Sublime and AleSmith Brewing team up for a Mexican-inspired lager

AleSmith Brewing Company, one of our beloved hometown breweries, has been doing some cool stuff around town for years. One of the most memorable brews they have released is a tribute brew to the late Padres baseball legend Tony Gwynn, San Diego Pale Ale .394. Get ready for another AleSmith beer collaboration that is sure to take over taps all across town (and beyond).

The team is pairing up with Sublime to create a Mexican-style lager. You heard that right - the brewery is working with the remaining members of the legendary SoCal-based ska-rock band Sublime to craft a Mexican-style lager in celebration of the 25th anniversary of their iconic debut album, “40 oz. to freedom.”

The news of the beer release even got picked up by Rolling Stone in its story about the album’s anniversary. This collaboration seems kind of perfect, much like this beer and San Diego street tacos should be.

“It doesn’t taste like anything else,” Sublime co-founder, Bud Gaugh, said in a statement, “The flavor is great and it has a craft beer flair with a true Mexican lager taste. This is the one!”

Sublime 40 oz. to Freedom Mexican Lager launch party

When: 5-8 p.m. Saturday, July 15

Where: 9990 AleSmith Court, Miramar

Details: Poster signing by Bud Gaugh (drummer) and Opie Ortiz (artist); appearance by Troy denDekker (Bradley Nowell’s wife); performance from DJ Product 1969c (who worked on Robbin’ The Hood album); live graffiti art

The partnership reportedly emerged because the band felt that the brewery matched their ideals of remaining authentic, no matter what, in your respective field. The beer itself is an homage to the style of beer that Sublime bandmates enjoy drinking, Alesmith CEO Peter Zien said in a news release:

“The band members are all big fans of this style of beer. We wanted to create our thirst-quenching version of a traditional Vienna-style lager (famously brewed by the Mexican breweries) that showcases a grainy, malt-forward sweetness and easy drinkability. Clean and crisp with subdued hop bitterness to balance makes Sublime Mexican Lager the go-to beer for hot summer days or pre-concert tailgating.”

Pre-order for the brew began on July 8. The 5.2% ABV beer will be available on July 15 with a keg-tapping ceremony and launch party held at AleSmith Brewing. The Sublime Mexican Lager will be a limited-edition batch as it first rolls out, and like .394, it will eventually be available as a permanent beer sold in stores nationally. It will be sold in, of course, 40- ounce bottles and by keg at first, but also as six-packs of 12-ounce cans in various states in mid-August.

For more information, visit sublimelbc.com or alesmith.com.