AleSmith Brewing Company

5 stars for the beer selection — but fair warning if you don’t like porters and IPAs this might not be the place for you. (San diego might not be the place for you either) the food truck outside drags down the prating — options all seem the same and I like my breweries to have nice seating and a good menu.

AleSmith is another one of the many great brewery options in «Beeramar». there are so many excellent options to check out right by Miramar Rd.=]
BEERS I’ve tried:
–Speedway Stout. excellente!
–My Bloody Valentine. satisfying :)
–IPA. outstanding~
–San Diego Pale Ale .394. great tribute & top notch!
This place is huge!.. and the service here is fine. There are plenty of tables, chairs, etc. to post up on inside and outside. For those looking to soak the alcohol they have food trucks outside. Also they have a really nice gift shop inside where I purchased an «Alesmith Evil Dead Red Ale» shirt. I recently saw on the news last week that they opened a prohibition speakeasy/​tasting room for its barrel-​aged beer, I definitely gotta check that out next time I drop by AleSmith! ;D

Great place for stouts, and .394 IPA was refreshing!
Tony Gwynn inspired, open atmosphere inside and outdoors, laid back vibe and ample tables and parking spots available.
They just started a barrel aged room on the right side where you have to sign up and the interior is fascinating. A lot of Bourbon and Stout barrel aged drinks that are pretty strong but enjoyable.
Overall, pretty laid back brewery, if you like stouts, this is a neat spot to check out.

Made a plane to drive out from San Diego. Large place back off the road. Really nice layout with plenty of room to stretch out and sample some beers. High tables and couches and a huge bar. We went after work through rush hour traffic… ic…ic. But it is well worth it. My favorite beer by far was the San Diego IPA .394. Ended up getting a six pack to go that was brewed the day before! Nice folks, very chill, crowded just after work.

I came here with a group doing a tour of breweries around town. I was able to sample a few beers before I committed to a glass beer. I ended up getting the Horny Devil. It was just right for me. As far as the environment, it was nice. There were a lot of areas for people to sit and relax. I also saw a family area and there were kids with families. I like this place, and it had a great vibe.

They grow up so fast, don’t they? 1 minute they’re tiny, cute, & adorable. & then next thing you know, they’re all big & ready to take on the World. I’m talking about SD craft breweries, of course.
It seems like just yesterday, though it was 2 ½ years ago, that I visited AleSmith’s previous & original location crammed into a small narrow commercial space. By that time, they were already distributing up to my NorCal neck of the woods. So it didn’t seem possible that they were somehow making that much beer out of such a small place.
What is evident now is that they were due for a serious growth spurt. & boy, did they blow up. The new AleSmith brewery & tap/​tasting room is huge. AleSmith’s new home in a warehouse-​sized building at the end of a cul-​de-​sac of their own name is completely impossible to miss. I arrived on an early Wednesday evening for the 3^rd & final stop of an epic beer tasting day for me.
Out front, there’s a large patio with a seating area & games like giant Jenga & cornhole. There was also a food truck. Inside, the main tasting room is vast & open with a sky-​high ceiling. Everything from the bar to taps to tables is sleek, shiny, & new. Even on a Wednesday, it was pretty packed full of thirsty patrons. It looks like that growth spurt brought big crowds with it.
I got lucky, scored a seat at the bar, & got down to the business of beer tasting. Staff was friendly but service was a little slow because of how busy it was. Just like my 2 previous beer tasting brewery stops, I had 8 tasters out of a staggering 20 possible choices. My Untappd average for those 8 tasters was a little over 3.9 out of 5, which is pretty good.
Though AleSmith brews a lot of different styles of beer, I narrowed my focus here & had 6 Pale/​IPA/​DIPA’s in my 8 tasters, including a couple Mikkeller collabs. My fave of the bunch was the San Diego Pale Ale .394. For the other 2 tasters, I had the Mexican Speedway Stout & Old Numbskull. Both of which were excellent.
After enjoying my tasters & admiring how AleSmith has grown up, it was time call it a wrap on epic beer tasting Wednesday. Yes, Wednesday. Because in SD, any day of the week can be an epic beer tasting day.

One of the few breweries in town that is likely to please everyone from the Hops lover to the Stout lover and a few baseball fans in between.
This new/​huge location features a food truck and beanbag outdoor seating area, and an entire gift shop that would fit some breweries on its own. For reals!
Always a good time in Beer-​a-​mar!

If you love beer, and you love open, very relaxed environments, you will love it here. I finally had a chance to come by the new location (I know, it’s a long time coming), and I love it.
I will admit that the only thing that got me here was because parking at Ballast Point was awful, but now that I’ve been, clearly I have a new go-​to. I love the rustic, very open feel. I enjoyed the outside patio area, and when it got chilly, we went inside and even if they were busy, there were plenty of seats and tables.
I ended up getting a growler to add to my growing collection, and it’s completely worth it, especially for a beer lover like me. All of their beer is great, but I spent the night with the APA, their collab with their neighbors, Mikkeller Brewing.
With all the brewing companies nested in Miramar, Alesmith is definitely at the top of my list. Delicious beer, plenty of space, plenty of parking, kiddie area, and puppy friendly. They have their bases covered.

The new tasting room on Alesmith Court is da bomb!
Nice and spacious. Kid and dog friendly. Food trucks. Tons of tap selections. Outside and inside seating.
Their old tasting room in Miramar was very small — this is the exact opposite. We love it. We meaning the wife and I. Yes, it passes the wife test. Great music playing. Free wifi. Do I need to say anything else?
Oh, wait, the beer. That’s right. I love that too. Speedway Stout is amazing. X is one of favorite pale ales. Their seasonals are almost always exceptional.
They have a great gift shop too with bottles, glassware, apparel, and more. This place has easily become one of the top 5 tasting rooms in America’s Finest City.

As I «forged» through many breweries trying not to get completely «hammered,» we stopped by Alesmith. I’m glad we did, because their brews that are wrought here are red-​hot!
Alesmith is located close by a bunch of other breweries for easy beer hopping. Their tasting room is gorgeous and huge, with burnished copper and warm orange tones. It is child and dog friendly, and there is even a small kid’s play area. Part of it is still under construction, so the next time I come back it might be even bigger! The atmosphere was very chill. You can download the Rockbot app and choose what kind of music you want to listen to next, which amused us to no end.
We got a flight of four 4 oz pours for about $ 9. You can choose your own or pick their preset flights, but you don’t save any money by choosing the preset flights, so you might as well pick what sounds good to you. Presentation was on point! We tried the IPA, HORNY DEVIL, WEE HEAVY, and SPEEDWAY STOUT. All were great, but my favorites were the Wee Heavy and Speedway Stout. I am biased towards dark beer, but my light-​beer-​loving boyfriend had to admit that those were exceptional.
This brewery should be on any beer lovers radar. Their dark beers straight from the tap were an excellent treat, and I can’t wait to go back!
Beer: 5, Service: 4, Environment: 5, Price: 4

This place is awesome!!! My husband held a massive event here for about 300 people. The brewery allowed a food truck to be onsite for the event as AleSmith does not have a kitchen. So much parking and lots of space to sit. It’s like a huge warehouse with a large patio area on the side. The bartenders are super friendly and service with a smile. Get the tasters so that you’re able to try a variety of their beers. I like the lighter pale ales and with less hop. They have beers for everyone’s taste, so try a variety.
From this event, my husband is already planning for my birthday happy hour at Alesmith this year!!! HOLLA!!!

Ale Smith is one of the OG breweries here in town. Truly a rags to riches story. I remember bottling beer with them as a volunteer in the late ‘90s. They paid us in beer and pizza. It was a blast. I am so happy to see how they have grown. The new brewery on AleSmith Ct. of on «Beeramar» is amazing in both size and beauty. Couldn’t be any prettier. Food trucks seem to always be outside. Beer is world-​class. The only beef I have with the place is the bathroom. One urinal for this entire place? Really? There are often hundreds of people there drinking many pints of beer. A «one-​holer» as my father is fond of calling them is just weird. That architect must not drink or understand what it does to you. Liquid in… duh! Other that that, this place is perfect. Lots of construction still happening, so hopefully (fingers crossed) they are adding more restrooms.

I cannot believe I have not reviewed Alesmith! Speedway was the first stout (or «dark beer») I EVER liked!
Easily one of the best breweries in San Diego, and pretty up there in the world of craft beer. Speedway stout is a staple. We have been coming here (and the previous location) for years.
I am always a fan of the grand prix events. The flavors are always very creative, and despite resulting in drinking lots of high alcohol content beers on a week night, it is so totally worth it!
Lately, I have been all about getting their special releases.
I have to say not a lot breweries can do barrel aged well. Alesmith has definitly mastered this skill.
I am a HUGE fan. You should visit… when I am not there since I don’t like crowds. :D

Speedway Stout and buffalo chicken fries… enough to keep me coming back. Their newest location is a lot bigger, more space to lounge inside or on the outside patio, and the unveiling of the Tony Gwynn Museum should add more of a wow factor for SD. The ladies behind the bar are always nice and knowledgable. The Tony Gwynn food truck offers some delicious fare — did I mentioned the buffalo fries? Their Speedway Stout variations are a must try, you’ll always find me picking up a special release bottle or two.

Not man-​bun approved, apparently, as I overheard one say loudly that this place is «so corporate». Corporate devils working to enslave the middle and lower classes or not, this place has really good beer. Their Belgian flight is one of the best flights I’ve ever had and is reasonably priced. I love how large the venue is and despite it being pretty busy on a Tuesday night, it wasn’t close to being at capacity.
The only downside to this place are the bathrooms. They use a trailer for their main set of restrooms, only a pair in the building, and they smell pretty bad.

2.29.16: My first time and it was for an event. I never knew they had two tasting areas. Just a roomy tasting room and lovely view of their tanks behind the bar. The high ceilings are nice makes it feel not so stuffy. The other area of the tasting room is a bit smaller but still nice as well. I like most of the beers I have had at Alesmith. It’s definitely one of those breweries that won’t let you down.
Get the tasters, try everything. =)

After some reviews from beer advocate I stumbled upon this place. The atmosphere was very inviting. I stopped for a quick drink but that drink turned into a flight, some pulled pork fries and mac and cheese. I learned you have to allow yourself a couple hours, don’t drive if you have that option and meet up with friends here. Their store is stocked with items perfect for home or presents. If I hadn’t ordered right away, I would’ve attended the beer tour which is a must on my next visit!

This brewery is quite awesome. Let us just make that very clear. It is in what seems to be an industrial/​warehouse area. The décor is industrial. The service is friendly and knowledgeable.
The beers are great. I think this brewery is quite underrated compared to some other San Diego breweries. I enjoy there IPAs quite a bit.
The do not serve food, but have a courtyard where there are food trucks. You can grab a beer and a bite.
For those with young children, there is a play area for kids while their parents are imbibing.
Also, this place is dog friendly.
In short, I am a big fan of this brewery. It is a good place to spend an afternoon. I just wish it were closer as I would be there more often. You will not be disappointed.

POW! right in the kisser.
These high octane — very bitter beers are the quintessential «San Diego Style Bitter Beer» that this city is known for.
The old AleSmith location was small and had only one bathroom. This new place has a separate modular bathroom outside with a pee trough.
— I’m not too sure how Tony Gwynn inc. is tied in to AleSmith but they also have a food truck outside the brewery. They have good fries!
— Our company came here via a limo bus. Apparently this is popular place for large booze bus tours.

First two times being carded no biggie. The 3^rd time and then being old we haven’t served you yet when I have 2 flights and 2 pints on my tab kind irked me.
Then I get my pints and it’s half a cup of head (foam) and half beer. Thanks for showing good customer service ale smith !
Probably won’t spend my money or time here again. I can go to ballast in half the time, spend the same money, actually get a decent sized beer, and treated better. Great way to celebrate my dads 50^th birthday.

This review is for the «gwynn’s gourmet foods» at alesmith.
Why would you come to a brewery without being fully stocked and prepared for a lunch crowd!?! Then when i asked if they could mark off which items they were out of both cook and other people in there gave me an attitude. Saying «alesmith management doesnt like them to do that it will cause them to get mad at us and lose business «(too late)
So apparently you have to keep asking 3 different people what is still available.
Then you have «local kebab» vendor who are EXTREMELY OVER PRICED. And very basic and unappealing… I REFUSE to pay $ 12.50. FOR JUST A DONNER… Your a joke. I can go to Canada steak burger and get 3 times the amount of meat. The pita will be toasted… With fries and a soda for $ 10 This is just a joke on how these food vendors operate. The ONLY thing that was of any good was the NUT BROWN ale. The seating is very limited… you just lost over $ 100 wort of food and beer if not more THANKS FOR THE SHITTY SERVICE ALESMITH…

Not a beer connisseur by any means. I prefer lighter alcohol content because of drink n drive rule, but AleSmith is not a bad place to meet for Happy Hour to say goodbye to a former co-​worker as they forge ahead. It was a perfect spot for one of my friends to do his political thing. If you are big San Diego Padre fan and love Tony Gwynn, there will be permanent exhibit honoring his accomplishments.
The location itself is not bad compared to the bigger and more well known Ballast Point (but they also have a restaurant on site). For food, there is usually at least 1 Food truck but this is something you should call for before expecting something to eat. On the day we visited, they had a Tony Gwynn food truck (which I don’t know of) and the Famoso mexican food truck.
Eventually what distinguishes one brewery from another is the beer and I can’t be as good a judge as my other Unilocaler friends who have visited most of them. Alesmith is located near the Miramar base. Parking is sufficient unless there are a lot of events going on (HH, parties etc. at the brewery). They do have the tastings and a small gift shop.

This place was trying to get me drunk.
By that I mean I got a Belgian sampler, every beer was over a 10% ABV and delicious. I could have stayed here all day. It was open and dog friendly which I enjoyed because dogs are amazing and much more fun than the majority of people.
The presentation of their samplers is what really impressed me. Rather then throwing them on a board or handing you 4 – 6 glasses to balance like a juggler they give you this nifty little carrying cage thing that allows you to easily maneuver the brewery to a safe beer drinking location. This was one of my favorite stops on the Cali Brewery tour of mine for the beer alone. The overall décor of the place was fairly plain but it was comfortable none the less.
¹⁰⁄₁₀ would come back for the beer alone

This has to be the best brewery in San Diego. Everything they put out is always on point!
This brewery started in a small industrial space on Cabot and has become successful enough to need a huge warehouse as their HQ.
There is a gift shop/​tasting room when you first walk in through the front doors which is convenient. The actual main tasting room is huge and has ample seating inside and outside with heaters and a fire pit for when the sun goes down.
If you’re hungry while you’re drinking, they have really good food trucks or vendors on rotation. Gwynn’s Gourmet food truck is always there too to provide the ballpark style comfort food that goes great with their beer.
When it comes to beer, Alesmith has got something for everyone. They have the light .394, the hoppy X and the amazing Speedway Stout. And they even release variations of all their beers regularly, so you gotta keep dropping by. But the Speedway Stout is the beer that first brought me to Alesmith and keeps me coming back. The rich dark coffee flavor is amazing. Once a year they host the Speedway Grand Prix which is an event that showcases the Speeday Stout with multiple variations of the stout available to sample in pre determined laps. It’s something I can’t wait to attend every year.
I look forward to their expansion with the upper mezzanine area and the Tony Gwynn museum. If there is one brewery to stop by while you’re in San Diego, it’s gotta be Alesmith.

First time coming here on Friday and i was surprised to see how large this brewery is. It wasn’t that full since it was Friday afternoon so that was pretty nice. Since they was my first time here i decided to get a flight! I got the Horney Devil, Speedway Stout, Grand Cru, Nut Brown, and Wee Heavy. I like the Grand Cru the best. It was a full flavor beer that was good! They had two food trucks pulling up while we were there, but didn’t stick around long enough to eat. Overall a nice brewery that is worth trying if you are in the area!

Top 3 brewery in SD for sure!
.394, Speedway stout, Horny Devil are arguably the best Pale Ale, Stout, and Belgian out there, which is saying a lot about Alesmith.
The new tasting room is huge! Love the patio too with the communal rectangle tables.
Will be back soon!

Another place with good beer selection, no kitchen but decent food truck.
Outdoor seating is really nice to enjoy
Old numbskull… Very good

This is probably one of the biggest breweries I’ve been to. Seriously, there is so much space that you might never have to hunker in some random corner near the bathroom waiting for someone to leave so you can get a good space.
We went on a Saturday night and were able to walk right up to the bar and place our order. There are taps everywhere so you know the staff is pretty efficient.
Anyway, on to the beer. Alesmith makes a great variety of beers. Barleywines, Imperial Stouts, IPA, Belgian styles and more so there’s something for everyone. Unless you don’t like beer. In which case you should just be the DD because… well…what else would you be doing at a brewery? My favorite beer is the ESB but the XPA might be a close second. Anyway, if you’re a beer aficionado try to go during San Diego Beer Week. They always hook up some great stuff.

New Location ! Big and Spacious.
I came here on a Saturday late afternoon with some friends and family visiting. I’ve gone to their old location a couple times before so was really excited to see what they did with their move!
It was pretty crackin’ when we got there, and almost all the tables inside were taken. They had a couple of food trucks and some tables outside with heat lamps. There is a LOT of space that is not being utilized which is a bit awkward. Just like many of the other breweries around the area they have the Corn Hole game set up outside as well. If you don’t know by the name it’s that one fratty game with the bean bag where you toss it into this hole and there’s one on each side.
Dog Friendly and Baby Friendly!
The Horny Devil is definitely the popular choice, as well as the Nutty Brown. But if you’re interested in trying something new, or if you like sours order the Tart Horny Devil! Bloody Valentine is good too!
I was happy that they have a good amount of bathroom stalls now that they’ve expanded… especially cause after a few drinks and you break that golden seal waiting is not very fun. They’re outside and like the trailer bathrooms that they have at music festivals like Coachella but they’re clean!

Probably my #1 fav brewery in SD right now. This location is an IMMENSELY huge upgrade to the smaller original location. It’s huge, very spacious, has more beers on tap, and they even occasionally have various food trucks that are even Tony Gwynn-​themed.
The beer is great and I always enjoy their different speedway stouts and the Horny Devil will always be my favorite. Not only is this place spacious, but the tables/​barrels/​chairs that they have throughout the venue to sit at are nicely distributed AWAY from other parties, so you can actually have a conversation and hear one another, unlike really packed places, such as Ballast Point, regardless of its big venue.
It is also dog friendly, which makes it so much more fun to visit as well. There is outside seating and standing area with heating lamps, so you have options. The place even has its own mini store with a bunch of cool stuff.
The only thing that kinda sucks is that there is only one bathroom each, for both male and female, so waiting can be a drag especially with beer all in your system.
Overall though, I love the place and it’s my go-​to brewery without a doubt.

I can see why this spot was so busy on a Saturday night. Great beer and great atmosphere.
The tasting room is in a large warehouse setting and has plenty of space for the large crowd they draw. There are plenty of tables, seats, couches, and bar area for everyone to hang out for awhile. A few people had dogs which was cool.
The beer options offered a nice variety of flavors. There were several seasonal flavors to keep things new for repeat drinkers. Everything I tried was well crafted and delicious.
When we arrived there was a food stand and food truck wrapping up to leave. Both said they had arrived at lunch time so come in the afternoon for good beer and something to eat.
There is a shop just to the side of the tasting room. This would be a good spot to get a gift for beer lovers. They had the usual t-​shirts and glasses, but gift packs as well.

I guess this brewery made a recent move — location and size wise — ’twas a good move too.
Their brewery/​warehouse is ginormous with the bar towards the back end that’ll accommodate your father, mother, sister, brother and your cousins too… just about everybody, basically. There’s enough counter space that there better not be any pushing or shoving goin’ around when you’re trying to grab a drink.
Their patio area is spacious with a number of tables set out in front of a food truck. There’s a children’s play area to one corner, gift shop towards the other. Love how this place accommodates all ages, the young and the old. The bold and the Beautiful. You’re able to dl an app that’ll allow you to pick the music overhead. Your profile pic comes up on their big screen so be sure your face is on point.
I’m a fan of their .394 IPA, it’s a brew in honor of Tony Gwynn. you know me and baseball… and beer. Game over.

AleSmith opens their expanded physical presence! Which means — MOAR BEERRRR!
Came with friends to enjoy the New Years Eve festivities, and grab a few drinks (to stay and to go). The atmosphere is chill, the Drink Maidens (which is what I’m calling them) swoop in from behind their towering pillars of beer and offer you a refreshing beverage.
We grabbed 2 flights of their most popular beers, walked to the lone vendor outside on NYE, bought a few pretzels with beer cheese, and commenced to nomming. Great beers, and a nice pairing with pretzels. Not much else to say here, but stop by and grab some brewskies!

AleSmith I do love you but why must you make bottle pick up so painful? You brew some pretty awesome beer I must admit but you killed my buzz on the bottle pick up business. You know I still have love for you kid. This review is just a little lower till you get this straightened out Kthx.
This spot is nice to bring a burrito, your favorites and to bask in the sun with a few tasters or a pint of your favorite AleSmith beer. I’m partial to all the stuff that is dark and hearty if it’s barrel aged I’m a bigger fan.
On Wednesday’s they have specialty fills for grumblers. Yes I love that name too! There’s a grumbler in my tummy… ok so maybe I got help to finish it but how cute does that sound?! I’ve left with some pretty good beers recently, a few BBA beers made an awesome weekend.
If you haven’t been here you should go, bring a date, bring your neighbor, bring a picnic but most important bring a designated driver so you can enjoy all the tasty goodness they have to offer! I will still be ordering bottles as well as hitting up the tasting room. Love me some AleSmith!

AleSmith Brewing Company’s expanded digs are pretty sweet! And the best is yet to come. Can’t wait! The current space is expansive, with plenty of seating options and a large outdoor patio area. They also have a nice gift shop to the side. They do have a parking lot, but it fills up fast.
Tip: Until construction is complete, the restroom situation can become an issue, but they do have a portable restroom station outside.
They have a wide selection of beers here. My favs include the Lil Devil IPA (always a good choice), the Coconut Porter, and the Speedway Stout. I’ve never had the chance to try any of their barrel aged brews, but someday… someday…
They don’t have food, but there are typically food trucks out front that serve up a variety of goods for noshing while enjoying the brews.
If you’re planning a trip to San Diego, make sure to stop by AleSmith!

12.12.15
Large warehouse, food trucks outside with the beer garden, converted barrel tables. Epitome of a good brewery.
Friendly servers and patrons. Pet and kid friendly.
Good beers to boot.

While I’m not HUGE fan of big and boozy beers, I can’t knock them for that because Alesmith does big and boozy well.
The space is tucked in a culdesac of warehouses. The taproom recently revamped and is now massive. When we were there on Friday night there was a good amount of people but it never felt crowded due to the large space. I think a few extra tables/​seating would make this place even better.
You can buy beers by the glass but since we’re from out of town, we decided on 2 samplers (I think their Belgians and top-​sellers) or something like that. No off flavors in any of the beers and the beers were all solid.
Worth a visit if you’re in the Miramar area.

It’s open! I was here a month ago though and it was still just the small tasting room! That went by quick.
Stopped by this past weekend to check out the real unveiling of the new Alesmith location. I saw some photos of the plans last month, and now I can see them in real life. The place is spacious, spread out seating, high ceilings. I feel like there could be more seating for how big the place is! There’s a gift shop and of course a long list of beers on tap. Dog friendly as well (saw some really cute puppies). There’s even a little kids’ corner in the back with a chalkboard and I think some coloring supplies.
I got the Alesmith x Mikkeller collabs of APA and IPA. Yummy as always. I’m super super excited for the joining of two big beer forces! Yayyyy so pumped for the new location and everything in Alesmith’s future. :D

Excellent beer and vibes!
Right when we pulled into the lot, we saw just how BIG the space was, indoor and outdoors. The little lights were on outside, the sun was setting and the air smelled of grilled sausages, atmosphere just killed it here.
I went with the Belgian Flight for $ 7.50. It had a bit of everything, from the Lil’ Devil to their Belgian Quadruple. They rank from weakest to strongest in ABV, but they all taste amazing! Quadruple nearly kicked my butt but… in a good way.
They don’t serve food in the restaurant, but they have a food truck schedule and fat grilled hot dogs for sale right outside. So after you order your beer, find a seat (which there’s plenty of), get yourself some food and enjoy! I could probably spend a few hours here weekly if I lived closer. Great spot! Next time, I gotta check out the «observation room.»