight oak wood aroma. The alcohol is apparent in the aroma.

This beer has a flavor like a very mild scotch. It is quite sweet. Almost barley wine sweetness. It has a woody flavor. Some dark fruit flavor is present as well. The alcohol is present in the flavor also.

This beer is surprisingly smooth. It is quite low in carbonation. It leaves a mild scotch like aftertaste. It is well balanced.

I dont know how great of a session beer this would be. It is surprisingly smooth, but it is a little high in alcohol.

I think this beer is great. I am very happy to have had the chance to try this once in a lifetime beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2006 00:05:30 | More by OStrungT

grub

Ontario (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2008 Biergotter Tasting, Day 3: Barleywines and Others. Viggo contributed this one. thanks eric!

750ml bottle topped with gold foil. 2006 vintage, #56/254.

pours deep brown with a few garnet highlights when held to the light. a small dense tan head forms, dropping fairly fast and leaving lots of spotty lace.

aroma is great. bourbon, vanilla, and oak. toasted multi-grain bread. biscuit. cracker. burnt caramel. toffee. light alcohol. earthy. bit of dark fruit.

taste is great. dark fruit. bourbon. vanilla. oak. bit of dark chocolate. caramel and toffee. biscuit. wheat bread. low bitterness level. mellower than the fresh one, but with a bit more fruit and the added barrel character.

mouthfeel is great. medium-low carbonation level. just over medium body. silky smooth.

drinkability is great. excellent balance of the base beer, excellent balance between the base beer and the barrel character. great stuff.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2008 01:21:58 | More by grub

OlieIPA

California

4.4/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Poured and shared with my good friend Pehlman on my 25th birthday! A perfect beer for the occassion...now onto the review!

A: Poured into a very large tulip glass, the body displayed a dark brown hue that only got darker as the beer filled the glass. Shortly after, a light cream colored head developed momentarily. Soon it vanished to the outer edges of the glassware.

S: Tons of vanilla and oak that overpowers the original aroma this beer typically exhibits. The sweet malt comes through faintly as the beer warms up, but again, the barrel characteristics reign supreme with the nose.

T: Sweet bourbon, brown sugar, oak and vanilla create an extremely soft, delecate, and complex flavor profile. They do a wonderful job of "melding" together, but my only complaint is the how much the barrel characteristics mask the original flavors.

M: Full, creamy...with a touch of carbonation; surperb!

O: An extremely well crafted brew, but like I mentioned a million times...I wish there were more traces of the original beer. A must try! Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2011 21:07:30 | More by OlieIPA

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.38/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2005 Vintage - Bottle #112 (of 222).

Appearance: Pours a dark reddish-brown body with a small, tight, off-white head.

Smell: Ah, the expressive aroma of oh-so delicious bourbon with its notes of vanilla, oak, and brown sugar. Plus, there's also nuts, fruit (even raspberry), spice, and a truck load of malt.

Taste: Rich, creamy, candylike maltiness with literally tons of toothsome sweetness. Slight praline taste. As much punchy bourbon flavor possible without becoming unpleasant and excessive. Quite fruity, with flavors of the typical dark fruits plus, maybe, those raspberries from the aroma. Smokey peat component. Dash of spice. Warming, drying, vanilla finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium carbonation. Smooth, creamy mouthfeel.

Drinkability: Very tasty bourbony boost to what was already an excellent beer. Happiness really is a choice.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2008 21:59:10 | More by ChainGangGuy

flexabull

California

4.38/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

2006 Bottle 128/254 courtesy of metallitone1, thanks again!

The reason for opening this one? The Steelers winning the AFC North sounds like a good enough reason to me!

Pours a very dark brown color with a subtle off white head.

Aromas are very nutty, a bit sweet, brown sugar like, with a definite bourbon and oak note.

Taste is at first very earthy. Some oak, wood, and toasted nuts on the fore front. Beer then settles into some sweet malt flavors, it's creamy, with some dark sugars, a touch of chocolate, and just the slightest touch of bourbon. Finish is a little boozy, with a touch of alcohol warmth. Overall, this is quite full flavored, but not at all overly heavy.

Mouthfeel is good. But the more I drink, the more I think that this is a bit weak for the style. It just needs a little more thickness and lasting power. Not bad, but a little flawed.

Drinkability is surprisingly very good. What a nice beer! It's not nearly the big heavy beast I thought it would be. I actually was kind of hoping for a brash and heavy bourbon laced brew. And this wasn't it. This was malty sweet, light oaky booze goodness. This is an excellent beer that I am glad I got to taste.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2008 06:34:20 | More by flexabull

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750 ml BA version, big thanks to PHawk for hooking me up at a DLD trade, side by side with the regular version, part of return of the DrJay epic weekend tasting.

Pours like the non BA version, lightly hazed dark reddish brown, big thick tan head forms, drops a nice amount of lacing, good retention, forms a solid ring. Smell is great, bourbon, toffee, vanilla and oak, iron, lots of fruit, lots of fig and raisin, brown sugar, bread, real nice and integrated. Taste is figs and bourbon up front, toffee, oak, butterscotch/toffee, alcohol, melons, vanilla, great maltiness, some sour oak character in the finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation, really smooth, slightly dry finish, some oaky tannins going on. Very well integrated, Alesmith certainly know how to barrel age to perfect, great beer. Thanks Parker!

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2009 01:28:49 | More by Viggo

kels

Virginia

4.38/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I was really excited to get to try this when pwoods opened it up at a recent tasting. The regular Alesmith Wee Heavy is one of my all-time favorites, and this one proved to be just as excellent. Not one you see everyday...

Pours into the snifter a honey-highlighted shade of medium brown. There are light glimmers of red throughout that catch the light despite the haziness of the liquid. Lots of viscosity is apparent in the look of the beer, as the alcohol separates out a little in suspension in the syrupy brew.

The first word that comes to mind when smelling the beer is "perfumey." It has an almost delicate aroma that makes me think of perfume. There are sweet, dark fruits in the scent, along with the earthy presence of the oak and the bourbon. Slightly sweet from the malts and a little bit of roast, possibly a combination of the barrels and the malts.

From the first sip to the last this beer is exceptionally caramelly, rich and not-too-sweet. The barrel-aging complements the earthy quality of the style. It adds an additional dimension that breaks up the heaviness. It is strangely tart and bright in the taste, which is probably due in part to the moderate amount of carbonation in the beer. The carbonation also keeps the stickiness from weighing down the beer, and it finishes nearly clean. This beer almost reminds me more of a wine in the way it drinks. A very highly alcoholic wine.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2009 07:53:59 | More by kels

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.38/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle shared by ygtbsm94. Thanks Brad!

Vintage 2006
Bottle 246 / 254

A: Dark chestnut brown hued, with an 1/8" of brown head that leaves some decent lacing on the glass.

S: Aromas of smoke, peat, caramels, and a hint of the aging process, but not in any sort of negative way.

T: What a great beer. It's smoky and malty, with a myriad of flavors blending together very gracefully. This Scotch ale has really mellowed with age, as it's so effortless to consume and enjoy. It's slightly sweet and has hints of liquor, but it's not cloying or hot. Kudos to Alesmith - this is an exceptional beer.

M: Buttery, creamy and smooth on the palate. There is still a healthy level of carbonation present, but this beer has a silky smooth consistency about it.

D: A very enjoyable experience. If you are fortunate enough to happen across this brew, you will most certainly enjoy it.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2010 01:55:20 | More by Huhzubendah

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Huge thanks to Brad for sharing this bottle; I'd been wanting to try this for quite some time. 2006 vintage. Bottle 246/254. Served in a snifter.

Pours a moderately-dark brown color with a single-finger tan head and a bit of light lacing and a thin collar. Nose brings quite a bit of caramel, barrel character, dark fruits, and some more bourbon. A bit of booze, though it's quite welcome in the state it's in.

Flavor is really quite exceptional with a really nice barrel character. Really smooth and mellow. Beautiful warmth in the finish coming from the alcohol. Slight sweetness comes alongside the dark fruit character. Medium body and quite complex. Good carbonation. I've been waiting quite a long time to try this one, and it certainly was not a disappointment.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2010 02:39:10 | More by Thorpe429

DrJay

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2008 Biergotter Tasting - Day 3. Big thanks to Viggo for cracking this one. 2006, bottle 56/254.
Dark brown, lightly hazed, with coppery and purple highlights. A fine collar of beige bubbles formed after the pour and produced a fair bit of spotty lacing. Good head retention. Aromas were of caramel and plums, toffee, bourbon and booze, vanilla, wood, and tobacco leaf. Low bitterness with a rich flavour. Sweet plums, chocolate covered raisins, sweet cherries and malt, a bit of woody oak, milder alcohol than expected, and a little tartness in the finish. Leaning towards full bodied with low carbonation, very fine bubbles, alcohol warmth, and a dry finish. This stuff was really good, a nice combination of fruit and barrel notes. Well balanced and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2008 19:51:49 | More by DrJay

DefenCorps

Oregon

4.35/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Wow wow wow. Thank you so much, Greg, this along with the 06 silk screen BA Speedway was a definite treat this past weekend. This was the 06 release

Gorgeous clear ruby red with red highlights. A thin beige head is present but doesn't stick around too long. The nose is just flat out fabulous. An exceptional combination of oxidation, tobacco, caramel, bourbon, vanilla, oak, charred wood, rum and raisins and sherry. This really is a beer of exceptional depth. The palate doesn't quite live up, though. Opening up with a ton of caramel, cherry there is some toffee, vanilla and bourbon mid palate, and it sticks around until a long and exquisite finish with tobacco, caramel and sherry. Medium in body with mild carbonation, this is extremely smooth and drinkable. Unfortunately, it's going to be a while - if ever - that I get to try this again.

**Edit 16 Sept 2011**

The other night, I split a bottle of the 09 vintage that I received from peteinsd with some friends. Very briefly, this was excellent. Fruity with raisins, port, honey bourbon and vanilla, the balance between the base beer and the barrels is exceptionally done here. Fantastic. 4.5/4.5/4.5/5/4.5

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2009 11:51:52 | More by DefenCorps

nickd717

California

4.35/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle via trade, huge thanks to KRAMER17801, who is extremely generous. 2006 vintage.

Pours dark brown, fairly clear, with a small tan head and good lacing.

Great aroma. You can tell this one has some age. Sweet caramel malt and sherry, light peaty smokiness, wood, and old leather. Smells pretty awesome, even if those flavors might sound unappetizing to some.

Flavor is lots of caramel malt along with some toffee notes. Sweet nuttiness, peat, wood, vanilla, and sherry oxidation flavors make this a really interesting and complex beer.

Medium-full bodied and very smooth. Low carbonation, and a little alcohol warming. Long finish.

What an awesome beer. If this wasn't so rare, I'd definitely seek it out again. Easy to drink for what it is.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2010 17:40:30 | More by nickd717

Jredner

Florida

4.33/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Aroma is dominated by bourbon, but I can detect ample caramel malt, dark fruits, toasted toffee and mild notes of licorice. Body is dark brown, not muddy, and holds a diminishing, frothy tan head. Holds flavors of raisin, stewed prunes, licorice, oak, caramel, vanilla, bourbon and a massive and sustained malt backbone that can more than stand up to the many different flavor components. It’s a joy to drink and feels very nice on the mouth. It only has the faintest suggestion of smoked malt in the finish.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2006 18:48:39 | More by Jredner

pwoods

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Wetherel for this great bottle.

750ml capped green bottle poured into a little snifter.

A: Pours a deep murky brown completely opaque. Moderate head on the pour without much retention. Some spotty lacing.

S: Deep woody and earthy aromas. Bourbon is there but not huge, adding some heat and alcohol depth.

T/M: Lots of rich, deep malts. Very earthy, fiberous wood. Bourbon is very tasty with light heat. No smoke or peat which is good here. Carbonation is pretty low and I think it could use a bit more.

D: Definitely a slow sipper, tasty though.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2009 21:18:31 | More by pwoods

wethorseblanket

California

4.33/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes. Shared by Henry - thanks.

A: Pours a blackish dark brown with a fine light tan head and not much lace.

S: Nose is old wood with traces of smoke, bourbon, and vinous.

T: Big maple notes up front followed closely by boozy bourbon and layers of grainy malt.

M: Creamy, rich and chewy. A little sweet maple syrup.

O: Decadent and a slow sipper. Enjoyed by all.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2011 03:25:50 | More by wethorseblanket

pmarlowe

California

4.31/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 vintage. On tap at the tasting room during the 2013 BA Grand Cru release.

A: Pours a deep black with a ring of tan head. No lacing, pretty extensive retention.

S: Light to moderate bourbon, dark toasted oak, and a touch of vanilla, very dark fruit (blackcurrant, dark grape), and lots of rich caramel.

T: Tasty oak and malt, fruit is pretty faint under the barrel notes, sweet toffee. The light sweetness really enhances the flavor.

M: Medium-full body and very light carbonation. Super smooth and a little sticky. Alcohol is very well hidden.

O: Very well balanced and tasty, although the base beer does not show through very much in the flavor. That being said, this is nowhere near the bourbon bomb that the last vintage was.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 14:42:47 | More by pmarlowe

AgentZero

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Big ups to Jason for busting this out at the Thai appreciation week tasting.

A - Dark brown beer that's pretty opaque. Tan head, no real stick left on the sides.

S - Great smelling beer with a lot of caramel, vanilla, and nice bourbon. I really don't care for the smell of Scotch Ale, but this pretty good.

T - Well, Scotch Ale, Wee Heavy, whatever it is, this is much better than what I was expecting. Great caramel, bourbon, little butterscotch and some roast. Bourbon is mild and adds flavor, not hot at all.

M - Medium bodied, moderate carbonation, quite smooth.

O - Really like this one a lot. Flavorful, smooth, easy to drink. Shocked, as this is one of my least favorite styles, guess the barrel-aging really paid off in this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2011 04:08:34 | More by AgentZero

Urbancaver

Ohio

4.28/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared at Jackie os. Thanks!
2009 vintage

Pours a gorgeous yellowed brown. Brown with a nice tint. Not really any head. Smells bourbon heavy and a bit boozy. Really nice nose. Tastes boozy and malty. The bourbon is fairly subtle on the tongue compared to the nose. Smooth and rich. Quite good

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 14:37:26 | More by Urbancaver

brystmar

New York

4.28/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Review #500! Thanks to blatantdream for busting out this surprise.

Brownish pour, notably lacking head of any sort. Decidedly darker than most Scotch ales. Aroma starts off muted with bourbon and malts at center stage but opens up as the brew warms. Rich, complex bouquet of scotch, spices, butter, and toffee at room temperature.

Sweet malts and bourbon dance on my tongue as the beer's other flavors arrive and add exceptional depth. Butterscotch, vanilla, brown sugar, more bourbon, maple, and a touch of smoke make their presence known. Booze complements the flavor profile and soothes my throat as everything descends. Creamy body delivers the goods.

Another great BA beer from AleSmith. With the exception of BA Speedway, I have yet to taste one of their BA brews that isn't outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 19:50:07 | More by brystmar