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Double Red IPA
AleSmith Brewing Company
- From:
- AleSmith Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Imperial Red Ale
- ABV:
- 8.5%
- Score:
- 91
- Avg:
- 4.09 | pDev: 9.29%
- Reviews:
- 345
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 19, 2021
- Added:
- Feb 01, 2009
- Wants:
- 93
- Gots:
- 94
Also known as YuleSmith (Winter)
Previously known as winter YuleSmith, this warming, hoppy ale used to be available exclusively during the holiday season. But the popularity of this red-hued India Pale Ale grew to the point where sharing a limited run of beer with our fans seemed insufficient. our answer was to convert this crimson IPA into a seasonal offering to be enjoyed from fall through the winter months. Caramel malt sweetness combines with citrusy highlights to bring forth a dry, highly drinkable beer that's simultaneously hearty and thirst-quenching. the holidays are too brief to contain this much flavor.
Previously known as winter YuleSmith, this warming, hoppy ale used to be available exclusively during the holiday season. But the popularity of this red-hued India Pale Ale grew to the point where sharing a limited run of beer with our fans seemed insufficient. our answer was to convert this crimson IPA into a seasonal offering to be enjoyed from fall through the winter months. Caramel malt sweetness combines with citrusy highlights to bring forth a dry, highly drinkable beer that's simultaneously hearty and thirst-quenching. the holidays are too brief to contain this much flavor.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jjayjaye:
Reviewed by jjayjaye from New York
4.5/5 rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a slightly hazy golden amber color with orange hue and a huge stiff head that leaves 3D lacing in its wake. The smell is aggressive sweet malty with a fruity citrus character. Full bodied, the mouth feel is really smooth. A nice balance between the malt and hops. Full flavored, it tastes very similar to the nose. The citrus is well pronounced and blended well with the sweet malt. A really nice drinker. The 8.8% ABV is well hidden; 22 oz is just the right size. Previous 8/24/07 entry of the Summer Yule.
12/26/07...The appearance of this Winter Yule is very similar. A huge stiff head that settles in a rocky pattern to 3D lacing. The color of this one is darker; a seasonal redness. The smell, mouth and flavors are very similar. Cheers.
Apr 12, 201012/26/07...The appearance of this Winter Yule is very similar. A huge stiff head that settles in a rocky pattern to 3D lacing. The color of this one is darker; a seasonal redness. The smell, mouth and flavors are very similar. Cheers.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by GarrettB from Colorado
3.97/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
November 14th, 2015 - Alesmith's superb dedication to quality appears here in the Double Red IPA, but first I have to take off its disguise. You see, the smell is indistinguishable from Stone's signature bouquet, with maybe a touch more cinnamon and a slight rustic winter touch, but otherwise the hops used here are a keen imitation of another San Diego brewing titan. The flavor is more distinguished and unique, with that rich malt bill that red ales put off, but a little lighter than Stone on the hop profile. The spice from the aroma is added nicely on top of the malt body, lifting the caramel notes. Only the slightest level of alcohol is detectable - interesting, given the "Double" nature of the IPA - and it has a long aftertaste, leaving more spice as it goes.
Jan 18, 2020Reviewed by beersampler6 from Michigan
3.89/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.89/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Not too shabby at all - maybe a little too old and the malt dominated? I enjoyed it quite a bit but then again, maybe was a little disappointed since I expected great things from AleSmith. Pours a honeyed amber-dark golden color with lots of fluffy white head and some spotty lingering lacing. Smells great, lots of tropical citrus fruit zest hops - grapefruit, lemon, orange, mango, pineapple - along with some weaker floral hops, malt and vanilla. Taste follows the nose. Good, crisp, mild, smooth mouthfeel and great carbonation. The balance was just a little off though, a little too much malt presence and not enough hoppy bitterness to balance it.
Jul 04, 2019Rated by Oh_Dark_Star from Washington
1.96/5 rDev -52.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.75
1.96/5 rDev -52.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.75
This was a "stick with what you excel at" story for me. I actually dumped this.
Apr 27, 2019Reviewed by ovaltine from Indiana
4.25/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This is the picture of what I think about when I think of a red IPA/DIPA: dark copper color, a little hop haze, a big ol’ sudsy tan head, loads of fruity hops and caramalt on the nose, hop-forward on the taste, caramalt into a full, slightly dry finish.
This is really well done by AleSmith, IMHO.
Dec 01, 2018This is really well done by AleSmith, IMHO.
Reviewed by TheNerd from California
5/5 rDev +22.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +22.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
The perfect beer to me. Absolutely nothing I'd change about it. With my wife being pregnant or having very young children over the last 3 to 4 years it's been (what feels like) a very long time since I've had this beer. Rich amber colorand a healthy white head. On the palette there's a lot of carbonation tingle while your nose is filled with biscuit toastiness. The hops are huge and piney. Every part of my taste and smell senses is completely filled. This thoroughly checks absolutely every box for me, is seriously my favorite and is every bit as perfect as i remember it being
Nov 11, 2018Reviewed by Bruno74200 from France
4.24/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This double ipa does the job quite well. It shows a big toffee presence, nice hoppy notes. It's grapefruit and pine forward. It's not complex but it goes straight to the point. A classy west coast dipa
Mar 12, 2018Reviewed by kitch from Hong Kong
3.96/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
A 12 fl. oz. bottle, bottled on 19th September 2017. Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.
Appearance: A clear dark amber copper colour with a big two finger light beige head that had great retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Caramel malts, grapefruit zest, citrus rind and pine.
Taste: Similar to the aroma with sweet caramel malts, grapefruit flesh, zest and rind, grass and pine. Finish was nice with moderate bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Solid tasting Red IPA with good balance of malt and hops.
Jan 11, 2018Appearance: A clear dark amber copper colour with a big two finger light beige head that had great retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Caramel malts, grapefruit zest, citrus rind and pine.
Taste: Similar to the aroma with sweet caramel malts, grapefruit flesh, zest and rind, grass and pine. Finish was nice with moderate bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Solid tasting Red IPA with good balance of malt and hops.
Reviewed by Tone from Missouri
4.1/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a clear mahogany color. 1/3 inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of spicy hops, piney hops, alcohol, and sweet malt. Fits the style of an American IPA. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with an average carbonation level. There is also a strong bitterness. Tastes of spicy hops, piney hops, alcohol, hint of pale malt, hint of rye, slight yeast, and sweet malt. Overall, good appearance, complexity, blend, and body, but bitterness is dominant.
Jan 08, 2018
Double Red IPA from AleSmith Brewing Company
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
919 ratings
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