The Brewery: AleSmith Brewing Co. (San Diego, CA)
The Brew: YuleSmith Summer Holiday Ale (DIPA)
Availability: 22 oz. Bottles
ABV: 9.5%
Rating: 8.5/10
Location: Home
The Story? AleSmith, oddly enough, is one of those breweries whose offerings are readily available to me and I've heard great things about, but every time I go to pick up my next haul it's "OK, next time, I just need to pick up one of everything they have." But it just doesn't happen.
Passing through Fingerlakes Beverage Center (as usual) for some sessions on a night in, I saw one lonely bottle of YuleSmith Summer on sale. Now is the time.
I'd heard about this summer offering by name alone. It's rare that I go into a tasting totally blind without researching the beer first (BA score, history, etc), but I did for this one and it really added to the experience.
For those keeping score at home, YuleSmith comes in two varieties - a winter holiday which is an Imperial/Double Red Ale and this summer variety, a Double IPA.
The Beer? Hazy, golden color with a couple fingers of fluffy, white head. Let's dive in.
Wonderfully boozy for a brew with the word "summer" on it. Tart, hoppy, strong, and nicely bitter. Robust, sticky hops with sweet, sturdy, bready malts. Raisin, pineapple, pine, resin, and hints of spices I can't quite put my finger on. Smooth and refreshing with w a far lighter mouthfeel than 8.5% or the word "holiday" might infer.
One of my new favorite DIPAs, especially for the price. Looking forward to finally exploring the rest of the AleSmith line.
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