AleSmith YuleSmith (Winter) Imperial Red Ale

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

Tasted with OhioGuzzler and side-by-side with YuleSmith (Summer)... The Winter YuleSmith is deep copper/amber in color with a big off white head (definitely darker than the Summer YuleSmith). It has a wonderful caramelized sugar aroma that wafts all around you. it has something else deep in the aroma that I can’t pinpoint. Flavor is very malty with a hefty amount of warming alcohol to back it up. The finish as a nice bitterness to round out the overall flavor - not too much, but just right. Overall, it is quite balanced as the alcohol doesn’t really blow you away, but it is there. It also has a creamy mouthfeel that I’m really digging. Unfortunately for this beer, Arrogant Bastard is *almost* as good and half the price. 22 oz bottle (2005, 8.5% alcohol), $8.99 at From the Vine.

Bottle. A deep reddish brown color with a big thick foamy tan head. A hop filled sweet malty aroma with pine, and citrus. A rich and malty sweet flavor with a pine hops, caramel, and pepper. Robust and well balanced.

Huge thanks to Secret Santa crizay for this one! I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time, and it didn’t disappoint. Orange and ruby tinted amber, nice compact pillow head that left tails of lace. Aroma is thick caramel and a burst of juicy citric and pine hops. Flavor is rich caramel accented malts, resinous pine, pineapple, citrus, and something tropical that really reminded me of mango. Everything balanced perfectly, the transition from malt sweetness to hop bitterness is seemless. Awesome beer.

Bottle. Rated on Apr 30, 2005. Bottle from Winter 04/05. Thanks to JohnC for this. Aroma is a nice balanced piney feel with mild touches of citrus grapefruit. Nothing overly amazing in the aroma, though. Amber/copper hazy color with nice frothy whitish head and big-time floaties. Start is bitter with piney notes with an awesome sweet and caramel malty backbone in the milddle. This nice malty body is what makes Alesmith stand out so much IMO. Finishes citrusy and orangey with mild hoppiness and bitterness. Hides the 8.5% very well. This beer is highly rated for damn good reason!

20061006 Bomber. Well, I’ve had this numerous times. In fact, it’s one of the beers I have traded for multiple times just to stock up for the long haul. Green-tinged amber reminds of motor oil in its color and obvious viscosity. Huge, thick, and lasting tan head fades to piles of dirty sea foam. Aroma is piney, pithy, and yeasty. Very nice to encounter some yeastiness come forward in a big US style strong ale. Palate is sticky, full, and thick. This stuff is obviously mellowed a bit it’s just delicious. Mild oxidation, mellowed hops, and juicy malts. Amazing beer.

Hazy rusty-brown body, silky beige head, and significant lacing. Floral, hoppy aroma with both candy and savory elements, the latter being reminiscent of AleSmith IPA. Also has notes of grapefruit, wood, and alcohol. Great flavor with exquisite balance of all key elements. This beer is subdued yet full-flavored and complex. Soft, subdued palate. Although a definite belly warmer, this beer is remarkably fine and delicate for a big beer.

Clear amber with a creamy brown head. A strong piney hop flavor with caramel malts. Creamy mouthfeel. A strong hop aroma with a mild malt for balance.

Deep orange-brown body, thick puffy cream head. Crisp piney, citrusy hops aroma, backed by bready malts. Toasty body, potent with citrusy, piney hops and a bitter, peppery finish. Bready. Solid, but not entering my Top 50. If an I2PA/ASA isn’t going to deliver creatively, it had better knock the presentation out of the park to reach elite status.