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.

Poured a dark red almost brown. Big head that was long lasting. Aroma was of citrus and hops with hints of pine. Smells like the holidays. Very hoppy taste that was delightfully smoothe. Excellent balance. What a great brew.. Thanks to dirty_martini

Thanks ericandersnavy. Great strong aroma right off the bat. Slight alcohol, honey and bread. Warming. Really nice spicy aftertaste. I love it.

Pours reddish brown with a one finger head. Aroma of pine, sweet malts, spices, and hops. Initial falvor of grapefruit, toffee, and pine. Well balanced. Delicious, warm finish with some bitterness. Big and very tasty beer. Gets better with each sip. Delicious. Bottle was blue and red. 8.5% ABV. Alesmith rocks!

2006 Winter YuleSmith. What a beer. Intense aroma, very complex set of hops. Darker and richer than the Summer version. Just the right amount of age. Very complete brew, great finish. Some pine, more wood pine and not sharp, some smoke and smooth malty flavors. Tough to describe. Looking forward to the 08 Winter for sure.

This beer induces a state of sedated excitement for me. The aroma and flavor are so harmoniously balanced that it feels like a big wow beer and like comfort food simantaneously. Smells like Brachs caramel candy and lilacs mixed together; that is to say sweet malts and earthiness. Flavor is more of that with a strong, even introduction of bitter hops that continues on through all the way down the hatch. Mouthfeel is coating and sticky but I wouldn’t call it full, more like a perfect medium. This is my first taste of Alesmith and it’s pretty damn exciting. This beer smoothly delivers the goods, thank you Alesmith. 2008 22oz.