 BlackForestCO (489), Fort Collins and Black Forest, Colorado, USA
Jul 6, 2008
06 Vintage: 7-4-8-3-14=3.6
03 Vintage: 9-3-9-4-18= 4.3
03 Vintage: Poured a deep brown/black color with a very thin tan head that rapidly disappears. Aroma of oak, spicy bourbon, roasted coffee, and some moderate chocolate. Smooth, lightly spicy entry with some moderate roasted coffee and chocolate with some moderate bitterness on the finish with hints of dark, vinuous fruits 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. Not nearly as complex as the 03. Pretty thick, a moderate chalkiness.
Overall, the 03 was a much better beer. The 06 tasted like an average BA stout that lacked the complexities and nuances that were present in the 03. Honestly, I think people are falling victim to the hype.
blankboy (2562), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Aug 19, 2008 Bottle (750ml) shared with HogTownHarry, GregClow, tupalev, jerc & garthicus -- courtesy of garthicus. 2006 vintage, bottle 57 of 235. Pours an oily black with a small creamy light-brown head. Aroma has a good amount of bourbon barrel along with roasted malt, vanilla, chocolate and dark fruit -- if I had to nitpick I would say I’ve smelt this before in several other BA Impy Stouts, it’s not unique, but it’s still very nice. Flavour of bourbon, roasted malt, coffee, rich chocolate, vanilla and a bit of alcohol. Long roasty bitter finish. Oily / creamy mouthfeel, medium bodied. It’s all very well balanced and the BA isn’t overdone. Wow, this is absolute treat -- many thanks to garthicus and IrishBoy!
Beerman6686 (654), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Aug 19, 2008 Poured a nice black color with a light tan head. Aroma was lots of coffee beans and a strong scent of alcohol. Flavor was somewaht complex with a nice espresso flavor mixed in with some chocolate sweetness, but a bit too much overpowered by the bourbon barrel flavor.
JMFG (1086), Florida, USA
Aug 17, 2008 Well, I never thought I’d try BA Speedway from ordering it off a menu, but they had it at the Linkery. The menu stated the vintage as 2007. Black pour with a dark, persistent tan head. Aroma has a lot of oak and barrel character present right away over some heavy roast and defined alcoholic heat. The taste is brash but great - the barrel sits so nicely under the coffee and roast. The alcohol is a bit rough at this early age, but I’m often tolerant of booziness in my brews. Great now, but this beer really needs to sit down for a couple years.
jerc (3102), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Aug 15, 2008 2008-08-15. Pitch black body with a nice creamy chocolate mild coloured head that does not last long. Aroma is pretty boozy, dusty roast malt, bourbon barrel. (7+) Flavour is also fairly alcoholic, dry lightly acidic roast, sweet malt undertones. Average to medium palate is lightly carbonated, and is lighter on the tongue than expected. I like that it has a lot less coffee than the regular Speedway, but there doesn’t seem to be enough malt to stand up to the booze and barrel character for my liking. Pretty good. 2006 vintage bottle #57/235, shared by HogTownHarry
"Protestant guilt is kind of like gingivitis..."
HogTownHarry (3175), Toronto (Harbourfront), Ontario, Canada
Aug 14, 2008 Bottle (750ml). Shared with blankboy, garthicus, GregClow and jerc - garthicus’ bottle via MASSIVE trade with Irishboy. Bottle #57/235 - 2006 Vintage. Hoo boy, I’m shaking - been wanting this for years. Aroma - soooo smooth; light bourbon, dry wood, mild softened herbal hops, a bit like a low-acid iced coffee - simple, sophisticated, amazing. A little more bourbon/vanilla sweetness in the flavour, but deeply roasted, muted alcohol, muted herbal bitterness, even a hint of mint. Silky body, nice acidity, long somewhat alcoholic vanilla/roast finish. Stunning - friggin loved it.
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