AleSmith Brewing Company
 | |
| Location |
9368 Cabot Dr. San Diego, California, USA |
|---|---|
| Opened | 1995 |
| Annual production volume | 15,000 US beer barrels (18,000 hL) |
| Owner(s) | Peter Zien (independent) |
AleSmith Brewing Company is an American craft brewery located in San Diego, California. It specializes in handcrafted ales in a variety of styles. As of 2015 it produces about 25,000 barrels of beer a year.
History
The brewery was founded in San Diego in 1995 by Skip Virgilio and Ted Newcomb. In 2002, the brewery was purchased by the company's brewmaster, Peter Zien. Zien is a BJCP "Grand Master level 1" beer judge, the only one in San Diego County.[1]
The brewery is located at 9368 Cabot Dr in San Diego's Miramar area. In 2015 the company added a larger brewery and tasting room, also in Miramar. At 25,000 square feet, the tasting room is billed as the largest beer tasting room in San Diego County. Brewing operations at the new facility will eventually expand the company's brewing capacity ten-fold, according to Zien.[1]
Beers from the brewery have been rated on RateBeer.com website as #1 Top Brewer in the World 2006 and again in 2013.[2] In 2008, AleSmith was awarded "Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year" at the Great American Beer Festival.[3]
Awards
The company has won nine medals in World Beer Cup competition, including five golds. They won for Belgian Strong Ale (bronze, 1998); Winter YuleSmith (gold, 2004); Vintage AleSmith Old Numbskull (gold, 2008); AleSmith Decadence '05 Old Ale (gold, 2008); AleSmith Wee Heavy (gold, 2010); AleSmith Decadence '09 Weizenbock (bronze, 2010); AleSmith Decadence '10 Old Ale (silver, 2012); AleSmith Old Numbskull (bronze, 2012); AleSmith Old Ale '13 (gold,2014).[4]
At the 2008 Great American Beer Festival, AleSmith Brewing Company won the Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year Award. By 2013, the AleSmith team had acquired 16 GABF beer medals:[5] Belgian-Style Strong Ale (silver, 1998); Stumblin’ Monk (bronze, 2000); Wee Heavy Scotch Ale (bronze, 2004); AleSmith IPA (bronze, 2005); Wee Heavy Scotch Ale (silver, 2005); Vintage Speedway Stout (silver, 2008); Old Numbskull Barley Wine (silver, 2008); Decadence ‘05 Old Ale (gold, 2008); Wee Heavy Scotch Ale (gold, 2008); AleSmith IPA (silver, 2011); Old Numbskull Barley Wine (silver, 2011); Decadence ’10 Old Ale (silver, 2011); Grand Cru (bronze, 2012); Decadence ’10 Old Ale (bronze, 2012); Old Numbskull Barley Wine (gold, 2013); Decadence ‘12 Quadruple (silver, 2013)
The Beers
AleSmith's beers are inspired by the brewing styles of Great Britain and Belgium. Some AleSmith beers, such as their Cream Ale and Robust Porter Beer, are only offered on draft or in kegs at the brewery. The majority, however, are available in 22-ounce or 750 ml bottles. These brews are listed below.
Year-Round Brews
| Name | Style | ABV | IBU | Original Gravity | Serving Temp. | Serving Glass | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anvil ESB | ESB | 5.5% | 30 | 1.055 | 45°-50° | Pint | ||
| Grand Cru | Belgian Strong Dark Ale | 10.0% | 17 | 1.088 | 50°-55° | Tulip | ||
| Horny Devil | Belgian Golden Ale | 10.0% | 25 | 1.081 | 50°-55° | Tulip | ||
| IPA | American IPA | 7.25% | 73 | 1.066 | 45°-50° | Pint | ||
| ‘Lil’ Devil | Belgian Pale Ale | 5.75% | 24 | 1.050 | 45°-50° | Tulip | ||
| Nut Brown Ale | Brown Ale | 5.0% | 17 | 1.054 | 45°-50° | Pint | ||
| Old Numbskull | American Barleywine | 11.0% | 96 | 1.106 | 50°-55° | Tulip | ||
| Speedway Stout | Imperial Stout | 12.0% | 70 | 1.114 | 50°-55° | Tulip | ||
| Wee Heavy | Scotch Ale | 10.0% | 26 | 1.102 | 50°-55° | Tulip | ||
| X - Extra Pale Ale | American Pale Ale | 5.25% | 35 | 1.048 | 45°-50° | Pint | .394 IPA | 6% |
Seasonal Brews
| Name | Availability | Style | ABV | IBU | Original Gravity | Serving Temp. | Serving Glass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decadence | Year Round | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies | 50°-55° | Tulip |
| Evil Dead Red | September/October | American Amber | 6.66% | 24 | 1.073 | 45°-50° | Pint |
| My Bloody Valentine | January/February | American Amber | 6.66% | 24 | 17.5°P | 45°-50° | Pint |
| Olde Ale | Spring | Old Ale | 11.0% | 25 | 1.110 | 50°-55° | Snifter |
| Summer YuleSmith | July/August | Double IPA | 8.5% | 105 | 1.080 | 45°-50° | Pint |
| Winter YuleSmith | November/December | American Amber | 8.5% | 48 | 1.090 | 50°-55° | Pint |
Barrel-Aged Brews
| Name | Style | ABV | IBU | Original Gravity | Serving Temp. | Serving Glass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA Grand Cru | Barrel Aged Belgian Strong Dark Ale | 10.0% | 17 | 1.088 | 50°-55° | Tulip |
| BA Old Numbskull | Barrel Aged American Barleywine | 11.0% | N/A | 1.106 | 50°-55° | Tulip |
| BA Speedway Stout | Barrel Aged Imperial Stout | 12.0% | N/A | 1.111 | 50°-55° | Tulip |
| BA Wee Heavy | Barrel Aged Scotch Ale | 10% | N/A | 1.096 | 50°-55° | Tulip |
Artwork
AleSmith's bottles are often accompanied by the trademark AleSmith anvil.
See also
References
- 1 2 Hirsh, Lou (October 27, 2015). "AleSmith Brewing Opens New Tasting Room in Miramar". San Diego Business Journal. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
- ↑ "Best Brewers in the World 2012". ratebeer. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ↑ List of 2008 winners, Great American Beer Festival
- ↑ World Beer Cup winners database
- ↑
External links
Coordinates: 32°53′31.44″N 117°8′40.87″W / 32.8920667°N 117.1446861°W