Double Red IPA
AleSmith Brewing Company

Double Red IPADouble Red IPA
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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:
919
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.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4 by BEER88 from North Carolina

Mar 19, 2021
 
Rated: 4.02 by dansushi from New York

Oct 27, 2020
Photo of GarrettB
Reviewed by GarrettB from Colorado

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, 2020
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Reviewed by beersampler6 from Michigan

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, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by JLapadura from New York

May 03, 2019
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Rated 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
This was a "stick with what you excel at" story for me. I actually dumped this.
Apr 27, 2019
 
Rated: 3.41 by SmellsofMahagony from Texas

Mar 02, 2019
 
Rated: 4.23 by jakecattleco from California

Feb 27, 2019
 
Rated: 4.06 by anthony-s from New Jersey

Feb 09, 2019
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Reviewed 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
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, 2018
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Reviewed by TheNerd from California

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, 2018
 
Rated: 4.4 by StanleysCup from Maryland

Jun 23, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by bdiiorio from Connecticut

May 19, 2018
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Reviewed by Bruno74200 from France

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, 2018
 
Rated: 4.33 by teslagod6 from Pennsylvania

Feb 08, 2018
 
Rated: 4.1 by TheIPAHunter from California

Jan 30, 2018
 
Rated: 4.03 by heymikew from California

Jan 14, 2018
Photo of kitch
Reviewed by kitch from Hong Kong

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, 2018
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Reviewed by Tone from Missouri

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
 
Rated: 4.81 by vheissu15 from North Dakota

Jan 07, 2018
Double Red IPA from AleSmith Brewing Company
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 919 ratings