AleSmith IPA - AleSmith Brewing Company

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

4.64/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A: poured from a 22 oz bottle into a nonic pint glass, beautiful copper amber color with a huge yellow-white head that lingers leaving good lacing, clear

S: heavy floral and pine hop smells, grapefruit, tropical, mango, papaya, pineapple

T: floral and pine with less fruit than expected, quite bitter, grapefruit, lemon, tart and bitter yet refreshing

M: medium bodied, alcohol well hidden, crisp finish, higher carbonation

O: an excellent IPA with a terriffic nose, flavors are presented smoothly which keeps this beer refreshing, thanks to Candi for hauling this one back from Cali

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 02:44:11 | More by M_C_Hampton

Hendry

Vermont

4.6/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

From the moment you pop the top on AleSmith IPA, you get the sense from the nose, even from the bottle, that this has potential for enjoyment. The pour was relatively average with a two finger head that disappeared pretty quickly but did leave nice lacing.

Not really clear-as-a-bell, nor is it truly cloudy off-orange either.The nose is hop forward with notes of grapefruit,tangerine,pineapple and a nice balance of malt presence: carbonation is right on the money.

Flavors are that of a well crafted West Coast IPA: the grapefruit/pineapple/tangerine that are in the nose are also what hit your palate with an exceptionally well balanced malty caramel smack to it,very little alcohol presence and a terrific aftertaste that is on the dry side and invites you back for another sip. Mouthfeel is on the thinner side of medium and bottom line is that this IPA stands out head and shoulders amongst others in the same price range or even higher.

The ratings are high on this nicely crafted IPA, and they deserve every bit of it. Don't let the plain Jane packaging on this bomber turn you off: make this one next on your list to buy if you really enjoy not just tropical fruit hoppiness, but an exceptionally well balanced Ale. Two thumbs way up.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 04:06:11 | More by Hendry

jibbyvonjibb

California

4.16/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

13 days old (bottled 3/14/2013).

Orange color. Fairly clear. In the aroma, tropical fruits stand out, like mango and pineapple. Of course, grapefruit and citrus fruits are there. So is resiny pine. Body is medium, on the lower end for IPA's (about Pliny level) without being thin. The mouthfeel is quite creamy. Long dry finish. This is one of my favorite IPA's.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 01:45:13 | More by jibbyvonjibb

rickyleepotts

Arizona

4.05/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 4.25

I haven't had a lot of AleSmith beers, but I am excited to try the IPA. I actually ordered the Speedway Stout the other day, but it was a small sample and I wasn't focused on reviewing the beer. That beer is on the list, and we have a bottle in the fridge just begging to be consumed. That one is coming soon; I promise. Today we are reviewing the AleSmith IPA, and from what I can tell, an IPA that is just packed with citrus flavors all the way around. I was teaching a beer class earlier last night at Total Wine & More, and we talked about India Pale Ales and how the hops used can affect the aroma and the flavor of the beer. Just visit San Diego if you want a tour of hops, as San Diego is a region just exploding with hops right now. The beer manager said, "It's hard to order a salad in San Diego without hops." He's right! Being a hop head, I'm OK with it… and I am curious to see what AleSmith has done with their IPA. Oh, and they are also located in San Diego. Coincidence?

In the Glass: I think they bottled a wheat beer. This doesn't look like an IPA at all. I guess wheat beers are a little more hazy, but this is light in color and I can basically see right through it. The head is sticking around, and was a pillowy white when I first poured the beer. It is also producing a really nice lingering lace. Looks like something I could drink all day long, and with that ABV, I might!

Speaking of that ABV, it is not common seeing a bomber with a low ABV like that. Most brewing companies will toss their bigger (higher ABV) beers in bombers. Not sure why… but that is just a trend I have noticed in the craft beer industry.

Nose: Imagine taking an orange, a bag of hops, and tossing them in a blender. That is what this beer smells like. I am serious, if you haven't smelled a citrus forward IPA before, do yourself a favor and grab a bottle of this. It's only $5.99, and worth every penny just for the aroma. I like smelling beers because you can basically taste the beer without much effort. That is the case with the AleSmith IPA. Very impressed with this nose.

Flavor: That is exactly what I expected this beer to taste like. There are a lot of bubbles up front making way for all of the hoppy goodness. If you did a blind taste test with someone, and asked them, "Is this an American IPA or an American Double IPA?" I guarantee most palates would confuse this with a double. The finish is nice and the hops really linger. That is one negative thing about this style; it destroys your palate. Green Flash releases the Palate Wrecker every year, and I would like to see them change the name to Palate Destroyer. It's more fitting!

Mouthfeel: Not a big fan of the mouthfeel. There are WAY too many bubbles here. I wonder if aging the beer for a few months, or aging this in bourbon barrels, would help. I am sure it would help… but I am not sure AleSmith does that. Anyway, the bubbles are almost too powerful for me to finish, and there is no way I am going to swish this around in my mouth to see what happens. (OK, I did. It did open up and produce a lot more flavor… but I almost had to spit it out because it was like swishing a mouthful of champagne. I do not recommend doing that on this particular bottle.) After you get past the bubbles, the mouthfeel thins out, and the beer slides down nice and balanced. If they could figure out the initial carbonation on this, it would become a top 10 IPA simply for the hop profile and the aftertaste.

Aftertaste: In the class last night, when we were talking about this style, I told the guy we could line up 10 different IPAs, and they all 10 would smell and taste different simply because of the hops they use. The aftertaste is also something that is affected by the hops used. I am not sure the hops used in this, but this is one of the better aftertastes I have experienced with an IPA. It hits with a ton of fruity notes, then quickly becomes dry. It just sits there, and with every swallow, you just taste an intense amount of hops. Palate Wrecker is the same way. Drink that and try to taste anything for the next hour. You will simply taste hops. Lick a hop… that is the Palate Wrecker. The hops aren't that bad here, but do leave me with a nice, lingering finish that I just keep wanting to taste.

This is one of my first beers from AleSmith, and I can't wait to drink more. The Speedway Stout is coming up next, and we also have a bottle of Decadence in the cellar. That beer, along with several others we have stored, will get better with time. We are in no rush to finish the 1001 bottles list, so we will let those sit for a couple of years. If you are a fan of this style, I highly recommend this beer. Just a well balanced, sans the initial shock of carbonation, IPA that leaves a long and delicious aftertaste. Keep it up, AleSmith!

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 23:08:52 | More by rickyleepotts

writerLJBerg

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

22oz bottle from my local New Seasons. Bottle dated from 2-21-13

A: Lovely shade of orange and copper. Dense head with a bog of bubbles. Has good carbonation rising through the glass.

N: Resonant grapefruit in the nose. Pineapple and pine are layered underneath. Citrus forward with a bitter base to prop it upright.

T: Tangerine, conifer, and a hint of caramel malt. Some pineapple and grapefruit. Layers of bitterness and sweet dough. Has the type of biting bitterness complemented by just a touch of sweetness and a perfect amount of the tropical.

M: Sticky and biting with lively carbonation.

O: This is extremely satisfying. A perfect afternoon sipper. I think I'm going to finish the entire bottle myself and crave more.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 21:37:53 | More by writerLJBerg

Beerandboards

New Mexico

4.18/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bomber into a pint glass

A - copperish color, aggressive pour produces a lot of foam, retains for quite a while, lots of lacing.

S - lots of effervescent citrus. Lemon dominates, orange, some tropical notes as well.

T - follows the nose, light bodied citrus with a very clean and slight malt backbone. Just enough malt to give some body to the hops. Everything is sort of a passive flavor, in a good way. Easy drinking, nothing really comes out and tries to bowl you over. Great light citrus flavor throughout.

M - nice. Medium carb medium body, little bit of oily hoppiness from the hops leaves a nice aftertaste.

O - really a very good IPA. Not a stunner, but something I would order consistently if it were available where I am. Would love to try it on tap.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 04:36:24 | More by Beerandboards

kaseydad

California

4.46/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Finally trying this after numerous fly-bys.

Pours a very nice dark amber colored ale. Almost peach. Big fluffy off-white head. Impressive. Mucho sediment on the bottom of bottle.

The smell has a lot of tangerine, orange, pine, pineapple and floral whiffs. Light hops.

The taste is very balanced. Fruity and hoppy on the first taste with a well done malt backbone to even out the ride. Light bittering, salivating aftertaste. I must say I am very impressed with the balance here. They nailed it for the style.

Big and chewy mouthfeel.

Overall I was very impressed with the entire session. This IPA is very well done. The balance of the malt and hops is almost to perfection. A lot of IPA's are leaning on either side but the Alesmith crew schooled the competition in this style. Very refreshing and ABV is well done for enjoying more than one at a session. Bravo.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 00:57:26 | More by kaseydad

flydudehsv

California

5/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a cloudy apricot glazed amber with a quickly disappearing head..The aroma was extremely piney and had strong notes of wet freshly cut grass, grapefruit...starts with a nice balanced bitter grapefruit flavor, showing subtle piney notes but remaining quite balanced. I used to think this beer was more over the top, but its surprisingly balanced..maybe a tad bit too much...maybe....Alcohol is completely hidden though...and its not as sticky as some IPAs can be. A really good IPA, one of my favorites.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 07:17:48 | More by flydudehsv

timc100

Illinois

4.64/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

approx 2-3 week old bottle. AleSmith finally in IL! Couldn't be happier, now just to get HotD here...

A: Pours a slighty hazy bright orange with a foamy white head.

S: Best smelling non-imperial IPA I've come across. Big west coast notes of pine, bitter and sugared grapefruit peel - dryness. Huge dank skunky pineapple and mango astringent notes pound through. Fantastic stuff

T: Great balance between crisp, refreshing, dry bitterness from the pine and grapefruit, and the dank sweet tropical fruit flavors. Will load up come summer

P: Feels like a refreshing IPA. Light to medium body, active carbonation and dry. My preferences lean towards a bigger body and more of a resinous gloss-lingering affect on the mouth, but nothing wrong with this. Great for summer

O: This is a game changer. I have been drifting away from non-imperial IPA's but this brings me right back - big (relatively), complex and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 17:08:48 | More by timc100

JMScowcroft

Vermont

4.86/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

AleSmith Brewing Company - AleSmith IPA - 1pt 6fl oz bottle

First off, don't be fooled by the simplicity of the branding here, this brew is one of those brews that everyone should try.

Look - Pours golden with an amber hue and a slight foamy head that dissipates quickly. Great lacing. Filtered with moderate carbonation.

Smell - Sweet with grapefruit and resinous hops, very appetizing.

Taste - Smooth, almost creamy with a great integration between the malt and piney hops. Slightly bitter at the end, just right.

Mouthfeel - Wow, this is insanely drinkable and rests ever so gently on the palette. Alcohol content is nowhere to be seen and that is a highlight.

Overall - One of the best overall brews I have ever had. I am pleasantly surprised with the quality of this brew and highly recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 12:49:25 | More by JMScowcroft

vkv822

Oregon

4.31/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

22oz : tulip

Clear bright, copper orange with a thick, foamy white head and nice webbed lacing.

Big juicy, citric grapefruit hops upfront, crisp clean hop character.

More grapefruit hops upfront with a faint pale malt backing.

Medium body with prickly carbonation and a faint hop oil feel.

Really nice IPA, as it has a big juicy hop character, but maintains a crisp, clean feel.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 08:13:25 | More by vkv822

dar482

New York

4.95/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had this on tap at Rattle and Hum. It comes in a beautiful amber color with a frothy finger of head.

The smell is fresh and crisp, along with the flavor. The taste is huge. It has a wonderful swirl of grapefruit, citrus, and a bit of pine. There isn't much bitterness at the end and the explosion of hop flavor makes this one of my favorite IPAs. It has a good smooth, almost creamy, body for a lot of drinkability.

Serving type: on-tap

03-03-2013 08:16:58 | More by dar482

rringler

California

4.39/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A: Clear, dark amber, with very fine particulates in suspension. About a finger's worth of off-white head, that sticks around pretty well and leaves good lacing.

S: Strong malts, though there some floral/grassy smells in there too.

T: You can taste the herbal/spicy hops from the beginning, and they continue all the way through the taste. Starts kind of malty sweet but finishes with a moderate amount of bitter hops. No boozy taste from the 7.25% abv.

M: A little lighter than some other IPAs. Good to good+ carbonation, and a little quicker due to the lighter body.

O: A pleasant surprise. I'll be honest; I passed on this one a few times because of the very plain bottle labeling, but the contents are excellent. Another great IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 21:09:03 | More by rringler

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.64/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 22 ounce bottle into a Dogfish Head IPA glass.

A: Four fingers of tight, tight head (first time using the glass...did I pour it right? Some carbonation. Great retention. Heavy lacing.

S: Dryish, piney hops. Hint of earthy onion. Pleasant, but unremarkable.

T: Identical to the smell. With a lemon twist.

M: Thin, crisp, and tasty. Lightly dry on the end.

O: I was expecting a lot more from this beer. It's very drinkable, very pleasant, but perhaps too unassuming.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 06:34:34 | More by AgentMunky

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.16/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: translucent golden color, bright white head. Lacy legs.

Aroma: citrus, pine, tropical fruits, tangerine, flowery hops, slight malt backbone.

Taste: pine, grapefruit, citrus, orange flowers, grassiness, touch of sweetness and bread.

***Perfectly balanced, not the biggest hop punch, but doesn't leave your palate bruised and beaten, lending a great deinkability.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 01:17:31 | More by EgadBananas

lordofstarside

Nevada

4.18/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bomber to specialty ipa glass, no freshness date

Pours a clear shallow gold with minimal carbonation and a finger and a half of foam, pretty good retention. Smells of strong hops, thick citrus and pine with a nice sweet malt. Taste follows the nose well, nice hoppy profile balanced well with a pale citrus malt. Feel is a little light bodied with a nice crisp and bitter bite, good bitter finished. Overall this is balanced too well for my taste, I like my ipas a lot more on the hoppy side, from a balanced point of view it's great

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 01:22:40 | More by lordofstarside

Vancoubeer

Washington

4.16/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured out of the bottle and it looks like beer. Its been filtered and looks like any normal beer but one things stands out. The head retention. The fact that it does not look like it is going away says that this is going to be a sticky beer with tons of hop oils in the flavor. Lacing galore all over my glass. Am I wrong? the smell is no different. I get tons of sweet hop juice. Citrus hits the nose strong and it appears there is this sweet malt character as well. Amazing for such a filtered beer to have such a sweet citrus like smell. I know it sounds weird but most of the filtered IPAs I have had are bitter instead of smelling fruit like. Now for the taste. Not as much citrus in the flavor as I thought but its there and there is a hint of bitterness but overall, this is one tasty easy to drink IPA. For a standard IPA, its pretty darn tasty. Nothing mind blowing but this has hops in the west coast tradition. Lost of the m but when it comes to bitterness, it takes a back seat when the malts come in to mellow it out. So for the flavor I would say I get that citrusy earthy flavors most IPAs are known by. I was more intrigued by the smell though. Nevertheless, the mouthfeel for this beer does it justice. Its full bodied. Sticky and carbonated just right. Overall this is a great IPA for people that are not looking for a bitter hop bomb but for one that is looking for some nuances. Well done. Easy to drink and worth the 6 bucks I paid. Is it the best ever? No but for a standard IPA there will be very few this good. Try this out.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 05:18:00 | More by Vancoubeer

vitALEity

California

3/5  rDev -30.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - very light orange, minimal head and lacing

S - mild citrus and pine - nothing that impressive

T - balanced but very light - not what I really like in a west coast IPA. It needs more of everything. A bit too sweet also.

M - its fine, but like the aroma and taste, nothing great

O - Maybe I have an old bottle? There is no brewed on or best by date. I hate when breweries dont put this crucial info on their bottles. This is a pretty "meh" IPA.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 02:39:30 | More by vitALEity

BradMacMullin

Massachusetts

4.81/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Purchased a bottle at liquor store in the Pearl District in Portland OR

A - interesting orange color - 2 fingers and nice lacing

S - citrusy hop smell. Grapefruit and pine

T - Great well balanced hop taste - pleasant surprise

M - Light amount of carbonation and not overly fruity or heavy on alcohol

O - Heard this was a bit like Pliny and I see it. Not as good but easier to get. Very good beer

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 01:20:27 | More by BradMacMullin

atr2605

New York

4.13/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A-pours a golden orange color and slightly hazy with good head retention
S-a bit subtle overall, has orange citrus, pine
T-orange/grapefruit citrus with malt providing a nice backbone but not lending alot of sweetness. Bit of malt flavor in the aftertaste
M-medium bodied
O-A nice, clean citrus IPA that is very drinkable and full of flavor. Only complaint is the aroma seemed to lack a bit, but still great beer

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 01:32:39 | More by atr2605

KFBR392

Illinois

4.51/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: A bright golden orange color. Oh it looks so beautiful. A unique color for an IPA but in a wonderful way. A decent amount of lacing on the glass but didn't stick to the sides of the glass like many elite IPAs I've had.

Smell: Very subdued here, almost too much so. But the aroma that is there is truly heavenly, bright citrus blasts that come in waves. Orange peel, mango, and other tropical fruits. Very pleasant.

Taste: Wow, such a wonderfully rounded citrus, hop, pine flavor. The bright citrus flavor seem to reign supreme here but the balanced flavor is elite. The fruit flavors attack the front of this beer and eventually yield to a creamy pine flavor. One of the best single IPAs I've ever had.

Mouthfeel: Incredibly drinkable mouthfeel. Goes down at an alarmingly smooth rate. The dry pine flavor sticks on the palette.

Overall: A masterpiece. My favorite of all the Alesmith beers. This beer really reminded me of Pliny the Elder with such a rounded perfected flavor (I really just wanted to brag I've had Pliny the Elder). An incredible value and will is a must buy.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 05:21:10 | More by KFBR392

GotWad629

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a burnt orange with a small head that dissipates quickly and leaves a good amount of lacing.

This is a citrus bomb with hints of grapefruit, pine, and even some vanilla.

The taste matches the smell. There is a well rounded hop presence of citrus with a nice malt backbone. Hop resin lingers on the tongue. It is beautifully balanced.

The carbonation is perfect. It helps to cut some of that lingering bitterness keeping it very smooth.

This is possibly the best IPA I've ever had. A perfect amount of citrus and bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 01:34:31 | More by GotWad629

Brandywine

Washington

3.96/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Appearance: Poured a clear orange amber with a fingers worth of white head. Big bubbles.

Smell: Pineapple, mango, peach, guava, honey, sweet citrus like a candied orange. Subtle pine. Huge sweet tropical fruit notes. Smells amazing.

Taste: Lemon, resinous notes. Intense citrus. Grapefruit. The tropical fruits that were screaming on the nose are very subtle on the tongue. The bitterness from the hops is balanced nicely by a solid malt backbone. Tropical fruits come out more as it warms up. There's notes of mango.

Mouthfeel: Medium with light carbonation.

Overall: This really failed to live up to the nose, which was fantastic. Overall I found the taste too citrus forward given its lack of complexity. Still good but disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 06:10:06 | More by Brandywine

da_beers

Vermont

4.83/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

IPA - AleSmith Brewing Co.

A- light amber color, two finger head, good lacing

S- huge citrus scent, balances out with a sweetness, pine throughout

T- pine and citrus, some malt, hops in the end

M- has a bit of a bite to it at first, finishes smooth, carbonation is spot on

D- very drinkable, carbonation makes you want to keep sipping and not put down

O- excellent beer, IPAs are my favorite and this is one of the best I have had

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 02:48:20 | More by da_beers

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

poured into snifter glass.

reviewed 01/03/13.

Appearance: yellow bodied beer with big 2 fingers of white head. Good retention and lace.

Smell: big citrus nose, oranges, oranges, and more oranges. some grapefruit notes. tropical fruits and floral notes. bready and sweet malts.

Taste: Also sorts of oranges! A hint of grapefruits and tropical fruits, mango, papaya. A touch of pine on the back end. Malt backbone is fortifying without getting in the way of the hops. Good balance and nice complexity with the citrisy hop profile! Mild to moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel: low end of medium bodied beer. Moderate carbonation. This beer is so bright, fresh, and clean. It drink effortlessly smooth.

Overall: This is a crazy good regular offering from Alesmith! Love the fact the the hops are bo big without being overly bitter. It drinks so easily, I could see people knocking down a bomber of this beer themselves without a problem.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 20:35:41 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT