AleSmith Barrel Aged Speedway Stout

Brewed by AleSmith Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
San Diego, California USA

Thanks JohnC, for bringing this 2006 version to Noogfest ’08. The body was perfectly black with a khaki head. The aroma was malty with whiskey and vanilla notes. There was also some rich pancakes. The was strong vanilla with some oak and blueberries. There was also some almonds and coffee. Well done.

750ml bottle thanks to John C and poured at Noog4. 2006 bottle. Black oily pour with no head. The aroma has chocolate and tons of wood mixed with bourbon and coffee. The bourbon and wood definitely overpower the other scents. The taste is actually much hotter than I expected. Boozy with bourbon combined with plenty of wood. The coffee has been made somewhat sharp by the barrel ageing and the chocolate is much less noticeable. Thinner body than I expected. Overall I seem to like straight speedway better. However, as I noted with the Old Numbskull, I think if you let this age another 2 years it would be spectacular. I guess these brews need a lot more time to develop after they come out of the bourbon barrel.

Noogfest Four-O

2006 bottle. Dark brown pour, some lighter highlights, decent lacing and a nice head. Roasted notes are bright and full of life. Slight alcohol burn, with smoke and peat, oh and caramel. Flavor-wise there’s lots of roasted coffee, boasting brass horns of chocolate and distant caramel. Vanilla, molasses, and some peat, too. Full-bodied and balanced well. Finishes extremely fantasticfullyinggoodinglyfull. Yeah. Some folks said the bottle was infected? Going to go ahead and disagree on that one.

Shared by miketd. Thanks dude!!
Pours black with a light tan head. Smell is roasty, chocolate and bourbon, but not too strong. Taste is almost milder than I remember the regular speedway stout being, at least in terms of alcohol, somehow. Still very mild coffee, and is hardly noticeable, with roasty chocolate and light bourbon. Good stuff.

2003 bottle. Very similar but with tons of coconut flavor that I don’t remember noticing from the other bottle. Like a mounds bar. This one had very low carbonation however and was nearly flat. Still very tasty!

Sampled at Sean and Ryan’s tasting party, 2004 vintage. Poured a deep black with tan lacing. Huge smooth aroma of toasted malt, dark chocolate, fruit, and sweet oak. Taste of brandy and malt that shifts to chocolate. Lingering sweet toasted flavor. Both very intense and smoothly mellow. Amazing imperial stout.

Had the 2003 vintage more recently. It had a much greater coffee taste, with the toasted malt mellowed. Lingering taste of bourbon and oak. Possibly even better than the 2004.

2004 Bottle #108/228. Tasted at Sean and Ryan’s party. Thanks Ryan. Oh yeah! I can’t wait to try it. Sweet malty molasses aroma. Pitch black. Thick body. Little carbonation, almost flat. Mellow characteristics of roasty grains, lots of chocolate, some vanilla. Little or no oxidation, but a hint of sour. I don’t think this particular bottle has aged as well as it could have. Possible small lacto or brett infection or something may have given the small amount of sourness and dryness. Still pretty good. Can’t wait to try a 2006, to compare:9,3,8,3,18:4.1 Rerate: Opened at Ushi-Tora with TimE and Cappa and friends: Nice malty buttery aroma. Much better than the 2004, probably because of better timing: 9,4,9,4,18:4.4 (4.4-4.5)

Very appreciative thanks to Kyle for the bottle!! 96/228 Had to maneuver a few pages to make this 1600, oh well. Black with beige head, fades to film. aroma full of nice sweet buttery bourbon and chocolate. Flavor on par, huge chocolate, buttery/vanilla bourbon, residuel sugars, and no coffee whatsoever!! Smooth creamy mouthfeel. Very nice BB brew. Thanks again Kyle!!

2006 Bottle 124 of 235, thanks pepsican for yet again bringing letdowns to the party you douche. Almost no head, black pour. Smells of coffee pepper urea vanilla oak. Very creamy body. Tastes boozy, bourbon, coffee, nutty cherry, dry.