AleSmith YuleSmith (Summer) India Pale Ale

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

Tried from tap at Stone brewery. Wow, the commercial description is dead on, I couldn’t have written it better. A fine bubble 2-finger head. Elegant summer grassy aromas fill the glass. Well balanced bitterness, yet with a heavier weighting towards bitterness, perfect for an IPA. Very very easy to drink. I’ll have another. Great great beer. Rerate: Had the rare opportunity (7/26/07) to try the first batch of Yulesmith summer at http://www.ratebeer.com/events-detail.asp?eventID= with DenverLogan, and Quaff members. 3yr old bottle I believe. 500th batch celebration bottle with blue and white label. Some subdued hops. Oxidation at at a nice very low level. Very mellow and infinitely complex. Light amber color. 9,3,7,3,17: 3.9.

(8-16-08) 22 oz. bottle shared by MaltOMeal-served in shakers- met up with Bill to shoot the breeze, trade, watch the Astros, and he decided to whip this puppy out pregame, wow! Poured slightly cloudy darkened golden orange, thin white head that laced some, hearty aroma of floral hops with pine, caramel, and pineapple in the background. Hits the mouth with a high-medium body, the malt is tremendously awesome, a touch of sweetness in the middle followed by the inevitable hop assault, finish is acidic and slaps you across the face if you think you don’t want another sip. Great brew, and many thanks for sharing!

This years bottle, bought the day after the release and consumed a week later. A gusher. Pours with a large, rocky, ever-so-slightly off-white head covering a barely hazy, deep golden body. Some small yeast particles in the glass. Extremely impressive retention, good strong lacing. Aroma has lots of caramel, some tangy-ness, vanilla, brown sugar, and a bit of grapefruit. Taste is strongly caramel upfront that transcends to a light citrus and refreshing finish. Light carbonation and a syrupy full mouthfeel.

Bottle. Pours a hazy reddish color, with creamy white head and lacing. Nose is big on hops, lots of citrus and tropical fruits. Very forward. Flavors are more of the same, with citrus, big hoppy mango, tropical elements, and some vanilla. Very smooth, and very drinkable.

Bottle, thanks to TampaBrew for the share. Poured a slightly hazy copper color with a creamy eggshell colored head. This is a great beer. Aroma is loads of citrus, earthy hops with notes of pine and grass. Full bodied, good carbonation, chewy mouthfeel. Flavor is excellent, great caramel base with residual sweetness and a near perfect amount of citrus, grass, and pine. Fairly balanced but still nicely hopped. For now, my favorite DIPA

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

Pours deep golden-orange with a nice slightly off-white head. Aroma is mainly hop citrus and floral. Great combination of hops over malt in the flavor. Good carbonation and mouthfeel. Outstanding example of West Coast DIPA.

Perfect balance of Hops and malt. Great pine and citrus aromas with a huge frothy head. A huge delicious IPA.