4.4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 10/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 17/20
600th rating! Draft at Urge Gastropub for their 1st Anniversary celebration on 29 July 2011. This is 30% barrel aged (2009) Speedway blended with the normal version. Pours the typical pitch black with a whisper of tan head. Aroma definitely has some bourbon barrel (though it is only 30%) along with the rich gourmet coffee, dark dark chocolate, and caramel of the regular Speedway. In the flavor, the coffee is certainly there but muted somewhat compared to the normal Speedway; but nice bittersweet fudgy chocolate is there to replace the coffee. Flavor also has thick sticky caramel and hints of vanilla. There’s a hint of boozy bourbon barrel near the end which is very nice. There is some booziness here but the high ABV is better concealed here than in the regular version. Altogether this is even richer than normal Speedway, and with some increased complexity. Overall, it is smoother around the edges and very excellent as usual. (4, 600)
4.4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 17/20
Very nice blend of speedways...the bourbon notes are lighter than in the full on barrel aged version, but, still very nice.
4.8 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 10/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 19/20
Black with a creamy tan head. Chocolate coffee light bourbon and vanilla aroma and taste. Amazingly smooth and creamy with the flavors well balanced. Well done.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20
Served on tap at the Stone 15th Anniversary Celebration. The appearance is a dark black hue with a smaller brown head. The aromas are rich with coffee, alcohol, and roasted goodness. The flavors have a wonderful coffee flavors, the good AleSmith stuff. I still need to make my way to Ryan’s Brothers to try the coffee solo. Good full roast malts. The booze in this brew is pretty intense and almost distracting. The bourbon comes threw nice adding a oak edge. I love the coffee and the bourbon but this brew nice a bit of time to mellow to become as good as it can be.
4.1 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
On tap. 12.5% and 30% Barrel Aged Speedway. Pours with a glass coating, black body with a lasting tan head. Very nice lace. Looks great. Aromas are roasty, coffee, vanilla, toasty, oak, light bourbon and chocolate. Flavors are roasty, chocolate, fudge, vanilla, bourbon, coffee (strong), raisiny, earthy. Complex with a huge duration! Creamy mouthfeel with light bubbles. Very well rounded.
Not as good as the straight BA Speedway nor the Kopi version. About on par with the regular Speedway (plus some nuances). Being on par with the regular Speedway, means that this is a pretty awesome beer in my book.
3.9 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
A: The beer pours black in color with a finger or so of tan head.
S: A strong chocolate and coffee aroma with lots of roasted malts. There’s a strong earthy note to it. Is there a little bit of chile in this? A mild char note as well as mild vanilla and licorice notes.
T: The earthy character really stands out on the palate. There’s a bit of molasses, chocolate, and toffee to go with some of the vanilla and a bit of bourbon. Plenty of char and roasted malts and as usual: lots of coffee.
M: Full bodied with a smooth, medium carbonation and a nice feel on the tongue.
O: I like that this still has the original speedway character as well as some other interesting traits.
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