AleSmith YuleSmith (Winter) Imperial Red Ale

Bottle. I recalled that I liked the Winter quite a bit more than the summer, and I remembered at the time (when Ratebeer had both listed together) that I thought it odd that they weren’t two separate ratings. Now that I had this one from the bottle again, I realize how much more I liked the Imperial Red Ale. Not only the copper color is an improvement, but the nose and palate tends more toward the rye spectrum than the summer version, and the fruits are darker as well. There’s some raw sugar and a fine amount of hop bite to accompany it. Well made and very drinkable, although not my favorite of the style. Complexity isn’t quite up there with the other great strong ales.

Pours a nice red color with an off white head. Aroma is of nice citrusy hops followed by sweet malts and a tad of alcohol. Flavor is just so smooth. Porbably one of the best mixtures of hops and malts in an ASA that iv’ve ever had. I liked this better than the summer one.

22oz bottle. Lovely copper red color with a huge foamy head. Great balance of big hops and malt flavors. Has a subtle sweetness of caramel and fruits. This would be awesome to drink during the cold months of the holiday season.

Since I am missing a local brewfest tonight I decided to break out a good one from my cellar. Nice looking reddish stuff with thick homebrew head , massive lacing that tells a history, and thickest residue I’ve seen at that. Malty, sweet (think sugar babies) plus pine forest all at once in the nose. Nice indeed. I am now enjoying the malty yet hoppy palate. Can only imagine the power of the summer version cause this stuff packs a kick. Very nice!

[1506-20080704] 1pt6floz bottle. Spicy pine resin aroma with dark heavy wood malt notes. Murky, dark brown amber body with a long-lasting foamy almond head and big white floaties. Spicy pine resin continues in the flavour with lots of heavy hops. Medium-full body. Interesting and fragrant!
(w/ jerc, manuchampions, tupalev)