AleSmith Horny Devil

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

Draft from the tasting bar @ AleSmith. Darker golden in the glass with thin head. Fruity aroma backed with a little clove. The flavor was much the same with apple standing out as the big fruit and a mix of spices. Light to medium body and dry.

Looks like I’m pouring a 20-year old barley wine. Mostly flat-looking, slightly hazy orange body. Large-bubbled, thin head, fades to a very sparse white ring. Sweet belgian yeasty fruit aroma. Taste is the same with the fruit, plus corriander and some nice caramel malt and some cheap-vodka alcohol. Nice flavors, but the alcohol coming out of the flavor is a slight turn-off. No offense to AleSmith, but I think if they teamed up with Dan Carey of New Glarus on this one, it would be awesome.

HMMM, I do not have high hopes for this one. I unwrapped the foil from the top and I got a distinct whiff of beer. The cap was a little rusty and there was very little exhaltation of pressure. Poured a clear apple juice. Absolutely NO carbonation and and this is in my Chimay glass and from a very vigorous pour. Sweet buttery aroma with some caramel malts, vanilla, orange and spices. Oh wait, I see it now. The feintest bit of carbonation extending off of the Fluer on the bottom of the glass. Wow, BIG alcohol presence. Plenty of sweet malts, honey, and spices. Palate is dominated by alcohol and heat as it goes down. Which after my rugby match today, is exactly what I need to sooth the body. Finishes slick and sweet with a lingering tingle from the alcohol. For essentially being a flat brew, this stuff isin’t too bad.

Bouteille, courtoisie de Hogtownharry. De couleur dorée et légèrement voilée. Nez de levures fruitées (agrumes et pelures, léger de pommes, notes d’abricots et de poires), malté de caramel très doux et de sucre bonbon, d’alcool moyen, moyennement épicé (coriandre, léger de clou de girofle, traces de poivre) et avec des notes de houblon floral et herbeux. Plutôt ronde-moyenne en bouche avec un pétillement moyen et une texture légèrement crémeuse et sirupeuse. Goût de levures fruitées aux faibles notes acides (agrumes et pelures, orange bonbon, léger de pommes vertes, notes d’abricots et de poires, traces de pelures de bananes) et épicé (coriandre, notes de clou de girofle et de cannelle) lors de l’entrée en bouche auquel se rajoute un goût malté assez sucré de sucre bonbon et léger de caramel doux (notes de pain et de miel) parallèlement à un moyen goût d’alcool réchauffant puis en finale, l’on retrouve une moyenne amertume de houblon floral et herbeux ainsi qu’un goût asséchant de levures épicées (léger de poivre). Post-goût long et moyennement sec, moyennement amer d’alcool, de levures et de houblon floral et herbeux avec un goût fruité (zest et pelures d’agrumes, pelures de pommes).

I may have got a weird bottle here. Poured a gold color with an almost absent soapy head. The nose was very sweet, fruity, and had some alchol. Resembled apple cider. Modest mouthfeel with taste of sugar, fruit, and spice. Finish was long and sweet with ALOT of heat. I mean it made your chest warm. Powerful! Would have to try again.

For a beer as light in color as this one you would never think it was 11%, had it on tap at AleSmith brewery, excellent brew, hints of citrus, best american belgian i have had

Verre de dégustation, provenant d’une bouteille verte de 750 ml, dégusté lors de la soirée "La croisée des chemins" chez Cathshlag. Arôme: Odeur d’épices et fruité avec une pointe d’alcool. Apparence: La couleur est blonde voilée. Présence d’un mince col mousseux et d’une fine dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Goût d’agrumes et d’épices. Durée moyenne de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture huileuse. Moyenne effervescence en bouche. Présence de coriandre en arrière goût. (Rating #1025)

In short: Strong Belgian Golden ale with excessive coriander amount.
How: Bottle. Many times tasting sessions. Never had a full bottle and not looking for either
The look: Light golden body with a generous white head.
In long: Some citrus and a lot of leafy coriander makes-up most of the flavour spectrum. Alcohol rather well hidden and sweetness level didn’t feel too high despite the 10%. Small sampling at tasting session. Deserves another try. Stands-out for being somewhat original but doesn’t have that let’s have it again feel to it. Advertised as being inspired by the trappist monks but I can’t see in what way (except for the Horny allusion of course).