It has three GABF Golds and two Silvers, making it one of the most awarded Barleywines of the past 10 years. And it’s the 10th most consumed Barleywine of all time on BeerAdvocate.  Your bucket list of big boozy beers won’t be complete until you try AleSmith’s Old Numbskull Barleywine.

The smooth, boozy, 11% ABV bite and citrus-spiked qualities of Old Numbskull aren’t just about pleasing palates here and now.  AleSmith makes beers that are talked about for years to come. Owner and CEO Peter Zien says he aspires to be like European breweries with hundreds of years of brewing traditions:  “I really want AleSmith to be established as a classic,” he says.

Taste Old Numbskull and its heirloom-grade quality asserts itself with every sip; the richness of caramel flavors are nearly overwhelming while also being smooth and luxuriant. Well-polished aromas of rum-glazed bananas ebb and flow into brown sugar as it warms. Liquor-torched orange peels tingle on the tongue, hinting briefly at apricots and peaches, before sliding into a full-bodied yet sharp and bittersweet marmalade finish.  

AleSmith recommends cellaring Old Numbskull for up to ten years, which means you should be really particular about when you crack it open!  It’s best to save it for a guest who will appreciate the gravatas and historical significance of this landmark American Barleywine.

Rated 4.12 on BeerAdvocate

Cellarable