Sunday, February 5, 2012

Beer Review: AleSmith IPA

Reviewing the AleSmith IPA from AleSmith Brewing Company.
Score: 87

Unknown vintage bottle served in a Surly Darkness snifter and enjoyed on 02/05/12. This bottle was received as part of a trade in early January 2011 (thanks LieutenantSours!).

Appearance: Pours a murky/translucent golden-amber color with two-plus fingers of cream-colored seafoam head that slowly settles into a ring around the glass with small amounts 4/5

Smell: Fresh citrus rind, sharp lemon, grapefruit and sweet orange. Grassy hops and a little fresh "dirt" too. A really solid IPA aroma. 4/5

Taste: Bitter orange/tangerine citrus with a slightly sweet caramel malt backbone and residual spiciness. A decent amount of earthy hops in the flavor, but this is far from a hop bomb. Not very complex, but tasty and refreshing. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, medium carbonation. Oily mouthfeel. Bitter finish.

Overall: A perfect example of the style.

Recommendation: Unless you hate hoppy beers, this is a super solid off-the-shelf IPA.

Pairings: Chris' spicy beef chili.

Cost: $5.99 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle.

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