AleSmith YuleSmith (Summer) India Pale Ale

Brewed by AleSmith Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
San Diego, California USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

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Pours a slightly hazy orange with a tall fluffy ivory head that leaves some thick lacing on the glass. Sweet malty aroma with a good dose of citrusy spiced hops. Taste starts sweet and malty with a bit of a spice kick to it. A nice bitterness finishes off the taste. A very smooth and well balanced IPA, excellent.

Pine, tangyness, sweet, not too much tackyness ion the tongue but a bit jammy, soe nut spices, not much sticking to the palate, finishing astringent. INteresting. Jumbled.. Fun.

(Draft: O’Brien’s in San Diego, CA) Rating is for the Christmas ’03 release; Compared side by side with the July ’04 special release of YuleSmith, the Christmas ’03 version is much more malty, hoppy and full bodied than the July ’04 release; It’s very sweet and strong, quite malty, and very hoppy, especially in the finish; The malt could get lost in a sweet, hoppy 2IPA, but the malt flavor holds its own, resulting in a wonderfully balanced beer; Seems to have a little oak in the flavor; The palate is full bodied, somewhat sticky and very coating from the sweetness, but smoother than expected for such a strongly flavored beer; Sweet, malty, hoppy nose also has some evident alcohol; Ruddy brown in color; Light tan head is smallish on the pour and displays pretty good retention for a style known for a quickly retreating head; Some modest lacing

amazing double ipa. had a hercules and was unimpressed. this one though was great.

Bottled: Orange coloured. Unclear. Huge beige dense head. Hops, citrus, flowers, sweetness and fruit in the aroma. Flavour is hoppy as hell. Fruit, chocolate, alcahol and some mild malt tones. Is lightly burning the lips in the end, but its the immense bitterness that closes down the party.

Cloudy Copper, with a big white head. Spicy, peppery, woodsy aroma, with just a hint of medicinal smell. Big citrus flavor - Grapefruit, of course, but also some lemon and lime. Hints of smoke and salt. Very dry, but also incredibly smooth. The malt presence is incredibly subtle in the flavor, but is felt in the palate and aftertaste, if that makes any sense. Some resiny flavors in the finish. Really, really impressive. Thanks to Drunkasaskunk for this one!

Deep hazy amber. Big white head, rocky and mountainous. Huge c-hops abundance. Lots of orange, flowers, grapefruit and pinneaple in the nose, but it’s superbly crafted for me to appreciate this. Those citrus fruits are juicy and creamy. Of course very hoppy palate. Contemplative bitterness. Typical Alesmith malt profile to back it all. Well hidden 8.5%. Medium-thick body, creamy, smooth body. Terrific double IPA. My favorite by far as it stands and I never thought I would rate one this high. I can’t believe how smooth and fresh those hops can be. Thanks again hopsrus

Grapefruit, orange and pine-like hop nose. Burnished copper coloured body with lasting, creamy white head that recedes with very nice lacing. Intensely sweet and malty with a strong balancing bitterness that lasts on the tongue. Notes of toasty, biscuity malt flavours. Alcohol is noticeable. Fair warming. Creamy smooth in the mouth and rather full-bodied. Bottle. Enjoyed with hopsrus, MartinT and Rastacouere.

Great fruity aroma, apricot, pear, pineapple - Hawaiin punch. Brilliant orange-amber clear, with thin off-white head. Thick body with soft carbonation. Alcoholic fruity start, with medium bitterness. Sugary hoppy finish, with medium bitter after. A very nice beer.

Bottled. Hazy amber. Intense grapefruit aroma. Fairly sweet with firm, rounded maltiness. Enormously hoppy. Salty, very bitter finish. Die hard brutal hop juice with a fair amount of alcohol...