AleSmith YuleSmith (Winter) Imperial Red Ale

Here is a beer that far exceeded my expectations, as the style American Strong Ale is kind of vague. Pours a rich copper brown colour, with a huge rocky head that could not be avoided. The key here is balance, I have yet to try a beer that does a finer job in balancing the malts and hops, just masterful. Very easy drinking I could not detect the high alcohol and would drink this all the time if I could...very nicely done by Alesmith.

Bottle. Pours a hazy amber with a small white head that leaves some lacing. Aroma of citrus, caramel, sweet malt, and alcohol. Taste is the same as aroma. Medium mouthfeel with a moderate amount of bitterness and well hidden alcohol. Very good.

Bottle 06 served in 07. Ruby Brown pour. Great flavors of citrus/grape/passion hop character. I really enjoyed this bottle.

Clear orange body. Aroma of piney hops, almost Christmas tree-like. Flavor is full of more pine and citrus hoppiness and an assertive alcohol character. Biting carbonation. Very nice!

Beautiful pour of clear ruddy brown with three finger cream colored head. Nose is rich with pieapple hop aroma, with malt sweetness. The flavor is equal to the nose in richness and mild sweetness with the pineapple standing out. Smooth, subtle creaminess in the mouthfeel. Very nice.

Bottle. Pours a musky caramel color, with a flirty wisp of white head, with tons of lacing. Big floral hops in the aroma, mostly grapefruit and other citrus. Big helping of vanilla and malty goodness, too. Flavor-wise, malt hits first, with big biscuit flavors. Hop comes through in the end, with a nice floral kick. Sticky mouthfeel, soft and creamy finish. As easy to drink as a 9.5% beer can get.

Objectively speaking: Very solid imperial IPA of confident caramelly leanings.
I like: Clean and not too thick. Very fragrant hops providing a broad range of aromas (flowery grapefruit, ripe orange, juicy spruce). Excellent evolution with the bitterness cutting through the sweetness with excellent timing. Seriously drinkable for its heavy bulk.
I dislike: It just does not seem as perfumey as the summer edition, but otherwise, for Californian beer fans, this is the quintessence, up to the appearance.

Bottle (2006) Really a wonderful beer. Pours a cloudy reddish color with a creamy head. Aroma is floral and citrus. Tastes of citrus, candied sugar, caramel, and sweet hop. Palate is absolutely enjoyable, and finishes clean. Another masterpiece from AleSmith.