AleSmith Barrel Aged Speedway Stout

This beer was on draught at OBriens. The beer poured an opaque color w/ slight reddish hues, brown thin lasting head and lacing. The aroma was big with lots of whiskey, vanilla, oak, coffee, roast, and a hint of chocolate on the finish. The flavor had whiskey, vanilla, oak, chocolate and roast w/ a milky finish. The mouthfeel was full bodied, well rounded and creamy.

2004 Bottle Tar-black pour with an oily film appearance and absolutely no head. Amazing aroma drips of spiced fig, dried prune, aged port and cream. This brew reminds me of the aroma of a freshly baked Jamaican Black Cake from the Jampot, a monk bakery in the upper penninsula of Michigan. Yummy. Delicious vanilla bean, raisin, and a pinch of cinnimon accompany the fruit bouquet. Tastes even more amazing than it smells, as all of the olfactory sensations are amplified to immense proportions in a harmonious chorus. Extremely vinous, I can think of more ports than beers that I can relate to the flavors of this brew. Brandy and cognac smack that far exceeds the quality of any of the aforementioned liquors I have placed my lips on. After a second visual inspection, the headless quality becomes even more appealing as the texture and layered qualities of this beer are on par with a fine wine. I am grateful to have had this drinking experience. Thanks, Tom!

2004 Bottle Pours a dark black with no head and almost no carbonation. This doesn’t bother me, since my favorite in this style was even more still. Ruddy orange fringe. Holy shit. Aroma is a building steam train of gentle coffees and tahitian vanilla beans steeped in fresh whipping cream and brown sugar. Moves into a supple and not harsh bourbon poured into gingerbread and spice cake. A hint of brandy vapor. Some savory herbal notes, with oregano and tarragon. Sweet candied limes dipped in rum sugars, with a finish of black currant and pears. Flavor is priceless and indescribable. Fuckin’ liquid heaven. Really hard to describe because the flavor is so similiar to the flavor, almost to a tee. Palate is a dense, absolutely syrupy sugar elixir that holds, disperses, and perform the flavors with total elegance. Finish and smack carry the very gentle and floral glowing qualities of an exquisite 21-year old single malt. A lot of the rich condensed malt and oaky finish characters ring through. More vinous then beery, with copious rich berry notes and continuing brandy and cognac vapors in the finish. Totally rounded and mellowed by the beers, with NO harsh edges. And the flavors are original each time they touch the palate, without fatigue. Finally, it’s a touch thin, to me, as it could be even denser, but it still has that ubiquitous cold cream texture that stays with the beer and maintains astounding density and quality as the beer continues. All around beer heaven. Thanks Pete! Original rating 4.6/9/3/10/5/19

Draft from Dec ’05 in SD Obriens right before the Strong Ale Fest. Opaque jet black pour with thin small head. Big roasted coffee and dark malt aroma, with some notes of vanilla and oak. Smooth and silky creamy. Loats of roasted malts balanced with big coffee flavors, with vanilla, some oak and touches of bourbon, with some chocolate as well. This was most excellent.

At yeha with the gang from PA/NJ/CT/NY and anywhere people came from, special thanks to EDA for snoozing but leaving the cooler open. ’02 Bottle. Aroma dark roasty malts coffee and oak and bourbon. Flavor was a nice blend of the aforementions attributes, smooth and creamy. A real treat to try, the regular version was one of my first big stouts so it would be interesting to try this sidebyside. Thanks again Mike

12/22/02Holy scheisse creamy beyonde belief. Butter Irish cream, wiskey, vanilla and wood all make special apearances in this wiskey barrel edition. Finishes burnt, bright, and sweet. yet another rerate growler of whiskey barrel cask. Like DaSilky1 said, every time I have this, it gets better.

Draft@O’Brien’s Pub: Dark black color with not much head on this pour. Aroma was strong with quite a bit of vanilla and bourbon right behind it. Some roast and coffee could be picked out underneath. Flavor again is big on the barrel. Almost covers up too much of the base. Full bodied. Nice mouthfeel. I want my own full bottle. Please.

’02 Bottle #15/115 at Ricklikebeer’s YEHA ’05 thanks to EDA who slept while we drank his beer. Dark black color with a small light brown head. Complex aroma of bourbon, dark roasted malts, coffee and oak. The flavor of bourbon stood out the most to me(probably because I’m not a big fan) followed by strong coffee notes and the roasted malts. Very good, but I still prefer the regular Speedway. Thanks again Mike!