AleSmith Decadence 2006

Formerly brewed at AleSmith Brewing Company
Style: American Strong Ale
San Diego, California USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

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Pours rich amber in color w/ a full, semi creamy froth. Superb hangtime slowly reducing leaving snail tracks along the way. A thick, full canopy is revealed producing exceptional lacing that just sits there. Aromas of chocolate roasted hops and chewy caramel malts. Full nectar w/ creamy residual effers that expand on the palate. Humongus malted pine trees stand tall on this hill of typical AleSmith fashion. Remarkably balanced. Fat caramel decadence meets it’s balancing nemesis Mr Robo Hop that is actually feeling a little forgiving allowing only whats needed to arrest this malt bomb component. I detect an herbal essence that integrates well along w/ a bit of cocoa. Chocolate cakebread, black cherries, peach, leather, all wrapped up in a mildly sweet blanket. This brew is thick and chewy and takes forever to lay to rest. Glad I brought my fork. The heavy finish is wiped clean by the sturdy hop component yet leaves a trail of flavor a mile long. Theres a nice residual asprin burn here also. Highly recommended.

UPDATED: MAR 16, 2009 After a two-state, four-city search I finally located by far the best beer I have ever had the pleasure to encounter. A full palette marked by round sweetness (overripe plums come to mind) which easily softens the crisp, hoppy, dry-coffee flavor of Evil Dead Red. Unquestionably the smoothest beer I have yet had anywhere. A true masterpiece.

Bottle at ultimate glasgow tasting. Aroma is amazing rich toffee malts, spicey hop resins, begging to be drunk but sniffing is good enough. Taste is again piney hop resins spicey, rich and incredibly full but still super drinkable. Im so glad i went for this beer as i was in 2 minds over trading for it. Turns out to be one of the finest iv ever had.

UPDATED: SEP 29, 2007 First Rating of this fine brew. Second first rating of an 11th Anniversary beer. 1st and 1st=11 maybe. I don’t know just came to me. Super excited about this beer, was excited about it earlier in 06 when I thought it would be out and I’m still excited now. On to the review...Pours a really nice reddish amber with a 3 finger puffy semi stable tan head. The aroma is great very sweet and malty with hops there but not overwhelmingly hoppy like a dipa. The nose is very balanced and portends a similarly high quality brew. I’ve enjoyed evil dead red the few times I’ve had it and I never shy away from making a beer bigger. The taste is very very nice. Big bold malt profile very nicely balanced with a fresh hop feeling. There is a bit of sugary caramel molasses sweetness there and the hops round out the beer nicely. The balance is just right, as much as anyone can like hops its nice to have them subdued in a beer where they are not the main attraction. The mouth feel is great nice feeling throughout and a nice light mouth warming as well. Overall this is a pretty damn incredible beer. Thanks so much to Peter, Todd (for coming up with Evil Dead Red the basis of this beer), Bill and Matt at Alesmith you guys make killer beer are cool and damn modest all at the same time. Lastly gotta love the name, its perfect. (EVEN BETTER ON CASK)

UPDATED: SEP 14, 2007 Picked up this bottle at the brewery last week. The title "decadence" is appropriate in this case, it is an indulgence. This beer pours a dark brown, not sure why they call it a red, but there it it is--dark--almost opaque brown, that light will not shine thru. The head is ample and khaki colored, and dissipates very slowly. Aroma is very pronounced sweet anise and some cedar. Mouthfeel is slightly syrupy and very silky. Overall a very pleasant fullness. Taste is toasted oats, mild hops, some smoke and black walnuts. The whole experience has a ground engaged earthiness. Finishes long and glorious with rich malts, caramel and hops. This is what every beer wants to be when it grows up.

75cl, put into my belly on 10/10/07. Pours a deep red, almost brown with light tan foam that has world class retention and lacing, just a beautiful looking beer sitting here in my Maudite tulip. Aroma is thick toffee like malts with some slightly citrusy hops peaking through. Huge rich maltiness, I say HUGE RICH maltiness!! Damn, I’ve always been a sucker for a GOOD American Red Ale and damn if this doesn’t set the bar. Just enough age on it that the malt really hits you, there’s some subtle hoppiness in there but the malt really just grabs you right in the jimmy. Fantastic mouthfeel for a 10% beer.

UPDATED: JAN 29, 2008 Thanks to PUBN for this one. The pour is turbid ruby/deep coppery with 3-fingers of tan head. The aroma is caramel malt, layered fruit including fig, cherry, and citrus, plus brown sugar, hops, cabernet, and cognac. The taste is caramel malty, with berry notes, cherry, fig, raisin, and a mismash of cabernet and cognacy notes. Gets a tiny bit hot as it warms, but remains amazingly complex throughout.

Bottle poured a deep dark caramel color with a beautiful thick,creamy tan head and heavy sheet of lacing that lasted for the entire drinking of the beer. How could anyone give less than a 5 for Appearance? Rich aroma of caramel and chocolate, citrus and pine. Flavor is just fucking awesome! Sweet caramel and brown sugar. Light citrus and alcohol with a rich, thick, creamy mouthfeel. Delicious beer with a nice warming glow coming over me as I type this at 6:45 am. Rich, malty, candylike finish...or maybe I’m getting a buzz already...awesome beer!

Bottle. Good fruity citrus aroma hits the nose. Dark body but held to light a deep red crimson color with beige head and spotty lacing. Citrus flavor with some raisons and sweet sugar thicken the body texture. Smooth on the palate alocohol not noticable till bottle is gone and eyelids are heavy. Fruity aftertaste left on palate real enjoyable beer for me.

Bottle courtesy of my favorite left coast trading partner SDbruboy! Cliff, you are too much my friend ! Gorgeous pour. Big, soft light brown head with excellent retention and plenty of sticky, sagging lace. Clear, deep mahogey color with red edging. A real looker. Caramelly, fruity nose just begs you to keep yer schnoz buried in the glass. Notes of toasty bread, berries and some pine and citrus notes climbing out as it warms up. Body is med/large, silky smooth on the palate, dense and savory, not cloying at all. Medium sweet malt flavors, caramel, dark malts, hints of chocolate, light roast, raisins and some brown sugar.Citrusy hoppiness and a bit spicey are the hops. Intense complex blend of flavors (10% alc.?) and aromas just keep you wanting more. Finish is lightly sweet with alcohol notes, fruity and dark, lasting. A very intense brew that i really enjoyed. Alesmith rocks! Cliff, you rock! eaglefan you rock and always make my tastings so much more enjoyable!