AleSmith Barrel Aged Speedway Stout

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

2003 bottle, thanks to oteyj for trading for this one. Pours totally black with minimal head in the form of a few bubbles around the edge of the glass. Aroma is monstrous; tons of bourbon, wood, vanilla, coffee, chocolate, caramel and roasted malt. Flavor is somewhat reminiscent of a barrel aged barley wine, but obviously with tons of imperial stout notes as well. Taste is absolutely scary; excellent sweetness, with lots of caramel, notes of vanilla bean ice cream, and cocoa. The woodiness from the aroma is perfectly balanced with the palpable bourbon booziness. The palate is luxuriously rich, but insanely smooth; glides across the tongue effortlessly. Absolutely exquisite beer, one of my favorites ever.

Bottle shared by ajm at the 09er as the clear centerpiece. 2007 vintage, 86/447. Pours charcoal with a sugary brown head. Smells like BCS. Tastes almost like The Dark Knight Returns. The combination is as mellow as a qualude. Its like the barrel served as a cacoon and the beer went in as coffee and came out like bourbon spiked date juice. Truly amazing.

bottle number 187/233 from 2006 thanks to fordest. this beer had a sex party in my mouth that gave me sheer pleasure. poured black with a tan head and great lacing. bman111vr and myself enjoyed the greatness of this aroma before even taking a sip. the aroma was dark roasts, chocolate, vanilla, coffee, oak, and vanilla. flavor was even better than the nose with chocolate, coffee, vanilla, and alcohol. slick mouth feel with no carbonation. a huge thanks to fordest for bringing this gem to texas and sharing with the crew.

2006 Vintage, bottle 202/233 thanks to BigErn! Finally cracked this bad boy open at an Imperial Stout tasting tonight and it had to be my favorite of the evening next to some other big players. Pour was thick, black, oily with little carbonation and a smooth and boozy vanilla aroma. Flavor was perfect, silky vanilla, bourbon, chocolate, coffee and tiny bit of smoke and woody mellow booze on the finish. This one outshines the original version in every way. Well done, and I can only hope to acquire another bottle someday.

Pours black like the night. Totally opaque. Head is tan, well carbonated, not overly so. The aroma screams bourbon. It overpowers the coffee, chocolate and vanilla. The taste is very heavy bourbon, surprising, and amazing how much flavor the beer draws from its barrels. Definitly some coffee, and some hints of chocolate and vanilla. More aftertaste of coffee and initial hit of bourbon and warming alchohol. All in all, fantastic. Like no beer I’ve ever had. The bourbon character really sticks out, to the point where every sip continues to surprise me. I split the bottle with a few friends who proclaimed it the best beer they ever had.

2003 bottle thanks to oteyj, craftycarl, and jblauvs for sharing there obsessions with me:) Solid black pour very thin head spread out to the edges. Aroma is very yummmy lots of bourbon boozyness, vanilla toastyness as well, and a bit of mocha chocolate. Flavor is just as yummy very smooth. Some alcohol heat at the front lots of vanilla bean with a sweet caramel or some candied nut flavor, with a nice easy coco finish. The fabulous flavor linger a bit to keep this great beer on the tongue, it was more fabulous then I have expressed!

Bottle @ jbrus. Dark color, brownish head. Aroma of roasted malt, vanilla, madeira, some coffee, fruity. Strong taste of liquor, coffee, bit whisky. Another splendid alesmith brew!

Bottle@Home. Thanks Edo! Great and unbelievable beer. So complex, yet perfectly balance. I really don’t know what else to write down. Amazed.