Without intent, I have collected well over 1,000 beer bottles since the early 70s. When something finally had to be done about the cheap paneling in this old modular, I had a choice. Tear down the walls while, oh, so carefully, replacing the often rotted 1X3s. Or: cover them with… The Bottle Collection.
Written by Ken Carman
Ale Smith Brewing
9366 Cabot Drive
San Diego, CA 92126
(858) 549-9888
www.alesmith.com
San Diego, CA
A Belgian Strong Ale from Ale Smith. Belgian candi sugar, Trappist yeast, coriander: what’s not to like? Seems to me we rated this beer high when I offered it to my guests at Ken’s summer beer tastings.
Here’s more information on Ale Smith…
Their head brewer, who started brewing in 1995, is Peter Zien. He was won over 400 awards for his beer and is a BJCP Grand Master. There are very few Grand Masters: the top rank at the BJCP.
Many of their beers, according to wiki, are inspired by Belgian and British brewing traditions.
Ale Smith was started by Skip Virgilio and Ted Newcomb in 1995. Peter Zien bought Ale Smith in 2002. They specialize in high gravity and highly hopped beers. Many are bottled in Champagne like bottles, and bombers: or 22oz if you prefer. Bottled beers are bottled conditioned. Their strongest is Speedway Stout at 12% and I’ve had it: you’d never know. Consider “artisanal:” by some, a word that seems to lack a clear definition in brew world.
Horny Devil is rated @ 90: BeerAdvocate, and 97 at ratebeer.com.