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Wee Heavy - Barrel-Aged
AleSmith Brewing Company
- From:
- AleSmith Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
Ranked #4 - ABV:
- 9.5%
- Score:
- 96
Ranked #1,109 - Avg:
- 4.32 | pDev: 7.64%
- Reviews:
- 127
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 29, 2024
- Added:
- Apr 08, 2006
- Wants:
- 315
- Gots:
- 134
This matured version of our Scotch-Style ale, Barrel-Aged Wee Heavy, is matured in premium bourbon barrels for up to one year to add layers of complexity to its rich, malty flavor profile. Notes of vanilla, oak and bourbon from the barrels combine with the beer’s profile of caramel and toffee to make this an utterly unique beer that we think you’ll love. Enjoy it now or let it mature in the bottle for years to come.
Improves With Age: YES
Serving Temp: 50°-55°
Serving Glass: Tulip / Goblet
Improves With Age: YES
Serving Temp: 50°-55°
Serving Glass: Tulip / Goblet
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Rated by Sandis from Minnesota
4.2/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.2/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
2022 version poured from a 12oz bottle into a plastic cup. I didn't enjoy the rum element as much as I'd hoped.
Feb 18, 2023Reviewed by mschrei from Illinois
4.49/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2022 vintage. Pours dark brown with mild lacing. Notes of dark fruit, caramel, and bourbon barrel on the nose. Taste follows suit with the same flavors. Light to medium bodied, strong boozy presence. Tasty.
Dec 06, 2022Reviewed by Gatch from Massachusetts
4.4/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.4/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Like the port barrel-aged version I had recently, my inclination is that this is a 2016 bottle based on the mixed case that this was included in. A sweet, syrupy wee heavy kicked up a notch with that smoky, buttery, bourbon flavor. Seems a bit past it’s prime as it is quite mellow, but delicious nonetheless.
Dec 22, 2021Reviewed by ryan1788a5 from Massachusetts
4.46/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.46/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
750ml bottle poured into a snifter. 2017 vintage.
A: Deep mahogany brown color. Thin beige head settles out rather quickly and leaves no lacing. Not unusual for barrel aged beers.
S: Sweet corny bourbon up front, though there is no alcohol kick. Soft oak. Loads of malt depth. Brown bread and crust, fig, raisin, caramel, candied nuts. Touch of black cocoa. Subtle undertones of sherry and paper are beginning to develop, but aren't yet too noticeable.
T: As in the nose, the bourbon is up front on the attack, but not hot whatsoever. Corny-sweet, with an oaky vanilla backing (which is augmented as the beer warms) and kiss of barrel char. From there, deeply complex malt flavors blossom. Rich caramel, toffee, and treacle syrup. Cola. Faint smoke. Brown bread and toasty bread crust. Fig and golden raisin. Somewhat of a tootsie roll/fudgey note. Evidence of oxidation is super subtle, but there is a bit of sherry. Faint whisper of alcohol. Drying crusty finish with some lingering chocolate covered raisin and a bit of oak tannin.
M: Very heavy, thick, and rich. Full-bodied with a sense of pressing weight. Rife with residual sugars, but it stops barely short of being syrupy. Carbonation is moderate, and pricks a little at the tip of the tongue. Wonderful coating, silky, and pressing malt texture.
O: I live for beer like this. The malt complexity is so deep, layered, and nuanced, and the barrel flavor profile fits like a glove. Everyone loves to chuck an imperial stout into a bourbon barrel -and that's great- but I've always thought that scotch ales were sneakily the best beer to bourbon barrel age. Case in point right here. This beer is an all-time great as far as I'm concerned.
Jan 08, 2021A: Deep mahogany brown color. Thin beige head settles out rather quickly and leaves no lacing. Not unusual for barrel aged beers.
S: Sweet corny bourbon up front, though there is no alcohol kick. Soft oak. Loads of malt depth. Brown bread and crust, fig, raisin, caramel, candied nuts. Touch of black cocoa. Subtle undertones of sherry and paper are beginning to develop, but aren't yet too noticeable.
T: As in the nose, the bourbon is up front on the attack, but not hot whatsoever. Corny-sweet, with an oaky vanilla backing (which is augmented as the beer warms) and kiss of barrel char. From there, deeply complex malt flavors blossom. Rich caramel, toffee, and treacle syrup. Cola. Faint smoke. Brown bread and toasty bread crust. Fig and golden raisin. Somewhat of a tootsie roll/fudgey note. Evidence of oxidation is super subtle, but there is a bit of sherry. Faint whisper of alcohol. Drying crusty finish with some lingering chocolate covered raisin and a bit of oak tannin.
M: Very heavy, thick, and rich. Full-bodied with a sense of pressing weight. Rife with residual sugars, but it stops barely short of being syrupy. Carbonation is moderate, and pricks a little at the tip of the tongue. Wonderful coating, silky, and pressing malt texture.
O: I live for beer like this. The malt complexity is so deep, layered, and nuanced, and the barrel flavor profile fits like a glove. Everyone loves to chuck an imperial stout into a bourbon barrel -and that's great- but I've always thought that scotch ales were sneakily the best beer to bourbon barrel age. Case in point right here. This beer is an all-time great as far as I'm concerned.
Reviewed by Orca from Washington
4.46/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
750mL (vintage 2013 based on my notes) into a tulip. Pours a deep dark mahogany brown w/ a 1/2-finger head that settles to a narrow beige collar. Looks dense and chewy in my glass.
Aroma is rich and complex. Bourbon, vanilla, rum-soaked pipe tobacco, toffee, dates and figs. Pretty much what one would expect from a bourbon barrel aged scotch ale/wee heavy, old ale, or English barleywine (all of which are pretty close together in my mind). Surprising how many notes are readily apparent while this is still fridge-cold, and I look forward to observing some changes as it warms.
Taste is likewise complex, rich, and exceedingly well balanced. Very malt forward but not syrupy or cloying. Molasses, brown sugar, caramel, sweet stone fruits, and a nice chest-warming booziness on the finish.
Mouthfeel is chewy and and the heavy side of medium. Lingers on the palate.
Overall a really outstanding scotch ale/wee heavy. Better than I'd expected for some reason.
Sep 07, 2020Aroma is rich and complex. Bourbon, vanilla, rum-soaked pipe tobacco, toffee, dates and figs. Pretty much what one would expect from a bourbon barrel aged scotch ale/wee heavy, old ale, or English barleywine (all of which are pretty close together in my mind). Surprising how many notes are readily apparent while this is still fridge-cold, and I look forward to observing some changes as it warms.
Taste is likewise complex, rich, and exceedingly well balanced. Very malt forward but not syrupy or cloying. Molasses, brown sugar, caramel, sweet stone fruits, and a nice chest-warming booziness on the finish.
Mouthfeel is chewy and and the heavy side of medium. Lingers on the palate.
Overall a really outstanding scotch ale/wee heavy. Better than I'd expected for some reason.
Reviewed by darktronica from Indiana
4.49/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
My reference point for a bourbon barrel-aged wee heavy or scotch ale is Central Waters' annual release, which I've had a couple cases of over the past few years. This is better in every way but the price. Rich, decadent, bursting with barrel oak and whisky booze, but without overwhelming the malt, vanilla, and floral hop character of the base beer. Fabulous, likely my new favorite for the style, but not one I can find readily or indulge in regularly.
Mar 24, 2019
Wee Heavy - Barrel-Aged from AleSmith Brewing Company
Beer rating:
96 out of
100 with
458 ratings
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