Beer #257 - Alesmith / Nut Brown Ale

Beer #257 - W/C 27th January 2020



BREWERY // San Diego's AleSmith are the 6th best brewery in the World according to RateBeer users. Not bad considering there are over 36,000 breweries listed on the site. It's no surprise though- this is the 17th year they have been in the top 10. AleSmith began in 1995 and quickly gained accolades for their large format bottles inspired by the beers of Belgium & Great Britain as well as big hitting hoppy IPAs and Imperial Stouts. In 2002, the ahead-of-its-time brewery hit financial trouble and was sold to a friend - Peter Zien. A stalwart of the local homebrewing scene, Grand Master Judge and holder of a doctorate degree in Law, Zien was well qualified to take Alesmith forward. The brewery is still known for their American takes on traditional styles and also their distinctly 'new world' beers such as Speedway Stout which recently caused a stir in Old Blighty as the "UK's Most Expensive Pint". The brewery is definitely worth a visit. It has the largest tasting room on the West Coast which includes the first-of-its-kind barrel-aged beer-blending bar called Anvil & Stave as well as the Tony Gwynn Museum of baseball memorabilia. 

BEER // Nut Brown Ale was first brewed by Alesmith co-founders Ted & Skip as a Mild ale in 1995. Mild was the English pub-goer's choice from the 17th Century up until the mid 20th as a quaffable, refreshing but tasty sessionable beer of around 3% abv. Over the years Nut Brown Ale has seen several refinements to bring it in line with modern palates and the body and strength increased. This San Diego tribute to the English style is brilliantly balanced, packed with flavour but still very drinkable. It is lightly dosed with English East Kent Goldings and Styrian Goldings hops to balance the sweetness but this beer is all about the malt. The maltbill creates is a symphony of aroma and flavour - biscuit, bread, caramel, cocoa, milk chocolate and more.