Grand Cru - Barrel-Aged
AleSmith Brewing Company

Grand Cru - Barrel-AgedGrand Cru - Barrel-Aged
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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:
66
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.
 
Rated: 4.24 by cd34 from Illinois

Jan 11, 2020
 
Rated: 3.94 by Texasfan549 from Texas

Feb 09, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by kjkinsey from Texas

Feb 09, 2017
 
Rated: 3.52 by Halfbrother83 from Illinois

Nov 24, 2015
 
Rated: 3.7 by Lare453 from Florida

Oct 25, 2015
 
Rated: 4.22 by Alesmither from California

Apr 13, 2015
 
Rated: 4.35 by DucksFan16 from Tennessee

Apr 04, 2015
 
Rated: 4.03 by aquazr1 from California

Mar 29, 2015
 
Rated: 4.13 by ZaxGhost from Nebraska

Jan 31, 2015
Photo of srandycarter
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
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, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by wethorseblanket from California

Jan 12, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by nathanmiller from New York

Jan 08, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by SoCalBeerIdiot from California

Dec 02, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by dar482 from New York

Oct 21, 2014
Photo of Phyl21ca
Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)

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, 2014
Photo of mtomlins
Reviewed by mtomlins from Canada (ON)

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, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by greg4579 from Pennsylvania

Sep 28, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by spinrsx from Canada (ON)

Sep 28, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by BARFLYB from Pennsylvania

Aug 24, 2014
 
Rated: 3.3 by acurtis from New Jersey

Aug 23, 2014
Grand Cru - Barrel-Aged from AleSmith Brewing Company
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 66 ratings