Decadence 2015 Belgian-Style Amber
AleSmith Brewing Company
- From:
- AleSmith Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Pale Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- 89
- Avg:
- 3.99 | pDev: 7.27%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 22
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jan 26, 2026
- Added:
- Aug 07, 2015
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 24
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good
In the spirit of traditional Belgian brewing we've departed from style-constraints to bring you a fresh take on the popular European style, the Belgian Amber. This big, complex, amber-hued ale was brewed with a substantial amount of Belgian and European malts that complement the spiciness imparted by Belgian abbey yeast. The result is a perfect balance between rich, toasty maltiness, Belgian Candi sugar and the light, floral profile of European hops. Enjoy this hearty Belgian-inspired brew now or age at a cool temperature to increase its complexities.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by devilmakesthree:
Rated by devilmakesthree from Oregon
4.6/5 rDev +15.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
May 23, 2016
4.6/5 rDev +15.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
May 23, 2016
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark
3.67/5 rDev -8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
3.67/5 rDev -8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
Copenhagen 18/3 2018. 75 cl bottle from Mikkeller & Friends Bottle Shop, Torvehallerne, Kbh. K. A lion, a Cock and an Anvil in gold on the label. What more do you need if you are an Alesmith?
Pours fairly clear amber if you are able to ignore the yeast particles roaming around. Small white head. Settles as lonely patch of foam. No lacing.
Aroma is sweet, strong and dark. Caramel, fermented plums, potent alcohol. Light sour, spicy notes.
Light carbonation and thick, oily texture.
Flavor is heavy sweet. Only light bitterness. Aftertaste is sweet apricot and plums marinated in sherry. Very sweet but hides the alcohol quite well. Followed by light but noticeable bitterness.
It might be decadent - but also a very sweet and predictable take on a Belgian strong beer.
Jan 26, 2026Pours fairly clear amber if you are able to ignore the yeast particles roaming around. Small white head. Settles as lonely patch of foam. No lacing.
Aroma is sweet, strong and dark. Caramel, fermented plums, potent alcohol. Light sour, spicy notes.
Light carbonation and thick, oily texture.
Flavor is heavy sweet. Only light bitterness. Aftertaste is sweet apricot and plums marinated in sherry. Very sweet but hides the alcohol quite well. Followed by light but noticeable bitterness.
It might be decadent - but also a very sweet and predictable take on a Belgian strong beer.
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania
4/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2015 vintage. Poured from a foil topped bomber into a Dogfish Head tulip
L: Cloudy dark amber pour. 2 fingers of honey-colored head... nice lacing. Sediment/debris at the end of the pour.
S: Bready malts... citrus and toffee. Yeasty esters.
T.F: Strong toasted malt bill mixed with Belgian yeast. Mild sweetness. Lemongrass, caramel/sugars, and a bit of spice. Fruit and orange. Warming... medium bodied.
O: A decent Belgian themed brew... and one that held up fairly well after 6 years in the cellar. Something between a 'strong golden' and 'strong dark'. Dangerous with the ABV.
Aug 16, 2021L: Cloudy dark amber pour. 2 fingers of honey-colored head... nice lacing. Sediment/debris at the end of the pour.
S: Bready malts... citrus and toffee. Yeasty esters.
T.F: Strong toasted malt bill mixed with Belgian yeast. Mild sweetness. Lemongrass, caramel/sugars, and a bit of spice. Fruit and orange. Warming... medium bodied.
O: A decent Belgian themed brew... and one that held up fairly well after 6 years in the cellar. Something between a 'strong golden' and 'strong dark'. Dangerous with the ABV.
Reviewed by GarrettB from Colorado
4.15/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
September 3rd, 2015 - The Decadence is, like so many of Alesmith's other heavy hitters, a delightful brew. This one has more of peach color to the brew, deep but rich looking. The aroma offers a shade of Belgian Strong Ale type yeast, with a complement of peach, plum and orange. The flavor is absolutely fascinating - a theme today of middling aromas and epic tastes. This one unfurls on a soft body and palate, and delivers a brilliantly balanced tray of orange, orange cream, luxury honey and marshmallow cream. And red grape appears on the finish, evocative of a fine wine. This exquisite taste fizzles for a long time after each sip, letting me relish each sip.
Jun 28, 2019
Reviewed by kitch from Hong Kong
3.81/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A 1 pint 9.4 fl oz foiled bottle with no clear bottled on or best before date. Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.
Appearance: A hazy amber colour with a one finger off white head with an orange tinge that dissipated fairly quickly while leaving some spotty lacing.
Aroma: Malty, candi sugar, caramel, brown sugar and toffee, with a hint of clove, banana and apple juice.
Taste: Toasted, lightly sweet, caramel with hints of clove, banana, alcohol and apple juice.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Quite nice and easy to drink.
Nov 16, 2017Appearance: A hazy amber colour with a one finger off white head with an orange tinge that dissipated fairly quickly while leaving some spotty lacing.
Aroma: Malty, candi sugar, caramel, brown sugar and toffee, with a hint of clove, banana and apple juice.
Taste: Toasted, lightly sweet, caramel with hints of clove, banana, alcohol and apple juice.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Quite nice and easy to drink.
Reviewed by REDAMI from Ohio
4.29/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.29/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from 750ml bottle into Chimay goblet.
L - Deep amber, sienna pour with thin head.
S - Bready malts, juicy citrus.
T - Orange scented caramels, creamy malt, candy sugar.
F - Creamy with thinning alcohol at the back. Alcohols are well hidden.
Flavorful and complex, incredibly creamy, if you can find it...get it.
Jan 02, 2017L - Deep amber, sienna pour with thin head.
S - Bready malts, juicy citrus.
T - Orange scented caramels, creamy malt, candy sugar.
F - Creamy with thinning alcohol at the back. Alcohols are well hidden.
Flavorful and complex, incredibly creamy, if you can find it...get it.
Reviewed by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania
4.05/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.05/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Received from @Josholson666 in NBS BIF #4
2015 vintage at 42 degrees, allowed to warm to 50 degrees, and served in the closest thing I have to a chalice, opens with a slight hiss
Aroma – sweet, toffee
Head large (Maximum six cm, semi-aggressive pour), light tan, dense froth, diminishing to a three mm ring and layer
Lacing - none
Body – amber, muddy with tons of suspended bubbles
Flavor – sweet but not cloying, toffee; no hops, no alcohol, no diacetyl
Palate – medium, creamy, soft carbonation
A very drinkable brew, lightly sweet, and no trace of the alcohol in smell or taste and no alcohol after burn. Without reading the bottle, I’d never have guessed that it was 10 % ABV. It loses some points for lack of lacing, but overall quite good.
Appearance 3.75, Aroma 4, Flavor 4, Palate 4.25, Overall 4.25.
Dec 11, 20162015 vintage at 42 degrees, allowed to warm to 50 degrees, and served in the closest thing I have to a chalice, opens with a slight hiss
Aroma – sweet, toffee
Head large (Maximum six cm, semi-aggressive pour), light tan, dense froth, diminishing to a three mm ring and layer
Lacing - none
Body – amber, muddy with tons of suspended bubbles
Flavor – sweet but not cloying, toffee; no hops, no alcohol, no diacetyl
Palate – medium, creamy, soft carbonation
A very drinkable brew, lightly sweet, and no trace of the alcohol in smell or taste and no alcohol after burn. Without reading the bottle, I’d never have guessed that it was 10 % ABV. It loses some points for lack of lacing, but overall quite good.
Appearance 3.75, Aroma 4, Flavor 4, Palate 4.25, Overall 4.25.
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois
4.07/5 rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.07/5 rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On the list of the "1001 Beers To Taste", Decadence anniversary ale probably cannot be found in Illinois. I did find it in the Bay Area and brought it home to share.
Since this Big Beer won't come around again soon, if ever, I'll keep my comments short; hoping they can tweak the recipe and brew a better rendition regularly. The malts and hops are well-balanced. What Alesmith -- and most American crafters -- are more likely to have trouble with is getting and keeping a recognizably distinct yeast strain for their Belgians. Recognizing this happens more through intuition than analysis or description... for brewer and taster. Fortunately, the consistently distinct Belgian yeast is learnable through practice.
So Alesmith, practice those Belgians enough so we can buy it in Chicago !
Nov 25, 2016Since this Big Beer won't come around again soon, if ever, I'll keep my comments short; hoping they can tweak the recipe and brew a better rendition regularly. The malts and hops are well-balanced. What Alesmith -- and most American crafters -- are more likely to have trouble with is getting and keeping a recognizably distinct yeast strain for their Belgians. Recognizing this happens more through intuition than analysis or description... for brewer and taster. Fortunately, the consistently distinct Belgian yeast is learnable through practice.
So Alesmith, practice those Belgians enough so we can buy it in Chicago !
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina
4.2/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.2/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Picked up a 750ml bottle at Craft Beer Hop Stop in late July for $13.99.
Beer poured amber with a decent white head that is barely hanging on.
Nose is fruity esters, very nice.
Taste is pears and apples on toast. No alcohol presence at all. Nice mellow fruit after taste.
Feel is medium bodied and smooth.
Overall this is a delicious beer that I suspect has had time to age at warehouse/room temperature. The maturation has been beneficial. Pick this up if you are a fan of the style, you won't be disappointed!
Sep 25, 2016Beer poured amber with a decent white head that is barely hanging on.
Nose is fruity esters, very nice.
Taste is pears and apples on toast. No alcohol presence at all. Nice mellow fruit after taste.
Feel is medium bodied and smooth.
Overall this is a delicious beer that I suspect has had time to age at warehouse/room temperature. The maturation has been beneficial. Pick this up if you are a fan of the style, you won't be disappointed!
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