AleSmith Brewing Company is an American craft brewery 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. Skip Virgilio was AleSmith's original brewmaster. Peter Zien became brewmaster upon purchasing the company in July, 2002. Zien is a BJCP "Grand Master level 1" beer judge, the only one in San Diego County.

The original brewery is located at 9366 Cabot Drive in San Diego's Miramar area. In 2015 the company added a larger brewery and tasting room, also in Miramar, at 9990 AleSmith Court. 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.

Beers from the brewery have been rated on RateBeer.com website as #1 Top Brewer in the World 2006 and again in 2013. In 2008, AleSmith was awarded "Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year" at the Great American Beer Festival.List of 2008 winners, Great American Beer Festival

In 2015, AleSmith announced that Danish gypsy brewer Mikkeller had partnered with them to turn the original facility, located on Cabot Drive, into Mikkeller San Diego.

Awards The company has won ten medals in World Beer Cup competition, including six golds. They won for Wee Heavy (gold, 2020); 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).World Beer Cup winners database

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: 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); Nut Brown (bronze, 2019)

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 List of breweries in San Diego County, California

References

External links AleSmith Brewing Company