AleSmith Barrel Aged Speedway Stout

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

Cask at O’Breins. Dark black color. Small head Aroma is chocolate, coffee. Wood. Bourbon and sweet. Full bodied Imperial Stout. Malts are coffee and chocolate, vanilla, dark fruit. Lots of bourbon and coffee flavors. This beer is everything the bottle version is and smoother if it is possible. Lots of coffee, vanilla and bourbon flavors. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter. --------&# brown color. Medium head. Aroma is malts, dark sugar and fruits. Full bodied Imperial Stout. Malts are roasty, chocolate and coffee, with touches of vanilla and dark fruit. The brandy/bourbon flavor is evident. Nice blend of chocolate, wood and smoke. Very smooth. Bourbon and chocolate flavors blend well together. Touch of alcohol bite. Nice beer. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter. 8-4-9-5-17

Thanks to eyedrinkale for bringing this and sharing this at richlikebeers 2005 YEHA! Unfortunately, Mike was sleeping when his possession was cracked open and shared with the masses. Thin dense head that recedes quickly to a thin dark brown foam. Rich and complex aroma with bourbon, vanilla, coffee, roasted grains and alcohol. Essentially black in color. Big whisky flavor which subdues the strong coffee notes that are normally there. Dark chocolate and a decent bitterness are present also. Thick and chewy and coats the glass. Velvety smooth. Warms as it goes down. Creamy and slightly bitter finish. Heavy sweet and awesome. Thanks for sharing Mike!

2002 batch, bottle #2, poured by Peter Zien at the GABF. Definite bourbon in the nose, though not overpowering like many attempts at this style have become. Still has some big charred chocolate malts, rich smoky bourbon and wood flavors, without too much of a biting "fresh" wood flavor, but rather a slightly aged quality which is certainly preferred when it comes to tasting big stouts. Peppy on the tongue, just slightly hot for 12% ABV, frothy as it’s being swallowed. Finally it’s soothing as it coats the throat, warming it’s way down. Rich and dry finish, with some butter rum, a slightly burning caramel flavor, with some light hops but not too strong given the power of this stout. Within the fad of bourbon barrel aged imperial stouts, this one stands out as one of the best, although I really do prefer a stout to be non-bourbon barrel aged, and I still prefer the standard Speedway Stout over the BA version.

Bottle #4/115, thanks to herbjones for trading me this. Dark brown/black in color, with a very small, brown head. Aromas are coffee, chocolate, alcohol, whiskey, and wood. Flavor is coffee, whiskey, wood, smoke, and vanilla. Body is on the medium to full, with the alcohol right there, not hidden at all. Palate would be better with more carbonation. A nice treat for my 40th birthday. (Note: As this beer warms, it gets better. The coffee seems to mellow somewhat and more sweetness reveals itself).

Bottle 101/155: Pours a viscous black, dark brown edges, brownish head, spotty lacing.   Hot coffee and bourbon on the nose.   The coffee aspect is strong, but doesn’t appear to be as strong as the regular version.   Quite coffeeish on the tongue, but again its much less than the standard.   The barrel aging adds a wonderful touch to this beer, adding even more complexity over the original.   White hot, its not alcoholic.   I spoze I should say its very warming.   Big body and mouthfeel, viscous as well.   This is truely a dessert beer that I am very fortunate to have tried thanks to Seattles new resident, Sean (DrunkAsASkunk).   It just occured to me, the beer I had is the same one pictured (on the right) in the photograph.   Wow, never had I thought I would get a chance at this beer.   Pitonka is a very happy man.   Thanks again Sean!

2004 BA vintage. Dark brown; thin brown soapy head. Medium-dry-sweet coffee. Complex stouty coffee, chocolate, vanilla. Taste is great. Great coffee sweet stout with a subtle blended hint of bourbon vanilla, miniscule fruit hints. I defintely prefer the way the barrel has toned down the huge rush of coffee.

Sampled at Bocky Bash on 7-5-08. Good bourbon and chcolate aroms somewhat mellow. Black body with tan head and good lacing. Good mix of bourbon, chocolate and coffee flavors without the alcohol presence I experienced with my first reg Speedway. That was good news for me. Thanks Eric.

750 ml bottle shared with Crosling and rye726 poured a translucent dark brown nearly black with a lasting brown head. Aromas of coffee, dark chocolate, dark fruit, oak and light bourbon. Palate was medium bodied and smooth. Flavors of milk chocolate, carmel, vanilla, light oak and light bourbon with a smooth lingering chocolatey finish.