AleSmith Decadence 2007

Formerly brewed at AleSmith Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
San Diego, California USA

Rating #1600. 750mL bottle, courtesy of a trade from a while ago. Thanks! Pours a very dark chocolate color; khaki head with solid, fine-bubbled lacing. Floral, chocolate and roasted malts in the aroma; pleasant, soft dark chocolate and hop bitterness. Medium-to-full, chewy mouthfeel: loads of nougat, milk and dark chocolate, roasted malts and some mineral hop bitterness; somewhat viscous, zesty hop bitterness and a touch of warming alcohol; very nice rendition of an imperial porter; chocolate and solid mineral bitterness. Lengthy finish, showing milk chocolate, roasted malts, and viscous nougat; tasty stuff.

(750ml bottle, thanks kmweaver) Medium beige head atop red-black body. Aroma is medium sweet, chocolate/chocolate syrup, blueberry, some roast, caramel. Taste is moderately sweet, cocoa, chocolate syrup, berry, some roast, alcohol. Medium body, low carbonation.

Bottle from Zinister, sampled at his tasting. Thanks!
Pours a deep black with brown highlights. Nose is rasin chocolate; flavor is close, but substitutes peaches for raisins. Full mouthfeel. Nice and sweet. Would make a great ice cream topping.

Rerate: bottle #473 shared with Shawn: The flavor has melded well, much smoother than before as the alcohol brashness has faded, good chocolate, roast and dark fruit character. YUMMY!

Original rating: Bottle received from Jon and shared at the Flossmoor Pre-DLD party:

Basically opaque with an oily appearance and some clinging lace. The aroma has notes of walnut, prune, starfruit, charred malt, wood, some rye like vapours and yeasty overtones. Big but smooth malt profile with chocolate and nutty character. Twangy dark fruits before a mild boozy finish. The mouth feel is smooth yet aggressive towards the finish, ashy. Mikey Likey and I think this will age nicely.

2008-07-11. No notes, just generally really good and left a better overall impression. +2.

2008-05-17. Black body with a modest foamy tan head. Interesting aroma, mild roast hints at mocha. (7+) Similar flavour, good amount of hoppy bitterness, light roast malt, hints of mocha (7+). Smooth medium palate. Rather nice. 7+/4/8/3/16 - 3.8 At Rudolf’s, shared by Rudolf

"You can’t create such magic!" - IPFreely

Rating # 900. Thanks Ross for sharing. Pours out a black color with a dark brown head. aroma is rich and sweet with a nice balance of malt. Flavor was choco and coffee with some sweetness to it. As i drank this brew, the the high abv started to show its face. Over all a very nice brew indeed. Ale Smith never seems to let me down

Dark as night pour with initial froth that leaves great lacing. Nose of smokey malts with chocolate and soy sauce. Flavor is rich chocolate, robust coffee and dark figs. Creamy, soft, rich finish. Wonderfully great.

Bottle at Rudy’s tasting May ’08. Pitch black, small bubbly tan head. Strong roast aroma - very nice. Strong bitter/roast taste. Very dry, there is a ton of hops and roast in this sucker. Long bitter roasty linger. Alcohol not really a factor. Alesmith knocked this one out of the part, great stuff.