AleSmith Barrel Aged Speedway Stout

[2002 vintage sampled July 25th 2004 - bottle 113/115] A black beer with a fine though disappearing head with hue close to chocolate brown. The aroma is powerful; sweet malty with notes of chocolate, coffee, and alcohol (no wonder with an ABV of 12%). The flavor has loads of alcohol burning the tongue, but it is still very well rounded because it contains strong notes of roasted bread, coffee, and chocolate. It has a magnificent body. A great beer - I was positively surprised of this one. I have to pay my tribute to Oakes for getting his hands on this beer (out of the brewmasters cellar) for the European Summer Party and hauling it all the way to Stockholm - thanks Josh!

Bottled, #113. Black, small head. Aroma of chocolate and whiskey, Roasty with very rich maltiness. There’s some molassess and coffee there, still it feels dry. Flavours are really intensive, and still they’ve managed to get good balance among all the huge flavours. Salty licorice and bourbon in the finish.

(Bottle 75 cl) Vintage 2004 - bottle # 104/228, Pours completely black and opaque with a dense, light brown head. Distinct bourbon aroma with lots of roasted malt. Very solid body with an extremely complex flavour pattern: burned malts, dried fruits, coffee and oaky bourbon. Quite a bitter finish. A grand Oaked Imperial Stout, but I’ve had them even better. 291206 and 070907

Very dark brown; a little bit of whisky, coffee, toast, roasted malt in the aroma. Palate is sweet, with whisky, lots of lasting maltiness, toffee, vanilla. Complex, interesting beer.

2004-edition, bottle #104/228, thanks to René for sharing. Black coloured with a medium sized lacing beige head. Roasted aroma of chocolate, wood and vanilla. Roasted flavour of chocolate, wood, vanilla, hops and liquorice. Very balanced.