AleSmith Grand Cru Ale - AleSmith Brewing Company

tanarm

California

4.63/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured gently to not disturb the yeast, as a result not much head forms, but a ring sticks to the sides of the chalice. It is a wonderful deep mahogany/amber color. Crystal clear.

Smell is very sweet, hints of belgian candi sugar and raisins.

The taste is sweet and caramelized up front. Crisp... notes of biscuit, maybe a pinch of chocolate. There's a little nip from the 10.5 ABV but it is balanced out by the rest of the flavors going on here. Light balanced bitterness in the finish. It has a full body that coats the palate nicely. Not too much carbonation... this is good. As the beer warms, the flavors keep getting more intense.

Very nice! This is one of my favorite beers. This one will age excellently as well, if you can wait that long. I can't...

On a side note this doesn't taste anything like any other Belgian Strong Dark Ale I've ever had, but I don't believe that is at all what they were going for here. I would say it's more like a Belgian Barleywine... if there were such a category.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2007 01:56:56 | More by tanarm

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

4.04/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

750 mL capped bottle, no date.

popped the cap, and it fizzed over. pours a clear chestnut brown. the bubbly head fades fast. the smell is a nice mix of slightly earthy Belgian yeast and bready malt. taste is bold yet smooth and easy drinking. good balance, starts biscuity and slightly sweet then finishes dry and a bit boozy. thin to medium body, higher carbonation. could be a little less fizzy.
overall - quite good, only the over carbonation is an issue.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 03:47:22 | More by jmdrpi

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