AleSmith YuleSmith (Winter) Imperial Red Ale

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

650 mL bottle. Clear orange red with a fizzy white head. Aroma of malt, sugar, and yeast. Silky palate. Big sweet malty taste, molasses, brown sugar, and hints of fruit and alcohol in the slightly bitter finish.

Brown and clear. Has a light-brown head, fully lasting. Yeasty, sweet aroma, notes of candis, sugar, laqurice. Flavor is heavy sweet, finish bitter too. Creamy texture. Soft carbonation.

From Voldby, DK. Bottled, 170409. Amber with red tone and white head. Aroma of red berries, lots of hoppy spices and flora. Flavor is caramel, some dried fruit and a solid bitterness.

The pours yields a reddish copper body with wavy streaks of carbonation. A massive, foamy, cream colored head settles slowly to a thick island mound, leaving random splotches of sticky cobweb lacing behind. The aroma is what an Imperial Red should be, massively malty and hoppy. Notes of rich, toasted caramel malts and butterscotch meet an array of grassy, herbal, and citrus hops. A heavy dose of soothing cream completes the nose. Flavor start out sweet and malty up front, though the caramel and toffee quickly give way to bitter grapefruit and resinous pine. Cream once again bridges the gap between ultra-malty and ultra-hoppy, fulfilling a subservient, yet no less important role. The mouthfeel is on the heavy side of medium bodied and moderately lively. A long, bitter, citrus and grass finish lingers on the roof of the mouth. This is certainly a very fine brew, but I’ve had more accessible Imperial Red’s that are just as good, if not better (Lagunitas comes to mind).

22oz, about 6months of age on it so i’ll have to re-rate fresh. pours reddish brown with big off-white head. nose has big caramelly malts with healthy hop kick in the background. flavor is still pretty bitter but definetly on the malty side of ASA. big caramel and toffee malts combined with PNW hops. alcohol is well hidden. carbination is medium. a tasty brew indeed but i think i’d like to have this fresh or aged 2 years.3.9.

11/08 - 2006 vintage aged 2 years and wow this aged so poorly! cooked vegetables with nothing really left over. gross.

Bottle, as Yulesmith Holiday Ale, at RBNAG 2009 in Vatlandsvåg. Deep orange to amber colour, low head. Aroma of American caramel malts and American hops, notes of caramellized orange marmalade. Rich mouthfeel. Flavour of oak, caramel malts, dried figs, American hops.

I’ve had it from the bottle; I’ve had it on draft. This beer rocks. Great up front hoppiness (pine, citrus) in the nose and flavor that finishes off w/ a stunning maltiness. A world class beer from a world class brewery.
Earlier Rating: 12/30/2002 Total Score: 4.3
Rating 21 Dec 2003: This beer is a work of art. It's beautifully balanced between hops and malt. Great hop aroma, initial hop flavor, but it finishes with maltiness on the tongue. Absolutely great. Previous Rating: citrus nose, does have the color of apple cider. poured w/ a head full of tiny bubbles. Starts out hoppy, finishes malty & cleanly. A nice drink

Bottle. Color is a dark, rich amber. Big frothy head, soapy. Aroma was fantastic. Aromas of malt and hops. Citrus, yeast and spice hints. Taste was much of the same. Great palate. Rich and complex. Fruit tastes. Really great, especially during the holidays.