AleSmith YuleSmith (Winter) Imperial Red Ale

Thanks again to Adrian for sharing a bottle of this. I tried another bottle that tasted pretty different, more herbal. Maybe it was from another batch. Ratebeer calls it an American strong ale, the brewer calls it a holiday ale, but it is clearly a strong IPA. Dark amber pour with good head retention and sheet lacing. Nice aroma of sweaty, juicy hops. Full hop flavor, dominated by a grapefruit pith taste. There is some dry bite in the finish. A little overrated, but still very good.

Winter edition. Appearance: redish deep amber rust in coloration, much darker than the summer edition.Smells of pine, grapefruit, sweet malt, and alcohol. The Malt aroma makes it much different in smell than the summer version. Taste: Sweet Malt, grapefruit, pine and alcohol. The alcohol is much more present in this edition compared to the summer one. Much richer and more malty as well.Palate: very well balanced, not over hopped leaving my enamal in tact.

Wow is all i can say about this beer!! so well done amber color, tan foam. Nose is big grapefruit. Flavor is similar with a great spicy malty flavor well done

Bomber from Market of Choice. Insanely well balanced with a huge hop flavor that threatens to run amuck but is saved by just the perfect amount of maltiness. A bit of booze and pine in the finish with some citrus floating around as well. Alesmith is just so damn great, I wish we could get all their beers up here.

Bomber, from Charles Street Liquors in Boston. Pours a murky apricot with a large off-white head. Aroma is heavy on flowers, tangerine and malt; intense and absolutely seductive. Palate is smooth and creamy, and Yulesmith is a superb balance of malt with hoppy fruitiness. There is butter, caramel, malt, citrus, yuzu, and pine. A bold blend indeed, and potent. Finishes dry, with some booziness and bittering hops. Commendable beer, but I would like a bit more crispness of flavor in my APA/DIPAs. Overall, I’d say this falls behind Arrogant Bastard, but otherwise tops in the style.

Aroma is very malty, sweet and fruity with a hefty dose of citrus and floral hops. Pours a hazy orange tone with a huge mousy head that settles into a lasting top. Flavors of big citrus and floral hops accompanied by big sweet maltiness in the form of caramel and various types of sweet/tart fruit. Hops round out the finish and are resiny and dry. Delicious big beer with a malt/hop balance that is almost perfect. Incredibly enjoyable.

Getting notebook online. Bottle. Wow deliciously hoppy brew! Great malt flavors too. Well balanced. Great bitter finish! Great beer!

Bottle. [thank you, Dunk]
Pours clear red-brown with a great, creamy, light off-white head. roma is stunning, Centennial, strawberries, grapefruit, some plums, good maltiness, caramel. Great creamy mouthfeel - really exceptional. Flavour is stunning - pleasantly hoppy, sweet caramel maltiness, vinious, chewy malts and super dryness. Wow, this is great.