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AleSmith Grand Cru

AleSmith Grand Cru

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 Percentile 
98
overall
A Belgian Strong Ale brewed by
AleSmith Brewing Company

San Diego, California USA

bottled
common

on tap
available

Regional Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  Seasonal  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in  Advanced 
5353.91/5.03.91/5.0Winter10.6%94.6Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler P  Stats

Commercial Description:
Bottle conditioned.
AleSmith Grand Cru really needs to be tasted to be truly appreciated. Toasty, caramelly flavors, as well as flavors imparted by the Belgian yeast strain, predominate over a tapestry of subtle nuances. Winner of the blue ribbon at the 1999 California State Fair, it is a thing of beauty. It is available in 750 ml. champagne bottles. Appearance: Crystal clear (when served properly), with a toast-brown color. Flavor: Starts with the tangy flavor of our championship Belgian yeast, then fades to a medium-light flavor of vanilla, caramel and chocolate. Finishes dry and well-balanced with a slightly toasty flavor. Aroma: Vanilla and chocolate aromas predominate, along with the Belgian yeast characteristics. Mouthfeel (body/texture): Clean and crisp, medium-bodied. Warmth from the high alcohol content makes it feel like a fine wine.

 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 aspidites (1268), manteca, California, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/105/56/103/513/20

Apr 18, 2007  
Very alcoholic nose with a slight touch of dms, clove, toasted caramel and herbal notes. Hot and residual sugar heavy palate. Some candy sugar induced white fruit notes with some biscuity finish characters. Overall very alcohol forward.

 Ibrew2or3 (1925), Safety Harbor, Florida, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/105/516/20
Dec 4, 2008  
This 2006 vintage consumed Nov. 2008 pours clear deep copper with light tan head. The aroma is smooth deep dark fruitiness followed by a slight sensation of alcohol to go along with faint notes of cherries and cotton candy. The taste is as smooth as the nose led onto with figs, prunes and sugar stewed raisins coming together into a nice blended flavor sensation yet all swimming around in a pool of molasses and caramel candy. This has aged wonderfully. Very nice treat.


 fishingnet (928), Brandon, Florida, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/514/20
Nov 30, 2008  
Bottle. Pours a slightly hazy amber with a one finger off-white head that leaves good lacing. Aroma of dark fruit, spicy yeast, and caramel. Taste is the same as aroma. Medium mouthfeel with a mild amount of bitterness and smooth alcohol. Very good.


 daknole (1131), Plantation, Florida, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/105/518/20
Nov 27, 2008  
Tasting at Brewtopia. A nice clear amber pour with a fairly small tan head. I smell some good fruit on the nose, figs and golden raisins. caramel is evident with some great belgian yeast and bready notes are evident as well. Flavor is really nice. Yeasty, breadiness, malt, golden raisins, apples, sweetness and some spices are all combined to make one helluva beer.


 mreusch (482), Olathe, Kansas, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/517/20
Nov 26, 2008  
750ml bottle, with thanks to dirty martini from almost exactly a year ago, so this bottle has at least that much age on it. Pours a clear honey amber with a one finger frothy tan head that drifts down to a thin but complete cap, minimal spots of lacing. Aroma is initially some of telltale that belgian yeast, with sweet spices, dark fruits, maybe some breadiness. Flavor is a touch sweet, with more bready malts, ripe fruits, and light spice. Nicely done, and wouldn’t expect anything less from AleSmith. Thanks Larry!


 JohnQPublic (256), Brooklyn, New York, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/58/104/517/20
Nov 21, 2008  
Bottle into chalice. This example is about a year old. Pours a clear, incredibly effervescent, stunning red-brown, with a tight, fizzy off-white head that recedes quickly. This is a beautiful beer. Nose is figs, white grapes, bit of yeast and sweet caramel malt then blend into a beautiful breadiness - clean and wonderfully crisp. Picks up some nutty cocoa notes as it warms. Flavor is equally fantastic - starts with a big hit of yeast, but then a big toasty sweet malt quality is folded into the massive vinous fruity notes - raisins and dates, slightly over-ripe apples, pears - it’s all there, along with a bit of spicy brown sugar sweetness. Finish is yeasty, rich with lingering fruit and doughy malt notes, and a vinous exhale. Mouthfeel is lightly carbonated, smooth and a bit syrupy, full. This one is a home run.



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