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AleSmith Brewing Co
- Hours:
Wed-Thu 2 pm - 7 pm
Fri 2 pm - 8 pm
Sat 12 pm - 7 pm
Sun 12 pm - 6 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Price Range:
-
$
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
106 reviews for AleSmith Brewing Co
Review Highlights
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"I highly recommend the speedway stout." In 23 reviews -
"Right now they have their seasonal Evil Dead Red too." In 9 reviews -
"Grand Cru, Speedway, Wee Heavy, Horny Devil." In 13 reviews
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106 reviews in English
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Review from Kevin C.
San Francisco, CA
3/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Mmmmm AleSmith. Located in what seems to be an office building, AleSmith produces some of the best beer. At $1 dollar a taster, you can try every beer that they produce. They even have tours everyday of their brewery and it was very informative whether you know a lot about beer or know nothing of beer. Great brewery! Be sure to try the IPA, Horny Devil, and My Bloody Valentine, you won't regret it!
Oh yea, they have single bathrooms usually with a couple people in line, so plan accordingly. -
Review from Hanley B.
4/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Whenever I am in San Diego County I make sure that we go to a brewery or two. I love me some beer, after all. AleSmith was awesome. Nothing unnecessary. A counter, places to sit, and plenty of space. Perfect. And the prices are great. $1 tasters, and $3 cups. I could easily get tanked here. As it was, I think I tried just about everything I had the slightest interest in. The Horny Devil, Grand Cru, IPA, and XPA are the ones that I remember being stand outs. And I don't normally like Belgian ales.
The guys behind the bar had no attitude and were totally great to talk with. I almost bought a growler to take with me (California has a really screwed up law on growlers only being filled by the place that sold them, what the hell is that?) but alas I was in a hotel with no fridge. Next time, Gadget. And there will be a next time. -
Review from Nicholas T.
Los Angeles, CA
3/21/2012
Alesmith was one stop of many on a weekend San Diego trek (read: bender) to sample the breweries of the area. I can say, without question, that Alesmith was the highlight of the beer geek trip. The selection was varied, the staff was friendly, the atmosphere was nice.
That said, it is on the smaller side of tasting rooms, but, we never felt crowded despite peak times on a weekend. Parking outside was easy, even with the place somewhat busy.
The beer, oh my the beer. We sampled the entire menu and I found myself enjoying types of beer I generally stay clear of. That just tells you how amazing their beer was of my favorite brews! They make a great stout, being a fan of the darker beers. However, my favorite was a special taster they had of their Wee Heavy Scottish ale that had been aged in bourbon casks; it is quite possibly the greatest beer I have had to date.
The only unfortunate thing, I could not talk them into giving me some of the specialty Wee Heavy to bring home! This is my favorite brewery I have come across so far. I just wish it was closer! -
Review from Shawn M.
Carlsbad, CA
5/24/2012
There beer simply kicks ass. Absolutely one of my favorite breweries period.
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Review from jessica r.
San Diego, CA
5/6/2012
Finally made it in to AleSmith. This is my candy shop. Speedway Stout best beer out there in my opinion and I got to try 5 different variations of it in their tasting room. Doesn't get much better than that. The tasting room itself is nice and spacious. Tasters are $1 or 12 ounce taste for $3. They do sell growlers which is awesome, wish I lived closer. It was pretty busy on the Saturday I went, not sure if this is typical or if it was part in due to the CBC at any rate still plenty of room to hang out and drink the best beer in San Diego. I heart you AleSmith.
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Review from Howeler G.
San Diego, CA
3/19/2012
I'm asked this a lot around town:
"Howeler - if you were stranded on a desert island what brewery would you choose to fulfill your inner beer geek needs"
Answer: ALESMITH!
Simply the BEST brewery in San Diego. Why this brewery?
Because of all the different and excellent beers they brew! Not focused on one style but many different styles from a pale ale to an old ale and just about everything in between.
Go check out their new improved tasting room. -
Review from Derrick G.
Irvine, CA
3/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is beer brewing superstar... and if I lived in San Diego, I think I would be here all the time... I still might find a way to be here all the time =) My Bloody Valentine is probably one of my most favorite beers that I have gotten my hands onto lately... and you better get here before it runs out to try for yourself.
I'd have a growler or two to refill if I were a sd native!!! A great place to sample some of the best from one of San Diego's best! -
Review from Adam O.
San Diego, CA
4/12/2012
I hate ot say I have a favorite brewery in SD, but gun to my head, I would choose Alesmith. They do not shy away from more obscure styles, and in fact, some of those are my favorites because they are so well-balanced. My Bloody Valentine is top-notch, and I also enjoy Horny Devil. Alesmith X should not be overlloked either. Great prices and the brewers are very cool. Highly recommend that you stop here, especially if you are going to Ballast Point, Green Flash, or White Labs.
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Review from Mark D.
San Diego, CA
4/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great beer, great atmosphere in the tasting room, great people behind the counter. Just make sure you have someone to drive if you plan on having more than 3. EVERY beer has a high alcohol content and just going through the tasters will give you at least a good buzz. It's easy to go through every beer and not expensive, at all. That makes AleSmith VERY dangerous.
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Review from Robert F.
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Absolutely love the beer here.....They just remodeled a bit, and it looks like it it not totally finished yet. In my opinion, a strange location and less than desirable space to taste in. But the good news is that the tasting is delicious. $1 per taste....which I think is going rate and a good deal for the quality of these quaffable brews.
It definitely shows a west coast style, but they are creative with spices, belgian yeasts, and the high alcohol content is masked very well without getting to caramelly or malty.
Dont miss the Horny Devil, Grand Cru, IPA and Speedway Stout....but they are good all down the list.Listed in: Crafty Beer Bars (best of the…, Crafty Beers in SD, Beer tasting
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Review from Erin S.
Santa Rosa, CA
1/7/2012
My favorite brewery in San Diego. All the beers were made with such quality. The tasting room is small and simple with taps coming out of the wall, really its all you need. Taproom reminded me of Redwood Curtain and Mt Tallac Brewing. Just about the beer. The beer was a $1 per taster and we tried:
X Pale Ale
Lil Devil Belgian Pale Ale
Nautical Nut Brown
Anvil ESB
IPA
Horny Devil Belgian Style Golden Ale
Grand Cru Belgian Style Dark
Wee Heavy Scotch Ale
Barleywine
Speedway Stout
Yule Smith Holiday Ale
Excellent! Half the beers had double digit ABVs and were balanced. Usually that's not the case. You can grab growlers and bottles to go. They are remodeling this month and expanding production. Happy brewing!Listed in: IPA Journeys
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Review from B A.
San Diego, CA
12/31/2011
Sorry for the 3 stars, it's actually not due to the beer, it's the rudeness behind the counter! The girl that pours the beer is out right rude and for me it's about the experience when i drink craft beer....
I have been there on more than one occasion, this time i walked out after one taster. -
Review from Janice W.
3/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
I was not impressed with AleSmith when I visited. The beers are good, but their ridiculous licensing doesn't allow certain percentage beers to be poured into pints and you can only have one taster of these higher % (I believe its over 8%) at a time. Overall, there are way better breweries to visit than this one.
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Review from Amy B.
San Diego, CA
3/28/2012
Belguims Are my favorites and Alesmith knows what they are doing! The lil devil and horny devil are awesome. Tasters are a buck... Tasting room just redone. Love this place.
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Review from Nicole G.
9/21/2011 1 photo
LOVE Alesmith.
Their Speedway Stout is a better pick-me-up than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. Feeling frisky? Their Horny Devil will awaken a burning passion in even the most celebite of souls.
I'm a Belgian girl at heart so their offerings tap into the most rudimentary of my beer loving genes. I can't stay away. I picked up a growler on my first trip and now use it as a ready excuse to stop by at will. Ah Sweet nectar.
Not a lot to say that hasn't been said already. The folks that run it are friendly, the parking is great and location just about a minute off the beaten track. The only 'drawback' if you can call it that, is when they're well stocked in the storeroom, the boxes make the tasting area a bit crowded. Not such a bad thing if you know you're being crowded out by well crafted beer.
Keep it coming. :) -
Review from Javier J.
8/8/2011
Alesmith has some of the best craft beers you can possibly find. And that's saying a lot when you're talking about this area of SD. Because let's face it, there's a lot of amazing beer spots around here.
And if you plan on coming to the brewery for a growler fill, the prices may have been bumped up a little since the last time I came, but it's still worth it since it has the words Alesmith on the label.
The great thing about coming to Alesmith for some beer fresh from their tap is that you have a newly opened Green Flash brewery near here as well as Ballast Point. What more could you ask for in a mini-booze tour?
Go up another 20 minutes and you hit Stone and Lost Abbey. You're practically a DUI waiting to happen at that point. Which, may I add, you should not drink and operate a vehicle. Always bring a designated driver so that you can be a designated drinker.
The hours of operation could be a little wider for walk-in/growler fills, but over all, you're still in a wonderful zone of awesome whenever you make it here.
Expect a very industrial and warehouse storage feel to the place. A barrel or two to put your drink on and a lot of things that say Alesmith for purchase here as well as beer that looks like it was freshly bottled with a very low-tech looking bottling line.
Yeah, it may not be futuristic nor practical, but you'll realize why the beer cost slightly more than your average beer on the shelf when you see their production line. No matter what, it still makes for one amazingly beer drinking stop. -
Review from Jane L.
San Diego, CA
2/25/2012
A little busy with nice chatter atmosphere you would find at a wine tasting, with a hip but not trying to be hip crowd. It's not very spacy inside and with its popularity, the place gets pretty packed. (note to self: not very stroller friendly!) We really liked My Bloody Valentine!
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Review from Shauna M.
8/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not my favorite microbrew in the area, but I am more of an IPA girl, and their stuff is more belgin and english ale. Nice for a change of pace, but not something I would go out of my way for (and it is kinda out of the way).
They also have pretty limited tasting hours compared to other microbrews in the area. I think the hours are better than they once were, but still prohibitive. My boyfriend and I had considered coming here about 5 times before when we were in Mira Mesa, but when we would check the hours they would either be closed or half an hour from closing and it wasnt worth it.
Bottom line: If you want a break from all the IPA's in town give it a try, but make sure to check their hours before you head out!Listed in: San Diego Boredom Busters
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Review from Joe B.
San Mateo, CA
10/24/2011
I don't know why I didn't give this place 5 stars.... I liked so many of the beers...
We stopped in this past weekend and enjoyed tasting all the beers..
They have a great variety... The guy serving the beer was nice.....
The Speedway Stout is amazing.. Such a great Stout...
I can't wait to go back..... -
Review from Carrie C.
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
BF loves beers and wanted to come here on our day trip to SD..Like every other small brewery, it's tucked away in a commercial area that's dark and empty. The place looked like they either just moved in or remodeling the old space because it's a bit empty and unfinished. There's no floorboards, nails are sticking out of places and the bathroom smells new. It looks like it's going to be a nice modern space. There's a decent selection on draft (about 15) for a really good price. He got 3 tastings and liked them all!! :)
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Review from Jim L.
7/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
As others have noted, AleSmith is a good local brewery tucked back off of Miramar Road.
If you're looking for a massive brewery with a fancy tasting room, you won't find that here. However, if your looking for some fine handcrafted beers, you need not look any further.
One of my favorite beers from here is their IPA. They don't make up a name for it because they don't have to. It is simple, AleSmith IPA. And the beer stands up for itself. Be warned however that this beer packs a good punch with lots of hops.
The last thing I will say is that the people here are super friendly. Since it is a smaller brewery, you feel welcomed to the place. Also, if you call ahead, you can replace your kegs here. It is a little pricey but well worth it. -
Review from Bernard A.
Stockton, CA
I love Speedway, so I definitely had to come here when I took a trip to San Diego.
There wasn't anything fancy going on here. Pretty simple. The tasting area was small and there were no places to sit. Oh well, I was here to taste some beer and Alesmith didn't disappoint.
Tried a few beers and bought a few things for the friends up north.
Sure wish they had some Barrel Aged Speedway to taste. -
Review from Jennifer E.
Tucson, AZ
Woot Woo, this place is rockin'! I highly recommend AleSmith. I was blown away by Speedway Stout. So good. Christmas in July is piney deliciousness. I am so glad that we stopped by. It reminds me of the old Greenflash. We had lots of fun.
Servers were awesome and actually recommended Hess to us. Very cool!
Dogs were allowed so if you have one take it. -
Review from GRACE A.
San Diego, CA
9/16/2011
I like AleSmith. Correction. I LOVE me some AleSmith. There is always plenty of parking (as the designated driver, YES this matters), the wait is usually minimal and their beer is Fantastico!
My go-to is the Speedway Stout, that has an espresso flavor to it. Coffee? GOOD. Beer? GOOD. What's not to love, right? The folks behind the counter are always friendly, and overall, the customer base that we see on a regular basis seem cool, laid back and happy with drink in hand.
It's easy to support your local microbreweries when the beer is as good as Alesmith's. -
Review from Albert W.
5/9/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Nestled in a backwoods industrial park, AleSmith is one of the finest microbreweries in San Diego. As a brewery first and foremost, with a tasting room on the side, don't expect much in ambiance when you come here for a tasting. It feels like you're hanging out with your friends in a garage drinking some home brewed strong beers, shooting the breeze next to some empty kegs and a forklift.
The Wee Heavy, Horny Devil, and Speedway Stout beers are among our hero's favorites. In fact, it's pretty hard to find any beer in their lineup that's disagreeable with beer connoisseurs.
PROS:
- Really great tasting beers, with half of them having double digit ABVs.
- Two servers at the tasting counter during peak times, so there's hardly ever a wait.
CONS:
- It feels a bit pricey now that 2 ounce samples are a dollar each instead of 50 cents like it was before.
- Beers aren't priced any differently from retail when you buy them from the tasting room.Listed in: What's Brewing?
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Review from Brooke J.
San Diego, CA
1/30/2012
I'm new to the beer scene and have been tasting everything I can get my hands on to figure out what I like best... I found it! I love AleSmith! Their beer is all the things I like and none that I don't ... Not too hoppy just smooth and lots of great flavor. Friendly staff too!
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Review from Michael V.
San Diego, CA
3/21/2011
AleSmith is a household name among beer enthusiasts in the county, but you wouldn't guess it by its modest size. It's obviously a brewery first and hangout second, though I've heard it can get busy in there. I went on a Thursday afternoon and it was fairly slow.
This is another brewery that does everything well; I love the fact that their less-expensive varieties are all excellent, and their more prestigious smaller-batch brews are recognized internationally.
TIP IN CASH. Their credit card system doesn't provide a "tip" or "gratuity" line on the receipt, meaning you need to state your tip before they run the card, and they'll add it to your total. I wasn't aware of this and was unable to tip. The people were understanding, actually cocky about my inability to furnish a gratuity, noticing my growler and declaring, "You'll be back."
I will, AleSmith. I definitely will. And your tip will be doubled.
Also, we ran into local chef/TV personality Sam the Cooking Guy who was just pulling up at AleSmith as we were leaving. Said, "hi." Nice dude. -
Review from Monica D.
2/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
The almighty second stop in our infamous brewery bus tour!
I've heavily appreciated AleSmith's brews for about as long as I have been enjoying the beer experience in my life. I mean more like when I overcame the crap from college and started hanging out with beer geeks. Yule Smith and AleSmith IPA are still two of my most favorite beers in the whole wide world, and I have awesome drinking companions and establishments to thank for that palate development.
First of all, the people working the tasting room are INCREDIBLE and efficient. They are super nice and accommodating -- I mean, 50+ people, PLUS another group who happened in at the same time? That's overwhelming even for the most seasoned restaurants to deal with. But they worked it out for us, sold us merchandise, fielded our questions and put up with our ridiculousness -- all with smiles on their faces. Thank you guys so much!
But toward the end, the celebrity of the moment, Pete, was shaking everybody's hand and warmly thanking all of us for coming by. Pete, who happens to OWN AleSmith, is the same Pete I remember meeting way back when and hanging out with him at various beer events etc. I NEVER REALIZED WHO HE WAS UNTIL YESTERDAY. He is so chill and down to earth, I never even knew that I was chilling with the guy who owns AleSmith!!! I know I'm pretty much an idiot, but this definitely takes the cake. HI PETE!!!
What I managed to try, remember, and worship:
X -- light pale ale, crisp, refreshing.
Lil' Devil -- lighter Belgian style, also refreshing and flavorful.
IPA -- duh. loves it.
Horny Devil -- the Lil's spicier, more Belgian older cousin. awesome.
Grand Cru -- Belgian style, darker than the Devils, very tasty.
Wee Heavy -- Scotch ale, one of the only styles I will actually drink.
My Bloody Valentine -- hoppier 'imperial'-like red ale. delish.
Speedway Stout -- a stout's drunker, louder, and stronger sibling.
Old Numbskull -- American barleywine, hitting 11%. need I say more?
I am actually very impressed with myself that I remembered all this. This is where I definitely remember my weekday boyfriend (D. Norman) starting to stutter through talking to the ladies, and my little brother (Greggers) beginning the tipsy swagger throughout the warehouse. Outstanding. Thank you, beer bus, beer friends, beer gods, and AleSmith for an amazing early Saturday afternoon! -
Review from Pete S.
5/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I heard that Yeast (the good kind) , makes great beer. No doubt that Alesmith has good yeast because I've heard that there is a company that produces it in San Diego. I'm not sure if Alesmith uses http://www.whitelabs.com/ but no matter who they use, you can taste the quality in their beers.
I'm particular to their IPA and Wee Heavy beer. Crafted nicely, the IPA has great floral notes and light body. The Wee Heavy is like the evil sister, very heavy, 10% IBU , hint of maple.
The warehouse setting is slightly bigger than Ballast Point and the bathroom could use some help with the lock. You can buy a growler here too and take some of the great beer home. This place does not serve food, so you better bring some snacks with you or maybe some yeasty bread. -
Review from Jason G.
San Diego, CA
12/26/2011
Just a tasting room filled with amazing SD craft brews. As most of, if not all, of Ale Smith beers are available in bottles, I highly recommend coming here for seasonal ales. Christmas 2011 was amazing. Speedway Stout 4 different ways: Kopi Luwak, Cherry Oak, Orange Rum, and Chipotle. YUM! For SD beer week, they had the Speedway Stout 13 ways!!! Nice people serving beers, dogs allowed and a convenient restroom. Doesn't get any better than this.
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Review from kevin m.
San Diego, CA
11/14/2011
No idiots, awesome place, and good beer you can rarely find anywhere on tap. One of the best brewing companies I have ever been to.
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Review from Xavier L.
Ontario, CA
Came here after finding out that Green Flash would not open for another hour. The place is very no frills. I had the AleSmith IPA it was decent. I came here since I remember hearing a Beer Geek talk about how good AleSmith is. The beers are good and I want to try more.
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Review from Brian K.
10/19/2010 2 Check-ins Here
(5-star review is of the beer ONLY; the beer taster pricing isn't worth it).
Beers: 5 stars. West Coast-style, definitely West Coast-style.
Prices (for samples): A single star...$1 for a sample? Rip-off.
Prices (for bottles): 2 stars. You aren't saving much; I saw the IPA at Bristol Farms for $5, the same price at Alesmith.
My three favorite: X, IPA and Speedway Stout.
X is a delicious, easy-to-drink pale ale. It's bottle-conditioned (aka bottle fermentation) and you can really taste the goodness of the beer. And at ~$5 a bottle, it's definitely worth it.
The Alesmith IPA is a classic San Diego IPA: Bold, strong, flavorful and hoppy.
Speedway Stout is beautiful. This will always be a winner in my book. -
Review from Jessica L.
San Diego, CA
1/13/2011
I LOVE ALE SMITH!!! Ale Smith is without a doubt my favorite brewery in San Diego. Speedway Stout has a rich coffee/chocolate aroma, tastes amazing, goes down smooth, and gives you a warmth that only 12% beer can do. I don't think I could ask for more, yet I always want more of it.
My friends and I also went on their brewery tour last year and it was awesome. The head brewer Peter is so passionate about brewing and is a Grand master beer judge, so you know their stuff is gonna be good. He goes into the science of beer making, so it was a lot of fun for us science nerds. With the tour we got four tasters in a pint glass to keep. I definitely recommend going on this tour, but they only do them the last saturday of each month. So plan ahead and make reservations. -
Review from Katherine S.
La Jolla, CA
11/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Alesmith is great! We went here on a brewery tour last weekend. There are a ton of different beers, and their tasters are generously sized. Lots of options over 10% alcohol, so get ready to be tipsy :)
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Review from Theresa S.
Queen Creek, AZ
3/22/2011
We visited this warehouse tasting room after leaving Ballast Point Brewing (about 5-10 minutes away). This place is tiny as is the size of the bar. We got there right after a beer tour bus arrived so it took quite a while to make our way up to the bar to order our tasters.
We tried the IPA (ok) and the Nautical Nut Brown (ok - nothing special). In fact, after having the delicious Black Marlin Porter at Ballast Point, the Nut Brown was actually disappointing. I didn't even finish the taster! Yes, I know a Porter and a Brown are quite different, but the Brown just wasn't appealing.
We also tried something else, but it wasn't memorable enough for me to remember the name.
Overall, a disappointment, but this could have been because the beer tour bus people were so drunk that they kept spilling beer everywhere and running in to us. Is this AleSmith's fault? No, but it probably cast a negative light on the whole experience including their beer so I figured I should mention it. -
Review from Nicole S.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 3/3/2012
Abby and Nick are great beer tenders! The remodel looks awesome. Beer is always fantastic!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/6/2011
A good place to stop in for a few tasters. My favorites are Old Numb Skull, Speed Way Stout, Yule… Read more »
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Review from Scott A.
San Diego, CA
6/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'll keep it short since I don't need to repeat what other people have said about this cool little Brewery.
Laid back atmosphere with good beers and cool bartenders. I got tasters of all the beers on tap (I think 8 or 9) and bought a couple tasters for other people and came out under $15, which is pretty good for that amount of pretty good beer. It's standing/leaning room only. Not a problem most of the time, but this was my third brewery of the day and the beer was starting to set in so a chair would have been nice to have.
Come here if you like checking out breweries and knocking back some tasters or pints of good local beer. -
Review from Katie T.
3/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place was off the charts amazing! We met some friends here for a few hours before bowling awesomeness.
Let me just get right to the point, I tried every single beer they offered. My boyfriend and I had this "divide and conquer" mantra. We each had two at a time (double fisting at its finest). I was the top of the list, he was the bottom. In the end, I paid like $10 for my boyfriend AND me.
We were wasty face - the beer was good- the staff was great. It sort of felt like a party in someone's house.
It was amazing. -
Review from Scott G.
San Francisco, CA
12/18/2010
Don't expect a bar-type atmosphere here, boys and girls. It's essentially a warehouse, AleSmith's brewery and distribution center, with a few stools.
Papa and I purchased an AleSmith growler and stop by for fill-ups of their tasty tap beers for about $12. Their beers are fantastic!
Unfortunately, I usually have to shimmy my way through the obnoxious, loud customers that usually flood the place.
The employees are kinda snobby, too. Just give me my beer and allow me to continue my day, thank you very much!
