AleSmith Barrel Aged Speedway Stout

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

750ml bottle. 2003 bottling, number 12 of 225. Huge aroma of semi-sweet choclate, also features some lighter notes of bourbon, dark toffee and alcohol, with touches of cellar must, faint plum and black cherry. Very rich and full. Solid, opaque black color, my glass was poured with no head formation to speak of at all. Flavor profile is also sweet and chocolatey, full of roasty, toffeeish malt flavor, the middle seeing some dry, dark grainy bitterness coming through and finishing with the coffee flavors coming to the fore at last. Some lingering esters in the background here as well. Palate is very smooth and lacking almost fully in noticeable effervescence, which I did miss a little. Finish is incredibly long and lingering. Body is full as can be. Some alcohol burn to note here, but is slighter in overall effect than I had expected. Good stuff to be sure, but for whatever reason I did enjoy the standard Speedway a bit more. Regardless, big thanks to Chris for the chance to sample this most sought-after brew.

A lot like Founder’s Kentucky Breakfast. I enjoyed the beer, but thought the flavors were a little understated, not as big and flavorful as a beer like Bourbon County Stout.

Sampled at Dutch70’s "Tasting in the Woods, Part Deux". 2004 bottle 75/228. A big thanks to Jeffin7 for sharing this one. Ink black with a tight, light brown head, just perfect. Nice roasted coffee and chocolate in the nose - but it doesn’t quite jump out at you. Flavor wise, it is a beautiful, beautiful thing. Thick, heavy silky chocolate, roasted and black patent malts, coffee, vanilla, bourbon and a smooth alcohol buzz throughout. Thick, massive and silky smooth on the palate. Violently good.

Got to try this at the columbus tasting thanks to OhioDad.Has a nice bourbon aroma with some chocolate,coffee,and vanilla mixed in.Pours black with a tan head.Very smooth and finishes with a slight bourbon burn.One of my favorite beers I’ve had to this point plus comes in a very nice bottle...

Sampled at Dr. Bill and Steiny’s. I made sure to take a little extra time with this one. What can I say, it lived up to the hype and is the best stout I’ve had to date. The aroma was a perfect balance of vanilla, coffee, chocolate, oak, and just a hint of bourbon. Flavor is rich chocolate and coffee. Not overly roasted or burnt, but just the perfect balance. Palate is velvety smooth and finishes with just enough warming alcohol to remind what you’re drinking. Fabulous...

Tasted a sample of the ’04 vintage at Tasting in the Woods, Part Deux. This beer was phenomenal. Pours to a pitch black color, with a thick, creamy, tan head, and a soft carbonation. The nose on this beer is incredible. Big aromas of dark chocolate, espresso, vanilla, roast, and light smoke flood the nose. The palate is rich, and full on the tongue, with a tremendous, complex flavors. Lots of big dark chocolate flavors, marry with flavors of esperesso coffee, vanilla, hints of black currant, and licorice. This beer finishes with more of those complex flavors up front, then ends with a soothing, warming burn that lingers. Any amazingly good Imperial Stout brought to new heights from the use of barrel aging. World class.

’04 Vintage shared by OhioDad at the last Columbuis tasting--another generous offering from the best Dad ever! Pours black with a tan head. Aroma is nice--lots of chocolate and roasted flavors. The bourbon is there--but not as strong as expected. Palate is perfect--creamy, rich and full. Taste is dominated by chocolate and roasted malts. There is some heat--but not as much as expected in a beer of this type. This is the most well balanced barrel aged beer I’ve ever had by a longshot! The aging only compliments the flavor of an already great stout--without dominating it. The best part is the cool bottle I get to stare at every day...

2004 bottle generously shared by Ohiodad and brought to Ohio by zug4abby, thank you both! Pours black with a dark tan head that doesn’t stay long. Nice aroma of bourbon, coffee, oak, vanilla, and some chocolate. The flavor was full off bourbon without overpowering the chocolate and the coffee...there was also some vinous notes in there as well. Very smooth over the palate with a nice richness and a soft carbonation that makes you wish they put out more of this stuff. The best part was after the bottle mysteriously disappeared, two Maudite snifters took its place...it was absolutely magical.