AleSmith YuleSmith (Summer) India Pale Ale

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

bottle- thanks Jason- a nice summer treat with that familiar alesmith ipa smell, citrus, pine. I was surprised how well balanced this beer was, and was expecting far more hop bitterness and flavor. wasn’t there. Still, nice, somewhat creamy mouthfeel, and an earthy malt flavor make this a great choice.

Thanks to Wetherel for this pour. Clear copper with nice thick frothy head. Big hoppy grapefruit nose. Flavor was hops and hops then a few more. Yet the balance to the malt is almost perfect. Mouthfeel is very creamy with just a touch of alcohol burn, this is a great balanced double IPA!

22 oz bottle. Poured a clear orange color. Head was bubbly and off white with good retention and lacing. Smelled of sweet malty caramel, cherry, cotton candy, and grapefruity hops. Dry on the tongue up front with moderate to assertive hops bitterness right from the get go and well into the finish. As far as bitterness goes I’d give it a 7 out of 10. Malty sweetness emerged toward the end, especially as the beer warmed up. Nice balance of citrusy hops and malty toffee in the flavor. Tasty IIPA.

This is one of my favorite beers so far. Very balanced with a citrus smell. Orange to copper color. you can taste the hops and it leaves you with an awesome after taste. Not too sweet...one of the best IPAs I’ve tasted

Bomber - This one I was excited for, and wasnt disappointed. Pop the cap, great aroma already grabbing the nose. I can already tell its a hop bomb. Orange/copper pour with a gorgeous fluffy off-white head that laces about as much as I’ve ever seen in an IIPA. I take a deep whiff, and wow this smells good. I’m noticing some great hoppy citrus scents with that piney malty underneath. At this point I already know I’m going to love this ale. Flavor is what I was hoping for, a big hoppy front to a slightly sweet caramel backbone. Hops are off the hook in this badboy! It’s not nearly as sweet as say 90 minute, but thats not a bad thing. Somehow they’ve balanced the super-hoppy with the malt VERY well. I don’t know if I’ve had a better IIPA.

Bottle. Pour is a coppery orange color and sports a pretty large head (about three figners of foam at first). Aromas are mindnumbing. I am fairly giddy at this point as I’m picking up the pine and pineapple that means good IPA hops and a slight caramel backbone from the malt. Flavor is much more bitter that I anticipated. The malt definitely is there and holds the hoppy bitterness in check, but as far as IPA’s go, this one leans to the hoppy end of the spectrum. This is interesting considering that the Winter version heads much more in the malt direction if memory serves me well. Either way, I’m not sure which of the twins I would rather take home.

Thanks MikeTD. Orange pour with huge white head. Aroma is big on orange and citrus. Flavor is really malty, crystal all the way with orange and grapefruit. Toasty but still sweet from the huge amount of crystal malts. Good but I really prefer the winter version.

Bottle via Weeheavy. Golden color. Smell of grapefruit, malt, hops, pine, zest, grass, sugar, caramel and orange juice. Taste of malt, hops, grapefuit, caramel, brown sugar, salt, flowers, grass, pine, citrus zest, spice and alcohol. Wow! The hops are great in this one. Wonderful!