AleSmith Horny Devil

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

bottle. pours a hazy amber with a relatively thin off-white head that fades and leaves a bit of lacing. smell is of pear, with some strong spices, a bit of wood, some plum, maybe a bit of apple, and perhaps even a hint of some earthy piney hops. lots of spice in the flavor, with more pear, a bit of apple, some wood, and a caramelly malt flavor. a bit mediciney in the flavor. finishes pretty sweet, moreso than i like, with a slight bitterness that doesn’t quite balance the sweetness. full bodied, with a sticky mouthfeel. glad i got to try it, but i don’t think i’m going to drop $13 on a bottle again.

A very bright golden orange in color with a medium foamy head. Lots of yeast and spiciness in the nose. Very powerful and varied tastes come through instantly in this ale. Loads of candy sugar, fruit, coriander and yeast. Nice carbonation. A very nice dry finish which is very well balanced with a very subtle alcohol warmth.

Bottle. Amber with a small white head. Strong coriander aroma with hints of alcohol and sugar. The taste was sugary and something like lemon zest? Was surprised at the light color for a beer with such a strong flavor. Not too carbonated. An excellent brew.

750 ml bottle - first pint was light gold and crystal clear with the expected increasing cloudiness on the second pour; floral aroma mix of spice, yeast and sweet fruit; flavors that follow are equally fruity; dry finish with a grape juice-like aftertaste; a little too sweet for me

Capped 750 ml. green bottle, no bottling date, but I did store this for nearly an year before trying, sampled in a tulip glass. Red foil covers the top of the bottom. Poured a cloudy orangey golden with a small compact head of tight white foam. The head slowly and finally settles into a thin bubbly ring around the glass. A bright citric fruity nose, orange licorice, pineapple and citrus zesty. In the background are aromas of peppery spices and earth. The alcohol is fruity vinous and spicy with a little burning solvent heat in the nostrils. Medium bodied that is sticky on the tongue, softly crisp from the moderate carbonation. The coriander seeds and yeast produce intense fruity flavors, oranges, mangos, pineapple and peaches that are sweeten by the Belgian candied sugars. In the middle some nutty and earthy spiced yeast tastes emerge. Faint traces of medicinal herbs add to overall spiciness. The malts have a nice honey graininess to them. The hops are properly subdued, just a lightly drying spiciness towards the end. The softly warming estery solvent alcohol acquires a nice spiciness as it moves along. Finishes dry and surprising clean, only a mild fruity warmth lingers briefly in the palate. Another AleSmith beer that I wish was available in Illinois. Pleasant sipping ale that makes a perfect capper to an quiet evening.

Pours gold with a tiny bit of white fizz. Very fruity aroma. Flavors of sweet fruits...cherries, apricot, pears, and strawberry among others. Coriander and yeast as well. Finishes slightly syrupy, not much notice of the alcohol. A very interesting take on a style that is normally overcomplex and overdone imo.

Bottle. Lemon yellow hazy in color. No head. Yeasty, lemon-citrus, sour-patch-kid kind of bitter/sugary mix. Wheaty, doughy, spicy, esp nutmeg, coriander. OK, but a big disappointment coming from these guys who almost always bring it.

Bottle at home (Thanks Bager) - 24. Dec. - shared with Bager, Per & Mette. Clear amber - white head. Caramel, coriander, honey, raisins, orange, light spicy, powerfull sweetness, very well balanced.