AleSmith Barrel Aged Speedway Stout

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

2006 750mL thanks to nimbleprop at the Sexual Chocolate release. Thanks man! This was spectacular. I wasn’t a huge fan of the base beer, but the barrel and the age on it smoothed out all the imperfections. The aroma was of deep malts, oak, vanilla, bourbon. The taste was subtle, smooth and delicious. It came through and coated the palate with bourbon, vanilla, malts and hid the alcohol like it wasn’t even there. This was super smooth and tasty. I loved it.

On tap at City Beer Alesmith event. Pours jet black with a thin tan head and an excellent smoked malt aroma. There is a complex flavor that includes chocolate, vanilla and coffee, with a subtle bourbon finish. It is often the case that barrell aging undermines the taste of an already great beer. Not so with this one. It is clear from the first sip that this barrel aged version is superior to the standard version, which is also a world-class beer.

Bottle thanks to unknown, did not catch year. Pour is black with a thin brown head. Looks like most of the carbonation is gone. Aroma is chocolate malt, cocoa, coffee, oxidation, and dark fruit. Mouth is still velvet. Flavor is chocolate malt, oxidation, coffee, vanilla, basement, and a light ashy finish. Likely past its prime but not all bad. The oxidation gets a little less noticeable as it sits, but it’s hard to deny.

03 bottle thanks to? #52 A really treat to open up the original but too bad it didn’t fair so well. Pours black with no head. Aroma is deeply oxidized with some light remaining bourbon. Flavor is thin, dull, lots of dark chocolate, a touch seemingly yeasty, well balanced bourbon. Flat, no carb, sugary and dull. Was great to open this but too bad coffee stouts don’t age that well and this should have been served its justice many years ago.

Had this from a growler of unknown origin. Been looking forward to this for a long, long time. Speedway Stout is so awesome on its own that I couldn’t even imagine what would happen when they aged it in the -bals. The answer is that it became a ridiculously good beer, even among ridiculously good beers. Pours a clear light golden color...no, scratch that, actually it’s pitch black. This is where photons go to die. Not much in the way of head, but then again it did come out of a growler. This is the beer’s only minor flaw, if it even is one. Absolutely heavenly. High-quality chocolate and coffee (I’m talking weasel crap quality), roastiness, oak, and just a touch of bourbon. Amazingly balanced, yet very intense awesomeness liquified. Lots of chocolate and vanilla, a little bourbon, sweet caramel malt, roasted malt, and oak. Coffee is definitely less dominant than in regular Speedway, as I hear aging will do to coffee flavor. This is a good thing, even though I like a strong coffee presence in a stout. When I drank this, I think a light might have shone down from the heavens and angels might have sang, but I’m not 100% sure. Incredibly smooth, full, and creamy on the palate. Very soft carbonation. I know this is a barrel aged imperial stout, but I could drink it ALL NIGHT LONG! I couldn’t imagine this beer really being any better unless they put weasel sh*t in it.

Much appreciation to hopdog for sharing this 2004 bottle 134/228. Pours a deep black with a creamy tan head that laced. Aroma of tobacco, chocolate, oak, roasted malt and light alcohol Flavor of chocolate, tobacco, oak, light coffee notes still lingering. I have not had this beer fresh, or ever before but based on the earlier tasting notes and what I experienced with this beer I think the 2004 bottles may have reach their peek prior to now. Still a great beer, just thinking if you have a 2004 bottle open it now.

Roasted malt, coffee, vanilla... My second fav Stout, next to Old Rasputin.

Thank you for popping this nice and"alot-of-talked-about beer. Shared just before newyear, 75 cl bottle from 2006, numbered 5/235. The aroma that comes fro m this moshy black containings is again strong vanilla, some lacorice, coconut and wood - pretty much the works from bourbon barrels. The pour is all black with a thin head. The taste is like the aroma overwhelmingly dominated by the bourbon vanilla and coconut notes - too my I thing these aged on bourbon beers gets to narrow minded and not as complex as there non-aged kid-brothers. . Im not a fan of the boubon-barrels I must admit. So chill with those B-Barrels please. The palate is fat and dilicious, smooth and round. Thx M for sharing this one