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RATINGS: 817   WEIGHTED AVG: 3.87   SEASONAL: Winter   EST. CALORIES: 318   ABV: 10.6%
COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Bottle conditioned.
AleSmith Grand Cru really needs to be tasted to be truly appreciated. Toasty, caramelly flavors, as well as flavors imparted by the Belgian yeast strain, predominate over a tapestry of subtle nuances. Winner of the blue ribbon at the 1999 California State Fair, it is a thing of beauty. It is available in 750 ml. champagne bottles. Appearance: Crystal clear (when served properly), with a toast-brown color. Flavor: Starts with the tangy flavor of our championship Belgian yeast, then fades to a medium-light flavor of vanilla, caramel and chocolate. Finishes dry and well-balanced with a slightly toasty flavor. Aroma: Vanilla and chocolate aromas predominate, along with the Belgian yeast characteristics. Mouthfeel (body/texture): Clean and crisp, medium-bodied. Warmth from the high alcohol content makes it feel like a fine wine.


3.5
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20
Marsiblursi (2377) - Göteborg, SWEDEN - SEP 10, 2011
(Bottle) Pours hazy brown with dark amber highlights. Sand coloured head. The aroma holds yeast, candi sugar, pears, grapes, apples, other fruits, almond past, subtle hops and earthy spices. Solid malt base and nice yeast character. The flavor is medium sweet, light bitter and light to medium acidic. Tones of citrus, spices, sugar, malt and subtle hops. The mouthfeel is tart and round with near medium carbonation. Citrus and spicy finish with some almond paste. Medium to full bodied.

4
   AROMA 9/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 16/20
adnielsen (3112) - Denver, Colorado, USA - SEP 7, 2011
Bottle @ home, courtesy of daknole. Thanks Dak! Gusher. Dark brown appearance with a big tan, foamy head. Dark candy sugar, caramel, chocolate, vanilla, Belgian yeast, light fruity aroma. Slightly fruity, dark chocolate and candy sugar, vanilla, Belgian yeast, smooth dark malty flavor. Alcohol is hidden well, though there is some warming on the finish. Quite nice dark Belgian ale.

3.8
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 16/20
Dixonian (940) - Dallas, Texas, USA - SEP 2, 2011
On tap @ the brewery. Orangish brown brew with a small amount of off-white head. Aromas of Belgian yeast, dark fruit, booze, and vanilla. Chocolatey flavor with caramel, vanilla, toasted marshmellow. Decadent and complex - like liquid desert.

3.8
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
Thorpe429 (3562) - Alexandria, Virginia, USA - SEP 1, 2011
Huge thanks to daysinthewake for getting this bottle out my way. Long-time want. Served in a Russian River "TION" goblet. Pours a dark brown with a nice bright hue in the light. Creamy off-white head with some good lacing on the way down. The nose is complex with plenty of Belgian yeast and a good dosing of dark fruits. The flavor doesn’t hit quite as hard and isn’t as complex, though I think it would really benefit from a bit of aging. Medium body and quite creamy without any noticeable alcohol. Really well done.

3.6
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 15/20
cmc619 (240) - USA - AUG 24, 2011
At AleSmith tasting room. Reddish brown. Fine head in plastic tasting cup. Deep aroma of bread and yeast. Belgian dark ale done to style well. Sweet with little hop presence. Dry finish keeps it refreshing. Nicely done.

3.8
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 16/20
Nickls (1297) - SE DC, Washington DC, USA - AUG 21, 2011
Bottle. Pours with a creamy and creamed-colored head on a tawny dark murky copper brown. Vanilla, dark fruits, some candy sugar, toffee, malty and fruity sweet. Citrus, toffee, dark sweet maltiness, very fruity yeastiness, slight bitter-sweet chocolate. Medium body that’s slightly chalky and decent carbonation. Warming and nice.

3.6
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20
SudsMcDuff (3213) - .....Manchester United.........., Texas, USA - AUG 20, 2011
Poured out a deep crimson brown, really fantastic foam, sticky lacing .. . aroma of fruit, pie, brandy and brown sugar soaked rum .. . medium mouth .. . overall a well made beer but needs a bit for thickness .. . Inflammable means flammable? What a country.

3.8
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
wedgie9 (1370) - Nashville, Tennessee, USA - AUG 18, 2011
Tasted on 8/18/11 from a 750mL bottle obtained in a trade. Pours clear dark red with an average beige head that slowly recedes to a bit of thin lace and a decent collar. The nose is fairly sweet with caramel malt, some red berry fruits, spicy Belgian yeast, and a bit of acetone alcoholic heat. The flavor is nicely balanced with a good amount of caramel malt, spicy yeast, and red berry fruit. The body is medium and somewhat oily with average carbonation and a long caramel malt, spicy Belgian yeast, and berry fruit finish.


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Rating Notecard:
Beer: AleSmith Grand Cru Rating Avg: 3.87 No. of Ratings: 817
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