AleSmith Brewing Company
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
AleSmith Brewing Company is an American brewery founded in 1995 by Skip Virgilio in San Diego, California. In 2002 the brewery was taken over by Peter Zien. AleSmith is known for high alcohol content and strongly hopped beers. The beers have acquired a positive reputation among microbrew enthusiasts and hopheads.
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[edit] Brief details
AleSmith Brewing Company has received praise and awards for its beers and the bold approach of the brewer. The brewery has been the most popular on the RateBeer.com website in 2004 and 2005.
AleSmith's brewmaster, Peter Zien, is a BJCP "Master" level beer judge, the only one in San Diego County. He purchased the brewery in 2002 from the original founder and brewmaster, Skip Virgilio.
[edit] The beers
| AleSmith Brewing Company | |
|---|---|
| Location | San Diego, California, USA |
| Owner | Peter Zien (independent) |
| Year opened | 1996 |
| Active Beers | |
| AleSmith X | American Pale Ale |
| Anvil Ale | Extra Special Bitter |
| AleSmith IPA | India Pale Ale |
| Horny Devil | Belgian Strong Ale |
| J.P. Gray's Wee Heavy | Scotch Ale |
| Speedway Stout | Imperial Stout |
| Old Numbskull | Barley Wine |
| Grand Cru | Belgian Strong Ale |
| Seasonal Beers | |
| YuleSmith | Double India Pale Ale |
| Evil Dead Red | American Strong Ale |
| Lil Devil | Belgian Ale |
| Specialty Beers | |
| Decadence | Old Ale |
AleSmith's beers are inspired predominantly by the brewing styles of Great Britain and Belgium (though they once brewed a German-style Weizenbock, which has since been retired). Many of their beers are known for their depth of character, which is partly credited to their comparatively high alcohol content. Nearly half of all AleSmith beers available in 2006 have an alcohol by volume measurement over 8.5%, compared to 4-6% ABV for most American-style pale lagers. AleSmith's strongest brew is its Imperial Stout, called "Speedway Stout", which has an ABV of 12%.
Some AleSmith beers, such as their "Lil' Devil" Belgian Ale and their "Nautical Nut" Brown Ale, are offered on draft only or in kegs at the brewery. Other beers, such as their Double India Pale Ale "Yulesmith" and their regular India Pale Ale, are available in 22-ounce bottles. Many of their higher gravity regular beers, such as "Speedway Stout" and their Barley Wine "Old Numbskull", are available in 750 ml champagne bottles. All of AleSmith's bottled beers are bottle conditioned. Unlike most other American brewers, AleSmith does not distribute any of their beers in 12-ounce bottles.
[edit] Artwork
AleSmith's bottles are easily recognizeable from their simple, down-to-earth artwork and text, which is often accompanied by the trademark AleSmith anvil.
