YuleSmith (Winter)
Poured from a bomber into a tulip glass. A: Hazy, reddish medium amber color with a thin, patchy residue of cinnamon-tinted foam. Light lacing remains on the glass. S: Intense, juicy orange and grapefruit citrus backed up by sugary candy, pine foliage, and a touch of fruity esters. These combine to be suggestive of plasticky resin at times--making the smell slightly less appealing than it otherwise would have been. No alcohol is detected in the smell. T: Begins off-dry and acidic, with toffee and citrusy hop aromatics up front. These flavors give way to toast as dryness builds in the middle. Rising bitterness becomes robust by the finish, while retaining some grapefruit aromatics. No alcohol is detected in the taste. M: Medium viscosity, resinous and sticky yet remaining fluid on the palate, with low carbonation. The sensory qualities found here really bring something noteworthy and succeed in elevating this beer. D: Considering this is an Alesmith seasonal, it should be this good. It is a fine example of style--more nuanced than Oskar Blues' Gordon and very much the imperial successor to Green Flash's Hop Head Red. That said, its potency is high even if not really detectable, limiting enjoyment somewhat.