Revisit #2

This is the second entry in a series of revisits, trying to rehash breweries visited and beers sampled.  Our second San Diego beer outing was a tour and tasting on 25 April 2009 at Alesmith Brewing Company (http://alesmith.com/).

David, Natalie, Me, Sarah, Sean, Sara

I had previously sampled Nautical Nut Brown and Speedway Stout, but was looking forward to sampling some of their other beers.  Alesmith generally does tours only on the last Saturday of the month and reservations are strongly recommended.  We had made reservations a few weeks prior and a group of six of us went.  The tour was given by Peter Zien, a former attorney/homebrewer turned craftbrewer, who owns the brewery.  For $5, we went on a 45-minute tour, had some samples, and got to keep a pint glass.

Most tours are the same, beer, or rather, good beer, is made from four ingredients:  barley, hops, water, and yeast.  What set apart the Alesmith tour from others, was the passion and enthusiasm which the tour was given.  The excitement was contagious; after the tour, our friend Sara, who does not like beer, wanted to start homebrewing!!!  All six of us really blown away by the tour.  After the tour, comes the best part, the tasting.  Here's what we sampled at Alesmith:
           Lil Devil--Gold color, fluffy white head of foam with good head retention.  Clean malt flavors with a hint of tangy hop tones.  Belgian candi sugar, coriander, and orange peel add a twist, along with the Trappist yeast strain.  Refreshing, quenching, and easy to drink.  5.5%.
           Nautical Nut Brown--Rich chocolate malt flavors create complexity and drinkability in this classic English-style Nut Brown ale.  Although dark in color, Nautical Nut Brown ale is an extremely easy drinking, relatively low alcohol beer.  5.0% 
           Wee Heavy--Deep mahogany color with nice tan head.  Rich, toasty, malty aroma and flavor with a faint touch of smokiness.  A tinge of hops provides the perfect balance to the maltiness.  Full-bodied, smooth and warming.  10.0%.
           Old Numbskull--Aroma starts with toasty, caramel notes and a pleasant hop character.  Color is deep amber, with tan head and impressive 'Brussels Lace' that clings to the sides of the glass.  11.0%
           X--This refreshing Extra Pale Ale is pale yellow in color, with a bright white head.  An aroma of fresh hops with notes of citrus and pine.  Light bodied, smooth on the palate, with a dry finish and superb aftertaste.  5.5%. .
           Anvil ESB--Bright copper color with light tan head.  Malty slightly hoppy aroma.  Caramel and malty flavors with a perfect balance of imported English hops.  5.5% 
           IPA--Medium straw color, pale tan head.  Rich malty aroma with a HUGE dose of hops.  Medium-full body with sweet malty flavors and a delicious abundance of aromatic and bittering hops.  7.25%.

Sean, Sara, Chris, Sarah, Natalie, and David