AleSmith Grand Cru Ale - AleSmith Brewing Company

mntlover

Tennessee

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

Pours a light mahogany with a light tan head that lasts and lasts is feed by lots of carbonation bubbles sticking to my chalice. Was hard to make out the hue of this brew do to the amount of bubbles stuck to my glass actually.
Aroma belgian candy like sweetness mixed with dark fruits, dates dipped in mollasses and some spice mingling around the mixture.
Taste is malty caramel, mollasses and candy like sweetness all rolling around with raisins, dates and figs a very tastey little party. Some spicey pepper and the like mix with some herbal/floral hops for a finish that also has hints of honey.
Mouthfeel is great all the carbonation noted in the looks doesn't make it into the feel, it is not fizzy at all just a good feeling medium bodied beer.
Drinkability is good a nice Grad Cru provided by an even nicer BA thanks merlin48 for sharing this with me.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2005 13:20:32 | More by mntlover

merlin48

Kentucky

4.03/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another fine Alesmith offering enjoyed at a Saturday tasting session with mtnlover. Grand Cru pours an actively carbonated body with a large, ecru toned head that is creamy and longlasting. Sheet and patch lace is immense.
Aroma has notes of banana, mango, cotton candy sugars, and spicy notes of coriander.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied and has effervescent, Belgianesque, carbonation.
Taste has a notable dark fruit component of figs and raisins. Candy sugars and clover honey are also noted. Very little bitterness here, with a bit of spicy white pepper and coriander, and a mild yeast note. Alcohol is well hidden except for some warming sensation.
I wish Alesmith brews were available in Kentucky. This one came from Cincinnati, but is a nicely drinkable and well crafted Belgian style strong dark ale that is definitely one I would sample again. I just wonder what's up with the green bottles?

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2005 12:42:25 | More by merlin48

meathookjones

Virginia

3.53/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes taken on 1/09/05 with a 750ml bottle. Even with an aggressive pour this beer seemed hard pressed to get even a full covering of tan bubbles. The body was a ruddy brown. Aroma was very sweet with various fruits, caramel and sugars. There was a bit of spiciness to it as well and another scent that reminded me of English style barley wines. Sweetness was dominant in the flavor as well with various fruits coming through and a good dose of caramel/toffee. Sugar and spice were prevalent as well. Something in the flavor reminds me of barley wines as well. A bit of lingering spice was on the finish. Fairly thick and slick was the body and it had quite a warming feel to it as well. Pretty good stuff but the sweetness became cloying towards the middle and really made the last glass drag on. On e I would like to try fresher if I ever get the chance.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2005 16:46:39 | More by meathookjones

CRJMellor

Arkansas

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark caramel brwon and gold colors with reddish purple tints (I swear !) Minor off-white head disappears quickly leaving no lace but alcohol tannins on the glass are evident.
Aroma of plums, dates, figs, candy and brown sugar and some subtle dark spices.
Flavors of dark citrus, fructose sugar, Belgian candi sugar, a coriander yeat profile with a hint of herbal, fruity hops.
Mouthfeel is sweet but not cloying. Malts dominant but cut with enough spice to provide good balance.
Drinkability is good. Weel-crafted very attractive brew. Only issue I have is it is somewhat one dimensional and lacks a depth and a strong finish. After the malt and light spice it sort of fades away. This is a little picky point but just noticeable in comparing to other Grand Cru's

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2004 15:25:26 | More by CRJMellor

clvand0

Kentucky

4.6/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Second AleSmith I've tried. Pours a dark brown color with an extremely large head that sticks around for a while and leaves nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of sweet fruits, alcohol, and a slight spice (probably from the yeast). The flavor was very nice. Somewhat fruity - cherries? raisins? I'm not really sure, but I like it. Very easy to drink for the high alcohol. Wish this stuff wasn't so expensive, because I'd have it every day.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2004 18:48:55 | More by clvand0

kmpitz2

Tennessee

4.55/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer poured a nice dark brown color with a 2 finger thich tan head that wouldn't go away. The nose was a nice brown sugary mixed with some raisiney spice. This beer tasted great, with a wonderful spicey and fruity character going on with the slight raisin flavor mixing with the belgian yeast. The beer was thick and a bit creamy, and fantastic. With the high ABV on this puppy, drinkability couldn't be better. A treat to have tried it. Word to my man clvand0 for sharing this one.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2004 17:20:49 | More by kmpitz2

SheepNutz

Kentucky

4.38/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750mL bottle poured into a thistle glass. It pours a deep raspberry color with three heaping fingers of head. There is a good amount of lace. The smell is slightly sweet. Some slightly tart cherry helps fill the nostrils. The taste also has a bit of cherry flavor, mixed with some clover honey and a touch of delicate spices. Just a little bit of ethanol present. The mouthfeel is fairly thick and strong. The drinkability is pretty good for a 10% brew. Another nice one from Alesmith!

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2004 04:49:27 | More by SheepNutz

lou91

California

3.28/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

No cork and no fizz on the open. Oh, what a great nose of sweetness, plums and rum. Good looking beer. A dark amber color with a creamy rich head. I hate to say this but the taste falls way short of reputation for the style and the brewer. The taste is like a tug-o-war between malt, alcohol and sugar with taste being the obvious loser. The imbalance makes for a dry malty strong ale with a maple butter chaser. I can't imagine time helping but I could be wrong.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2004 04:50:48 | More by lou91

odeed

California

3.2/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

after drikning a 2000 bottle a few weeks ago i must say this was a bit different.(good thing i bought 2 as im going to cellar the other one)
first thing i noticed is this one did not have a cork in it as the 2000 bottle did.
i dropped this one in a pint glass and it gave no head at all.
had a nice drak amber color.
overall taste?it was still smooth but the alcohol was a bit overwhelming twards the end.i could see the same taste as the 2000 bottle trying to come out but hey...what do ya expect ya know?

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2004 08:08:57 | More by odeed

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The looks of it: rich ruby hue, opaque, slim, beigish sliver of foam.
The smell of it: port wine meets cognac, dark fruits meets a mature, well-mannered alcohol burn, sophisticated and almost sublime, a jammy medley of berries and booze.
The taste of it: surprisingly mellow and light on entering the tongue, satisfactorily full on the palate, merrily leaving it's tracks all over the mouth, tingling the senses from the start. Very snappy, this, brimming over with tasty, cherry brandy flavor, figgy, bready, grapey. Sits prettily on the palate, spilling over with juicy, boozy goodness.
The sum of it:This is a late-night relaxer kind of beer, a swirl-it-in-the snifter during quiet ruminations, and complex contemplation kind of beer...the kind I need right now.
So, thanks Alesmith, and thanks boilermaker88..right beer at the right time...yum...

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2004 07:37:45 | More by feloniousmonk

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A long-standing bottle delivers a very clear first glass of ruby-mahogany topped by a short head of of ivory foam. (Subsequent glasses naturally pick up a bit of yeast). The head retention is limited by the alcohol, and it slowly drops to an average collar but leaves some nice splashes of lace about the glass. The nose is caramelish, peppered with a light splash of red and dark fruit, some mild candy (sugar, licorice, honey), and yeasty fruitiness. Very nice! It's smooth and slick across the palate with a very, very fine natural carbonation that's surprisingly moderate for the style; and a body that's medium-full. The flavor is more intense than the nose suggests, yet it remains restrained. Dark fruits, baked brown-sugar, yeasty spice, vanilla-suger glazed donuts, slightly burnt bread-crusts, and a masculine push of bitterness round it out. And the alcohol never appears in either the flavor or the aroma; even after more than one serving! It's very nice... not overly rich or syrupy, and exceptionally well-balanced. There are certainly more complex examples of a "Grand Cru" (which is not a style, but a designation), but this one delivers an exceptionally rounded and enjoyable, "drinkable" beer. It's well recommended, as are almost all of the other Alesmith beers!

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2004 22:16:40 | More by NeroFiddled

Wildman

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer poured a rather dark reddish amber color and formed a small light tan bubbly head that left circular lace as it subsided. A medium amount of carbonation is present. The aroma on this one is fairly heavy with malt, dark fruits, caramel and some banana with a hint of the alcohol present. The flavor was of malt, caramel, some dark fruit and some doughy aspects. The finish was slight sprite and sweet. A good beer that may get better with a little aging.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2004 01:36:16 | More by Wildman

Boto

Connecticut

4.72/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle: Vintage 2003. The beer pours an opaque red hued brown color. About a non-existent head on this one. Notes of caramel, alcohol, maybe chocolate, plums, maybe some yeast and a lot of others that I can’t quite place. It is very complex in there. The flavor is a bit sweet, with a slightly sour aftertaste. Actually a bit dry tasting also, as well as a touch syrupy. Notes of the chocolate, fruits and caramel to the taste. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2004 20:09:13 | More by Boto

Crosling

Colorado

4.75/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Burgundy.

Intoxicating, deep and dense nose of plump raisins, plums, figs, grapes, bananas and clove.

Incredible and an instant "5" at first taste. Round, very dynamic and very full-bodied. Front is mainly fruit, cherries, plums and dark grapes. In the backround a big caramel and nutty body of deep malt is present. On the finish is port wine and a spicy yeastiness.

Simply Delicious. Alesmith is one of the best.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2004 00:11:32 | More by Crosling

oggg

California

3.85/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Sampled on tap at Liars club in a Belgian goblet

This beer pours a dark brown with auburn edges. The head is minimal and barely covers the beer. The aroma is distinctively "Belgian", with lots of complex fruity aromas and some caramel. The initial carbonation is restrained well, and is followed by caramel and and mild roastiness. Low to no bitterness. Melon and other fruit. Sugar. Alcohol is apparent but not strong. Medium to full body. I rather downed this fairly quickly, and it went down surprisingly well.

Overall I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed this beer

Serving type: on-tap

06-21-2004 04:53:26 | More by oggg

rkhaze

California

4.22/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark chestnut color with huge bubbles that disappeared immediatly leaving no head to speak of.
Smells of sweet malt, roasted fruits and brown sugar. There was a rum like alcohol aroma and a bit of yeast as well.
Deep, complex earthy taste. Bready roasted malt, brown sugar, dark caramel and red fruit. There was a definite rum alcohol presence, some tangy yeast and a hint of cinnamon waaay back there.
Rich and full bodied with a thick viscous mouthfeel and an alcohol burn. The lack of carbonation took it to the edge of being almost syrupy.
The alcohol presence and syrupy cloying mouthfeel hurt the drinkability for me. Definitly a sipper.
Quite the alcohol laced malt monster. This probably needs a little more time to mellow a bit and let the alcohol smooth out. Wish I would have picked up an extra bottle to age. Reminded me somewhat of La Terrible.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2004 19:08:27 | More by rkhaze

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dark burgandy appearance. Very slight head recedes to almost nothing as a collar. This Grand Cru has a nice, thick aroma. It's dark fruits (cherry, plum), burnt molasses, raisin, bread pudding, alcohol and port. Nice. The mouthfeel is lightly carbonated. Body is about medium. This beer packs a punch with its flavor. The big everclear soaked melon and dark fruit characteristic is dominant. The alcohol isn't too heavy, but it's fucking there. It's got the fig and date thing going on. Nuances of port. Bready and doughy yeast tones. Nice flavor.

A Big ol Grand Cru thanks to the Grandest of BeachBums.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2004 02:53:27 | More by Bighuge

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Ruby brown thin cream colored head lacing is thin and spread unevenly across my tasting glass. Aroma: Deep fruit infused notes cary across my schnose, all blended with upfront alcohol tones and candi sugar sweetness with a blend of spices that just work. Taste: Very big in flavor this brew sits on the palate, touch of upfront alcohol to let you know who's boss. Then she creeps in with a blend of barleywine like caramel rich malt backbone blended with a dubbel raisin and tart fruit notes somewhat of a curveball. The hop profile stands out quite well for a Belgian style with this much alcohol, not too hoppy but definitely has some balls. Mouthfeel: Medium body a bit syrupy on the palate, decent big beer from the Alesmith brewing company. Drinkability: I feel that this beer is meant to be drank in smaller portions after about seven or so ounces I would get tired of the flavor and the texture just sits on the palate need a cleanser with this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2004 20:34:08 | More by WVbeergeek

beergeek279

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served as a sample from the 750 mL bottle. The color was amber, with a ring of white head. The smell was a sweeter malt and alcohol. The taste was a nice sweet dark malt, with some hints of coriander and a good bit of hops for the style, and the alcohol was definitely noticable. Mouthfeel was very chewy. As for drinkability, could have several of these.

Another fine offering from the folks at Alesmith. A Belgian Dark with hops...well, certainly going to be up my alley. The only shame is that I can't run into Alesmith around here...distribute further, please!!

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2004 16:08:42 | More by beergeek279

TinusTime

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a reddish brown with a nice sized barely offwhite head. Smell was of prunes, a little nuttiness. Taste was somewhat sour in that Belgian way, also a little cooked wine and a lot of plum prune and dark sour cherry. Hints of scotch whiskey soaked fruit as the beer warms. Nicely carbonated even almost 4 years later. Drinkability is good as the alcohol is well hidden. Definite an after dinner lounging before the fire type beer. Thanks to Eyechartbrew for the bottle and to BiermanVa for drinking it with me.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2004 14:57:28 | More by TinusTime

RoyalT

Ohio

4.6/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance – Not much of a head to this 10.0 ABV monster, but that’s to be expected I guess. The body is a luscious, hazy, dirty brown.

Smell – There’s no shortage of sweets to this Alesmith offering. The strong, dark fruits jump out at you from across the room. The bananas, which I often find absent in this particular style, mix wonderfully with the darker raisins and dates.

The milder presence of figs and doughy malts smells almost like a Fig Newton. The refined sugars are in abundance as well, making this one a very complex BSDA.

Taste – More of the same at the taste. The refined table sugars take things up a notch, making this even sweeter than the nose indicated. The yeasty malt kicks into high gear as well, especially as it warms, making this a real sipper.

Mouthfeel – Full-bodied and very juicy sweet (like the forbidden pool?). The year’s first knat just did a kamikaze “belly flop of death” right in the glass. This one will activate your salivary glands big-time. I was drooling at the nose.

Drinkability – This was a “reward beer” after tasting two horrid bottles (St Pauli Girl & Mission St). I felt like a king sipping on this one. Terrific!

Comments – I’ve only had a handful of ales that can measure up to this one. The BigDog (xlperro) sent me this along with a few other beers and some kick ass homebrews. A big “BA Thanx” for this awesome offering.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2004 03:34:44 | More by RoyalT

beerguy101

California

4.47/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Dark brown color. Mead head. Aroma is malt, brown sugar, hops, clove and banana and… I could spend a long time just smell this beer. A full-bodied Belgian Strong Ale. Malts are fruity (bananas, peaches and raisins) bready and sweet. Very well balanced. Extremely smooth, nearly creamy taste. Touches of must and wood, vanilla and caramel. Some sherry and wine like characters are here as well. The 10% alcohol is very well hidden. Flavors of figs and plums come out as it warms, and I swear it get even smoother tasting. Nice beer. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and dry. Aftertaste is slightly sweet.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2004 01:28:47 | More by beerguy101

aracauna

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The body is a very dark red there's not a lot of head, but there's enough. There are lots of fruity esters and a warmth to the malt. It's a bit alcoholic, but not overpowering, although it does give it a bit of a bourbon undertone. I was a bit underwhelmed by the beer, though.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2004 19:42:01 | More by aracauna

Rastacouere

Quebec (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Cloudy deep brown body, small light brown film consisting of ultra-sticky tiny bubbles. Aroma is deep maltiness, fruity (raisin, prunes), chocolate, caramel, earthy, notes of dirt and alcohol. A bit of a let down on that department, not to intense nor complex, this could have been made by any belgian brewery. Taste gets a little more serious, tons of malt in there, smoky honey and maple, chocolate, caramel. A good earthy profile too accompanies the woody sphere. Quite complex with a very mild bitterness and an alcohol bite. Medium body, silky smooth, creamy. As this is my first Alesmith, it's definitely not up to my expectations from this highly acclaimed brewer which seemed (reading other reviews) to brew beers made just for me. It apparently is not the case, but I'll gladly give a try to their other products despite having to lay down 10$ on each of those big ones.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2004 16:32:30 | More by Rastacouere

mzwolinski

California

4.47/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Lovely looking bottle for a lovely, lovely beer. Pours dark brown/ruby, with just a thin halo of a head. Aroma of dark fruit, with a bit of toffee-scented malt. The flavor is rich -- dark fruits with just a hint of sour, more roasty toffee and a somewhat spicy finish. Smooth mouthfeel with a bit of alcohol warming at the end. A very nice beer and one that will age magnificently.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2004 04:02:51 | More by mzwolinski