AleSmith Grand Cru Ale - AleSmith Brewing Company

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.08/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a cloudy, medium brown body with a full, foamy, off-white head.

Smell: Aroma of dark caramel malts, dark candi sugar, vanilla, plums, and earthy dried herbs with a spicy yeast character.

Taste: Sweet, rich caramel maltiness with a juicy, tangy dark fruit flavor. Pinch of cherry-infused pipe tobacco. A drizzle of sweet syrup and two drops of vanilla extract. Lightly alcoholic throughout. Mild hop bitterness. Spicy yeastiness. Fruity, semi-dry finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full body. Moderate carbonation. Slightly syrupy mouthfeel.

Drinkability: One of my favorite American-made Belgian Strongs.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2008 21:15:01 | More by ChainGangGuy

HALB

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

05-20-2013 01:56:13 | More by HALB

largadeer

California

3.5/5  rDev -13.8%

05-17-2013 20:43:09 | More by largadeer

GRG1313

California

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%

05-17-2013 03:28:03 | More by GRG1313

Zbeetleman

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

05-15-2013 04:56:00 | More by Zbeetleman

crewfan1952

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

05-15-2013 00:32:56 | More by crewfan1952

tourdot

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

05-13-2013 04:03:03 | More by tourdot

bluntedboywonder

New York

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%

05-12-2013 02:34:46 | More by bluntedboywonder

caverog

California

4/5  rDev -1.5%

05-10-2013 19:54:42 | More by caverog

Reggae4203

California

4/5  rDev -1.5%

05-10-2013 04:56:22 | More by Reggae4203

RMoeNay

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%

05-09-2013 15:00:56 | More by RMoeNay

TrickkyGangsta

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +17%

05-05-2013 01:00:33 | More by TrickkyGangsta

BillRoth

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%

04-30-2013 02:02:45 | More by BillRoth

lostrikis

Spain

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%

04-29-2013 20:00:14 | More by lostrikis

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%

04-29-2013 06:05:29 | More by Kelp

TheLevi4000

New York

4/5  rDev -1.5%

04-27-2013 02:18:03 | More by TheLevi4000

King_KongDCO93

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

04-26-2013 22:51:09 | More by King_KongDCO93

superspak

Michigan

4/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle into chalice, no bottle dating. Pours crystal clear reddish brown color with a 1 finger fairly dense cream colored head with good retention, that reduces to a thin lace cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing clings on the glass, with some moderate streaming carbonation. Aromas of raisin, prune, banana, grape, clove, caramel, dark candi sugar, toast, bubblegum, and earthy yeast esters. Very nice aromas with good balance of fruity/spicy yeast esters with candi sugar maltiness. Taste of raisin, prune, banana, grape, clove, caramel, dark candi sugar, bubblegum, toast, and yeast earthiness. Lingering notes of dark and light fruits, clove, caramel, dark candi sugar, bubblegum, toast, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice balance and complexity of fruity/lightly spicy esters with malt sweetness; and almost zero cloying sweetness present after the finish. Medium carbonation and fairly full bodied; with a slick, lightly syrupy, and lightly prickly mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is well hidden with only a small warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a damn nice Belgian strong dark ale. Very nice complexity of fruity/spicy yeast esters with candi sugar sweetness; and quite smooth to sip on. A very enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 04:13:46 | More by superspak

SLeffler27

New York

4/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Clear, dark ruby with a short-lived, off-white creamy head. Leaves a viscous film on the Brigand oversized wine glass.

Part cherry and candy sugar comes out front with raspberry and crisp apple presenting with warmth. All are rather subtle.

Opens with light, tart cherries and sweeter than expected. Light earthiness, banana, plum and faint oak in the middle. Lots of faint flavors oscillate between spicy and fruity character. The finish is almost absent. Warmth adds little.

Soft, fine carbonation and silky texture compliment this medium-bodied beer. The alcohol is well below expectations.

This is an easy sipping beer and, while quite tasty, lacks the pop expected of this style. I enjoyed it as part of the pre-Super Bowl festivities.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 14:55:27 | More by SLeffler27

Axnjxn

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -1.5%

04-20-2013 23:35:25 | More by Axnjxn

dominic4beer

California

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%

04-15-2013 07:42:55 | More by dominic4beer

MystikCelt

New York

4.75/5  rDev +17%

04-15-2013 02:29:03 | More by MystikCelt

BeerTruck

Portugal

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%

04-11-2013 21:27:15 | More by BeerTruck

OUJayhawk1799

Oklahoma

3.5/5  rDev -13.8%

04-09-2013 05:25:03 | More by OUJayhawk1799

Vixie

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Pours a nice ruby red color with a decent sized tan head. Fair amount of carbonation.

Smell has quite a bit of brown sugar to it. Can also detect a hint of chocolate and toffee.

This is a fairly sweet beer, I am describing it mentally as liquid candy. There is a lot of brown sugar and toffee to it, if a Heath Bar was in liquid form, it would taste a lot like this. I can also detect some Belgian candy sugar, and there is just a hint of a hop bite at the finish. The alcohol is very well hidden in this one, just a touch of warming at the back of my throat.

Feel is just ok, I think should be a little more solid for the style.

Overall a pretty good beer. It is lacking a bit in complexity, but has a nice flavor and is easy to drink for such a strong beer. This one is deceptive, it doesn't taste like a 10% ABV beer, handle with care, but worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 01:59:33 | More by Vixie