AleSmith YuleSmith (Winter) Imperial Red Ale

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

Pours a hazy deep red, with a thick lacy off white head. Very nice looking. Smells of sweet malts, cinnamon, hops, and caramel. Very intriguing. Taste is very complex, pretty nice grapefruit hops taste, but mixed with some brown sugar and caramel. Some sweet malts balance out the flavor. I love the mixture to this beer. Its not overpowering in any form. The 9.5% is hidden just enough, but reveals itself towards the finish. A treat for sure.

Bouteille 650ml, courtoisie de Hogtownharry. De couleur cuivrée rouge foncée et claire. Nez de houblon résineux, moyennement floral (herbe fraîche) et citrique (pamplemousse) et également légèrement herbeux, malté de caramel sucré, moyen de fruits (agrumes, léger d’abricots, notes de raisins) avec des notes de pain. Moyenne-ronde en bouche avec un pétillement moyen et une texture riche, résineuse, crémeuse. Goût amer de houblon résineux, citrique (pamplemousse) et légèrement floral(une amertume présente durant toute la gorgée) accompagné d’un moyen goût fruité (agrumes sucrées, léger d’abricots, traces de raisins) lors de l’entrée en bouche auquel se rajoute un goût malté de caramel sucré (faibles notes rôties), léger de toffee avec des notes de pain et des traces de chocolat. Parallèlement l’on retrouve un léger goût d’alcool aux notes réchauffantes jusqu’en finale, où l’on assiste également à un regain d’amertume de houblon légèrement asséchant, plus herbeux (herbe fraîche et notes de menthe) et résineux accompagné de petites notes épicées (poivre). Post-goût long et un peu sec, amer de houblon résineux, citrique, herbeux et légèrement floral, moyen de fruits (zest d’agrumes) et avec des notes d’alcool.

Bottle thanks to bentley78. Tons of tropical fruit. Reminds me of a jolly rancher with that intense fruit flavor. Reminds me of Brian Boru and Cane and Ebel. Summit hops? Pineapple, passionfruit, intense strawerry. Should be incredibly cloying with all this sweetness, but it’s well balanced by a monstrous bitterness in the back. Malt is hugely overshadowed by all the hops, although there is a solid backbone giving it body, sweethess and balance for the hops. Unlike a beer like Hop Wallop, the hops have a leg to stand on. I’d like to be able to get this more often.

Bottle (650ml). Shared with blankboy and tupalev, my bottle. Poured murky deep brownish-red with an average tan foamy-creamy head. Aroma - that’s the sh... stuff! Rich, juicy, fresh, slightly resiny hops, solid amount of malt present - simple, elegant and balanced, just as it should be. Taste is basically the same - solid fresh hops perfectly balanced with malt, a long linger. Mouthfeel is creamy, pleasantly astringent and full-bodied. This is a terific IIPA with a long, balanced sprucey finish, and the IBU level is simply not overpowering. Another killer beer from AleSmith - thanks again to my sister for bringing this back from California!

A thicker, hoppier red than anticipated. Hazy copper-red with a buzz-cut for a head. Lots of hops and resin, but very obvious malt. Slick mouthfeel. Piney taste up front that moves turns into a long citrus-hop flavor. The malt is prevalent throughout this one, sweetening everything out and making it different from its summer cousin. Love it.

Tasted 6/15/09. 22oz bomber. Slightly hazy with a dark amber brown hue. Lacing creamy head. Looks good! Aromas of caramel and toffee with a slightly spicand sweet note. Grassy and woody hops. Full bodied with a rich and sweet palate. This is a huge beer! This one had a bit of age on it and it is holding up splendidly! Sweet initial malts and smooth middle. Finishes rather bitter and tart. Faint trace of the alcohol burn. Big malts and big hops. This is a HUGE beer.

NorCal Feb ’08 - Insane. Yep. Completely insane. This beer is so damned drinkable, you’ll be lying on the floor in no time after a few of these. The succulent hop aroma is resting squarely on the shoulders of a huge malt presence which makes it just almost perfect. Citrus comes out loud and clear, with the caramel smoothness keeps it all chugging along. Appearance is a clear, copper in color with a beautiful thick creamy head. Flavor is amazingly refreshing with a strong resinous hop punch to the tastebuds and then the smooth caramel flavor calms it all down. Just an outstanding beer. Damn, I wish I could get this in Northern Cali.

dark red pour, great nose of piney hops, and sweet malt. lovely flavour is citrucy hops, a great balanced beer.