Founded with a passion and respect for brewing in 1995, AleSmith continues to be recognized as one of the World’s foremost craft breweries on the strength of numerous awards garnered at prestigious local, national and international competitions. Consistently ranked in the World’s Top Ten list on the consumer generated website www.ratebeer.com, AleSmith is currently ranked #6 out of 33,000+ breweries worldwide. Family-owned and community-minded, AleSmith celebrates diversity, charity and the desire to deliver world-class beer with 5-Star service to our customers.
1995: Humble Beginnings
AleSmith Brewing Company is founded in a small single-unit space in the commercial district of Miramar, San Diego and packed with a 15 bbl brew system, tasting bar, office, and a three-man team.
1998: Horny Devil Starts a Trend
AleSmith’s Belgian Golden Strong Ale brewed with Coriander wins over the crowd at Great American Beer Festival and brings home a shiny silver souvenir, paving the way for 17 more upcoming medals in future GABF Competitions alone.
2002: Change of Hands
Grand Master Judge and decorated home brewer Peter Zien takes ownership, solidifying AleSmith’s reputation for brewing legendary, hand-forged ales.
2003: The Barrel Age
AleSmith rocks the world’s beer community with its first release from the barrel, the epic Barrel Aged Speedway Stout. This 12% ABV beast hibernates in bourbon barrels and has been consistently recognized as one of the best beers in the world.
2008: The Big Year
AleSmith is awarded 2008 Small Brewing Company and Brewer of the Year at Great American Beer Festival. New brew system increases brewing capacity from 15bbl to 30bbl.
2012: New Image, New Bottler, Same Recipe
Updated logo and bottle art visually defines the AleSmith brand. Premium Prospero bottler is installed to increase efficiency, quality, and reach a new output level of 15,000 bbls/year.
2014: Artisanal Expansion
Rated #1 Best Brewery in the World and Rated #1 Brewery in California based on consumer reviews at RateBeer.com. AleSmith now includes over 30 dedicated team members, multiple departments, five spacious units, and an impressive line-up of award winning brews.
2015: Forging Ahead
AleSmith closes its original location off of Cabot Drive and expands into a 100,000 sq.ft. facility, increases production, and launches new markets on a global scale. AleSmith’s new state-of-the-art brewery, located at 9990 AleSmith Court (only two blocks west of the original facility), showcases a custom Steinecker 85 bbl brew system, San Diego’s largest tasting room, and the Tony Gwynn Museum.
2019: CheeseSmith is Born
After a decade of making cheese at home, Peter Zien has taken the leap to create cheese professionally. CheeseSmith brings that classic European feel of beer and cheese pairing to San Diego. CheeseSmith is operated in the back of the building and is available for purchase in the gift shop- and is re-stocked every Thursday.
2020: 25 Years of Hand-Forged Ales
AleSmith currently ranks as the #1 Brewery in California by RateBeer. To commerate 25 years, the team at AleSmith oversees a rebrand of the iconic Anvil, AleSmith Word Mark and more.
2020: Anvil of Hope is Launched
Anvil of Hope, the charitable arm of AleSmith, is founded by Peter and Vicky Zien. Anvil of Hope’s mission is the break the cycle of poverty by helping at-risk youth. Learn more at anvilofhope.org/
2022: Increased Production
AleSmith adds new canning line increasing their capacity of packaging to 300 cans per minute with plans to grow production and product availability through distribution.