AleSmith Barrel Aged Speedway Stout

Big thanks to Springslicker for bringing this to the Knoxville tasting. Overrated? Nope, not in the least. Pours black, as expected, with a thin tan head. Fabulous aroma, rich and powerful, and an incredibly rich palate. Its pointless for me to try to describe all the flavors in here - coffee, chocolate, wine, bourbon just to name a few. It seems to be constantly changing as it warms, with new and interesting flavors popping up - hey, was that bacon? and pecans?- that kind of thing. Great, great beer. Bottle 84 (And I swear I didn’t plan to make this #1700, it just coincidentally worked out that way. Promise)

Draft at O’briens. Nice chocolate, coffee, and bourbon tastes. Very strong alcohol presence but not overwhelming. Fantastic brew. Rerate 9/27/2008 thanks to my brother for opening the 2007 while the Chargers stomped the Raiders for the 10th straight time. Fantastic brew. Lots or roasted malts. oak, chocolate, and coffee, some alcohol. But very tasty. Rerate 10/3/2008 thanks to stefanje for opening at fordest house. 2006 bottle.

Bottle #84 sampled with the fine gentlemen at the Knoxville Spring(ish) tasting, courtesy of Springslicker in one of the most selfless, altruistic examples of generosity. Pours black with a low, brownish head and slick lacing. Some ruby hues are noted in the light. The nose is rich of thick espresso and rich bourbon. A war ensues on my olfactory sense between a mound of rich, dark roasted coffee beans and smooth, aged Kentucky sippin’ whisky with some fainter notes of chocolate and toast in the mix. Take a sip. . .damn. The first sip brings a rich hearty espresso presence into my mouth with earth, mocha, espresso, and vanilla. A few sips later, I start to notice some more vinous, almost sake-like flavors coming out along with nuts, oats, vanilla wafers, madelines. This is dense, deep, and ridiculously good. This is still completely solid and sharp with very defined flavors even three years later. Here is a true complement: this is slightly better than the regular Speedway Stout.

Pitch black colour with a light brown head. Complex light roasted malty aroma with a soft chocolate sweetness and some coffee bitterness along a light fruityness. Wellbalanced chocolate sweet and coffee bitter flavor with dark fruit sweet notes.

Courtesy Degarth. 2004. #157/228. Black with a bit of brown on the edges. 1.5cm frothy, grayish tan cap. Nose of roasty malt, vanilla, oak, coffee beans, bourbon, alcohol. Similar flavors, perfect amount of bourbon, just enough to let you know that’s what was in the barrel before the beer. Less coffee than the original, nice balance to the flavors, although it’s missing the dose of hops near the end. Body is lighter, also- full/medium, balanced carbonation. Excellent. Thanks, Joe.

Another really amazing beer from Alesmith. Rich butter sweet caramel and bourbon flavor mixes wonderfully with the speedway’s chocolate roasted flavors. The aftertaste was sweet coffee flavors with a light burnt chocolate note. Very smooth with no alcohol detectable. Its hard to improve upon a beer like speedway, but I guess it can be done.

Black as midnight, sweet as honey, wicked like the devil. Perfect. Complexity that unfolds in layers, first the aroma of chocolate, coffee, bourbon (?), great palate feel, thick and substantial. Delicious. Now i have to find the regular speedway.

Pours black. Little to no head, a small brown cap was roused easily. There is a small bit of stringy lace. Nose of whiskey(though light) chocolate, roast, light fruits and mellow wood. Body is full, palate is oily, coating and slick. Full flavored, chocolate, roast, bourbon. Coffee notes are burnt with black patent flavors and a touch of soy. A surprising note of pineyness also. Finish is medium sweet, chocolatey, roasty and lightly bourbony. A very nice brew that should of been enjoyed a bit sooner. The aging IMHO was a bit long as the flavors were a bit muted. I, like many others enjoyed the stock Speedway a bit more though this is no slouch by any means. Many thanks to Cliff (SDbruboy) for supplying this rare brew for my enjoyment.Thanks Cliff!! I,m also glad to have enjoyed it with my little tasting buddy Brian, eaglefan538. A great expierence indeed!