AleSmith Barrel Aged Speedway Stout

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

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!

Again very distillate forward nose with just a touch of bourbon laced bakers chocolate. Very oaked forward palate with a lot of mid palate alcohol heat. Notes of both bourbon and dark rum with a very soft cocoa and molasses finish.

Big oak nose, chocolate and coffee malt (H); whisky aroma. As colorful as a black hole. Heavily sweet flavor becomes a heavily sweet, moderately bitter finish. Huge roasted flavor throughout (not dry). Moderate amount of alcohol in the finish. Full body, creamy/oily texture, soft carbonation. The bottom line is: I was surprised at how much barrel aging changed this one. Thanks Mike.

Rerate on 23/7/2007. Pitch black hue with a thin tan head with some large bubbles. Tons of chocolate and coffee, a light touch of liquorice, strong caramel, espresso, coffee cake and vanilla. I don’t so much get whisky or wood anymore in this one, but plenty of vanilla. Very sweet upfront with lots of milk chocolate and sugar-sweetened coffee, but all that’s in decent balance with a big roasty finish. Light liquorice and toffee in the flavor. Big vanilla and touch of herbal hops as the beer warms. Thick body, creamy texture and soft carbonation. Only the smallest hint of alcohol shows through.

Sample at Sleepy Bear tasting 09/30/06 - #76 big ups Sprinkle - Aroma is roasted chocolate and coffee malts, espresso, molasses and bourbon. Pours black with a small head and decent lacing. Flavor matches aroma and is very smooth for 12% strong ass brew that Speedway is. Palate is sticky. A great brew no doubt, but I perfer a well aged bottle of the regular.

Shared this bottle with Derrick(hopefully the new Alesmith rep here in Cincy), Rick, Tom and four guys I hope to make RB converts from Middletown, Ohio. This is the second time I've had this brew, and yes its a winner. Last years Speedway(yes now my favorite, this year's isn't close yet), on top of a smooth, but not overwelming bourbon flavor. Mouthfeel was silky and full, perfect for an Imp. Finish was balanced between the sweetness that is always present in a good Imp and the slight bitterness and bourbon flavor of the aging. Excellent Stout! Thxs, Loweredsixth!

Pre-Great Taste sampling at 1FastSti’s house


The capstone of the night, this was the whole reason we were doing a tasting. Blake’s bottle was #13 of 240. I’ll have to open my bottle of regular Speedway to compare, but this was definitely a well crafted well though out beer that belongs in the Top 10. If you ever get the chance to try it savor every last drop.

Aroma / Appearance - Oak, vanilla, coffee, black cherry, graham crackers and toasted marshmellows dominate a complex and rich nose. With a larger sample I might have picked up even more. The bourbon notes are evident but they do not take over. The body remains midnight black; no light escapes this black hole of a liquid.

Flavor / Palate - There is a creamy mouthfeel that permeates through the entire beer. It starts off as a combination of bourbon, cherry, vanilla and alcohol. Next it forms coffee, raisins, plums and blueberries. As if that was not enough there is a textured velvet before it finally decides to reveal the coffee flavors one last time. This is a very dense beer though well balanced. Each of the tastes feels like it belongs; nothing here feels out of place or strange. The finish has a lingering caramel and raspberry texture. I had to sit for a few minutes when the glass was done admiring it because it sticks around for a long time.

2006 bottle. thanks bri/tim? black pour with thin lasting head. nice aroma of old oak and bourbon. buttery body. bourbon and oak. light metallic flavor.

Bottle 195/228. Beer looks like it means business. Opaque black with a small, light brown, mostly diminishing head.<P> Huge nose. The aroma is malty with heavy notes of roasted grain; bright, acidic, equatorial coffee beans, moderate molasses, chocolate, brulee sugar. Hoppy with moderate resin/pine, moderate herb (tarragonish), light lemon zest. Yeasty with a light note of basement. Light miscellaneous notes of raisin, date; moderate smokey oak; light vanillan, burbon, garden soil.<P>The flavor is heavily bittersweet, light acidic with a long, warm-to-hot, moderately-to-heavily bitter, moderately sweet finish.<P>The body is full, the texture is velvety-syrupy and the carbonation is average.