AleSmith YuleSmith (Summer) India Pale Ale

Brewed by AleSmith Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
San Diego, California USA

22 fl oz bottle thanks to Hildigöltur and Ungstrup for allowing us to open this :). Pours almost clear and golden orange with a diminished white head. Spiced and orange fruity to light citrusy aroma. Light breadish and liqourice hops flavoured with a solid bitterness. Dried fruity yet not raisin sweet as the flavour remains rather dry. Dry and lasting bitter into the far finish.

Bottle thanks to Hophead22, Thanks man! Poured a hazy golden color with nice white head. Aroma is citrus, grass, and hops. Flavor was hoppy, citrus, and malts. Finished smooth and very enjoyable!

Dark golden in color with a nice large foamy off white head. Clear in look. Smell is fresh grass hops, orange, lemon, and other citrus. Taste is medium to high bitterness, citrus, and grassy notes. Did not even notice the alcohol.

courtesy of McBackus. poured from bomber into wide mouth glass. malty and hoppy nose with grapefruit and citrus. good carbonation. sweet caramel flavor, but very light. Lacks the malt backbone to support the hops. I can’t see what all the fuss is about; I’ve had much better DIPAs.

Bottle thanks to Kegbear. Poured a deep golden with a fresh hop and sweet citrus spice aroma. Damn nice flavors of peach, fresh hops, citrus, floral characters, sweet malt, and some light but noticeable spice. Very smooth and tasty brew.

bomber into pint glass. The aroma is pretty inbelievable and quite possibly the best hop aroma I have encountered (reminded me a bit of Hop Slam, but better than what I remember of it). All juicy citrus hops with a great floral character too (even some pine hops, which I am detecting further down the glass) that is in such impeccable balance that I can’t really explain it. This is also not to mention the extreme potency; when I poured this I could smell it throughout the room. Beneath the great hops one can detect a hint of sweet pale malt... yum. I’m not one for the color of this brew or the color of its head (very light copper golden body with an all white head), but the creaminess of the head that the lace it leaves is litterally perfect (perhaps the best lacing I have encountered also). Crystal clear without much visible carbonation. The hops on the flavor are also, as expected, off the chain with all varieties of hops - citrus, pine, floral and bittering. It has pine hops upfront that fade into citrus and finish with a dry as hell bitterness. As it warms the malt comes out on the swallow and finish too - rich thick pale malt. This thing is hot but smooth on the palate, medium to thick bodied with a rich maltyness. Overall: this may be the ultimate in hoppy beers, and I am actually a bit surprised that it isn’t rated higher. (after submitting my original rating... I checked my raitings and I gave dreadnaught 1 point higher but can;t imagine it having been any better... I need to try these side by side and crown the victor.) This thing is beautiful.

A super sexy double IPA. Pours with a fluffy head, bright orange gold body, has tons of sediment dancing throughout. Smells like hops, malt, with some spice to it, and maybe even some butterscotch too. Strong flavors of hops, a tad bit of citrus, and a strong malt backbone. A tad astringent and puckering, leaves a layer of bitterness on the center of the tongue. Not a double IPA you want to rush. Very velvety and delightful. A must try, and near the top of its class.

I’ve been waiting a couple of years for this beer, finally got it via liquidsolutions.biz (thanks Matt M). Poured a hazy golden from 22 oz bomber, forming nice size foamy white head. Aroma of hops, resins, and ocean water. Extremely smooth beer, quinces one thirst for excellent beer. Hops galore, let them sing. Once again AleSmith claims excellence.