Beer of the Week: Coffee & Beer

There was a time when – no exaggeration – one or even several beer festivals took place pretty much every weekend in San Diego County. While there were, of course, certain standouts that merited excitement, I remember fatigue setting in among beer fans. Nowadays, such events are more special because they happen less often. Still, enthusiasts like myself find it hard to muster the gumption to attend run-of-the-mill fests with standard-issue beers. We want something new, special or innovative. Enter Coffee & Beer, a coming together of two similarly passionate beverage sects to enjoy ales and lagers infused with artisan java blends. In conceptualizing and producing these specialty brews, coordinating host venue, AleSmith Brewing, collaborates with breweries from across the country, who bring in standout coffee roasters from their regions. This method makes for some brilliant three-ways, as was proven during last year’s inaugural event. That foray produced the best coffee beer I’ve had in maybe a decade, an imperial porter developed with North Park’s GOAL. Brewing, which incorporated Congolese vanilla and Philippine heritage microlot single-origin (wow, that’s a lot of descriptors) beans from local op, Mostra Coffee. A porter or stout is an obvious stylistic choice, but another cool thing about this event is the fact so many less likely beer styles are tackled. A Kölsch, schwarzbier and IPA made up half of last year’s inaugural six-pack, and 2025 will include this week’s featured beer, a coffee blonde ale. Cooked up in concert with Phoenix-based Arizona Wilderness Brewing, the beer is brewed with lactose and honey-processed Brazilian coffee from nearby Chandler business, Peixoto Coffee Roasters. Mildly sweet and earthy, the roastiness imparted by the coffee comes across more like honey-roasted peanuts, making for a delightfully unusual beer-drinking experience, something that looks to be in store with all of this year’s half-dozen brews as AleSmith eschewed porters and stouts altogether. In their place are the three less orthodox styles from last year and the blonde ale, along with a black IPA and barleywine. Remember what I said about wanting something new, special or innovative. This checks all three of those boxes. If that piques your interest, Coffee & Beer will take place tomorrow, February 22, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at AleSmith’s tasting room in Miramar.

When we first discussed the coffee-beer collaboration with Head of Production, Brad Miles, the idea of a flat white came up right away. Brad had been making flat whites at home and was inspired by one he had at Peixoto Coffee Roasters, which we ultimately partnered with for this collab. We used malted oats and lactose to create a smooth, silky mouthfeel and then cold-steeped the coffee with their coarse-ground, honey-washed beans. We rested the beer on the beans for a day or so, checking it often to prevent any unwanted sulfur or green-pepper notes. We’re really happy with how it turned out and can’t wait for everyone to give it a try.”

Ryan Crisp, Vice President of Operations, AleSmith Brewing

AleSmith Brewing is located at 9990 AleSmith Court in Miramar