AleSmith Grand Cru

Brewed by AleSmith Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
San Diego, California USA

A nice Belgian strong though I expected a lot more from them. I bought this thinking it was going to be a 4+. Aroma was good. Strong caramel malt and yeast with a hint of spice. Almost like a dubbel. Pour was a nice light brown with no sediment and a thin off white ring for a head. Taste was good. A hint of caramel malt and light fruit with brown sugar and alcohol in the aftertaste. Decent carbonation and light mouthfeel, just didn’t do it for me in the flavor department.

Hazy reddish colour with a small off white head. Malty, fruity aroma, quite sugary and with notes of wood. Malty, fruity and light alcohol sweet flavor with hints of wood. Light dry and alcohol warming finish.

Nov. 2006 - Beer poured really red amber, very little head or lacing. Aroma was strong and rum-like with cherries and banana. Flavor was caramel, cherries and candied sugar. Really hot alcohol flavor was not overly bothersome. Odd mouthfeel which almost seemed to cut the flavor short at the end as bubbly carbonation overwhelms the tongue. Another enjoyable beer from AleSmith, though not my favorite of their offerings. Rerate 2007. This is much better than I remember it last year. Lots of floaty chunky yeasties. Flavor was all of the above, but less hot alcohol and even a touch of earthy coffee roast in it. Wonderfully sweet and wonderfully complex. I love me some AleSmith..

Appearance: Pours a cloudy, medium brown body with a full, foamy, off-white head. Smell: Aroma of dark caramel malts, dark candi sugar, vanilla, plums, and earthy dried herbs with a spicy yeast character. Taste: Sweet, rich caramel maltiness with a juicy, tangy dark fruit flavor. Pinch of cherry-infused pipe tobacco. A drizzle of sweet syrup and two drops of vanilla extract. Lightly alcoholic throughout. Mild hop bitterness. Spicy yeastiness. Fruity, semi-dry finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-full body. Moderate carbonation. Slightly syrupy mouthfeel. Drinkability: One of my favorite American-made Belgian Strongs.

750ml bottle. copper color. Malt aroma. Flavor of spice, malt, caramel, alcohol, and nuttiness. I love these AleSmith Beers.

Pours a one finger, cream head that quickly fades leaving no lace. Nose is raisins and alcohol. Cloudy amber color. Light carbonation and medium bodied. Flavor is caramel, raisins and some alcohol. Pricey - $12.70 for a 750ml bottle from Colonial Spirits Acton, Ma.

Bouteille 750ml, courtoisie de Hogtownharry. De couleur brune rouge et voilée. Nez de levures fruitées (prunes rouges, raisins, notes de cerises), malté de caramel toffee sucré et légèrement terreux (notes de sucre bonbon), moyen d’alcool, léger de tabac de cigarette ainsi que des notes boisées, épicées (réglisse noire), de vanille, de chocolat et de houblon herbeux. Moyennement ronde en bouche avec un pétillement moyen-fort ainsi qu’une texture riche et légèrement crémeuse (petites notes liquoreuses). Goût de levures fruitées sucrées (prunes sucrées, raisins aux petites notes vineuses, léger de cerises vieillies et de figues, traces d’abricots) accompagné d’un moyen goût de tabac de cigarette ainsi que d’un léger goût de vanille et d’épices (léger de réglisse noire et notes de clou de girofle) lors de l’entrée en bouche auquel se rajoute un goût malté de caramel toffee sucré aux notes terreuses et rôties, d’un léger goût de sucre brun avec des petites notes de chocolat noir (quelques traces de pain et de sucre bonbon). Parallèlement, l’on retrouve un moyen goût légèrement amer d’alcool réchauffant aux petites notes liquoreuses et vineuses jusqu’en finale, où l’on retrouve également un léger goût boisé (notes de mousse de bois et de fût de chêne), des notes de houblon herbeux et d’épices (poivre). Post-goût long, légèrement amer d’alcool réchauffant, de fruits (moût de raisins et de cerises, pelures de prunes) et avec des notes de rôti, boisées et des traces de chocolat.

Bottled, consumed on 01/31/08. Pours a nice shade of thick brown. Quite a healthy head on this one. Sweet, fruity aroma with some chocolate malt notes. Mouthfeel is a bit chewy. Flavor is plums, raisins, slightly sweet and sour at once. Finish is dry. High ABV not apparent from flavor or mouthfeel except for slight warmth at end. Another winner from AleSmith.