AleSmith Grand Cru

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

Deep clear mahogany in colour, beige coloured head that wasn’t as big as I’d expect from a Belgian Strong Ale, fair retention, very sparce lacing. The aroma is chocolaty, some spice, lots of caramel, very light alcohol, quite malty, some candy sugar, plums. The flavour is malty, chocolate, plums, toffee, some peaches, deep malt and noticable alcohol. Lightly alcoholic mouthfeel, medium body, high carbonation. Finishes very warm, long, spicy with some chocolate. There is still lots of alcohol in this even after 4 years. No signs of mellowing out. Starting to get a bit thin.

750ml bottle obtained in a trade with <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/ViewUser.asp?U target=blank>Sven, thanks Steven.
Opened on September 3, 2007.
Vintage 2003.

Bottle; poured a hazy brownish-amber. Small to medium off white head. Aroma of dark fruit, yeast, chocolate, and caramel. Flavor was much of the same; palate was very nice too. Slight alcohol warmth, but alcohol was generally well hidden. Flavor was good, but it didn’t blow me away like some of their other beers. Still was very enjoyable.

Thanks to lamas for the bottle. 750 mL champagne bottle. Poured hazy brown with minimal head retention. Lots of raisins in the nose. Starts with floral tones and fruity sweetness and ends with peppery spices and warming alcohol. Mildly dissapointing.

750mL bottle, no date with the anvil painted gold with red shadowing if that helps. My label also claims 10%, not 10.6. Had this originally at Hollingshead Deli, but I dunno where my notes are. Pours a clear copper red with a 1/2 finger beige head. Lots of caramel and toffee up front in the flavor, cherry, tobacco, a good amount of yeast and some spicy pepper. A lot going on here, and I know I’ll have to keep adding as I drink this. The pepper in the flavor comes out a little bit more in part due to the high alcohol, which is present, but not overdone. There are some boozy raisins and something herbal that I can’t pick out--maybe old hops they used? Dry finish. Flavor is never really too sweet, but there’s a bit of tang and low bitterness to keep it from getting cloying. Full body with low carbonation. Very good. I can tell you right now that my draft version from Hollingshead is around a 4.4 or so.

750mL Bottle also had on tap at AleSmith Brewery. Hazy brown in color with medium tan head. Rich flavor to go along with rich aroma, very sweet beer.

25.4 oz bottle. Early 2006; one of my first trades. Hazed brown with quick departing tan suds. Nose rocks with malts. Toasted sweetness and rich boozy fruit. Medium body with tiny carb needles. Charred caramel, raisin and sour plum. Yeast, alcohol and dry spices. Flirts with the best Belgian strongs but lacks some complexity.

750 ml. capped green bottle, the top is covered with gold foil, blurb and serving suggestions on the back label. No vintage date on the bottle, all I know is that I purchased this in the summer of 2006. Sediment is visible in the bottom of bottle. Sampled at the suggested temperature in a tulip glass. Copper hued caramel brown appearance, tight creamy pale tan head, good retention, quietly dissipates into a thin sudsy lacing, minimal amount of ringed laced sticking. A drool inspiring nose, toasted caramel, cocoa and vanilla, oranges and plums, earthy spices, herbal medicinal alcohol. Airy, creamy medium bodied mouthfeel, crisp and dry. Toasted caramel and dry bittersweet chocolate malts that meshes with dark Belgian candied sugars. Hints of vanilla creme in the middle. Orange peel, plums and dates, a nice mix of sweet and sour fruitiness. Spicy, herbal medicinal alcohol that has a low temperature warmth in the palate. Towards the end toasted almonds emerge in the taste, leaving a flavorful nuttiness in the aftertaste. I love the dry spicy, toasted finish this emits, conspicuous and lingering. Excellent balance of tastes, the alcohol is very subtle, one of the smoothest sippers I’ve had in awhile. I wish I had more bottles of this in my basement "cellar".

Thanks dirty_martini! drank this bad boy with gunsho and theReverend. pours thick deep copper with a nice off white head. deep caramel molasses raisin aroma.....the aroma is fantastic my description doesnt do it justice. bittersweet caramel raisin flavor with spicy black pepper and some salty meaty ham notes. bitter slightly sweet caramel finish. finish quite dry. light meaty and sweet notes. full thick body moderate carbonation. nice very nice.