AleSmith YuleSmith (Winter) Imperial Red Ale

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

22oz Bomber $6.95 Liquid Solutions Winter Edition/Imperial Red Yulesmith Winter pours a slightly hazed over deep garnet. Big streams of carbonation bubbles rise along the side of the glass to the two finger khaki head. Leaves great sticky lacing after each sip. Wonderful aromas leap from this beer. Toasty malts and raw grains lead the big maltiness of this brew. Slight doughiness as well. There is a strong malt presence but the hop profile might edge it out. sweetened grapefruit over the top of a forrest full of pine needles. Slightly sweet. Smells excellent. Flavor is right in line with the aroma. Strong malty presence kick things off but the hops do manage to push it aside. Toastiness and a mild raw graininess are the first flavors to hit. Even getting some caramel as it warms. Mid palate the flavor just explodes. Grapefruit and a pine needle hoppiness jump forward and last throughout the finish. Throw in a nice spicy alcohol warmth and you got yourself one hell of a beer with good balance. Medium bodied with an airy, creamy mouthfeel when this beer hits your tongue. No skimping on the use of hops coat your mouth with a solid lingering bitterness. Easy drinker with good somewhat balanced flavors keep this one drinking easy. Another great beer from Alesmith. This is my second offering from them along with their IPA and they are both top notch examples. I would love to get a fresh bottle of Yulesmith. 7/29/07

Bomber. Pours cherry red with floaters. Off white head, foamy and lacing. Nose is big caramel with slight bready notes. Taste is alcohol hot with caramel and brown sugar, slight chocolate wit ha prominent bitter at the end. Slight floral hop character. Very good. Super balanced and tasty.

Had this out of a bottle aged one year. Has a dark brown color. Aroma is of hops, pine, and a milky kind of undertone. Taste is full of hops, dried fruit, and malts. Has a nice and smooth hoppy aftertaste. Great stuff!

Bottle shared by mreusch at the csbosox tasting 7/3. Pours a cloudy caramel brown with a small tan head. Sweet candied hops and caramel on the nose; quite nice. Medium-bodied and creamy with a nice sweet/bitter finish. The flavor follows the nose with caramel and sweet, candied hops leading to a mildly dry and bitter finish. This is a very tasty beer. Thanks again for sharing this one, Matt!

Bottle. Pours a musky caramel color, with a flirty wisp of white head, with tons of lacing. Big floral hops in the aroma, mostly grapefruit and other citrus. Big helping of vanilla and malty goodness, too. Flavor-wise, malt hits first, with big biscuit flavors. Hop comes through in the end, with a nice floral kick. Sticky mouthfeel, soft and creamy finish. As easy to drink as a 9.5% beer can get.

dark amber, with a huge amber head. nice lacing. aroma is apples. flavor is sweet caramel with slight bitterness. obvious alcohol warmth. excellent winter warmer.

Getting notebook online. Bottle. Wow deliciously hoppy brew! Great malt flavors too. Well balanced. Great bitter finish! Great beer!

650ml bomber from the brewer. This is the 2006 winter yulesmith. Pours a cloudy reddish dark brown, with a huge khaki head that lasts forever. The head stands up like thick like a meringue, very nice. The aroma is strong with sweet caramel, anise and hops. Flavor is complex and loaded with chocolate, coffee, black licorice, pine, cedar and walnuts. The hops are well defined and prominent throughout the experience. The palate is full and satisfying. The finish is long with lingering bittersweet dark chocolate. This is a a great brew. Recommended.