AleSmith YuleSmith (Summer) India Pale Ale

22 oz bottle. Summer 2008 edition. Pours a cloudy, golden, orange with a 3 cm dense white head that is slowly diminishing. Aroma of pine and citrus hops. Some kind of sweetness too in the aroma. Initial flavor is balanced between sweet, sour, and hoppy. At the end the hops dominate with a fierce bite that hangs around until your next sip. Medium body, heavy lacing, light carbonation, and a slight alcohol presence noted. Overall a very well done beer, but what beer from AleSmith isn’t?

Thanks to kegbear for this bomber. Pours golden orange with perfect thin white head that stays for the entire brew. Aroma is big with floral hops, citrus, sweet malts and a touch of pine. Flavor is unbelievable with big floral and citrus hops, sweet malts, pine and a smidge of suger. Nice lacing and exactly what I hoped for from this west coast hop bomb. Perfectly balanced Double IPA. What else is there to same about this terrific brew.

Finally, a contender against HOTD Blue Dot. A 22 oz bottle from Liquor Warehouse in Huntington Beach, CA. Pours a thick white head and clear amber body. Aroma is killer with hops. Amazing balance between bitters and malt at first, followed by soothing finish.

Bomber. Mostly clear pour with a dark golden color below a thin even layer of white head. Nice clean, aggressive, peppery citric hop aroma propped up a tad by a light alcohol presence. Taste packs a wallop of hop bitterness, evens out a bit, then finishes with a lot of citric rinds. Strong tasting without being harsh. Very nice.

bomber. Pours a clear, pale yellow with a fluffy white head. Nose is strong witha mix of citrus and pine. Taste is citrus and oh so delicious. Mouthfeel is medium with carbonation and a bitter finish. Very impressed with this. This is now my favorite IIPA.