AleSmith YuleSmith (Winter) Imperial Red Ale

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

Originally had this one rated higher...then I had Decadence "Evil Dead Red". This is a very good...the summer version with a much maltier backbone. The color definitely cools some degrees as well; from firework orange to Santa red. This beer still creates a huge head and tremendous lacing. Got to try it.

Winter. 22 oz bottle. Pours a reddish, dark amber color with a huge, fluffy off-white head. Head stayed up throughout the drinking. Smell is very much hop powered with a sweet malt hint. Taste is incredible. Sweet caramel malt is strong with citrus hops to balance. This reminded me of a midwestern or eastern IPA, with the strong malt presence and nice balance, instead of west coast style. The mouthfeel was medium and creamy with carbonation and a bitter hop aftertaste. This was one great brew. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Wish they had had another.

2007 Winter. Pours a slightly fogged, ruby hued amber with a sizeable crème head. Lots of lace on the way down. Nose is very full hops. Flavor is very hoppy. Almost seems more like an hopheads IPA with a very minor amber ale edge to it. Mellows out over time and grows into a more sweet edged concoction. Feel is nice on the liquid and the carbonation is good too. This was nice, but it seems a bit too bright. I have a second bottle that I am going to let sit for a while to see what happens.

22 oz bottle. Poured a slightly hazy orange red color. Head was off white/yellow, thick, and tenacious with great retention. Some lace was left behind at the end. Attractive aroma of citrusy/resiny hops, malty caramel, and graham cracker. There were also whiffs of pineapple and sea salt. Assertive hop bitterness, prickly carbonation, and warm alcohol assaulted my tongue initially, but some sugars and fruity cherry softened the blow in middle. There was a nice balance of malt and hop flavors including notes of sweet grapefruit, flower blossom, toffee, caramel, and savory scone. There was also ample alcohol. Hop bitterness was present throughout and peaked at about 7 out of 10. This is a well put together beer.

22 oz. bottle poured into tulip glass. HUGE head, lacing is awesome, head never dies down. Something about the aroma reminds me of Pop Rocks, but that’s a good thing. Incredibly balanced, tastes like caramel, Pop Rocks (again), grapefruit. Mouthfeel is great. I only bought one, wish I could get some more. Great deal @ $7/bomber!

Winter release. Poured into a snifter, this beer takes a dark auburn color with a fluffy, dense, off white head of 3 fingers. The retention and lacing are absolutely insane here, the glass is nearly covered with sheets and streaks of foam and the head maintains a half finger of height the whole way through. It looks like a beer that was left out during a tan snowstorm. Aroma explodes out of the glass: plum, honeydew, caramel, earthy and floral hops, grapefruit, sap, spice, everything you can think of. Amazing and intriguing. The taste here just reinforces the perfection of the aroma. Delicious caramel/brown sugar malt contends with an interesting floral hop flavor for dominance but this fight ends in a draw. The balance is impeccable; the sweet malt is never cloying and the hop presence is never too bitter. Each sip demands the next. Perfection. Mouthfeel is exemplary. The carbonation and body are so perfect you don’t even notice them. Everything is precisely engineered in such a way that it allows the flavor and aroma to shine through without distraction. Unbelievably smooth. My only regret about this beer is that I didn’t buy every one the store had. This is a beautiful beer. I could drink these until I collapsed. Bravo, AleSmith.

22oz Bottle Pours out a nice anber topped with a cream off white head. A great aroma of sweet citrus hops. Tast of ligth caramel and ligth bitter hops. A great tasting brew.

It’s not complex or interesting, but it’s an outstanding example of a hoppy, medium-bodied American strong ale. It’s balance between piney, resin hop bitterness and caramel sweetness is nearly perfect. The appearance is outstanding, with a rocky tan head that leaves thick, 3-dimentional rings of lace. The nose is potent, with grapefruity and floral hops piercing through a caramel malt backbone. The flavour is similar, with an increased emphasis on the malty character. The carbonation is soft, yet tingly and perfectly matched for the viscosity of the brew. Alesmith never ceases to amaze me.