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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
common

Regional Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  Seasonal  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in  Advanced 
5123.91/5.03.91/5.0Winter10.6%94.6 Trappist 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 RecentTop RatersHighest Ratings Who's Rated This?
 JagerQueen (123), Shoreline, Washington, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/104/514/20

Jul 20, 2004  
Pours a very dark, dark color with a slight amber light. No head, little bubble. Aroma is very fruity, strong, lots of fruits, raisins, dates, vanilla throughout. Taste is very warm and creamy, the fruits mentioned before prevelant, almost as though they were dried, the flavor sealed in and then put inside the Grand Cru. Light hops, more creamy fruit.

kegbear (71), Orange, California, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/516/20
Aug 16, 2008  
Bottle. Aroma of sweet malt, caramel and dried fruits. Tastes of caramel, dried fruit, vanilla and sherry. Finishes slightly dry. Reminds me of an aged barley wine. Would buy again.


 chicagodri (467), Chicago, Illinois, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/103/517/20
Aug 15, 2008  
Pours brown with a tan head. Nice sweet aroma. The beer packs quite a punch at 10.6%, but it isn’t syrupy or anything. Nice sweet caramel flavor, good Belgian yeast, and just a little bit of bitterness as it finishes. AleSmith puts out some good stuff.


 kmeves (997), Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Aug 15, 2008  
Pours a cloudy amber brown with a thin filmy off white head. Aroma is very sweet with caramel, almonds, toffee, maple syrup and a lot of dark fruit. The flavor is much more nutty and less sweet. The caramel and fruit still shine through and are balanced by a nice amount of bitterness. Finishes long nutty sweet and a bit hot. Medium to full bodied, creamy texture.


 wickedpete (551), Lexington Park, Maryland, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/59/105/517/20
Aug 14, 2008  
Reddish hued brown color but barely any head stands up even with a vigorous pour, though plenty of bubbling rises to the surface. The aroma is strikingly fruity, warm and caramely, with a distinct alcohol note noticeable underneath everything. Much like an aged barleywine in the sweet caramel and fruit notes while laking much hoppiness. The flavor is pleasant, not too syrupy, and lays down a nice layer of biscuity caramel and brown sugar, while a light bitterness develops. A touch of maple can be seen toward the finish as well. I expected more of a dominating sweetness to match the nose, but it seems very well balanced. The body is medium to light, again, not what I expected, and much more palatable especially with the dry finish. Very enjoyable.


v8powered (8), , Nevada, USA
does not count click to see why this rating of AleSmith Grand Cru does not count
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/105/518/20
Aug 3, 2008  
Very strong brown sugar / carmel flavor. Very tight champagne like bubbles. The worst thing about this beer was that I only had one bottle. This beer made me want more. Very smooth and enjoyable to drink.




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