AleSmith Horny Devil

Brewed by AleSmith Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
San Diego, California USA

Nice bottle. I don’t see a haze in my glass; in fact, it’s pretty clear. Lots of single bubbles flying around, and a nice ambery-orange shade. Head settles into a moderate puddle of lace on top.Smells wonderful. The scent of the hops is restrained -- instant notes of apricots with marshmallows, brings me back to my grandma’s cooking. Strong enough to make the nose tingle. With a little bit of orange, but damn, it’s definitely that apricot marshmallow smell. Helped by a gently sweet amber malt, with a hint of yeast.Subtle taste, it’s cool to see a Belgian with quiet flavors, especially from Ale smith. The hops still work well with the sweetness, although they aren’t as specific or creative as they are in the smell. Still a little apricot, but now they are bitter, and nutty malts with some dextrin step it up a bit. Overall though, just lightly bitter, and the payoff for the subdued taste is a lot of complexity Mouthfeel isn’t too thick or thin, a little chewy/syrupy from the combination of dextrin and hop aftertaste? Nice finish. Drinkability is high, this is so approachable and major props to Ale Smith for applying craft skills to a higher-alcohol, Belgian-flavor ale that doesn’t knock your socks off but instead is a masterpiece of delicate flavors.

Transparent, magnifying and paling brass in color with miniscule and mobile bubble formations making up a scarcely existent head. Aroma intrigues with coriander, pepper, lemon rind scrapings, peppered bananas, bitter orange peel and some honeyed allegories. Quite a spicy little thing. Flavor is esteemed with strong ale beauties. Pear and liquefied bananas are longingly complimented by a coriander, cloves and peppered regime. Sweet sugar sonnets tell tales of rock candy and vanilla butter cream over supportive citric notions. Additional accents come by means of lemon grass and herbal remedies to further the flavor. Thick, heavy liquidity pumps on the palate and the carbonation levels are at perfection. Such an absolute pleasure of a yeast strain. Resinous warming seeps down the esophagus for the finish, with a mild coriander-infused spicing to last into the night.

Subtle aroma with dusty malt, orange, coriander, yeast and white wine notes; limited, spotty lacing and ephemeral head; sweet and fruity flavor with mango, orange, and some woody butterscotch sweetness; tangy finish. This is sweet, especially as it warms, but is not cloying, and has no hint of hops. An interesting rendition.

Sampled on draught. Excellent domestic example of Belgian Golden Strong Ale, ala Duvel. Pours to a slightly hazy, deep golden color with a thick, and creamy, white head, and a good bit of carbonation. The nose on this beer is very well done, with good aromas of pale malt, and peppery alcohol. The palate is firm, with more good pale malt flavor, and a nice back drop of corriander. Finishes with more good pale malt up front, then ends dry and peppery, with some alcohol heat. Great aperitif beer, and very food friendly. A nice foil to buttery or strong cheese, and a good match with beef, lamb, or game. A great beer, from a great CA brewery.

Amber, hazy ale with minimal head. Nose of peach, coriander and fruit with some spice. Very sweet, yeasty, spicey beer with alcohol warmth that finishes dry. Nice rich and spiced body.

Clear orange body with absolutely no head. Even after a belligerent pour into the glass... nothing. Aroma is spice dominated (coriander) and alcohol with hints of sugar and caramel. Flavor is the same. Medium bodied, dangerously easy to drink. Overall though, it wasn’t all that tasty. Alcohol was always in the finish, and it lacked complexity. Bottle said 11%ABV, not 10.

Pours a bright amber with a good white head. Drunk during the super bowl at dave’s. Nice mimicing of the belgian style. Spicy, citrusy nose. Sweet orange flavors. Dry and well carbonated finish. Lack of points for originality but the brewer pays good homage to the classic belgian strong style.

Bottle. Hazy orange colour with a white head. Sweet fruity aroma, with some hints of alcohol. Sweet malty and fruity flavor with some caramel hints. Warming and dry finish from the alcohol.