AleSmith IPA

	Percentile
	100
	overall

Brewed by AleSmith Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
San Diego, California USA

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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Ratings	Average	Score	ABV	Style Pctl	Serve in
977	4.1/5.0	4.09/5.0	7.25%	100	Shaker, 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.

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Ofortuna (322), Grafton, Wisconsin, USA

3.7	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.7	9/10	4/5	6/10	3/5	15/20

Apr 5, 2008

Ah, the highest rated IPA in the world. I’ve been craving this one for a long time. Nice frothy head with a slick lacing on the side of the glass. The character Alesmith hop aroma present. Many layers of complexity in regards to the hop presence. Qutie nice. However, the malt itself really took away from the experience. A bit cloying and pushed the beer out of balance for me. Quite a contrast here between the strong hop profile and the overly sweet malt backbone.

robinvboyer (1426), Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Canada

4.5	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
4.5	9/10	4/5	10/10	4/5	18/20

Apr 4, 2008

wow.........soooooooooooooooooooooooooo hoppy. just amazing, not very balanced, cause there isnt much malt, but dear god a hop addicts wet dream!!

santos999 (318), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

2.6	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
2.6	2/10	3/5	6/10	3/5	12/20

Mar 28, 2008

Courtesy of dpjuart. Pours a hazy orange with a large white head. Smells citric and piney, with a strong burnt plastic aroma. Not bad taste though, very bitter with some caramel malt notes and a touch of yeasty fruitiness. Finishes very dry and grainy. Meh..

chicagodri (1041), Chicago, Illinois, USA

4.2	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
4.2	8/10	4/5	9/10	3/5	18/20

Mar 28, 2008

From a bomber I picked up while I was able to visit AleSmith. Pours a orange/amber color. Amazing hoppy nose. Great citrus and pine hops. One of the best IPAs out there.

dpjuart (670), Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA

3.9	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.9	8/10	3/5	8/10	4/5	16/20

Mar 28, 2008

22 oz. bomber. Pours clear copper with thick, foamy white head, lingering and good lacing. Good old hoppy nose, slight grass with a touch of ozone. Earth and floral hop taste with a big bitterness, w a good, balancing malt, caramel and bread. Slight citrus, touch of chocolate. Oh, and some more bitter. Not bad. Not quite what I expected. Again, there may have been some age on this that didn’t help anything. Would like to try it fresh.

Naka (525), Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA

3.9	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.9	6/10	4/5	8/10	4/5	17/20

Mar 28, 2008

Courtesy of Juart. Pours a murky amber orange color and has a thick two-finger head that lasts. Great lacing. Has a strange plasticy ozone smell with a floral hoppiness and some peach. Has an almost numbing bitterness when it first hits your tongue. Kind of strange, but in a good way. Brown sugar and toffee sweetness balance it out. A good creamy texture.

Nate (2538), Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA

3.8	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.8	8/10	4/5	7/10	4/5	15/20

Mar 27, 2008

From bottle courtesy dpjuart. Ozone, resin, grassy hoppiness, caramel, biscuit, light vapory alcohol, too. Medium-dark amber, slight haze, with a bit of floaters. Creamy off-white lacing head. Medium-heavy watery body with medium carbonation. Starts with medium sweet maltiness, followed by quite a heavy hop presence. Alcohol warming. Medium dry bitter finish with light fruity dry nutty bitter after. Tasty IPA.

jnolley (2), USA
does not count

4.4	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
4.4	9/10	4/5	9/10	4/5	18/20

Mar 22, 2008

Very hoppy. One of my favorite IPAs. Too bad they don’t distribute in the Seattle area. Crossing my fingers and hoping they will soon.

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