AleSmith YuleSmith (Summer) India Pale Ale

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

Very nice double IPA. Nice color and with a hop haze. Very hoppy and citrus like smells emanate. Big hop flavor with a big malt balance makes this easily one of the best in the category I have tried. I highly recommend.

08 version: I had this beer about 2 weeks ago and still think about it today. I have little rate beer experience, but have tried many beers over the years, this beer is at the top of my list of the best beers that I have ever had. I could have rated it a 5, but I’m leaving some possibility that a 5 exists. The aroma is bittersweet, appearance caramelly, head large and incredible and lasting, lacing unbelievable, palate creamy. If one word could describe this beer, it’s BALANCE.

Bottle purchased with dinner at Stone Sour Fest 09. Pours a cloudy golden color with a large frothy white head that laces nicely. Aroma is a super fresh hop attack of mostly pine then citrus. Flavor is equally as huge and fresh. Tons of grapefruit, pine, and ridiculously bitter. A slightly sweet malt background with some fresh fruits and bread. Perfect medium to full palate with moderate carbonation. I weep thinking about it.

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. Love this beer. Poured a hazy orange/gold with a two finger white head. Aroma of caramel malt, citrus and floral hops. Flavor is well balanced and not too sweet. Citrus hops finish the taste. Great beer!

The aroma run the gamut of hop varieties, sweet, floral, fruity and bitter all at the same time. The pour is a beautiful garnet with a nice white frothy head. Sweet bread, cookie dough and pine needles with just a bit of pineapple and grapefruit round off the aroma. Perfectly balanced in every way, aroma, malt, hops, just a hint of marshmallow and grahams, sort of like a s’mores. The lacing is just amazing. This is a real pleasure to drink!

Bought a bottle on 7/16/09 and drank it that night. Haven’t had a fresh one of these since ’07. Cloudy orange pour with a big off-white head. Tons of orange in the nose with some pine, grapefruit and sweet malt. Orange and pine flavor up front with sweet malt and a bitter grapefruit finish. Amazing.

2nd bomber... wow, what a couple weeks gives this brew. Deep rich carmel corn salt hops, really has it all, slight snip of bitter on the finish. Acidity, hopps that almost encase the brew and will allow 2 years of cellaring. A WOW nose. Mid and finish are very nice also. I under rated this the 1st time, or like a couple other brews, Sculpin to point out 1, this is getting better in bottle and very quickly. That nose is a show stopper. Not sure if brews experience "bottle shock" like a wine does, but those having this shipped to them... Please Please wait for a couple weeks before opening one. Maybe the best aroma from a beer and close to the best wine, I’ve ever experienced. Wow Wow Wow is all I can think with a little bit of "out of control", is how good this brew is right now.