AleSmith YuleSmith (Winter) Imperial Red Ale

Brewed by AleSmith Brewing Company
Style: American Strong Ale
San Diego, California USA

The dryness of an IPA mixed with the front-loaded flavor of an cherry-flavored ale. Slight bitterness, but very smooth and not too light. Spiced,

Pours an orange copper with a good-sized head. Smells like a christmas wreath (in the words of a friend of mine), with a great (powerful) balance of malts and hops - though the hops really come through in this one. Slightly boozy, but it doesn’t taste like it - it just comes through as a slightly spicy burn. The aroma is more piney, resiney hops... with some fruits, too - a bit of cherry. Mouthfeel is perfect - plenty of carbonation, but it still sits on your tongue without taking away from the flavor with too much effervescence. This is really tasty. A lot bigger than its 8.5% lets on.

Pours a very nice clear crimson amber with a half inch of fluffy off white head with good lacing. Smells lovely! It’s all resiny citrusy hios, sour apple, and just a hint of malt. Tastes even better than the smell, with sweet malt coming first, followed by glorious bitter citrusy hops, then caramel, then finishing off with lingering hop bitterness. The mouth feel is warming and smooth. Overall this is a mighty fine brew.

Pours a deep amber body with a thin, lasting off white head. Big caramel and roasty malt up front with a long, dry citrus hop finish. Drinkable to the point of being dangerous.

Bottle. Pours a darker amber. Nose of cooked hops and grapefruit. Very hoppy flavor but not overdone. It is a very full IPA and the beer itself is big enough to support the hop character without it being overwhelming. Tastes of citrus fruit, pine, caramel, and hints of lighter roasted malts. Great IPA for the winter. Another hit by alesmith.

22oz. Bottle: Aroma of hops, citrus, pine, caramel, light grapefruit, light toasting, and cream. Poured deep orange/amber/ruby in color with a medium-sized, creamy, dense, tan head that lasted throughout. Cloudy. Slightly sparkling. Full of medium and large-sized particles throughout. Very good to excellent lacing. Flavor is medium bitter and lightly sweet. Tastes of hops, pine, spruce, citrus, malts, toasting, chocolate, light fruit, light caramel, and some resin. Medium body. Oily texture. Average carbonation. Bitter, sweet, hops, pine, caramel, chocolate finish is delicious.

Light yellow head on a ruby body. Nose is mainly hop with creamy caramel, grapefruit, and pine. Flavor is more well-rounded with a nice malt balance. Full bodied, salty, and smooth with a finish in grapefruit hop and crusty malt. Nice beer.

Christmas night, kids are in bed, the toys are all broken, time to settle down with what I think will be a wonderful beer. And boy, does this deliver. Dense, two finger head with great retention and incredibly sticky and intricate lacing. Strong aromas of both caramel malt and piney hops but the hops smell lingers longer. Taste seems to be a battle between the two for my affections, and I am duly flattered. Hops lean toward a spruce tips sensation, but some citrus is also evident. Caramel malts, with peppery spices and honey combine to make a strong counter to the bitterness. Meium to full bodied, nice carbonation, and the hops dominate a very pleasant aftertaste. High ABV is warming, not overpowering. Great finish to a great day.