AleSmith YuleSmith (Winter) Imperial Red Ale

Brewed by AleSmith Brewing Company
Style: American Strong Ale
San Diego, California USA

Serve in Snifter, Trappist glass

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This one had hops out of its mind. A great beer. There was a good citrus element as well as a good sense of the christmas spirtit with the pine flavor. The coolest thing about this beer is that I was actually at the alesmith brewery talking with Peter as he showed us the big tank in which this very brew was turning itself into the great product it is today. Can you really beat that?

UPDATED: FEB 11, 2003 2001 edition: Didn't expect to find this one today...dark orange glow...speckled off-white head...aroma was Insane!..creamy hop buds surrounded in a fruity display of grapefruits and cherries sitting in liquid carmel...flavor was grapefruit rinds surrounded by cherry ice cream, carmel maltiness always present but slightly off-balanced by the hops...alcohol well hidden but not invisible...gets better as it warms... Re-rate 8/5/2002 edition draught: This stuff glows and is pure hop juice, it was amazing Re-Rate Bottled 2002 : There something so creamy about this IPA in the bottle that it surpasses its san diego cousins..

Ok, I swear, taking a sniff of this beer is about as close as you can get to snorting a fresh bag of hops, which I’ve done quite a few times, so I can relate. It pours a solid golden orange, although a bit murky and cloudy. The lacy solid white head is quite wonderful, etching stained glass mystical patterns in my glass. This is a very big, yet balanced, West coast style IPA. However, the smoothness of the taste is very impressive. It’s almost as if the sweetness of the malt hangs just long enough in the mouth to dance final twirl with the hoppy bitterness toward the end. A big fine IPA, and a wonderful holiday brew. Beware though, it packs a wicked alcohol punch that takes you by surprise, so go easy, sip gently, and enjoy the Yule. [2002, on tap]

Re-rate 11/24.On Tap 2002. Had to kick it up a couple cuz this is just friggin hop nirvana.Huge pine aroma. Murky orange pour with a big tan head. Flavor was piney with big citrusy notes all with with a very resiny mouthfeel. This is pure hop juice at its finest.Try it you wont regret it.

Im growing weary of having ratebeer reject my numerous attempts to post AleSmith YuleSmiths 2002 version as a new beer so im just going to give up and conform, even though this is a double IPA and an 8.8% ABV, not an 8.5..but why would ratebeer listen to me? Anyhow, there’s nothing like a beer tasting straight from the source at AleSmith’s unveiling of their YuleSmith on Friday. This was another impressive brew from another great brewery. The aroma was wild with hops and citrus with a milky white head that danced circles around our glasses. The taste was mildly hoppy, but much smoother than many double IPA’s. The taste was very bitter with extra citrusy goodness...had a good bite to it.

2002 Batch-Great piney aroma, lots of hop punch. fairly sturdy tan colored head lasted right to the bottom of the pint. nice thick body, farely resiny. lots of pine hop flavors, a touch of citrus here and there. good caramel malt base in the middle of the tongue. lots of wonderful hoppy bitterness. definitely a great brew.

2002 Brewing: Had on tap at Alesmith on Friday, Nov. 22, 2002 - Unveiling day of the new Yulesmith!
Head was medium - not too big, but enough to notice (also lasted from top to bottom). The color was slightly opaque with an orange tint. Aroma was slightly hoppy, very fruity. The clear, creamy appearance translates well to a taste that makes this bear easy to drink with a slightly dry aftertaste. A great treat for the holiday season!

UPDATED: JUN 29, 2004 2004 bottle- Pours a hazy amber in hue with a fluffy slight-off-white head with aromas of flowers and citrus. Flavors of the same with a bitterness that attacks your tongue after swalling. One of the best IIPAS out there. 2001 edition--This may be the best IPA ive had yet. Very tastey, not to hoppy, fruity yet creamy almost.

a very nice christmas present, finally bottled last year for the first time (although the growlers made thanksgiving dinner so much more fun) rich and malty, with a nice filling mouthfeel. well balanced, with a perfect amount of hops and a long warming finish.

2000. Off tap. Piney hops nose. Dark orange, dull amber appearance. Head lasts forever. Light undertones of alcohol throughout. Perhaps it was the aged keg. Explosive hops kick right from the start. Bittering through the front to the dry, crisp finish. Malty sweetness builds from the start and culminates at the end. Interesting way to balance this particularly hoppy brew. I still prefer the Stone IPA 5th, but this one holds its own otherwise.