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RATINGS: 937   WEIGHTED AVG: 3.86   SEASONAL: Winter   EST. CALORIES: 318   ABV: 10.6%
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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.


SamGamgee's rating

3.7
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20
SamGamgee (2452) - down the whirlpool, California, USA - DEC 7, 2008
75cl bottle. Beautiful clear deep chestnut brown colored body. The head is pretty weak, but Ill cut it some slack because the color is really perfect. Wonderfully complex aroma of dark candi sugar, toffee, fruity notes of berries, and some cinnamon. The flavor is sweet and is dominated by toffee, with some vanilla dried fruit as well. I was looking for a little more balance and complexity, but it is still pretty nice. Full, almost chewy body is a bit heavy, but the ample amount of silky carbonation lets it move over the tongue well enough to avoid any excessive, cloying stickiness. Pretty nice beer, though missing some yeasty complexities that I look for in the style that would make it stand out. At the premium price it commands, I probably wont be buying this in the future.


most recent ratings

3.5
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
radagast83 (3104) - Fairfax, Virginia, USA - MAY 17, 2013
2003 Vintage. Poured a brown-ruddy color with a small wispy head. Aroma is smooth malts, some age on it noticeable. Aroma is smooth malts. Flavor is aged malts, not quite soy, but too much longer and it would have hit that level. Glad to have tried this one.

3.4
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 16/20
BoringBard (102) - NORWAY - MAY 17, 2013
Aroma of alcohol, yeast, candis sugar and caramel. Bronce with tiny white head. Taste bitter and sweet. Thin and well carbonated.

3.7
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
Uhlen (173) - Trondheim, NORWAY - MAY 17, 2013
Dark amber pour, almost nonexistent beige head. Aroma of candysugar and belgian yeast. Citrusy, malty and toasty taste, very type-standarized. Still very good, but not anything special.

3.6
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20
hcalsos (130) - Rælingen, NORWAY - MAY 17, 2013
0.75 l bottle. Offwhite thick head, deep amber. Caramel, grassy aroma. Peach, toffee, rasin. Medium body. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

3.7
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 13/20
DedicatedToFun (653) - Alabama, USA - MAY 6, 2013
Pours hazy brown with a tan head. Aroma of dark fruits, raisins, caramel, cinnamon and some apple.

3.6
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 15/20
monk191 (367) - California, USA - MAY 4, 2013
A very good Grand Cru. Pours an amazing burgundy with a thick tan head. Not a huge amount of smell, a little bit of cherries and vanilla. Taste is very malty, with caramel and fruit. A little boozy. A lingering malty aftertaste. Had in the bottle. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

4.3
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 18/20
jstraw (1651) - Chicago, Illinois, USA - APR 27, 2013
Murky cider colored, with massive, fine-bubble, flotsam head, decent legs / Delicate nose of orchard fruit, caramel, oak / Light body, lively carbonation (let settle), crisp, some sweetness, woody, nice balance, alcohol well masked, with light bitterness on the finish / Stylish flavors of turning apple, date, banana, caramel, chocolate, coriander, straw, oak / Understated compared to some, but most fine.

4.3
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 17/20
RumRunner101 (382) - British Columbia, CANADA - APR 25, 2013
Murky brown pour. Sweet, bready aroma with dried fruits. Medium bodied, and really smooth. Flavours replicate the nose. Great balance and depth. Alcohol warms on the finish. Great stuff.

4
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 16/20
superspak (1473) - Michigan, USA - APR 24, 2013
750 ml bottle into chalice, no bottle dating. Pours crystal clear reddish brown color with a 1 finger fairly dense cream colored head with good retention, that reduces to a thin lace cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing clings on the glass, with some moderate streaming carbonation. Aromas of raisin, prune, banana, grape, clove, caramel, dark candi sugar, toast, bubblegum, and earthy yeast esters. Very nice aromas with good balance of fruity/spicy yeast esters with candi sugar maltiness. Taste of raisin, prune, banana, grape, clove, caramel, dark candi sugar, bubblegum, toast, and yeast earthiness. Lingering notes of dark and light fruits, clove, caramel, dark candi sugar, bubblegum, toast, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice balance and complexity of fruity/lightly spicy esters with malt sweetness; and almost zero cloying sweetness present after the finish. Medium carbonation and fairly full bodied; with a slick, lightly syrupy, and lightly prickly mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is well hidden with only a small warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a damn nice Belgian strong dark ale. Very nice complexity of fruity/spicy yeast esters with candi sugar sweetness; and quite smooth to sip on. A very enjoyable offering.

3.5
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
VALIS (210) - Nashua, New Hampshire, USA - APR 23, 2013
Smell of brown sugar, nuts, sweet bread, figs, typical Belgian Ale scents. Taste is too sticky. Lies flat in the glass. Vague whiskey/alcohol warmth in the finish. Not at all bad, but wildly overrated.


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