Grand Cru
AleSmith Brewing Company

Grand CruGrand Cru
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From:
AleSmith Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Ranked #57
ABV:
10%
Score:
90
Ranked #8,722
Avg:
4.04 | pDev: 10.4%
Reviews:
404
Ratings:
972
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 04, 2023
Added:
Apr 27, 2002
Wants:
  113
Gots:
  204
Bottle conditioned.
AleSmith Grand Cru really needs to be tasted to be truly appreciated. Toasty, caramelly flavors, as well as flavors imparted by the Belgian yeast strain, predominate over a tapestry of subtle nuances. Winner of the blue ribbon at the 1999 California State Fair, it is a thing of beauty. It is available in 750 ml. champagne bottles.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by brwnchrstpher:
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Rated by brwnchrstpher from Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

Feb 28, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of FLima
Reviewed by FLima from Brazil

3.68/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Light brown color with a thin head.
Aroma with notes of caramel, candi sugar, oranges and guarana.
Likewise, flavor with notes of tons of caramel, wood, raisins, candi sugar, apple puree, earthy hops and plum. Dry and bitter aftertaste.
Medium to full body with appropriate carbonation. Alcohol of 10% is absent.
Well executed Strong Ale. Good sipper for a cold night.
Jul 04, 2023
 
Rated: 4.24 by mothmanscott from Georgia

May 30, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by archero from Texas

Nov 03, 2022
Photo of mothman
Reviewed by mothman from Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle. I think 2013 vintage. Beige head. Caramel brown color.

Raisins, figs, caramel, molasses, plums, apples, pears. Dark dried fruits. Huge Belgian influence. True to style. Well done.
Aug 29, 2021
Photo of Mdog
Reviewed by Mdog from Minnesota

4.06/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Dark amber, good head.

Smell: Earthy sweetness, raisin, dates, prune.

Taste: Continues with what the nose brought, earthiness, sweetness, raisins, figs. Solid body and feel.

Overall: Picked this up since it was 50% off and to get something different other than IPAs to drink. This is a nice beer, even though it leans towards a dubbel which is not my favorite style I still enjoyed the fruity earthiness of it. Worth a try.
May 24, 2020
Photo of iguanodon
Reviewed by iguanodon from Utah

4.14/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours hazy brown with a thick tan head. Aroma: sweet malt, caramel, a little raisin / date, chocolate. Taste is caramel, Belgian yeast, slight chocolate and fruit.
Jan 01, 2020
 
Rated: 4.5 by eldoctorador from Chile

Nov 04, 2019
 
Rated: 3.68 by Futbolmanby from Michigan

Sep 09, 2019
 
Rated: 3.94 by brandoneast from Texas

Aug 05, 2019
 
Rated: 4.09 by Beer21 from Florida

May 26, 2019
 
Rated: 2.68 by AllOfTheCats from Wisconsin

Mar 22, 2019
 
Rated: 4.18 by jenrhart from Minnesota

Feb 03, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by Karibourgeois from Texas

Jan 24, 2019
 
Rated: 3.86 by msscott1973 from North Carolina

Jan 02, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by Birdlegs from Washington

Dec 23, 2018
 
Rated: 4.07 by Pro_Magnon from Texas

Dec 15, 2018
 
Rated: 3.85 by Bammer21 from Illinois

Dec 03, 2018
Photo of MikeWard
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania

3.97/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750ml bottle into a tulip. Complicated bottled date of J6-07 2552.

Looks superb in the glass. Deep, deep amber body with a few reddish notes. Small off white head replenished by slow carbonation. Pours a bit on the syrupy side.

There is only a faint aroma of boiled candy.

I find it difficult to describe the flavors of this beer. There is some sweetness, some abv burn, and a touch of bitterness at times.

Mouth is close to full. Finish is warm, thick & Sweet with slight bitterness.

Overall, not a style I buy to often, but this was a nice sipper on a cold November night.
Nov 17, 2018
Photo of Brutaltruth
Reviewed by Brutaltruth from Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From the 750 ml bottle in a snifter. This mighty fine ale pours a
murky deep brown red tinged mahogany with a nice head of off white
foam that settles to a thick ring and thin layer with nice sudsy lacing.
Nose of dates, brown sugar candy malts, subtle Belgian spice, moderate
yeast laden breaded notes, and dark fruit notes. Flavors follow the nose
with a lightly tart cherry and cranberry note intertwined in a dark candy
sugar that is awash in toffee and caramel with subtle clove and yeasty
bread notes. Warmth brings about a nice boozy warmth and
expanding sweetness around biscuit notes over fig and date
bread. Nice mouth feel; medium body, medium light carbonation
that is lightly fluffy, warming---boozy----and lightly dry and did
I mention boozy???

Overall---excellence from an excellent brewery!
Belgian done right in America!

Cheers!
Oct 27, 2018
Grand Cru from AleSmith Brewing Company
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 972 ratings