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AleSmith IPA

Percentile
100
overall

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreABVStyle PctlServe in
9774.1/5.04.09/5.07.25%100Shaker, Tulip
Commercial Description:
AleSmith IPA used to be known as "Irie Pirate Ale." However, some nasty patent attorneys think the name is too similar to another brand, so we had to "cease and desist." It's a darn shame, but it beats an obnoxious legal battle, in both expenses and Excedrin. Don't worry though, we won't change the beer (which is a MUCH better IPA than that "other" brand). It was conceived as an American-style IPA to satisfy the yearnings of the most die-hard hopheads. Its high alcohol content may catch you unawares if you're not careful, but it's hard to resist once you've tasted it. Appearance: Deep golden to light amber color, and a nice beige head, with good retention when properly served. Flavor: Starts off with strong citrusy, resiny flavors, balanced by a nice malty sweetness, then fades to a dry finish with a lingering hoppiness and a faint hint of plums and black cherries. Aroma: Strong piney-citrusy character, with vanilla in the background. Mouthfeel (body/texture): Smooth, medium-bodied. Feels warm in the mouth from the alcohol.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 DrnkMcDermott (1845), Downers Grove, Illinois, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/58/104/515/20
May 9, 2008  
Sampled at the pre-DLD party. Took me this long to finally get to an Alesmith. Pours a frothy head over a light pale ale color. Crisp, tasty hop smell and taste; not quite as fresh as the Odell’s IPA I just had, but that’s the luck of the draw. But there’s plenty of good piney resin to this lip-smacker, with a good backing of caramel malts. Worth the wait, and I’m watching out for another.


 Rciesla (3580), Exit 15W, New Jersey, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/516/20
May 8, 2008  
Bottle. Pours amber white head. Flavor is full of citrus hops, good amount of malt and plum in the flavor. Pine and grape. Yum.


 BigBeer45 (686), Troy, Michigan, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/57/105/516/20
May 6, 2008    Updated: Jul 18, 2008
22 oz. Bottle, pours a hazy orange-amber with a lively white to slighty off-white head of thick, creamy fine bubbles with some larger mixed in, head reminds me of some belgian ales, lots of sticky bubbled lacing clings to the glass, this ale has a great head and lacing, lots of sweet cake mix and bread aromas with orange, grapefruit citrus fruit and floral fragrances, some sweet malt fragrances, the sip has lots of hop bitterness, flavor of toasted malt, some caramel in the background with orange citrus fruit flavors, very dry at the finish, hop bitterness lingers for a while on the palate with herbs and pine needles, this has a medium mouth feel, I found this to be very easy to drink, a very good IPA.


 dchmela (1426), Orlando, Florida, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
May 5, 2008  
Thanks to boltz7555 for the bottle. Shared with Ian and Deanna. Pours a cloudy orange gold with a thick white head. Hoppy citrus aroma that is big and resinous. Bitter hoppy citrus taste, this is just loaded with hops! There is some sense of malt somewhere in there to give it some balance. Finishes bitter and grapefruit dry. Very good.


 doubleo (1104), San Diego, California, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/104/518/20
May 5, 2008  
Pours orange/yellow with a moderate white head, nice lace, decent retention. Smells crisp and clean hoppy with some orangey citrus. Tastes bitter and hoppy with a lingering sweetness. Great citrus hop flavors of orange and grapefruit. Medium body with nice, smooth carbonation. Seems like they’ve toned the carbonation down a bit. Best single IPA ever in my opinion.


 AgentSteve (1357), SF Bay Area, California, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/103/518/20
May 4, 2008  
Very floral, piney hop nose. Huge lacing. Beautiful copper color with an off white fluffy head. Very hoppy profile with a caramel sweet mid, followed by a clean bitter finish.


 GMUcrew7 (360), Mason, Ohio, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/57/104/518/20
May 4, 2008  
Pours very nice dark golden color with very long lasting and fluffy off white head. Aroma is excellent and hoppy, nice citrus and pine resins dominate. Flavor is similarly great, similar to the aromas, but the malts offer a great balance, not as bitter as the aroma might suggest. Very smooth body, and although the high alcohol content is somewhat noticable through the warmth, it is very well hidden. A top notch IPA from my favorite brewery.


 GAManiac (1142), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/103/516/20
Apr 29, 2008  
Pours a clear, bright golden with a beautiful thick fluffy head that hangs around for ages. Fantastic lacing and a great looking IPA all the way around. Big citrus and piny hops in the nose with a pleasant malt aroma in the background. Strong lemon and grapefruit smells on top of the fragrant pine. Initial bitterness of the piny hop blast almost immediately gives way to the citrus, with lemon zest, oranges, and grapefruits dominating. Very subtle malt background throughout before the pine hop bitterness reenters the fray in the lingering aftertaste. Pretty aggressive but well balanced. Medium bodied with enough carbonation and bitterness to zing the tongue nicely. Despite the zing, the overall mouthfeel is actually very smooth. One of the more drinkable IPAs out there and a solid example of a West Coast IPA. This is about as big as you can get without getting into DIPA territory. Another great beer from the folks at AleSmith who rarely disappoint.



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