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AleSmith IPA

AleSmith IPA

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 Percentile 
100
overall
An India Pale Ale (IPA) brewed by
AleSmith Brewing Company

San Diego, California USA

bottled
common

on tap
common

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 Ratings  Average  Score  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in  Advanced 
7054.08/5.04.08/5.07.25%99.9 Shaker, Tulip P  Stats

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 RecentTop RatersHighest Ratings Who's Rated This?
 crizay (1069), Brook Park (was Tampa,FL), Ohio, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/515/20

May 10, 2007  
Very clear copper pour, big white head from the yeast. Aroma is big on citrus and floral, with a touch of peach and just smells dry-hopped. Flavor is citrus hops all the way and very leafy and fresh from being dry-hopped it’s like opening a bag of hops. Sweet caramel malts to balance it out. Very creamy mouthfeel almost like drinking it on cask with low carbonation and just an extremely soft and easy mouthfeel, I drank the whole bottle by myself in like 15 minutes. Good beer.

 grandridge (116), Port Clinton, Ohio, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/57/104/515/20
Jul 18, 2008  
A few months old and still very very good. The hops still noticible for a bottle that was purchased back in Feb. This gem kind of got lost in my cellar and today I realized I got some IPAs that are getting old. This brew pours cloudy golden with a huge head. Aroma is hops and more hops. Seems to be some cascade/centinnial in there but not too sure but definitely get the pine and citrus. Smooth and thick on the palate with light carbonation. Like the description it does feel warm in the mouth. Flavor is a hop bomb of citrus and pine followed by a sweet finish. What a good brew I’ll be getting this fresh to drink up in the future.


inkubus27 (73), USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/103/59/104/518/20
Jul 16, 2008  
Amazing, I wish i could describe this in just that singular word. The best part about this IPA is the hop flavor and lack of astringent bitterness. The aroma is an overwhelming combination of hops. Flavor is very malty sweet with a wonderful hop flavor and mild bitterness. Loved this and wish I had much, much more


Avatar (62), Gliwice, Poland
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Jul 16, 2008  
Bottle brought to Poland for me by cousin. I’m gonna write desciption with next bottle, as I came to San Diego by myself now :)


torourke (7), West Melbourne, Florida, USA
does not count click to see why this rating of AleSmith IPA does not count
5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/105/510/105/520/20
Jul 14, 2008  
This is my favorite beer in the world. I’m from Florida and I order this beer by mail. It’s very expensive because of the shipping costs but it’s worth it to me. This is the creamiest thickest IPA I have ever tasted. The balance between the pale malt and the formidable hops is perfect. Thick and rich this is almost a double IPA but I like it just the way it is. I love this beer and it has a certain San Diego hop load that is very similar to Racer 5 by Bear Republic. I’m guessing that Cascade and Centennial hops are used in this fantastic concoction. The head is a supremely jagged cloud like affair and is very sticky leaving plenty of lace on my pint glass. The color is a little darker than most IPAs and I like that. If you have never had this IPA, I suggest you do whatever it takes to get it, like I do. Well worth the extra expense and a real treat.


 dkachur (631), Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Jul 13, 2008  
22 oz. bottle.. phenomenal extra from BrianK. My review from cvillebeergeek.blogspot.com...

A massive thanks to trading partner Brian of West Orange, New Jersey who apparently felt that the really good extras he included with the main part of our trade weren’t enough, so he sent a second box with this gem a week later. Also, this just happens to be my 600th beer rating.

Appearance: Beautiful reddish-orange color with a medium sized head. The head does disappear rather quickly, leaving little specks of lacing. The head does stick around as a thin film on the top of the beer that creeps just slightly up the sides of the glass. Slight haze and vigorous carbonation. 3.75/5.0.

Aroma: Very appropriate IPA aroma... floral, citrus and pine hop notes with a sweet background. Not terribly complex, but very pleasant. 4.0/5.0

Taste: Nicely complex taste. It hits me as sweet, bitter, sweet bitter with the sweetness having a honey-like quality juxtaposed with a strong citrus hop bitterness. I am reminded of lemonheads candy. Maybe the slightest vegetal note. Very nice. 4.0/5.0

Mouthfeel: The carbonation gives this a lively feel. Bitterness and sweetness balance fairly well. The beer has a slightly viscous feel and the alcohol is absolutely hidden. 4.5/5.0

Drinkability: Bitter, sour, sweet, but absolutely smooth and approachable. It’s not perfectly balanced, but every aspect of this beer stays relatively in check with the others. It’s not cheap (Brian paid $8.99 for this somewhere in Jersey), but 22 ounces is absolutely no problem, and is a very pleasant experience. 4.5/5.0

Overall: This is a top-notch IPA, in the league of anything Stone, Bell’s or Russian River can produce. A joyful experience, and a worthy 600th rating.




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