| AleSmith Brewing Company | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Location | San Diego, California, USA | ||||||||||||||||||
| Owner(s) | Peter Zien (independent) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Year opened | 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||
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AleSmith Brewing Company is an American brewery founded in 1995 by Skip Virgilio and Ted Newcomb in San Diego, California. In 2002 the brewery was purchased by Peter Zien. AleSmith produces a variety of beers, many of which have high alcohol content and are strongly hopped beers. The beers have acquired a positive reputation among microbrew enthusiasts and hopheads.
AleSmith Brewing Company is a craft brewery and has received 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 "Grand Master level 1" beer judge, the only one in San Diego County. In 2008, AleSmith was awarded "Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year" at the Great American Beer Festival.
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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. 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.
AleSmith's bottles are easily recognizable from their simple, down-to-earth artwork and text, which is often accompanied by the trademark AleSmith anvil.