 Ofortuna (285), Grafton, Wisconsin, USA
May 10, 2008
From my backlog. Many thanks to Chuck for this rare treat. 2004 vintage #11 of 240. Poured a loose head with a decent amount of lacing. Right off the bat I get an upfront dose of sour in the aroma. Soon after a wave of bourbon and oak sweep through. I feel aweful before I even take the first sip. Soon after I imbibe, my fears are confirmed: this is far past its prime. There is still remnants of what used to be: wonderful richness of the base beer, beautiful example of barrel-aging, great complexity hidden underneath. Unfortunately, all of that is dominated by the degregation of time. A dominant sour character has taken over and thinned its body. It’s aggressive nature overshadows what a magnificient beer this must have once been. I can peer through this veil and sense glimmers of its once glorious past, but it’s now a shadow of its former self. The experience was poor for me and I felt aweful at the loss.
Gregis (831), Overland Park, Kansas, USA
Jun 21, 2008 Bottle shared by mreusch. Pours an oily jet black with a small mocha head, thin iodine colored legs and spotty lace. The nose is of sweet, roasted malt, milk chocolate, molasses, oaked bourbon and straight alcohol. Full-bodied and creamy with a dry, bitter, warm finish. Dark bitter roasted malt, molasses, ashy charred oak and light bourbon. This is a tasty beer. But, other than a fuller mouthfeel, I can’t really say that I found this to be an improvement over the regular version of Speedway. I can, however, honestly say that I never thought I would get the chance to try this beer. So, again, thanks a ton for sharing this rare treat with me, Matt!
mreusch (420), Olathe, Kansas, USA
Jun 17, 2008 750ml bottle, 2006 vintage, #34/235, with a HUGE THANK YOU to sfoley333 from over @ BeerAdvocate for the trade! Pours a syrupy black with a late forming creamy tan head, minimal spotty lacing. Aroma is bourbon, oak, milk chocolate, molasses and espresso in a near perfect harmony - deep, rich and enticing! Flavor is a bit more over-charred oak than I’d hope, with a nice espresso bitterness also in the front, but the milk chocolate, molasses and even bourbon gets pushed to the background, making the flavor profile more one dimensional than I’d hope. I wouldn’t call this a "let down" per se, but agree with others that it doesn’t top the regular Speedway Stout. Thanks again Sean!
UselessGdTaste (345), Long Beach, California, USA
Jun 16, 2008 Great, but I have to say that I prefer the original over this one. The extra dimension of the bourbon barrel brings out the alcohol as well as the taste of figs. Overall the intensity of the flavours are unparalleled, but as a final product, I wouldn’t drink this very often.
tertons (100), East Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Jun 15, 2008 Slightly better to go with the BA over the regular version. This beer needs it’s own category, for it’s not an imperial stout, but an alcoholic shake of malt and coffee. The creamiest of brews that is well balanced and hides it’s strength and only spreads a rich taste not overdone. Very few faults found here and near perfect.
Ty5592 (1000), Hatfield, Pennsylvania, USA
Jun 15, 2008 From FlacoAlto, Thanks! Finally someone stepped up and sent this to me, guess now I can die and go to heaven.... Anyway, 06 bottle which pours black with burgundy hue and small tan head that leaves rather quickly. Aroma of chocolate, brown sugar, wood, dark fruit, and light bourbon. Very light coffee flavor compared to the regular version which was surprising. The taste was medium sweet with wood, dark fruit and some dark chocolate. Minimal carbonation and smooth on the palate. Medium bodied. So this was BA Speedway...good beer but not as good as I would have thought, and really not on the level as the regular version IMO. Glad someone didn’t hold it hostage like others do and make you beg and plead for the stuff.
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