AleSmith YuleSmith (Summer) India Pale Ale

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

Bottle. Large off-white head that was mostly lasting, good lacing, fine-small sized bubbles, softly carbonated, and an orange brown hue. Aroma was citrusy, sweet, malty, and very hoppy. Taste was malty, sweet and too hoppy for my palate. Medium body. If you are a hophead, go for it!

Had this at the DC/MD/VA/WV/PA gathering. Bottle courtesy of jasonp, I think. Clouded copper. Nose is rich hops - light pine and citrus, light maltiness, and a mild underlying sweetness. Taste is hoppy (citrus) with a big malt notes as well. Nicely balanced. Some bitter fruitiness coming through at points too. Body is slightly oily and obviously bitter. However, it seems rounded enough. Finishes with more bitter hops, light fruit notes, malt, and some grassy notes. Good stuff! Need more of this!

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.

Bottle, purchased at Bev Mo in Mission Valley, San Diego CA. Drank at home on 8/13/06. This is the summer release in the blue and red bottle. Honestly I think this is a different recipe then the winter. Pours cloudy amber. Amazingly strong hoppy smell. It has a complex lingering bitter hoppy taste. It is also sweet. Although I love Alesmith, this brew has to come second in my book for Imperial IPA’s when compared to Dogfish 90. If you can find it grab it. Keep up the good work your brilliant beer makers.

Bottled @ jbrus. Hazy orange color, short head. Aroma is very hoppy, grapefruit. Soft and balanced taste. Smooth, but still with a decent bitterness that never becomes too astringent.

Bottle graciously sent to me by alexsdad06. Thank you so much. This one is a damn fine beer. Wow. Pours a hazy orangish color wtih a very nice whte head. Aroma is a delicious mix of caramel, malts, fruit and spicy and floral hops. Flavor is just a perfect union of big hops and smooth malt. I get citrus, caramel, vanilla, and man I just loved this beer.

Thanks to rasmus B for picking this one up for me. pours a clear orange with a smooth lacing thick offwhite head. looks very good. aroma can be sensed 30cms awaay from the glass i just poured. strong flowery hoppy aroma, delicate, getting your attention. getting closer to the glass i get a near perfect strong pine and flowery hops combination with some malty sweetness thrown in. it could be a little stronger but what we have is hard to improve on. flavor is based in sweet malts, and with lots of hops added, bitter pine and faint grape dominates, the flowery hops are way in the background. flavor is more extreme hoppy than aroma, but stil very drinkable. In a way a "simple" Double IPA, but extremely well crafted and balanced.

Second sober rating; first beer of the day this time. Light orange copper or dark orange amber. Half inch lasting creamy head. Meaty deep hop aroma. Lots of heavy citrus notes. Enough hops for this bottle to be a meal but not overpowering. Long, long lasting hop finish. After the first sip or three the alcohol notes make an appearance. Can almost feel the texture of the dried hops. May 2008. FINALLY found the summer version and shared the bottle after a long night. Good thing I found a second bottle to follow up with a more serious tasting in the next few days. Amber. Good head. Rich hop aroma. Rich bitter ________. Hops. Huge hops. Huge alcohol. 7/3/7/3/15