“In early 2014, Tony Gwynn’s team approached AleSmith to create a distinctive beer for the baseball legend. A meeting was called at the Gwynn household, which included a sampling of AleSmith beers to identify Tony’s preferences. He wanted the beer to be “light with a kick” which he elaborated further to mean full of hop character and light in body and color. The result of the Gwynn family’s feedback on test batches rendered a golden pale ale full of American hop flavor and aroma, with a subdued bitterness and a malty sweet finish. AleSmith San Diego Pale Ale .394 pays tribute to the city that Tony loved and the career high batting average that he achieved in ‘94. Discover what happens when a Hall of Fame perfectionist crafts a beer with a world-class brewery.”
Served in a shaker. She pours a pale amber colour with a big and fluffy three finger crown perched on top. Reduction is slow and steady, eventually settling to a thick overlay that weaves a healthy lace as it goes.
They don’t come much more American than this…presenting big orange citrus and pine overtones that come together with a subtle honey malt structure. Hints of grapefruit, passionfruit and mango get amongst it as a somewhat spicy/resinous note gets a look in. Top notch aroma.
The mouth feel holds a really good weight. The texture is dry and crisp with the IBU clocking in at a mild 26. Medium body and Co2. 6% ABV.
Lovely balance on the palate – finding that happy medium between the fruity/citrusy hops and the semi sweet malts. There is a nice injection of grapefruit through the middle that lays up for a long and clean piney finish.
Absolutely love these full-blooded APA’s. We kind of feel like we get more bang for our buck as they teeter so close to that boundary between a pale ale and an IPA. It’s amazing how sessional it is as well. Geez that’s a decent drop.