AleSmith YuleSmith (Winter) Imperial Red Ale

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

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.

07 bottle. Clear, copper-colored body that lightly sparkles is masked by a ginormous head of red-hued bone that laces thickly and generously. I smell caramel, honey, sweet french bread center (not the crust), roasty malts, a touch of alcoholic sweetness and some lovely floral, pine and citrusy hop splash. Quaffable! Mouth is fullish with light carbonation for an almost dry finish. I taste lots of malts from caramel, honey, and sugar, all with an undercurrent of roastiness. Hops ring in with the sweet, delicious booze, esters, pine, smoke, and citrus. There is a long, dry and bitter aftertaste of roastiness and hops. Blended incredibly well. Smooth, smooth, smooth. Very complex. A bit flat for me, but oh so delicious! ...oh...I got to the bottom of the bottle with all of the yeast to make a cloudy body. Comment: "My God, this stuff is good."

Bottle. Poured a hazy red/brown with a small head. Aroma of was hoppy with grass and earth notes. Flavor was smooth malt with pine and grassy hops finishing. Full bodied with good carbonation and a sticky mouthfeel.

2007 Bottle. Just amazing. Sure plenty of folks have described the qualities so I will tell you why I like it so much. It is an american strong ale that’s hopped to death. It is absolutely complex and you can enjoy every tiny bit without a face full of bitterness. Do not get me wrong, I expect hoppy bittereness but this is the perfect amount IMHO.