Grand Cru
AleSmith Brewing Company
- From:
- AleSmith Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Ranked #72 - ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- 90
Ranked #11,399 - Avg:
- 4.04 | pDev: 10.4%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 404
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Aug 31, 2024
- Added:
- Apr 27, 2002
- Wants:
- 113
- Gots:
- 203
SCORE
90
Outstanding
90
Outstanding
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.
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.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Alieniloquium:
Reviewed by Alieniloquium from Florida
3.95/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.95/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
750 mL bottle poured into a snifter. Reviewed from notes.
Appearance - Small head atop a dark brown body. Not quite quad dark. Lighter side of a BSDA.
Smell - Belgian yeast, apples, caramel, and spices. Nice. Dry smelling, if that makes sense...
Taste - Candi sugar taste up front. Interesting, and nice, twist on what I expected. Caramel, but it's not a sweet caramel. Earthy hop finish. Spicy and dry in the finish.
Mouthfeel - Dry. Too dry, I suppose. I guess it's to style, but not what I like. Good carbonation. Not really a smooth drink and possibly a bit thin.
Overall - It's nice, perhaps very good. Not as good or complex as other BSDAs, but nice in everything in provides.
Jul 17, 2012Appearance - Small head atop a dark brown body. Not quite quad dark. Lighter side of a BSDA.
Smell - Belgian yeast, apples, caramel, and spices. Nice. Dry smelling, if that makes sense...
Taste - Candi sugar taste up front. Interesting, and nice, twist on what I expected. Caramel, but it's not a sweet caramel. Earthy hop finish. Spicy and dry in the finish.
Mouthfeel - Dry. Too dry, I suppose. I guess it's to style, but not what I like. Good carbonation. Not really a smooth drink and possibly a bit thin.
Overall - It's nice, perhaps very good. Not as good or complex as other BSDAs, but nice in everything in provides.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by FLima from Brazil
3.68/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.68/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Light brown color with a thin head.
Aroma with notes of caramel, candi sugar, oranges and guarana.
Likewise, flavor with notes of tons of caramel, wood, raisins, candi sugar, apple puree, earthy hops and plum. Dry and bitter aftertaste.
Medium to full body with appropriate carbonation. Alcohol of 10% is absent.
Well executed Strong Ale. Good sipper for a cold night.
Jul 04, 2023Aroma with notes of caramel, candi sugar, oranges and guarana.
Likewise, flavor with notes of tons of caramel, wood, raisins, candi sugar, apple puree, earthy hops and plum. Dry and bitter aftertaste.
Medium to full body with appropriate carbonation. Alcohol of 10% is absent.
Well executed Strong Ale. Good sipper for a cold night.
Reviewed by mothman from Minnesota
4.25/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle. I think 2013 vintage. Beige head. Caramel brown color.
Raisins, figs, caramel, molasses, plums, apples, pears. Dark dried fruits. Huge Belgian influence. True to style. Well done.
Aug 29, 2021Raisins, figs, caramel, molasses, plums, apples, pears. Dark dried fruits. Huge Belgian influence. True to style. Well done.
Reviewed by Mdog from Minnesota
4.06/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Dark amber, good head.
Smell: Earthy sweetness, raisin, dates, prune.
Taste: Continues with what the nose brought, earthiness, sweetness, raisins, figs. Solid body and feel.
Overall: Picked this up since it was 50% off and to get something different other than IPAs to drink. This is a nice beer, even though it leans towards a dubbel which is not my favorite style I still enjoyed the fruity earthiness of it. Worth a try.
May 24, 2020Smell: Earthy sweetness, raisin, dates, prune.
Taste: Continues with what the nose brought, earthiness, sweetness, raisins, figs. Solid body and feel.
Overall: Picked this up since it was 50% off and to get something different other than IPAs to drink. This is a nice beer, even though it leans towards a dubbel which is not my favorite style I still enjoyed the fruity earthiness of it. Worth a try.
Reviewed by iguanodon from Utah
4.14/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.14/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours hazy brown with a thick tan head. Aroma: sweet malt, caramel, a little raisin / date, chocolate. Taste is caramel, Belgian yeast, slight chocolate and fruit.
Jan 01, 2020
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania
3.97/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750ml bottle into a tulip. Complicated bottled date of J6-07 2552.
Looks superb in the glass. Deep, deep amber body with a few reddish notes. Small off white head replenished by slow carbonation. Pours a bit on the syrupy side.
There is only a faint aroma of boiled candy.
I find it difficult to describe the flavors of this beer. There is some sweetness, some abv burn, and a touch of bitterness at times.
Mouth is close to full. Finish is warm, thick & Sweet with slight bitterness.
Overall, not a style I buy to often, but this was a nice sipper on a cold November night.
Nov 17, 2018Looks superb in the glass. Deep, deep amber body with a few reddish notes. Small off white head replenished by slow carbonation. Pours a bit on the syrupy side.
There is only a faint aroma of boiled candy.
I find it difficult to describe the flavors of this beer. There is some sweetness, some abv burn, and a touch of bitterness at times.
Mouth is close to full. Finish is warm, thick & Sweet with slight bitterness.
Overall, not a style I buy to often, but this was a nice sipper on a cold November night.
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!