AleSmith Barrel Aged Speedway Stout

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

I showed up 2 hours late at the AleSmith offering and still managed to get a bottle after much pity was laid upon my plight. See, I went to see the Dwarves play the night before and getting to AleSmith, much less out of bed by 1pm, wasn’t going to happen, so I rolled the 10 sided dice and determined a Fuego Steak Melt at Liar’s was the necessary nutrition I needed to make the drive to Mira Mesa and the rest is history. Thank you for still giving me a bottle, even though you were "sold out" and I was 2 hours late. This was the best single goddamned liquid that’s ever made it’s way into my belly. I almost didn’t want to pee because I felt I was wasting it. The oak is the hero here. It tames the speedway beast into this concoction that I can only describe as "steak". I wish I could marinate a steak in this. You’ll love it. I’ll be in line next year.

Ok, it’s official. This beer deserves all of the accolades it gets. Luckily, Bartzilla got the LAST one, and I, as neighbor, fellow beer geek and long time friend, get to share in the experience. And, it did not dissapoint. So rich, so complex, yet refined and drinkable. Just amazing velvety mouthfeel, and the oak is just present enough to mix with everything else that’s going on. I can actually taste the whiskey in here too. Amazing stuff. Sampled the Dark Lord afterwards and im sorry, it just doesn’t compete with this heavyweight.

Wow!! standing in line in the sun for an hour outside the brewery that day was definatly worth it!! I would recomend you try the original speedway first which is really good and then move on up to this one which is even better, smoother, more complex the way the oak and whiskey plays with vanilla and coffee you dont find this as elegantly mixed as in the original. It sure did age well and probably wouldve been even better if i waited another year. But how imposible is it to have this sitting at home and not drink it? I wish they sold this by the barrel!

Pour is black with a thin tan head...smell is coffee and hints of smoke and vanilla...taste is like a muted version of the regular Speedway...the over the top flavors are merged together with a nice vanilla chewy smokey flavor...delicious...thanks egajdzis!!!

One of the more balanced BA offerings. The vanilla melds into the coffee melds into the chocolate melds into the ash melds into the alcohol. Good stuff.

Rerate, 2006 bottle, courtesy of tertons. Thanks, Nelson! The most recent batches of the BA Alesmith beers have been rather disappointing. Bumping this down a few points, out of the top slot.

TITW Part Deux - Rerate: 2004 bottle, #75/228, courtesy of jeffin7. Thanks, Jeff!! Raisins, dark chocolate, vanilla bourbon in the aroma. Plenty of dark chocolate, dried fruits, slightly hot. Long, milk chocolate finish. 9/4/9/5/19.

2004 bottle, courtesy of Bück Dich (a fine soul), RBSG 06. Headless. Coffee and bourbon in a glass-filling nose. Upfront: slightly vegetal, showcasing its bourbon at the edges. Nicely balanced, with a mouthfeel that lasts for ages, w/ layer upon layer of chocolate and oak. 10/5/9/5/19.

Sampled at RBSG06. Dark black color with a thin brown head. Rich chocolate and roasted malt aroma. Sweet chocolate and roasted malt flavor, very smooth flavor for the alcohol.

Beer #23 RBSG 06. OK, it’s official, the beers present here are officially completely ridiculous. Deep black, brown at the edges. Beautiful aroma of soft, dark fruits, bourbon, and a touch of coffee. Flavor is ultimately a match to the regular speedway, liquor oriented coffee and chocolate, but with a softer, fruitier note present. Also a bit of bourbon in the background, but in no way overdone. Very, very good. Got .1 higher than I gave the original.