By Eric Pisor
For The Alpine Sun
     ALPINE — It’s refreshing, cold, full of different flavors and has been enjoyed by people all around the world for centuries. It’s beer.
     Lately, however, the main issue for large beer companies such as Miller and Budweiser has been how to make a flavorful beer that doesn’t have a lot of carbs. This results in what many call "water beer."
     So what about the true beer lovers out there who are looking for a thick and flavorful ale? Luckily, there are microbreweries all around San Diego County, and for those who live in Alpine, there is the Alpine Beer Company. 
     Started in the fall of 2002 by brewmaster and Alpine resident Pat McIlhenney, the Alpine Beer Company produces a variety of different beers, from a dark stout, Captain Stout, to an American wheat, Willy, that are sure to satisfy the palate of any brew lover.
     "The beers are truly hand-crafted," McIlhenney said. "They’re monitored and cared for more than other breweries." 
     McIlhenney started the brewery because he has always enjoyed brewing beer as well as drinking it. He started homebrewing in the early ‘80s, and figured it was something he should do for a living in addition to being a firefighter, which he has done since 1973.
     When he was younger, McIlhenney said regular beers didn’t appeal to him so he’d look for special beers. He always believed he could find or make something better than what he had tasted.
     After homebrewing for some years, McIlhenney apprenticed at the Alesmith Brewing Company, in Miramar. Shortly after he would brew his first beer for sale, McIlhenney’s Irish Red, which was a Gold Medal Winner at the 2004 "World Beer Cup," in the Irish Red Ale category.
     Since first brewing McIlhenney’s Irish Red, Pat has gone on to brew more than 10 other beers, either seasonal or yearly for the Alpine Beer Company. McIlhenney said that his brewery is small, about the size of a fishing store, but at the same time very efficient.
     Unlike other breweries that may be focused more on profit than product, the Alpine Beer Company’s focus is on the quality of the beer, something McIlhenney takes pride in. 
     "I know I make very good beers but I like to stay very humble," McIlhenney said. "I like to let the beer do the talking and I just do my job." 
     Upon a visit to the brewery, samples of his fine brews include Mandarian Nectar, Pure Hoppiness, Willy Vanilly, and Ichabod Ale, to name a few. Pure Hoppiness, which has an almost herbal flavor to it, Captain Stout, which has a brown head and resembles Guinness, and McIlhenney’s Irish Red, a malty red ale, were the beers that stand out as the best tasting.
There is nothing to dislike in any of the brews. In fact, having a pint of any Alpine Beer Company ale prompts a smile.
     McIlhenney even offered a Barleywine Style Brew, which will be done in June, and Exponential Hoppiness, voted the most dangerous beer in America by O’Brien’s Pub in San Diego because of its great taste and high alcohol content, 10.5 percent.
     McIlhenney said the demand for his brews results in a waiting list because he won’t sacrifice quality for quantity or profit, something that has made his brewery and other San Diego breweries well respected. 
     "San Diego County has become a world renowned beer spot," McIlhenney said. "When you look at the medal counts at beer festivals, the medals won by San Diego breweries blow everyone away." 
     Currently, the Alpine Beer Company sells 22 ounce bottles of Ichabod Ale, McIlhenney’s Irish Red, Mandarin Nectar and Pure Hoppiness at various liquor stores in East County and San Diego. 
     The company’s website, www.alpinebeerco.com, contains a list locations.
     The Alpine Beer Company is located at 2351 Alpine Blvd., 445-2337, and is open from noon to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, for tasting and purchasing beer. 
     Expect plenty of St. Patrick’s Day revelers to "Drink Alpine Ale or Go To Bed!"

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