AleSmith Barrel Aged Speedway Stout

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

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.

Bottle shared by wolf. Thanks brother... Bottle 71/447. Poured into a snifter. Black as it gets. I could see my own reflection in it. Not much head. Nice aroma of dark fruits and chocolate. Taste was much sweeter then the regular speedway. I couldnt pick up on any barrel aged characteristic.... It doesnt have the coffee backbone that makes speedway so great. Lots of dark fruits in the taste. Good texture. Overall...this was the first beer from alesmith that has dissapointed me. It was good just not great. Thanks again wolf for sharing

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.

This beer was sampled at the San Diego Strong Ale Festival, bottle #20 of 115. Oh my god....oh my god... I have seen the dark and it is good. I bow to thee...I kneel to thee oh great bearer of this bountiful substance. It pours a vile blackened thing with little head..of what is there orangey froth clings to glass. The aroma is that of bourbon, coffee and thick enchanting chocolates. The beer is bold and syrupy...a coffee lovers paradise. Wonderful mouth tingling choco-malts...hardly ANY alcohol presence..but a slight sense of aged woodiness. This could potentially rival the top beer on my list.

03 Vintage: Poured a deep brown/black color with a very thin tan head that rapidly disappears. Aroma of oak and vanilla, spicy bourbon, and some moderate chocolate. Smooth, lightly spicy entry with some vanilla moderate chocolate with some moderate bitterness on the finish with hints of dark and some light chalkiness. Smooth, thick and oily with a nice oak finish.

06 Vintage: Poured a thick deep brown/black color with a moderate tan head that faded to a ring. Aroma of faint roast and chocolate with moderate chalkiness and a light bourbon oak character. Sweet, chocolaty entry with some light roasted coffee and some spicy bourbon. Pretty thick, a moderate chalkiness.

Like drew just said this was smashed between still nacht 2000 and ba darklord. Simply amazing. Had a very solid aroma of bourbon and coffee. Incredible flavor of roasty chocolate and coffee. Simply smooth and incredible.

Thank you so much to fordest for this vintage 2003 specimen- you’re the man Sean. Ink black pour- about as dark and forboding as a beer can be. No head to speak of- the barrel aging has got the best of the fizz. Aroma is ripe with bourbon, vanilla and dark roasted coffee. Fennel and caramel sneak through with an excellently creamy and roasty nose. Quite sweet and quite boozy. Flavor is simply profound. Like a river of succulent malt. Oaken character is quite noticeable but never overpowering. Vanilla comes through amazingly powerfully with espresso roast, cocoa nib, and the ever prevalent alcohol. Palate is thick rich and fulfilling. Carbonation is almost unnoticeable providing for a silky velvet like experience. Truly a masterpiece in liquid form- I’m speechless.

Everything about this was planned to be marvelously decadent and did not disappoint. The perfect amount of bourbon. Texture was a velvet wash of creamy dark chocolate with a top-notch (think Jamaica Blue Mountain) espresso thickness. Hint of licorice and toasted coconut. Molasses-like mouthfeel. The liquid version of drinking a Girardelli flourless torte. I imagine some ripe raspberries and pound cake alongside this delight.