What's in a Name?
Sometimes you order a beer just because it sounds interesting . . .
So when I brought an out-of-town friend to my nearest bottle shop in search of a local treat she could take back east with her, naturally her hand alighted upon a bottle of AleSmith’s Old Numbskull. Good choice?
Yep. This is one of those beers where the name pulls you in, and the taste keeps you there. It’s a West Coast style barley wine. Read: strong ale (10%), hop-heavy, and – yes – a little audacious. Plenty of strong, dark hops, but also a malty sweetness and some nice toasty caramel flavors, too. And a bit of a fruity scent.
She buys one to take home and I buy one for the house.
“You better share mine with me,” I tell her. “Don’t want to live up to the name . . . “
| The Beer Details Brewer: AleSmith Brewing Company (San Diego, CA) Style: Barley Wine ABV: 10% IBUs: 99 Price: ~$11/ 750 mL bottle |
Want this beer? States like California, Arizona, and Oregon have good distribution. On the east coast, this barley wine is a bit more scarce. Time to plan a trip out west?
Erin Malone
is Thursday Happy Hour's newest contributing editor, providing the
what's-up of beer all over on Fridays. Do you love dark, hoppy ale? Let me know in the comments below. Or chat with me on Facebook.
Comments