AleSmith IPA
Beer No: 17/1001
Page No: 36
Category: Amber
About 10 years ago, while attending college down in San Diego, I lived in Mira Mesa, a little sub-section of the City of San Diego right next to Miramar Marine Air Base. Living next to the air base was great because the main road down to campus only had traffic originating from one side of the street and all of the training missions they flew were far enough away that you couldn't even hear the planes. Only when the Blue Angels came to town and were practicing their low-flying maneuvers did you hear air traffic. But, another great part about living in Mira Mesa is I was only blocks away from Alesmith Brewing. So it's no surprise that I credit Alesmith with being the first formative brewery in my young beer-tasting life.
These days, Alesmith has expanded, but remains in the same non-descript office/industrial park that they started in and the continue to put out great beers year-round. Though their "X" is probably my favorite of their line - a little extra hoppiness on top of a terrific American Pale Ale, the IPA is also a treat. Hoppy, crisp, a strong American IPA, the folks at Alesmith really know what they're doing. And it really has been too long since I last visited. They are open on Thursdays and Fridays from 2 to 5pm and on Saturdays from 1 to 4 and I really do need to make a trip down there to say hi again. Plus, right around the corner in Mira Mesa is Callahan's - still the home to the best beer cheese soup I've ever tasted (oh, and Wednesday Wing Nights were legendary). Callahan's also usually had some really good beer on tap - so they too were pretty influential in my early beer drinking and appreciating career.
My review, cross-posted at RateBeer.com:
AleSmith IPA from AleSmith Brewing Company
Aroma: 8/10
Appearance: 4/5
Taste: 9/10
Palate: 4/5
Overall: 15/20
Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Bottle (also had on tap from the brewery many times in my day, but it was a bottle last night). Pours a wonderful orange color with a very frothy head which just sticks to the glass and doesn’t want to let go. Aromas of hops, citrus, pine, and a hint of malts. Mouthfeel is fizzy and smooth. Taste is a finely blended mix of hops, malts, and sweetness. Finishes dry and hoppy with a great aftertaste. A great, well-balanced IPA.
