Miramar · Best Breweries in San Diego
AleSmith Brewing Company Review
Last updatedRanked #2 of 8 in Best Breweries in San Diego
San Diego's best brewery for dark, strong, and Belgian-influenced beers. Speedway Stout is a world-class beer.
Score breakdown
- Beer Quality96/100
- Taproom Experience88/100
- Food78/100
- Innovation88/100
- Value86/100
The verdict on AleSmith Brewing Company
Ranked #2 of 8 — 90/100 in our Best Breweries in San Diego coverage
AleSmith is a brewery for serious beer drinkers. The Speedway Stout is one of the best imperial stouts in the world, and the Belgian-style lineup is equally strong. The Miramar taproom is industrial and spacious, with a small food menu and a wall of awards. The staff is knowledgeable and happy to talk about barrel programs and yeast strains. The food is not the draw, but the beer is good enough that you will not mind. It is the best brewery in San Diego for anyone who wants to explore the darker, stronger side of craft beer.
What to drink at AleSmith Brewing Company
Across our coverage the recommendation is consistent: Speedway Stout or Belgian-style flight.
Is AleSmith Brewing Company worth the price?
AleSmith Brewing Company sits at $6–11/pint — the budget band for this category. Nothing else we ranked in this category lands in the same price bracket, so the comparison is against cheaper or pricier alternatives rather than a like-for-like rival.
AleSmith Brewing Company FAQ
Is AleSmith Brewing Company expensive?
AleSmith Brewing Company is priced at $6–11/pint, which puts it in the budget band for this category. There is no other option at the exact same price point on the same list, so treat it as its own bracket.
Is AleSmith Brewing Company worth it?
It scores 90/100, 2.2 points above the 87.8 average for its list. That's a solid recommendation within the category.
What should I get at AleSmith Brewing Company?
We recommend the Speedway Stout or Belgian-style flight.
What else is nearby AleSmith Brewing Company?
Punjabi Tandoor (89/100 in our best indian food in san diego list) and Cotixan (88/100 in our best breakfast burritos in san diego list) are also ranked in the same neighborhood, so it's easy to pair a visit.
What works
- Strong beer quality — scored 96/100 in our ranking
- Strong taproom experience — scored 88/100 in our ranking
- Strong innovation — scored 88/100 in our ranking
- Top-2 finish out of 8 spots we scored in this category
Know before you go
- Food is the weak point — 78/100, below the rest of its scores
The full review
AleSmith is a brewery for serious beer drinkers. The Speedway Stout is one of the best imperial stouts in the world, and the Belgian-style lineup is equally strong. The Miramar taproom is industrial and spacious, with a small food menu and a wall of awards. The staff is knowledgeable and happy to talk about barrel programs and yeast strains. The food is not the draw, but the beer is good enough that you will not mind. It is the best brewery in San Diego for anyone who wants to explore the darker, stronger side of craft beer.
On our weighted scale it earns 90/100 — good for #2 of 8 places we evaluated for best breweries in san diego. We drink at the places we rank, pay our own tab, and re-score when a bar changes hands, moves or reworks its list.
What to drink at AleSmith Brewing Company
Speedway Stout or Belgian-style flight
Typical spend: $6–11/pint
How we scored AleSmith Brewing Company
Every score on this page comes from the same editorial rubric we apply to the whole category: beer quality, taproom experience, food, innovation, value. The criteria are weighted toward what matters most in the category, compared against every other place we ranked in the same list rather than against an abstract ideal. We drink at the places we rank, pay our own tab, and re-score when a bar changes hands, moves or reworks its list. Scores are editorial judgments rather than aggregated user ratings.