AleSmith Brewing Company is a Miramar spot ranked #2 of 8 in our Best Breweries in San Diego list, scoring 90/100 in our Best Breweries in San Diego. Order the speedway stout or belgian-style flight. San Diego's best brewery for dark, strong, and Belgian-influenced beers. Speedway Stout is a world-class beer.
We scored AleSmith Brewing Company 90/100 in our full editorial review.
On our Best Breweries in San Diego list, AleSmith Brewing Company lands at #2 of 8, just behind Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens (93/100) and ahead of North Park Beer Co. (89/100). Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens holds #1 with 93/100, so the gap is 3 points.
How AleSmith Brewing Company stacks up in the category
AleSmith Brewing Company scores 90/100 against a best breweries in san diego field that averages 87.8, running from 83 at the bottom to 93 at the top. That puts it 2.2 points above the category average and ahead of 6 of the 7 other places we scored. It lands 2nd of 8, and the category leader is 3 points clear.
Judged criterion by criterion, AleSmith Brewing Company separates itself most on beer quality (96/100 versus a 91.3 category average). Its softest showing is food at 78, 3.5 points under the field. Those two numbers are the honest summary: this is a place you pick for beer quality, not for a clean sweep of every category.
AleSmith Brewing Company scores versus the Best Breweries in San Diego category average
Criterion
AleSmith Brewing Company
Category avg.
Difference
Beer Quality
96
91.3
+4.7
Taproom Experience
88
86.8
+1.2
Food
78
81.5
-3.5
Innovation
88
87.3
+0.7
Value
86
84.5
+1.5
Scores are Sandi Spots editorial judgments, compared against every other place we ranked in best breweries in san diego.
Who AleSmith Brewing Company is right for
Go if
You care about beer quality — it beats the category average by 4.7 points there.
You care about value — it beats the category average by 1.5 points there.
You care about taproom experience — it beats the category average by 1.2 points there.
You want a proven pick: it is a top-three finisher in our best breweries in san diego list.
Skip it if
Food is your priority — it scores 78 against a 81.5 average here.
What else we rank near AleSmith Brewing Company
Miramar is dense enough that AleSmith Brewing Company rarely needs to be a standalone trip. We have scored 3 other ranked spots in the same neighborhood, so it is easy to stack a visit with Punjabi Tandoor (89/100 in our best indian food in san diego list) or Cotixan (88/100) and turn one stop into an afternoon.
Hours change seasonally, so we link straight to the venue's live hours instead of publishing a schedule that goes stale.
Expect $6–11/pint pricing. Budget-friendly. One of the cheaper ways to eat well nearby.
If it is your first visit, order the speedway stout or belgian-style flight before you experiment.
Why AleSmith Brewing Company made the list
Beer Quality
96/100
Taproom Experience
88/100
Food
78/100
Innovation
88/100
Value
86/100
Is AleSmith Brewing Company worth it?
Yes — worth going out of your way for.
AleSmith Brewing Company scores 90/100 in our Best Breweries in San Diego list (#2 of 8). It is strongest on beer quality (96) and taproom experience (88). San Diego's best brewery for dark, strong, and Belgian-influenced beers. Speedway Stout is a world-class beer.
Skip it if food matters most to you — that is its weakest category (78/100).
Plan your visit to AleSmith Brewing Company
AleSmith Brewing Company is a good fit for breweries. Because it ranks #2 on our best breweries in san diego list, it makes the most sense to pair it with nearby stops in Miramar rather than build a day around a long cross-town drive. Check live hours and availability before leaving, especially for a weekend visit.
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Score 90/100 on this list's criteria · Order: Speedway Stout or Belgian-style flight · $6–11/pint
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.
Written and fact-checked by the Sandi Spots Editorial team — San Diego residents publishing under Sleep Coast LLC. Every place we recommend has been visited in person or verified against an official source, and no business can pay for inclusion or a higher ranking.
Local, first-hand. Reported on the ground in San Diego County.
Kept current. Prices, hours, and closures reviewed on a rolling basis.
Independent. Affiliate links never influence rankings.