AleSmith YuleSmith (Summer) India Pale Ale

Thanks to some handy mercantilism and bartering on the behalf of my fellow Ratebeerian Kepano, we were able to secure our first bottle from AleSmith. Ever. That’s because we are so unfortunate as to be in the outer, forgotten orbits of distribution for San Diego breweries. Ours is apparently a barren world, like the scarred face of the moon. They simply think that even if life exists in these craggy lands of Colorado, surely it can’t have evolved past an invertebrate rasping tongue who’s primitive licking motion is far better suited to eroding mollusk shells in the hope of a docile meal rather than tasting the toothsome crafts coming from AleSmith. End rant. YuleSmith Summer is a deservedly well praised beer. Let us begin with the head: a commodious raft of tan foam plumping up and above the glass in a terrifying tower of chemical cohesion and sheer magic. This then settles into a more manageable cork of bubbles, and finally sinks into an inverse crater, like a pleateau surrounded by a medieval moat. Whoah. And that’s before I even smelled the beer. After the many varied faces of YuleSmith’s presentation I catch a whiff of a syncretic wonder – ginger, cloves, pine, sassafras, ethanol, orange pith, pepper, pork tenderloin, oats and celery salt. The pork tenderloin part of that voluminous list had my salivating glands in a frenzy, to say nothing of the other complementary aromas (and other bits and pieces of my digestive system). But here’s where I vex myself – where self-reclamation, martyrdom and a philosophical flogging all crash together. I’ve never been good with Double IPAs, or any extreme of flavor for that matter. Anything Imperial subdues me more viciously than the empires subdued colonies of old. This beer included. Yes, it has something of a balanced hops-malt character to it, in an IPA style. But to me it hits hard, dry and tinny. A little time on the tongue catches a preliminary glow of apple which collapses soon after into a long, windy gust of hops and bitterness. It then loiters for much, much too long forcing ample time between sips, and furthermore keeping me looking like an IPA sophist. I’m too much of a coward – too weak and too flimsy. YuleSmith Summer burns like a thorny sting of a thousand displeased bees at a time when everyone else seems to think it’s their heavenly honey. It was, however, a pleasure nonetheless, if not for the spectacular architectural phantasmagoria or the entrancing smell, then only to have at last met a famous AleSmith.

Bottle from summer ’06. Deep amber colored and very clear. Huge light beige head that lasts indefinitely and leaves dense sea-foam lacing behind. Big caramelly nose with a pleasant dose of floral and citrus. Full bodied, smooth, easygoing carbonation. Nice blend of malt and hop to start off with, well balanced. Towards the middle and finish the hops kick into overdrive and assert themselves. IBU’s run towards harsh but back off at the last instant. Decently done, pleasant hop monster.

Bottle... This beer rocks!... Hazy amber ale with orange highlights and a mid-sized, creamy, khaki head. Great retention. Fruity, earthy aroma with notes of toffee, pine, clementine and grapefruit. Big hops on the palate; earthy and bitter. Plenty of caramel malt to balance the scales. Grapefruit rind, pine needles and caramel/toffee. Full-bodied with a chewy mouthfeel and lively carbonation. Bitter, grassy finish. World class beer!

draft at the brewery - Pours orangish and has a very pleasant citrus hops aroma. Well intensely hoppy in flavor as expected, there’s a strong malt balance and a good mouthfeel thanks to a good medium-full body and light carbonation that make this big beer go down surprisingly easily. Very nice.

Bombers courtesy of SDbruboy and footbalm, thanks guys!! Poured a large fluffy white head, retention is good, lacing is puffy, sagging and sticking around. Clear, burnished copper color. Pungent hop nose, spicey, fruity with strong citrus notes with a surprisingly big matiness. Body is med/full, oily on the palate though lightly so.Lovely fruity flavors, overipe peaches and apricots, just right pineyness,notes of lightly buttered popcorn and flowery honey. Caramel malts are dry, lightly bready pale malts are a touch toasty. Finish is fruity, hoppy and lucious. Eric and Cliff, thanks! You guys f*%*#n rock!!

Tap, O’Brien’s. Pours a light amber color. Sweet hoppy aroma with hints of pine and citrus. Slightly sweet hoppy flavor. Quite a bit of spice. More citrus than pine. Some maltiness as well.

22 oz. bottle from either BevMo or the brewery (I bought ’em in both places). Wow, it’s about time this one was separated out, I love it and can definitely notice the difference between the summer and winter editions. Anyway, pours cludy topaz-amber with a fluffy beige head and little floaties. Caramelly sweet aroma, toasty, toffee and lots of ripe summer fruit with huge hops of orange, qrapefruit and pine and hints of alcohol. Flavor is sweet and rich,with toasty, fruity malts, more caramel, bold pine and citrus hops, peppery spice and grapefruit in the finish. Full body, smooth and gentle carbonation.

Pours a slightly-hazy amber with good-sized white head that lasts. Very sweet smelling for an IPA, with citrus and other fruits dominating. In the mouth, the alcohol is quite evident. It starts out sweet, with similar notes as the aroma, plus a pretty pronounced hit of caramel, malt and vanilla. Finishes balanced. Possibly the best IPA I’ve ever had.