AleSmith - Decadence Anniversary Ale (2010)

Decadence was first released in 2005 to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. AleSmith has released a new version of Decadence each year around our anniversary date in late fall. The style chosen each year is different, but you can be sure that it will always fit the description of Decadence!

The 2010 and 2005 versions have the same recipe. In 2010 we return to the style that was chosen for the very first AleSmith Decadence®, an English-style Old Ale. Abundant malty flavors and the perfect balance of English hops define this classic style. Four specialty yeast strains and the use of tradition brewing sugars create a rich and tasty flavor profile. AleSmith Decadence pleases and tantalizes the palate in a way that has become the hallmark of AleSmith’s premium ales.

2005 an English Old Ale
2006 an American Strong Ale
2007 an Imperial Porter
2008 an Imperial English Barleywine
2009 a Weizen Bock
2010 an English Style Old Ale (this review)

2011 a Maple Smoked Barleywine

2012 a Quadrupel

The ABV is 11.0 and the IBU rating is ??
Style -English Style Old Ale
Glass to use - Snifter, Tulip or Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 750ml Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a brown color with a small tan head. Great lacing.
Aroma - Filled the room with the essence of dark fruit and chocolate.

Taste - Malty, dark fruits (cherries), hints of dark chocolate, caramel and a slight hint of leather.  
Mouth Feel - Light carbonated and a full body.
Drinkable - Gets better as is warms up.  The dark fruits come out strong as the brew warms to near room temperature.  A decent English Barleywine.  Would have been nice to have a vertical session with a fresh bottle of the 2010 and an aged bottle of the 2005.

This beer pair well with cheese and desserts.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B
BeerAdvocate Rating = 90
Ratebeer Rating = 98

Alesmith - Grand Cru

Bottle conditioned.  AleSmith Grand Cru really needs to be tasted to be truly appreciated. Toasty, caramelly flavors, as well as flavors imparted by the Belgian yeast strain, predominate over a tapestry of subtle nuances. Winner of the blue ribbon at the 1999 California State Fair, it is a thing of beauty. It is available in 750 ml. champagne bottles. Appearance: Crystal clear (when served properly), with a toast-brown color. Flavor: Starts with the tangy flavor of our championship Belgian yeast, then fades to a medium-light flavor of vanilla, caramel and chocolate. Finishes dry and well-balanced with a slightly toasty flavor. Aroma: Vanilla and chocolate aromas predominate, along with the Belgian yeast characteristics. Mouthfeel (body/texture): Clean and crisp, medium-bodied. Warmth from the high alcohol content makes it feel like a fine wine.

The ABV is 10.0 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Belgium Strong Dark Ale
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 750ml Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a brown color with a big tan head. Some lacing.
Aroma - Malty, caramel and toffee. 
Taste - Sweet, tangy, malty and caramel. 
Mouth Feel - Fizzy, highly carbonated.  Full body.  Dry finish.
Drinkable - Nice, I was not sure what to expect.  I like it.  Drinkable but it will catch up with up at 10%.

This beer pair well with cheese and meats.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =A-
Ratebeer Rating =99

AleSmith - Old Numbskull

Bottle conditioned.  A West Coast style barleywine. A huge malt profile and a very aggressive dose of premium domestic hops give Old Numbskull a tantalizing complexity, from the aroma to the aftertaste.

Multiple awards, including Gold in its category at the Chicago Real Ales Festival, and Silver for Best-of-Show.

Old Numbskull is AleSmith’s first barley wine offering. You may find the name "Old Numbskull" curious. Barley wine has its origins in England and tradition is to begin the name with "Old": Old Nick, Old Sampson, Old Jock, etc. Tongue-in-cheek is often the spirit in naming a barley wine. After drinking a glass or two, you may agree that Old Numbskull feels like a fitting description. It also reminds us of the Three Stooges, one of the greatest comedy teams of all time, so it's meant to bring a smile even before the first taste. Exotic fruit aromas, along with clean ethanol, caramel, honey and toasty notes are present in the nose. At five months of age, the Numbskull flavor begins malty and the hops become more evident from the middle to the finish and linger nicely in the aftertaste. The aroma notes also show themselves in the flavor.

1999 - waxed cap

2000 - dated as such. Pictured at left

2002 - Silver foil with electric blue design and NO filling in the anvil spaces

2003 - Silver foil with electric blue design and blue filling in the anvil spaces

2004 - same as 2003 but with "AleSmith" below the logo in white lettering.

........

2010 - Silver foil with electric blue design and silver filling in the anvil spaces and "AleSmith" below the logo in electric blue lettering.

I first review this brew on 9/11/10, I have incorporated that review with my new thoughts....

The ABV is 11.0 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - American Barleywine
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 750ml Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a deep cooper color with a big tan head. Some lacing.
Aroma - Malty first thing out of the bottle followed by hops just like an American Barleywine should.
After 30 minutes warming up, the dark fruit aroma kicks in, like raisins. 
Taste - Sweet, malty, almost syrupy, some dark fruits at the end. Not quiet a raisin taste, but close. After warming up more dark fruits are coming through. 
Mouth Feel - Smooth, good carbonated with a boozy finish.  Full body.
Drinkable - A good example of an American Barleywine.  Drinkable but it will catch up with up at 11%.

This beer pair well with cheese and desserts.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =A-
Ratebeer Rating =100

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AleSmith - YuleSmith (Summer 2010)

YuleSmith is brewed twice a year in two different, yet similar, styles: For wintertime, it’s an Imperial/Double Red Ale and summertime it's an Imperial/Double IPA. 

During the summer, YuleSmith is transformed into a big, hoppy, Double IPA. The enormous load of hops requires a substantial malt background to create just the right balance for a Double IPA. Lighter in color, summer YuleSmith is available around the 4th of July and is packaged in a red, white, and blue bottle.

Gold World Beer Championships 2003, 2004, 2005

I had purchased this bottle when I got back from Libya.  I was in a mood for an IPA and had just purchased the YuleSmith Winter, so I gave it a go.

The ABV is 9.5 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Double IPA
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 750ml Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a cooper color with a very large white head. The head rised above the rim of the glass by 1/4" without falling over.  Good lacing.
Aroma - The first thing that hits you is a banana aroma and hops. Then citrus.
Taste - Sweeter than I though, citrus with no harsh bitter aftertaste. 
Mouth Feel - Crisp and clean not over carbonated.  Medium body.
Drinkable - Very drinkable, could not tell it is a double.  Letting it age for6 months did this brew well.

This beer pair well with cheese and meats (grilled food - BBQ).

This beer gets a Duper rating of A.
BeerAdvocate Rating =A-
Ratebeer Rating =100