AleSmith Old Numbskull - AleSmith Brewing Company

cjoc83

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Does Alesmith provide bottled-on dates for their beers? In any case, I couldn't find one. Pours into a chalice with a surprisingly massive (for a barleywine) 3 finger light tan head that sticks around for a while before receding to a ring but leaves spidery lacing throughout.

Wow...all kinds of things going on in the nose of this! Some tropical fruit and piney hops rumble with sweet caramel malts, brown sugar, plum, rum soaked raisins and fig.

Some juicy/earthy hops jump out first on the tongue but are quickly assuaged by big caramel and biscuity malts and lots of dark fruit dusted with a touch of brown sugar. Finishes rather sweet despite the formidable hop presence, and with some heat. Slightly boozy and cloying.

This is a big, bold barleywine, so I'm not going to mark it down for being a little boozy, but the sweetness can be a little cloying. Smooth mouthfeel though, full bodied, low carbonation. Definitely a sipper.

Overall this is a super enjoyable barleywine. Nice hop profile, and plenty dark fruit notes. I only wish it was a little less sweet, but it's a small snafu in an otherwise really enjoyable brew. Really nice stuff.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 00:53:22 | More by cjoc83

Geno206

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-20-2013 04:32:06 | More by Geno206

yamar68

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Another winner from Hugonaut13:

Swampy, glowing red body with an oily finger of off-white head that leaves drastic lace with a bit of booze legs.

Interesting. Deep malt aromas with chocolate and orange. Citrus and chocolate don't always work together for me so I can really appreciate the combo when it's a success. Raw, earthy barley sweetness with vanilla and peat.

The citric bitterness is still quite evident... papery malt flavors can't quite compete with the hops and alcohol content (which I like).

This is pretty damn unique. I'd be interested to see how the barrel aged version compares.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 01:01:02 | More by yamar68

davesway10

Iowa

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-19-2013 11:33:26 | More by davesway10

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-18-2013 23:57:04 | More by Photekut

drgonzo2k2

California

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-18-2013 14:28:21 | More by drgonzo2k2

megamass

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-18-2013 04:19:37 | More by megamass

largadeer

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-17-2013 20:43:19 | More by largadeer

Zbeetleman

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-15-2013 05:00:53 | More by Zbeetleman

caverog

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-10-2013 19:55:54 | More by caverog

admonster00

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-10-2013 02:53:33 | More by admonster00

ADTaber

South Carolina

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-09-2013 00:12:12 | More by ADTaber

themind

New Jersey

4.09/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Numbskull is a very good barley wine as I enjoyed it very much. The skull pours a very generous head and has crisp carbonation. The aroma to me is molasses and dark fruit. The skull was hot but I did not age this one very long. I would purchase this again and since I have five more bottles I can experiment with age. Overall this is not Fegleys brewery barleywine but it's good.

Bottom Line: Good!

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 23:33:17 | More by themind

leftoverburrito

Oregon

2.5/5  rDev -39.9%

05-08-2013 03:17:10 | More by leftoverburrito

DarthGuitarHero

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-05-2013 17:57:50 | More by DarthGuitarHero

atone315

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-04-2013 12:30:01 | More by atone315

SocalKicks

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-03-2013 13:12:34 | More by SocalKicks

Twal

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

05-01-2013 03:48:39 | More by Twal

fsck

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

04-30-2013 04:53:36 | More by fsck

BillRoth

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

04-30-2013 02:06:59 | More by BillRoth

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

04-29-2013 06:05:41 | More by Kelp

LSMroz

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

04-22-2013 04:34:12 | More by LSMroz

SLeffler27

New York

3.68/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Builds a one inch, rocky, beige head that slowly drops, leaving a coating of lace above a reddish brown, hazed ale.

This has a nice balance of sweet malt and pine, offset against orange. Fruit is more prominent than any spice.

A Dogfish Head snifter showcases this quite bitter beer with lots of grapefruit and pine tar. The background contains black tea and, oddly, some roasted malt. The finish is drawn out and builds in bitterness.

A full body with fine, prickly carbonation and dry alcohol as expected. There is a touch of astringency in this chewy beer with a woolly texture.

Old Numbskull is definitely a sipping beer with strong flavors. Bitterness is assertive and it warms well, probably best with a meal. I’ll finish this bottle with dinner tomorrow.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 21:15:56 | More by SLeffler27

KiMiRaiK

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -15.9%

04-21-2013 20:37:10 | More by KiMiRaiK

2beerdogs

California

4/5  rDev -3.8%

04-19-2013 05:16:01 | More by 2beerdogs