San Diego’s craft beer scene is one of the best in the country, so standing out is no easy task, but Alesmith has managed to do just that for over 20 years.

They made a name for themselves in late 1990’s and have been awarded Small Brewing Company of the Year, Brewer of the Year as well as #1 Best Brewery in the World by RateBeer.com. In recent years they’ve moved to a new state of the art facility, boasting the largest tasting room in San Diego.

SD Pale Ale .394 is a golden pale with American hop flavor, brewed to commemorate Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn and his career high batting average of .394.

ABV: 6.0% IBU’s: 13

Pour: Hazy with a slight golden color, plenty of carbonation in the bottom of the glass.

Head: Thick off and off white, really frothy.

Nose: Floral with hints of hops and little bit of wheat.

Palate: Light bodied and slightly creamy with a malt background. Little bit of hops without being bitter. Finish is clean with almost no bitterness.

Overall: It’s been a while since I had a Pale Ale that really stood out. The creaminess mixed with the subtle hop aromas really plays off each other and the finish was quick and to the point, almost like a malty session IPA. A great pairing with a classic cheeseburger or some pumpkin pie.

Beer Buyer Overall Rating: 3.5 Out Of 5 Pints