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Grand Cru
AleSmith Brewing Company
- From:
- AleSmith Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Ranked #56 - ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- 90
Ranked #8,689 - Avg:
- 4.04 | pDev: 10.4%
- Reviews:
- 404
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jul 04, 2023
- Added:
- Apr 27, 2002
- Wants:
- 113
- Gots:
- 204
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 DavoleBomb:
Reviewed by DavoleBomb from Pennsylvania
2.65/5 rDev -34.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
2.65/5 rDev -34.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Poured into a snifter. 2010 vintage. I reviewed a fresh bottle (which was lost in one of BA's "lost review" moments) and didn't care for it much. We'll see if this is any better with some time on it.
3.0 A: Opaque medium brown color. Two fingers of fizzy beige head. Retention is below average and no lacing is left.
3.0 S: Brown sugar, caramel, and a rum soaked raisin type booziness. Fig and prune fruitiness. Some toastiness in there as well. Peppery spiciness. Light bready maltiness. The flavor profile looks better on paper than how it actually smells. The aromas don't balance each other out that well. Still, not bad.
2.5 T: This has mellowed to the point of being boring. Brown sugar and caramel are the strongest flavors. Almost tart fruitiness featuring dates, figs, and raisins. Light peppery spiciness. Booze is in check though.
2.5 M: Medium body. Carbonation level is right, but it's a "passive" carbonation as opposed to the spritzy Belgain yeast carbonation that I like. Seems almost oily. Smooth though.
2.5 D: Didn't care for it fresh and I care for it even less with some age. It's not undrinkable, but it's boring with a subpar mouthfeel.
Dec 27, 20113.0 A: Opaque medium brown color. Two fingers of fizzy beige head. Retention is below average and no lacing is left.
3.0 S: Brown sugar, caramel, and a rum soaked raisin type booziness. Fig and prune fruitiness. Some toastiness in there as well. Peppery spiciness. Light bready maltiness. The flavor profile looks better on paper than how it actually smells. The aromas don't balance each other out that well. Still, not bad.
2.5 T: This has mellowed to the point of being boring. Brown sugar and caramel are the strongest flavors. Almost tart fruitiness featuring dates, figs, and raisins. Light peppery spiciness. Booze is in check though.
2.5 M: Medium body. Carbonation level is right, but it's a "passive" carbonation as opposed to the spritzy Belgain yeast carbonation that I like. Seems almost oily. Smooth though.
2.5 D: Didn't care for it fresh and I care for it even less with some age. It's not undrinkable, but it's boring with a subpar mouthfeel.
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, 2020Reviewed 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.
Reviewed by Brutaltruth from Ohio
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
From the 750 ml bottle in a snifter. This mighty fine ale pours a
murky deep brown red tinged mahogany with a nice head of off white
foam that settles to a thick ring and thin layer with nice sudsy lacing.
Nose of dates, brown sugar candy malts, subtle Belgian spice, moderate
yeast laden breaded notes, and dark fruit notes. Flavors follow the nose
with a lightly tart cherry and cranberry note intertwined in a dark candy
sugar that is awash in toffee and caramel with subtle clove and yeasty
bread notes. Warmth brings about a nice boozy warmth and
expanding sweetness around biscuit notes over fig and date
bread. Nice mouth feel; medium body, medium light carbonation
that is lightly fluffy, warming---boozy----and lightly dry and did
I mention boozy???
Overall---excellence from an excellent brewery!
Belgian done right in America!
Cheers!
Oct 27, 2018murky deep brown red tinged mahogany with a nice head of off white
foam that settles to a thick ring and thin layer with nice sudsy lacing.
Nose of dates, brown sugar candy malts, subtle Belgian spice, moderate
yeast laden breaded notes, and dark fruit notes. Flavors follow the nose
with a lightly tart cherry and cranberry note intertwined in a dark candy
sugar that is awash in toffee and caramel with subtle clove and yeasty
bread notes. Warmth brings about a nice boozy warmth and
expanding sweetness around biscuit notes over fig and date
bread. Nice mouth feel; medium body, medium light carbonation
that is lightly fluffy, warming---boozy----and lightly dry and did
I mention boozy???
Overall---excellence from an excellent brewery!
Belgian done right in America!
Cheers!
Grand Cru from AleSmith Brewing Company
Beer rating:
90 out of
100 with
972 ratings
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