AleSmith Decadence 2010 English Style Old Ale - AleSmith Brewing Company

jampics2

Ohio

3.78/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

750ml bottle purchased at an Ohio store. We finally got Decadence in Ohio after being skipped on the previous releases. This was a pleasant surprise to find. The beer was a bit green (young) but good nonetheless.

Looks nice in my snifter. A dark liquid with hints of mahogany and rose splashed up against the black backdrop. A beautiful head quickly recedes and leaves just a ring, but it comes right back when agitated. Really nice looking beer.

Smells of raisin, fig, port, and a little booze.

Taste is great but hot. Interested to see where this goes. For now, it's a chocolate, fig, raisin, brown sugar bomb that's just a bit too obvious in it's 11%. Some oxidation could help here, and a bit more mellowing on the bitterness could make this fantastic in a few years.

Syrupy and thick, it also leaves a sticky feeling on my lips. If it wasn't so damn boozy, this would be a better score. I'll revisit with a bottle I have in the cellar and see how it comes along.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2010 19:10:10 | More by jampics2

ejimhof

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

05-05-2013 22:06:23 | More by ejimhof

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

04-29-2013 06:06:54 | More by Kelp

ngeunit1

California

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark brown with a finger of frothy khaki-tan head. Fades fairly quickly.

S - Sweet caramel malts, brown sugar, caramelized malts, some dark fruit, dark caramel malts, toffee, English yeast, nuttiness, vanilla, and some booze.

T - Sweet caramel malts, brown sugar, caramelized sugars, raisins and other dark fruits, darker caramel malts, nuttiness, vanilla, English yeast, and some booze.

M - Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a sweet and warming finish.

D - Nice balanced old ale. A touch on the thin side.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 03:35:58 | More by ngeunit1

hooliganlife

Missouri

3.24/5  rDev -19.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3

2010 vintage

pours deep brown, creamy head. bit of a cola look.

deep dark fruit, some roasted nuts and toffee. sweet malt.

a bit oxidized, flat sweet malt and faint toffee and butterscotch. not a lot going on here.

nice smooth body, mild to moderate bite. bit of a dry finish.

ehhh past its prime.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 18:28:54 | More by hooliganlife

david131

Michigan

4/5  rDev -1%

11-11-2012 02:40:51 | More by david131

chrisxmartin

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

11-05-2012 10:38:24 | More by chrisxmartin

DarthKostrizer

California

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

10-27-2012 04:30:39 | More by DarthKostrizer

maximep

New York

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

10-24-2012 16:51:53 | More by maximep

FosterJM

California

3.98/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1565th Review on BA
Bottle to Snifter
750ml

Shared with Daysinthewake & Litheum94
Purchased from Walnut Liquorette for $16.99

App- More of a rust/caramel color in the glass without a head to speak of. A bit of a denser pour but still retained and creamy and shiny look to it. There was no cling. Looked like a darker cordial in the glass.

Smell- It was a traditional old ale to me. A large malt presence with a bit of creme on the nose. Retained a small quad like nose. Picked up on some dark fruits and touches of vanilla as well.

Taste- Its a good old ale. Really had a lot of flavors melded well together and didnt have a harshness or lack of balance as some do. This was more smooth with the flavors complimenting. The vanilla was there and then the malts came in with a caramel sweetness that played off a rich cream like flavor.

Mouth- A small medium body with a bit of a low carbonation. Residual flavors of malty caramel and a bit of a sweetness behind it.

Drink- Did this side by side with the BA version and we all know who wont the battle but this was a good beer. A very good beer. Would love another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 14:53:00 | More by FosterJM

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.28/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Review from 10/2010 notes. Poured into a pint glass. Pours a dark red hued amber with a small tan head that leaves light lacing. Malt and dark fruit aroma. Flavor of classic old ale rich malts and dark fruit with a hint of roasted malts. Fairly sweet. Medium bodied with a hint of creaminess. A very nice, enjoyable old ale.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 19:35:54 | More by LiquidAmber

UCLABrewN84

California

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle pour at the bottle share hosted by Adam Fine Wine & Liquor held at Sophie’s Place in Redondo Beach, CA.

Pours a clear dark amber with a foamy khaki head that settles to an oily film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, brown sugar, and some very nice fruity aromas. Taste is much the same with a citrus zest flavor on the finish. There is a mild amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer with a very nice aroma and tasty flavor.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 03:28:13 | More by UCLABrewN84

Rollzroyce21

California

4/5  rDev -1%

07-27-2012 13:43:16 | More by Rollzroyce21

emerge077

Illinois

3.7/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark brown, copious foam with lasting coverage. Opaque and impenetrable.

Smells like old shit. Bread dough and toffee with a side of oxidation. Sweet pastry.

Tastes like heavy oxidized nutty malt, creamy and smooth, slightly creamy lactic toffee and mild bitterness. Its alright, other Alesmith beers are much better.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 00:24:59 | More by emerge077

hoppymcgee

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

07-10-2012 01:33:07 | More by hoppymcgee

Rempo

Indiana

5/5  rDev +23.8%

07-04-2012 20:28:48 | More by Rempo

BMoney575

Michigan

3.58/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Sampled on 5-24-12

Appearance: a deep red/brown color with thick tan heads that sticks around forever. Slightly hazy, and heavy duty.

Smell: all caramel and burnt sugar, with the absolute perfect amount of age. Deep and complex, with and unexpected fruity character. Very good.

Taste: nothing as good as the smell would indicate. The flavors are muted, and all that shows through are the aged hops. The finish is very flat and borderline metallic, with a dead finish. The abv is well handled, though.

Mouthfeel: surprisingly good, very thick and creamy with great carbonation. Makes the best of the disappointing flavors.

Overall: I've not had a fresh one, so it's hard to tell if the age is problem or not, but I was hoping for more.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 21:46:14 | More by BMoney575

sweemzander

Illinois

3.7/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750mL bottle poured into a tulip. Got this awhile ago in a trade but cannot remember from whom.

(A)- Pours a pretty dark burnt sienna color. Some tan froth and bubbles.

(S)- A nice richness. Caramel, leather, and a musty toffee/honey malt profile.

(T)- Similar to the smell. A warmth of caramel, leather, toffee, honey, and a subtle raisin.

(M)- A very subtle carbonation level. A good balance of rich and sweet malts without being too sweet or cloying.

(D)- Overall, an easier drinking old ale with a well hidden ABV and balanced sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 17:27:02 | More by sweemzander

mikereaser

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1%

04-01-2012 04:31:06 | More by mikereaser

Jwale73

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle served at 52 degrees in my KTG snifter. Pours a semi-hazy mahogany hue with a loose, 1/8th inch cream-colored head that dissipates into a cluster of bubbles around the shoulders and forms an oily slick across the surface. No lacing on this beer. Nose expresses plums, figs, caramel and hazelnuts - definitely smells like an Old Ale. Taste follows nose - backbone is pleasant and malty with just a trace of oxidation to keep it from being overly cloying. I also get some grape juice as it warms as well as a sugary character and some earthy hops bittering at the finish. Mouthfeel is light-medium in body with a carbonation that falls somewhere between still and mild. There's also a trace of acidity, but surprisingly little heat despite the abv. All and all, I think this beer might continue to improve with a year or two more on it, but it's drinking pretty well right now. That said, I wouldn't recommend this one for long-term cellaring. Overall, a decent example of the style, but not worth seeking out considering the quality and accessibility of Fuller's Vintage Ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 23:28:39 | More by Jwale73

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A knock-you-on-the-rear big beer. Big mouth feel,great fruitiness, surprisingly hoppy.A real American take on this style, more of an American strong ale. I would like to drink more as so tasty but booze bill took its toll on us. Share with friends!
Gotten in trade.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 03:27:37 | More by northyorksammy

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750mL to snifter. Sampled 3/20/12. I think I paid $25 for this at an extremely expensive bottleshop shortly after this beer was released.

A: Pours with a light brown foamy/sudsy head that falls quickly after a short, 1 finger rise. A small film lasts for quite some time, as does the bubbly collar. Random dots and thin slings of lace cover the after each tilt, but they slide back down before the next. The body is a really dark auburn chestnut color - nearly opaque. You can't see through the glass, but there is decent amount of transparency when looking at an angle.

S: Macerated prunes soaked in alcohol laden molasses. Leather and an earthy air in a deeper layer. Deeper still are sweet notes of caramel and buttered raisin toast. Alcohol remains present throughout, but it is well integrated. Trace scents of vanilla, brown sugar and toffee.

T: Starts out fairly sweet with just the right amount of bitterness and dryness on the mid palate to bring the flavor back into balance. Complex dark fruit flavors stretch across the tongue while caramel sweetness lingers on the finish. Welcomed warming from alcohol. Not unlike a port or Madeira.

M: Decadent as the name suggests. The body leans towards full - soft and velvety - and rolls over the tongue. The effervescence is very fine, providing a very light tingle all the way through. Finishes with a grape skin-like astringency. (Hmmmm, maybe not...)

O: I was happy with this beer personally. Alesmith nailed the style and at 18 months in, Decadence 2010 is a fine beer. At cellar temp: a good beer; at room temp: a bit better.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2012 00:45:27 | More by FeDUBBELFIST

superspak

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

03-16-2012 03:28:00 | More by superspak

daysinthewake

California

4.75/5  rDev +17.6%

03-10-2012 05:07:48 | More by daysinthewake

Phelps

Arizona

3.9/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a shaker pint at 1702 in Tucson. They’ve apparently been aging this bottle for more than a year, and yet I still got it for $9. CRAZY prices!

Deep maroon, mostly clear. One inch of dense, creamy mocha foam sits on the top.

The nose is jam-packed, literally. I get tons of sugary raisins, cinnamon, honey, brandy and figs, along with a bit of toast. It’s kind of sweet.

The same heavy sweetness is found in the flavor, except now it’s mixed with booze. Brandy or dessert wine, old grapes, honey, maybe a bit of oak or vanilla — this would lend itself well to barrel aging. Caramel, big ethanol and some earthy hop bitterness roll in at the finish.

Light, massaging carbonation in a creamy medium body. A little tongue-numbing alcohol.

I don’t know why I didn’t expect Decadence 2010 to be so…decadent, but it is. The ABV is big and the flavor is so sweet that drinking an entire bottle becomes a bit of a task. Still, the BA version will likely be delectable.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 22:49:00 | More by Phelps