AleSmith YuleSmith (Winter) Imperial Red Ale

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

650 ml bottle

Thanks to whomever sent a bottle of this in a trade a few months ago. It has been resting on a fridge awaiting consumption for a few months now. I’m not sure it was quite a personal Top 50 beer but I can see why people would think so. It is a blend of west coast hops and other things that can either punch your in the mouth or, if mellowed out, provide a malty experience.

Aroma / Appearance - A burnt orange body is graced by the huge pillowy head that forms quickly. Chunky lacing clings to the sides forming a cloudy window through which to gaze on the liquid inside. Caramel, butterscotch and hops are balanced by malts, peat and berries. I can immediately detect the west coast influences at work.

Flavor / Palate - Cherries, caramel and resin greet the senses a few seconds after the first sip. Next comes a hoppy bitterness which dries out the throat. The smooth creamy mouthfeel made it easy to finish the bottle by myself. It wasn’t cloying at all; for an ’imperial red’ (whatever that is) I found it perfect. It might not be a personal Top 50 but I would certainly enjoy a bottle of this every now and again.

bottle. very hazy copper pour with thin head. big malts, mild spice. earthy aroma. nice alcohol aroma. a bit perfumy. very enjoyable.

22oz. bomber. Clear copper color with a medium sized beige head. Really nice hop aroma with some pine and a bit of citrus, along with a sweet malt background that sort of reminded me of cookie dough. Flavor was very well balanced between the mostly piney hops(with some tangerine) and the toasted malt with lots of caramel. Medium-full bodied, with the alcohol barely perceptible.

22oz bottle. Cloudy red pour with a big tan head. Creamy malt aroma with some spice, tart cherry and citrus hops. Creamy and grainy malt flavor with some alcohol and a spicy hop and caramel finish.

Bottle in trade. Pours a nice dark amber with a dash of foam. This is clearly going to be a treat as I can smell this from 2 feet away. This has more of a fruit profile than the Summer version. Kiwi or something. Loads of hops tho, no questioning what this is all about. Strong citrusy hop flavors with some bitterness and still a great fruity background.

Bottle, special thanks to CMUBEERMAN for flying this all the way to Tokyo!!! Pours red caramel, thin white head. Apricot, pineapple floral, vanilla, hops. Flavor is earth, citrus, hops, pine, vanilla. Quite complex and tasty.

Loving this one. Always into the imperial reds, and the bottled conditioning is a bonus. Pours nice dark hazy red-orange with generous creamy off-white head that sits around for awhile. Great balance of malt and hops. Slight floral notes, nice fruits and caramel malt. Somewhere between a double IPA and a barley wine. Wonderful.

A crossbreed of an amber and a IIPA, hence the imperial red-ness. More malty than an IIPA, but much of the same flavors. Lighter than the summer and more malty. actually tastes a lot like big hoppy monster but with a creamier mouthfeel and different types of hops.