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Grand Cru - Barrel-Aged
AleSmith Brewing Company
- From:
- AleSmith Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Dark Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- 88
- Avg:
- 3.94 | pDev: 10.41%
- Reviews:
- 11
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jan 11, 2020
- Added:
- May 07, 2013
- Wants:
- 4
- Gots:
- 16
This Belgian-Style Ale has been matured in American and French oak red wine barrels for a year to add layers of complexity to its rich flavor profile of dark fruit and Belgian caramel malts. The oak and red wine flavors imparted by the barrel-aging process blend seamlessly with subtle hints of raisin, plum, and bittersweet chocolate from the beer. Enjoy now or continue to age in a cool, dark place.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by srandycarter from California
3.77/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Was excited to finally try this one. Bought a few awhile back and cellared them. Gotta say, not that impressed. Copper and ruby, clear, small near white head, not much lace. wood and vanilla, etc, comes out big in the smell, along with Belgian yeast and malt. Taste is larger, big malt, big barrel, smaller yeast profile, but similar to smell; pretty good just not great. Mouthfeel is medium to full, good carb, fair balance. Maybe I will save the other and see how it morphs over time.
Jan 17, 2015Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)
3.75/5 rDev -4.8%
3.75/5 rDev -4.8%
Bottle: Poured an hazy amber color ale with a medium off-white head. Aroma of sweet malt with some residual sugar, some caramel and light dry fruit notes. Taste is also a well balanced mix between some sweet malt with caramel malt and light dry fruit notes. Body is quite full with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Enjoyable but not as complex as I was hoping and barrel was not as apparent as I would have expected.
Oct 17, 2014Reviewed by mtomlins from Canada (ON)
3.85/5 rDev -2.3%
3.85/5 rDev -2.3%
Shared at a 10K review beer tasting; drank from a Hill Farmstead stemmed snifter.
Thanks to Phyl21ca for the bottle!
Pours a rich amber color, clear with a short off-white head and no lacing. The nose is rich, sweet toasted malt, brown sugar, caramel and some wood. On the palate, the grain bill shines through with big toasted grain, caramel, brown sugar, raisins, molassas coming though; the barrel is also more present with some wet wood and grapeskins. Nice.
Sep 29, 2014Thanks to Phyl21ca for the bottle!
Pours a rich amber color, clear with a short off-white head and no lacing. The nose is rich, sweet toasted malt, brown sugar, caramel and some wood. On the palate, the grain bill shines through with big toasted grain, caramel, brown sugar, raisins, molassas coming though; the barrel is also more present with some wet wood and grapeskins. Nice.
Grand Cru - Barrel-Aged from AleSmith Brewing Company
Beer rating:
88 out of
100 with
66 ratings
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