.394 San Diego Pale Ale
AleSmith Brewing Company

beersampler6 from Michigan

3.92/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Fairly refreshing pale ale, crisp and has that West Coast hit of bitter hops throughout. No date printed on bottle. Pours a yellow-orange clearish color with some nice foaming fluffy white head and some nice small rings of lingering lacing. Smells of fresh ripe grapefruit, pineapple, lemon, orange, malt, bread, vanilla, a little piney and herbal hops at the end. Taste follows the nose, great hit of bitterness, muted sweeter malt backbone at the end. Smooth, mild, slightly sticky mouthfeel and good carbonation. Very enjoyable and tasty.

Apr 12, 2020

GrumpyGas from Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

32oz howler poured into a pint glass shows a bright golden straw colored body and supports a generous 2" head of fluffy white bubbles that leave stepped artistic lacing from top to bottom.

A strong piney, floral, and grapefruit aroma matches the flavor which adds a touch of cracker and caramel notes. Finishes clean with a slight citrus pith bite.

Mouthfeel is a soft and clean medium.

Overall an easy drinking pale would go great with fish tacos and maybe even a robust mixed vegetable salad.

Mar 27, 2020

Gatch from Rhode Island

4.43/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled on Feb 5 2020, honestly not sure of the last time I’ve had a beer out of a bottle. Other than a stop at Alpine, this was the first beer upon moving to San Diego. A true SD/WC APA, I’ve been waiting to try this for years after somehow never drinking it while in Arizona. Tasty, refreshing, properly bitter, easy drinking. Top quality stuff!

Mar 22, 2020

FireMedk from California

4.28/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 oz. bottle. Great APA from one of my all-time favorite athletes, from one of my all-time time favorite city's, Tony Gwinn and San Diego. Got the typical floral, hops and pine taste but very minimal aftertaste and a lot smoother than I expected. San Diego may have a brewery on every corner but do yourself a favor and drink this one in memory of Tony Gwinn. AleSmith did this APA right. Respect!

Sep 29, 2019

Brew_42 from Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Abnormal Brewing in Busan, SK

Pours dark for a pale ale. Medium head with some lacing

Smell is tropical, piney, and hoppy.

Taste follows the nose but there is some maltiness and it is less bitter than I expected

Feel is bubbly and refreshing

Overall a solid pale ale.

Aug 12, 2019

teromous from Virginia

2.97/5  rDev -27.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

From the bottom of the can, on the edge: "05/01/19 CANNED 5E"

Appearance: The body is a dark beige that is opaque. It has a medium-sized head that is fluffy with pock marks on the surface. Good head retention. There are numerous chunks of sediment floating around in the glass. These chunks are large enough to be very noticeable.

Aroma: There is a bit of mango aroma and some floral scents. A bit of caramel and alcohol come through on the nose.

Taste: Caramel flavor comes through at first, then a soapy floral taste comes through.

Mouthfeel: It is smooth with a moderate bitter bite.

Overall: On the top of the can there is a line that states "JUICY, TROPICAL, HOP-FORWARD." This beer has a much more floral character. There is a touch of mango in the aroma but that's it. The bitter, soapy, floral hop character is at odds with the caramel flavor of the beer. It does push a decent amount of floral hop flavor, but it doesn't mesh well with this beer. On top of that, it just doesn't look appealing with such a large amount of sediment in the glass. Many rival dry-hopped and unfiltered beers manage to keep less sediment than this beer. It's an alright tasting beer if you enjoy a more floral hop character, but it isn't one I would recommend or drink again.

Jul 05, 2019

Victory_Sabre1973 from Minnesota

3.73/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Pours a darker golden color. Fairy clear. 1 finger white head when poured from the tap. The head retention is quite good. The head just clings to the side of the glass as it dissipates.
The nose is fairy mellow. There's a bit of a hop presence, but not strong. Seems more citrus than pine.
Taste very hoppy. Somewhat bitter. Taste is pine, for sure. No citrus. Don't you how I got it on the nose.
The body is full. The hops cling to my throat.
Very good IPA.

Jun 20, 2019

MattBeer from California

4.42/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

I had this beer during a business meeting at a restaurant in San Diego. I'm actually angling for another meeting down there just so we can go to the same restaurant and I can order this damn beer. It's so tasty!

May 01, 2019

TooManyGlasses from Canada

3.99/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

5 week old can. Pours a clear dark caramel with solid 1 finger of whitish head.
Aroma is sweet caramel malt on a piney hoppy background - definite tropical notes.
Taste is malt forward - caramel, pineapple, tropical - bitterness is quite subdued though not absent by any means.
Mouthfeel is medium-light - easy drinking - creamy and tasty.

Feb 18, 2019

defunksta from North Dakota

4.15/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Look: Pours a vibrant, hazy, orange color with a white head.
Smell: Aroma is full of citrus hops.
Taste: The flavor matches the aroma with a strong citrusy flavor. The bitterness is mild to moderate and the hop intensity is recognizably lower than an IPA.
Mouthfeel: Well carbonated and well balanced. Not too light or heavy.

Overall: This is a well-crafted pale ale with strong citrus flavors that rival an IPA, while keeping the alcohol and hop bitterness in moderation. I would highly recommend.

Feb 10, 2019

dcscientist from Colorado

4.18/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Now here's what a West Coast pale ale should taste like. As a baseball fan I knew I had to try this beer when I saw it on tap at a restaurant, and the guy behind the counter even complimented my choice. So I suspected it would be a very good beer, and I was right. Not too hoppy, unlike some APAs from around these parts. Good balance, no bitter aftertaste. Would certainly get it again if it was available where I was.

Sep 04, 2018

BlackBeerPirate from Illinois

3.44/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Taste: tropical, citrus hops, maybe some piney notes. Spiced hop nose. Golden/Amber hue, semi clear, with tan head and delicate lace. Medium/light body. Still a hop forward Pale ale with only 13 IBUs.

Aug 01, 2018

BeanBump from California

4/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Im not much of a pale ale guy usually but, damnit, Alesmith won me over with this one. This beer is basically a staple anywhere you go in SD, thanks mostly to the Tony Gwynn association but even without the local plug, its a pretty fantastic beer. The ABV sits at 6% which is the sweet spot for a pale. Its not overly hoppy, not too sweet, perfectly crisp and not heavy at all. This beer holds up any season of the year.

Jul 26, 2018

Ciocanelu from Romania

3.7/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Slightly hazy golden colour with off- white head. Aroma has sweet notes like candied orange and resiny hop notes. Taste is hoppy but not too bitter, resiny with candied citrus notes. Medium body and carbonation. Quite decent pale ale. Old school but tasty and well made.

Jul 25, 2018

beerthulhu from New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

-Spiegelau ipa glass. Canned 01.10.18. consumed 06.20.18.

A: Dark sunset orange has a good glow and brightness from back lighting. A hearty dose of carbonation with an average size head is light beige in color and turns to a slight milky layering after a few moments.

S: Lightly tart lemon with a fresh burst of citrus/grapefruit that was fresh and wet and inviting. Some dank pungent flowery hops that can not be mistaken for anything other then columbus. Tart tropical scents are of very nice strength and remains fresh even after 5 months after canning. Dripping wet pine hops and toasted bread rounds things out.

T: Flavor of wet citrusy hops are juicy with some sweetened grapefruit. Toasted grains, lemony tart citrus with some backdrop of tropical fruit. good knockout of bright citrusy zing on the swallow.

M: Bright and bubbly effervesce, tight carbonation, makes for a sharp mouthful.

O: A classic example by style, can't go wrong with anything by Alesmith with loads of citrusy hops that are wet and juicy balanced with toasted malt character in true defining west coast fashion. Tropical spike of hops come on the finish, impressive start and finish with a high drinkability factor.

Jul 07, 2018

GarrettB from Colorado

3.8/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

September 3rd, 2015 - A nice rich Golden Retriever color, it sports a healthy looking head too, and a dank and weedy aroma. A little - thematically - oiled baseball glove comes through the taste, too. But the taste is springy and herbal, with a grassy wildflower touch. The aftertaste lets some dank hops in too, and a luxury soapiness. For a heavily marketed beer, this has a lot of nuance.

May 20th, 2015 - .392 is a regional beer landmark by now, but this was my tasting way back before it showed up in cans and at Costco. A lighter brown with a thinner head, it looks un assuming, but the aroma shows off a promising hop bill, and a slightly copper metallic scent. The flavor finds its excellence in balance, with a bit of soapiness, a hoppy ping and braised grapefruit. The body is lighter and refreshing and matches the flavor brilliantly. The aftertaste expresses some rye and a slight floral touch, which further impresses me.

Jun 11, 2018

NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4.24/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

AleSmith Brewing Company ".394 San Diego Pale Ale"
12 fl. oz. can, "CANNED 04/13/18" and sampled on 06/05/18
$2.49 @ Whole Foods, South Street, Philadelphia, PA

Notes via stream of consciousness: Well this is a nice looking glass of beer! It's a slightly hazy amber beneath a frothy head of off-white. The head retention appears to be quite good, and it's already left some nice lacing where the head has dropped. There's citrus and pungent resin in the aroma. It's not bold but it's clear enough. Some malt slips through as well. Very nice. Hmmmm, as might be expected the flavor is almost exactly the same. There's more malt to it, lightly caramelish and biscuity, and it blends really well with the delicately citrusy and softly resinous notes. A firm bitterness runs through it and it finishes dry with some residual bitterness and just a kiss of everything that came before. Wow, that's a really delicious, superbly balanced American pale ale. Looking back, I just noticed that I still have a solid surface covering of foam. The lacing didn't turn out quite as nicely as I thought it would be, but it's still OK. Final item, mouthfeel: medium bodied and crisp-then-smooth. Overall just superb. It delivers on every front without being overdone at all. Well worth seeking out.
Review# 6,048

Jun 05, 2018

timon from California

4.58/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

The Chronic!!! Holy crap....am I the only one??? This smells like chronic weed and even tastes a bit like a mix of chronic, grapefruit and tangerine. Looks very orange in a the glass....pretty....head is not great, though. Taste is very nice. But really, if you told me this was weed-beer of a high quality, I would not flinch. Totally the weed-lovers beer, imo.

Apr 24, 2018

Bruno74200 from France

4.31/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This pale ale seems like a pale ale version of Sculpin IPA. Being the quintessence of what a west coast pale ale should be. With a aggresive grapefruit profile and some caramel notes. The whole is definitely bold and balanced. So drinkable

Apr 16, 2018

puck1225 from Texas

4.04/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a can into a tulip glass. Fairly clear golden orange color with a brief head and decent lacin. Subdued lemon smell with a citrus taste. A bit earthy with some pleasant bitterness.

Apr 09, 2018

JackRWatkins from Alabama

3.63/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: creamy, two-finger head; clean, clear, golden body.
S: citrus with pleasant malt undertones.
T: slightly sweet malt notes with citrus, tangerine specifically and a very slight bitterness
M: sharp and almost sticky
O: Very drinkable, very enjoyable, not outstanding, but very very good.

Apr 01, 2018

dertyd from California

3.46/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours out a slightly hazy medium gold color, with 1 finger of white head--------------- the aromas are of orange marmalade, passion fruit, black tea and lesser floral/grass-------------- the flavors are of orange marmalade, black tea and sweet malt, the beer has a medium mouthfeel with a light bitterness on the finish---------------- overall this beer was nice it had some good things going on, but it tasted a little old to me and it was only 1 and a 1/2 months old, I got a lot of black tea flavor that I usually get in older hoppy beers, other than that it was fine ------

Mar 28, 2018

jakecattleco from California

4.33/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Can dated 02/02/18 into a tulip glass.

L: Pours bright copper with 1+ finger of variable density white head with moderate retention and left mixed lacing.

S: Vibrant citrus forward nose with tropical undertones. Orange, grapefruit, nectarine, pineapple, and mango. Perhaps some subtle floral aspects as it warms.

T: Follows the nose well, bright and refreshing, but slightly less dynamic than the nose. Finishes with mild bitterness and limited astringency, clears palate quickly.

F: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation, light on the tongue, slick on the finish.

O: One of my favorite APAs, and when fresh the flavors pop more than the can I'm reviewing. It's a must grab every time I find it fresh, and a tremendous Alesmith offering, highly recommend!

Mar 11, 2018

ryan1788a5 from Massachusetts

4.24/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12oz can poured into a snifter.

A: Amber/orange color with some mild haze. Creamy off-white head retains well and leaves behind plenty of sticky webbing.

S: Mandarin orange, lemon rind, perhaps even a hint of pineapple. Soft pine. Sturdy malt aromas of caramel, toffee, and toast.

T: Follows the nose. Mandarin orange and tropical notes of pineapple a lemon rind kick things off. S ride of malt flavor doo backs it with plenty of toast, caramel, and toffee. Hops go earthy middle to end, with flavors of faint bark, pine, and resin. Bitterness is very tame. Earthy finish with lingering citrus.

M: Medium body with some chewy, nearly slick malt texture and mild scraping astringency. Seltzery carbonation soon blasts it off of the tongue and creates deep crispness.

O: A fantastic West-coast style pale ale. This is one of my favorite beers to drink when visiting San Diego. Well balanced and very moreish. Perfectly suited to the warm, dry climate too.

Mar 06, 2018

jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12 oz bottle

clear, light golden colored, white head. citrusy light aroma. taste is mild pale malt and orange and lemon hop flavor. thinner bodied, easy drinking

Feb 27, 2018