AleSmith Barrel Aged Speedway Stout

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

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.

Courtesy Degarth. 2004. #157/228. Black with a bit of brown on the edges. 1.5cm frothy, grayish tan cap. Nose of roasty malt, vanilla, oak, coffee beans, bourbon, alcohol. Similar flavors, perfect amount of bourbon, just enough to let you know that’s what was in the barrel before the beer. Less coffee than the original, nice balance to the flavors, although it’s missing the dose of hops near the end. Body is lighter, also- full/medium, balanced carbonation. Excellent. Thanks, Joe.

Happy Easter! Paired with the regular speedway and I am really glad I did that. The oak is very apparent in the aroma with a distinct wood flavor that trumps all of the vanilla in the original. Still getting some roasted coffee though. The flavor is still creamy and full of chocolate, cocoa, and coffee. It is enhanced a bit by the aging with a tinge of nutty woody flavor. Then on the finish there is more of a bourbon and peat sort of flavor as opposed to the cocoa and milk chocolate from the original. A truly subdued, muted, and complementary oak aging used to enhance the original version of a very fine beer.

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.

750, capped and foiled. ’06. #102/230. Thanks, BitBucket! Jet black. Loose, swirly burnt tan head. Huge sweet vanilla chocolate bourbon coffee nose. Creamy medium body. Thick swirling pruny, coffee, chocolate, vanilla, and bourbon mid-palate. Long sweet chocolatey finish. Really a beautfiully complex and elegantly integrated beer. Tastes absolutely wonderful.

2006 bottle #219/ 235. Pours black with a perfect tan ring. Bourbon, vanilla, cocoa dust and a hint of booze and light oxidation on the nose. Flavor starts off with heeps of bourbon, sweet oak, creamy vanilla and a slight boozy finish. I can’t believe it took me so long to open this, freakin amazing!

2/1/08. 750 ml bottle from 2004. #49/228. Sampled on "An Evening with Pantanap #3" Huge thanks to andrew for bringing out this one. It lived up to the hype and up to my small sampled previous rating. Pours black with a brown head that laces down. Bourbon nose. Rich toffee, chocolate. There is a sense of Speedway underneath. Flavor of roasted malts. Milk and bitter chocolate, bourbon. The lasting chocolate taste is balanced with the bourbon so well. Creamy thick delicious. Wow what a tasty brew. 9/4/9/4/18 = 4.4

750 ml bottle shared by Leopoldstotch on DLD. Pours a dark black with a tan head. Complex nose of chocolate, dark fruit, oak, and brown sugar. Very rich. Balanced and mellow flavors bitter chocolate, fruit, toffee, and carmel. Smooth and delicious ... but when i would try the BA Darklord in minutes and compare, this did not have those bursting complexities of DL. But still an excellent beer I never thought I would try. Thanks so much! 9/5/9/4/18 = 4.5