AleSmith YuleSmith (Summer) India Pale Ale

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

Beer pours lightly cloudy golden color with a totally retained off white head. Lots of piney hops in the nose; rather one dimensional in that respect, but in a good way, IMO. Taste is quite bitter, with significant citrus hoppiness, also more biting hoppy bitterness in the dry finish. Pretty spicy too. Yum.

Bright clear copper. Beatifically hoppy nose, astoundingly tart and citric. Hoppy flavor, quite citric, some orange zest. Malts are there, nice unexpected cocoa flavors plus vanilla. Does have a bit of a gap between the hops and malt, drops off a bit, but still very good.

Orange brown hazy ale with a creamy white head. Pungeant floral hops with pinhey notes. Lots of fresh malts, whiskey qualities, sweet and hoppy....and a merry x-mas to you too! Bottle sampled with TiggMtl, MartinT, muzzlehatch and Rastacouere.

Bottle. this is also leftover from my xmas trip. Incredible. copper body, reddish tinge. Big fluffy off-white head, sheets of lace. Aroma isn’t as pronounced hop-wise as the Ruination tasted right before this, as there is more maltiness apparent. Pine and flower notes. Creamy body. This IIPA has spectacular balance, just enough maltiness to even the loads of piney sticky hops. A little bit more alcohol peaks it’s way through in this one, but it’s very pleasant. long lingering finish. Very impressed with this brewery.

July ’04 release in a tulip. So smooth and creamy and yet big and bold. This is the most drinkable double IPA I have had. It is not blow me away dreadnaught, just incredibly satisfying. The malt/hop balance is perfect. Nice spicyness and quite aromatic as it warms. My first and certainly not my last Alesmith.

Given as a refresher at papago brewing for xmas in july. Copper-orange color with a big bountiful white head. Heaven is only one word to describe the aroma, spices. citrus and others just fill up the senses. Has a smooth dry crisp mouthfeel, nice and warming. The alcohol contect is there but not very noticeable until the end. Comparing with the last time I had this beer during the holidays until now, it has aged well. The last word to describe this beer is awesome.

...Anyone got the recipe for this? This summer edition of Yulesmith pours a crystal clear amber with minimal head. The smell is evident right away! Floral/piney hops and that sweet oily aroma that the good IIPA’s have. Also get some alcohol aroma, and a touch of vanilla? Neat. Flavor is Smooth and malty with a gentle bitterness coming through more and more throughout the taste. The balance is amazing for an IIPA. Not overly sweet like a BW, not overly bitter like some other IIPA’s. Just right! Mouthfeel is luxuriant, full, creamy, smooth, and festively (hehe) carbonated. A wonderful beer!

(Draft: O’Brien’s in San Diego, CA) Rating is for the Christmas ’03 release; Compared side by side with the July ’04 special release of YuleSmith, the Christmas ’03 version is much more malty, hoppy and full bodied than the July ’04 release; It’s very sweet and strong, quite malty, and very hoppy, especially in the finish; The malt could get lost in a sweet, hoppy 2IPA, but the malt flavor holds its own, resulting in a wonderfully balanced beer; Seems to have a little oak in the flavor; The palate is full bodied, somewhat sticky and very coating from the sweetness, but smoother than expected for such a strongly flavored beer; Sweet, malty, hoppy nose also has some evident alcohol; Ruddy brown in color; Light tan head is smallish on the pour and displays pretty good retention for a style known for a quickly retreating head; Some modest lacing