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AleSmith YuleSmith (Winter) Imperial Red Ale

Percentile
100
overall

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
7524.08/5.04.07/5.0Winter9.5%99.2Snifter, Trappist glass
Commercial Description:
During the summer, YuleSmith is transformed into a big, hoppy, Double IPA. The enormous load of hops requires a substantial malt background to create just the right balance for a Double IPA. Lighter in color, summer YuleSmith is available around the 4th of July and is packaged in a red, white, and blue bottle. For the winter season, YuleSmith is brewed as an Imperial Red Ale. This version is maltier, more balanced, and darker in color than the summer version. Although quite malty, big hop flavors and aromas are abundant making this an unforgettable winter warmer. Winter YuleSmith is packaged in traditional holiday red and green. Original Gravity Alcohol by Volume 1.085 9.5%
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 fredandboboflo (1395), East Setauket, New York, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/57/104/515/20
Apr 21, 2008  
Bottle. Aroma luscious concoction of grapefruit, mango, passion fruit, floral notes, a touch of bitterness from these hop-dominated impressions. Flavor continues along the same lines, at first adds a seemingly perfect amount of sweet malt, but toward the end it becomes a little too sweet. The body isn’t at all syrupy as might be expected from the increasing sweetness and remains playful throughout. Just that slightly overbearing sweetness (which is a major surprise after initial impressions of near perfection) that keeps this one from excellence, but obviously with my 3.9 I’m splitting hairs here.


 LilBeerDoctor (1489), East Setauket, New York, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/58/104/515/20
Apr 20, 2008  
Bottle. Pours a red/amber with a huge light tan head that lasted. Aroma primarily of floral hops, also some piney hops, grapefruit, other citrus fruits. Flavor of piney hops, citrus with a malty finish (also got some sweetness and alcohol in the finish). At first this beer was very smooth to drink, but it got heavier and more syrupy as I continued to drink. A very good ASA (but not my favorite).


 rlgk (3377), Vårgårda, Sweden
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/104/517/20
Apr 20, 2008  
Bottle. Somewhat hazy amber/orange color, huge lasting creamy head. Very nice fruity and hoppy aroma, citrus. lots of IPA-feeling in this one. Floral and with elder notes. Hoppy floral flavor, grassy, metallic, spicy, fruity, a lil sweetish. Great body, great beer.


 ironchefscott (342), portland, Oregon, USA
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/56/104/512/20
Apr 20, 2008  
I don’t like this beer at all way too sweet malt flavors and not enough hop flavor to balance...don’t know why this is sooo highly rated?


fg8080 (37), San Diego, California, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/57/104/514/20
Apr 19, 2008  
Good brew but to me it just wouldnt be worth it to buy it again. Trying this one once is good enough for me.


 OldMrCrow (1184), Seattle, Washington, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/57/104/515/20
Apr 16, 2008  
Bottle courtesy of Toncatcher.

Pours a deep red-brown caramel with a nice off-white head; beautiful. Big grapefruit c-hop aroma, very much as expected. Already the touches of oxidation that one gets with these big West-Coast IIPAs; I’d love to try it fresh. The flavor is as expected, distinctive Alesmith character, ample rich caramel malts driving the body with a fullness to complement the aggressive c-hopping. Not too sweet, though not a dry herbal IIPA. Nice mouthfeel, not sticky, certainly not hot. (Impressive accomplishment at 9.5%!) Very nice beer, quite enjoyable. A standout? Maybe not in this ultra-competitive category, but enjoyable through and through.


 MesandSim (5802), London, Greater London, England
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/515/20
Apr 16, 2008  
A Mes rate: Bottle at Tom’s UGT Pt. 2.
An attractive cloudy dark amber colour with a thin white head. Big hoppy aroma with some lovely earthy malt underneath and some nice spice and pepper notes. Similar flavour but with hints of cereal. Nice and dry spicy finish. Excellent mouthfeel, prickly but not over carbed. Good beer.


 Haslinger (642), Syracuse, New York, USA
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/105/518/20
Apr 15, 2008  
06 bottle. Very floral aroma with some hops smell. Just amazing taste. Some hops in there along with a great sweet malty finish. Almost some citrus taste. I liked this one alot. Would buy again in a heartbeat



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