AleSmith YuleSmith (Winter) Imperial Red Ale

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

Aroma was very grassy and hoppy. Color was a crisp orange. I like how it had a defined malt presence throughout the storm of citrusy hops. Nice spiciness to the finish. I liked it, but I dont feel it deserves top 50 status.

Thick reddish amber color with a decent sized head on top. The aroma is the what I like in a beer with too much hops for our own good. Hints of citrus (lemon lime, pineapple) floral notes and pine. The flavor has a good deal of maltiness to keep it somewhat balanced, but still, thats a whole lotta hops. It makes the sides of my jaw cringe at first, but does in fact leave my mouth with some warmth and robust malt flavor. Such a good brew. This rating is taken from when it was only listed as one. I had rated this then the summer in the same listing. Re-Rate of summer to follow.

bomber split with CUJO.. a lot of things going on, almost like ultra condensed beer. Mega hoppy and mega malty. Candi sugars and burning. Spice and esters all over the place. Some dark fruits.

quite an enjoyable and highly appropriate brew for the holidays and for that matter the winter. full of flavor and balanced yet strong enough to take away the winter chills, or at least make them tolerable. described by the brewer in the best of terms and highly desireable to hop heads and christmas brew lovers everywhere. just great!

light amber mostly clear color, yellow gold at edges. big tall rocky light tan head. nice deep piney hop aroma, very pure. resiny pine cones too. flavor is deep and sweet caramel malty hop, both well balanced at the same time on the palate. aroma of super-dark fresh honey, carmelized hop buds too. lots of lively carbonation. hop bitterness comes in strong through the finish but not too powerful. thanks MoeJuck for this in trade!!

Thanks to KenB for this one. I really wanted another IIPA tonight, so I decided to open this one up. 22oz bottle served in a NB worthy glass straight from the beer fridge which is probably 40-45°. Light orange color with a small head. Plenty of haze, looks like a dry-hop haze to me. Aroma is honey, citrus, resiny hops as well as pine and some alcohol. Smells pretty damn good to me. The initial taste is orange blossom honey, tagerine and vanilla. The middle is piney, resinish hops with plenty of citrus in the background. This is very good and isn’t really all that balanced for an IIPA, I have had the regular Yulesmith and I don’t remember it being way out of balance, but if this has lots more malt, the regular version would have to be. This has got the rough, abrasive hops bitterness to go along with the huge orange/citrus taste and piney finish. This is an IIPA, ASA is just BS. It is not as malty as other IIPA’s I have had (Free State C3IPA) but possibly moreso than other SoCal IIPA’s. Maybe the SoCal brewers need to haev their own categories...Mouthreel is very full. This is a tasty IIPA.

bomber courtesy of Saarlander, thanks Aaron. my second bottle of this yummy treat, the first was before the two Yulesmiths were separated. I wish I could rate the appearance even higher, one of the most amazingly fluffly, rocky heads I’ve ever seen. flavor is malty with a bit of spice and plenty of hops to add balance to a strong brew with well hidden alcohol. well done

Pours a copper/amber color with an enormous and thick off-white head. Huge citrus and pine explosion into the nose. Flavor is orange, fruity esters, caramel, pepper, and toasted malt. Finishes long, dry and peppery. Nice warm and chewy mouthfeel.