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Olde Ale
AleSmith Brewing Company
- From:
- AleSmith Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Old Ale
Ranked #27 - ABV:
- 11%
- Score:
- 90
Ranked #9,848 - Avg:
- 4.02 | pDev: 9.2%
- Reviews:
- 55
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jun 04, 2023
- Added:
- Jul 14, 2013
- Wants:
- 16
- Gots:
- 20
Originally brewed in 2005 as the first in our annual Decadence series, AleSmith Olde Ale follows the tradition of classic British-style Old Ales. This rich, malt-forward ale showcases soft notes of currants and dried fruit along with complex dark sugars, all of which are balanced by a subtle bitterness derived from the addition of traditional English hops. AleSmith Olde Ale is ready to be enjoyed now or it can be aged upwards of twenty years to further enhance its amazing depth of flavor. A hearty ale designed to please Bacchus himself!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by taospowder:
Rated by taospowder from New Mexico
4.07/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Feb 11, 2019
4.07/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Feb 11, 2019
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Orca from Washington
4.24/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
750mL (bottled 2/21/2014) into a tulip. Pours a slightly hazy mahogany amber with a thin khaki head, moderate carbonation.
Aroma is sweet and fruity: candi/brown sugar, caramel, figs and dates, a vague hint of spice. A nice nutty quality emerges with a gentle swirl of the glass.
Taste likewise leads off with sweet bready malt—stone fruits, brown sugar, toffee—followed by a gently floral hoppy bitterness. If you blended American and English barleywines I think you might get a close approximation to this.
Mouthfeel is on the heavy side of medium but not sticky or cloying. Moderate carbonation and hop bitterness help maintain good balance and drinkability.
Overall a very straightforward, approachable old ale. It would be hard to find something not to like about this one.
Jun 04, 2023Aroma is sweet and fruity: candi/brown sugar, caramel, figs and dates, a vague hint of spice. A nice nutty quality emerges with a gentle swirl of the glass.
Taste likewise leads off with sweet bready malt—stone fruits, brown sugar, toffee—followed by a gently floral hoppy bitterness. If you blended American and English barleywines I think you might get a close approximation to this.
Mouthfeel is on the heavy side of medium but not sticky or cloying. Moderate carbonation and hop bitterness help maintain good balance and drinkability.
Overall a very straightforward, approachable old ale. It would be hard to find something not to like about this one.
Reviewed by snaotheus from Washington
4.25/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2023-05-18
4oz pour at the brewery, entering review from notes.
Pours ruby-brown in color, clear, about a centimeter of dense, light tan head. Smell is woody, toffee, bit of old hops.
Taste is rich, nutty, toffee, oaky, light booziness.
Mouthfeel is creamy, smooth, dry finish. Quite nice.
May 22, 20234oz pour at the brewery, entering review from notes.
Pours ruby-brown in color, clear, about a centimeter of dense, light tan head. Smell is woody, toffee, bit of old hops.
Taste is rich, nutty, toffee, oaky, light booziness.
Mouthfeel is creamy, smooth, dry finish. Quite nice.
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts
4.49/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2014 vintage I believe, lists mmxiv
Pours a tan bubbly slight foamy 1/2 finger head with med to lower retention, a bit of lacing, light legs, dark mahogany brown hazy color
Nose starts with oxidation but in a good way, waxy port like with a little paper, some dark fruits little dig date and plum, aged sweet malt, caramel toffee biscuity, brown sugar molasses dates, hint of butterscotch
Taste aged sweet malts, pretty sweet in general with big caramel, toffee, lots of molasses and brown sugar, but more waxy port like oxidation and no paper or cardboard, but of butterscotch, plenty more fruit as well fig date, medjoul dates, candied dates, little plum and black cherry, smooth potpourri alcohol, fair bite of spicy hop bitterness mostly late, drier finish, fig port wine
Mouth is fuller bod but soft, very smooth light warming alcohol, lower carb but OK for style and age
Overall this is a great beer and aged very well, I think I have more decadence in the cellar so that could be fun in a few more years
Dec 18, 2021Pours a tan bubbly slight foamy 1/2 finger head with med to lower retention, a bit of lacing, light legs, dark mahogany brown hazy color
Nose starts with oxidation but in a good way, waxy port like with a little paper, some dark fruits little dig date and plum, aged sweet malt, caramel toffee biscuity, brown sugar molasses dates, hint of butterscotch
Taste aged sweet malts, pretty sweet in general with big caramel, toffee, lots of molasses and brown sugar, but more waxy port like oxidation and no paper or cardboard, but of butterscotch, plenty more fruit as well fig date, medjoul dates, candied dates, little plum and black cherry, smooth potpourri alcohol, fair bite of spicy hop bitterness mostly late, drier finish, fig port wine
Mouth is fuller bod but soft, very smooth light warming alcohol, lower carb but OK for style and age
Overall this is a great beer and aged very well, I think I have more decadence in the cellar so that could be fun in a few more years
Rated by arzt from Germany
5/5 rDev +24.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +24.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Poured from MMXV 750ml bottle into oversized wine glass.
Just awesome. May be the best English Old Ale
Jan 30, 2020Just awesome. May be the best English Old Ale
Reviewed by Zorro from California
4.14/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.14/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Chill hazed brown ale with a medium sized tan colored head. Impressed it formed one at this alcohol level.
Smells sweet and strongly of dates. Lesser scents of brown sugar and berries. Distinct molasses note. Picking up on the scent of figs and cake batter.
Starts out sweet and savory with a strong taste of figs. Warms the chest as expected but there is no taste of alcohol. Taste of brown sugar and soy sauce. Tastes a bit salty with a medium level of bitterness. Smooths out after a while with a distinct taste of vanilla cake batter. Fortunately the taste of soy sauce is transient and goes away after it warms a bit. Tastes of leather and tobacco leaf as it warms. Alcohol buzz sneaks up on you very quickly.
Mouthfeel is thick.
Overall tasty and strong. You will not be chugging this one very fast at all.
Sep 02, 2018Smells sweet and strongly of dates. Lesser scents of brown sugar and berries. Distinct molasses note. Picking up on the scent of figs and cake batter.
Starts out sweet and savory with a strong taste of figs. Warms the chest as expected but there is no taste of alcohol. Taste of brown sugar and soy sauce. Tastes a bit salty with a medium level of bitterness. Smooths out after a while with a distinct taste of vanilla cake batter. Fortunately the taste of soy sauce is transient and goes away after it warms a bit. Tastes of leather and tobacco leaf as it warms. Alcohol buzz sneaks up on you very quickly.
Mouthfeel is thick.
Overall tasty and strong. You will not be chugging this one very fast at all.
Reviewed by garymuchow from Minnesota
3.98/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.98/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2013 version I bought in CA a few years ago. Finally getting around to trying it out.
Subtle aroma with bits of dark fruit, figs. Soft dark malt, neutral.
Still a nice dense tan head over a dark body of brown.
Flavor is pretty good. Fruit without being sweet. Some richness. Soft dryness on the finish that lingers with a fading hop bitterness. Still rich fruit, but not over the top. Fig again is forward.
Good but not great.
Aug 27, 2018Subtle aroma with bits of dark fruit, figs. Soft dark malt, neutral.
Still a nice dense tan head over a dark body of brown.
Flavor is pretty good. Fruit without being sweet. Some richness. Soft dryness on the finish that lingers with a fading hop bitterness. Still rich fruit, but not over the top. Fig again is forward.
Good but not great.
Reviewed by GarrettB from Colorado
3.84/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
May 15th, 2015 - Alesmith's Olde Ale is an odd child in San Diego's beer scene, dark and strong. With a malty nose and notes of chocolate, and a little bit of "fresh pool" and concrete it smells a little like a nice summer day. Throw in some spiciness and it begins to grow some tequila notes. The flavor is smooth and soft at first, then spiked and spicy. More licorice appears here, and then in the aftertaste, sweet black sesame paste. Good stuff, transformative, but definitely something to save for last.
Jun 04, 2018Reviewed by kevanb from Illinois
3.56/5 rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.56/5 rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
750ml bottle, 2013 vintage stamped on the front of the bottle, poured into an AleSmith barrel aged reserve snifter glass.
The beer pours a dark burgundy color, deep browns with some garnet hues, a thin bone head, very firm with great retention and soapy lace. Brown sugar and caramel lead the way on the nose, rich deep grains, stone fruits, a hint of acidity, toffee, nougat, a bit of nuttiness and light piney bitterness. The flavors are nice, a bit soft and muted, pleasant rich grain, brown sugar, caramel, light alcohol, toffee and nougat with some piney bitterness and a hint of tart cherry acidity. The mouthfeel is good, hefty medium body, a bit of life, coating and smooth at the finish that is lightly warm.
Verdict: A nice Old Ale from AleSmith, fairly well balanced, rich and inviting. It's a bit subtle and lacks a nice pop, a bit tepid, but still a nice sipping beer.
Sep 13, 2017The beer pours a dark burgundy color, deep browns with some garnet hues, a thin bone head, very firm with great retention and soapy lace. Brown sugar and caramel lead the way on the nose, rich deep grains, stone fruits, a hint of acidity, toffee, nougat, a bit of nuttiness and light piney bitterness. The flavors are nice, a bit soft and muted, pleasant rich grain, brown sugar, caramel, light alcohol, toffee and nougat with some piney bitterness and a hint of tart cherry acidity. The mouthfeel is good, hefty medium body, a bit of life, coating and smooth at the finish that is lightly warm.
Verdict: A nice Old Ale from AleSmith, fairly well balanced, rich and inviting. It's a bit subtle and lacks a nice pop, a bit tepid, but still a nice sipping beer.
Reviewed by ryan1788a5 from Massachusetts
4.15/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Thick, rich body with a chewy feel. Warming. Great depth of malt flavor. Bread crust, toffee, puddings. Lots of currant, prune, etc. Very fruity. Mildly vinous too. Balancing earthy hop bitterness. A really great stab at the style. Kinda wish I saved it for the dead of winter. Perfect accompaniment to beef burgundy or a variety of hearty stews.
Jul 08, 2017Reviewed by Wasatch from Colorado
4.35/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.35/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bought On-Line
Review #3500
Thanks to all the BAs I've traded with since 2005, Cheers!
750ml
Black Foil/Capped
Bottled On: 03/04/14
A Little Over 3 years on this bottle.
Poured into a goblet a pretty nice brownish color, pretty nice carbonation, with a pretty nice quick creamy one-finger off-white head, which leaves a very nice medium size island and some sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, some hops, with some nice dark fruits (cherries, figs, raisins, plums, grapes, dates), nice sweetness, oaky. The taste is really nice, malty, slight hop note, very nice dark fruits (cherries, figs, raisins, plums grapes, dates), really nice sweetness, oaky. Full Body, ABV hidden very well, a pretty nice complex brew, nice little bitter finish. Overall, a very tasty brew, true to style.
Jul 02, 2017Review #3500
Thanks to all the BAs I've traded with since 2005, Cheers!
750ml
Black Foil/Capped
Bottled On: 03/04/14
A Little Over 3 years on this bottle.
Poured into a goblet a pretty nice brownish color, pretty nice carbonation, with a pretty nice quick creamy one-finger off-white head, which leaves a very nice medium size island and some sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, some hops, with some nice dark fruits (cherries, figs, raisins, plums, grapes, dates), nice sweetness, oaky. The taste is really nice, malty, slight hop note, very nice dark fruits (cherries, figs, raisins, plums grapes, dates), really nice sweetness, oaky. Full Body, ABV hidden very well, a pretty nice complex brew, nice little bitter finish. Overall, a very tasty brew, true to style.
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio
3.7/5 rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.7/5 rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
I tried this at the Quarter Barrel in Oxford, OH . It poured a rich amber with white head that left a spotty lace. The scent had hints of caramel malt. The taste was boozy with nice malty base. The mouthfeel was fuller in body with good carbonation. Overall it's ok.
Apr 16, 2017
Olde Ale from AleSmith Brewing Company
Beer rating:
90 out of
100 with
212 ratings
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