AleSmith Speedway Stout

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

Serve in Snifter

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UPDATED: DEC 1, 2005 2003 bottle Coincidentally, I think the last super-hyped beer that lived up to my expectations was Bell’s Expedition. And there were many similarities. However, this one was more creamier and malted, with lots more cofee. Aroma was amazing, smelled like a nice mocha latte, with some alcohol. Some hops aroma as well. I was also impressed with the ultra black opaque appearance AND a nice lasting coffee colored head. Commences with a velvety smooth coffee/chocolate malt flavor, super creamy texture, hardly any carbonation, coffee is not overdone. Full body and just when I am hoping for the hops to balance it, they do. Finishes with a mix between roasted malt, dry hops and a punch of alcohol, moderately bitter. The alcohol is so well masked and though you can definitely tell it’s there on the finish, it does not interrupt the body whatsoever. I swirled this beer around in my mouth and it was just perfect, so many malty flavors and just so wonderfully balanced. This one is incredible and really dosent even seem to need to be cellared (whereas Expedition comes off as quite young). This is as close to perfect as it gets. Maybe could use a little less bitterness on the finish, as the strong coffee, dry hops and alcohol pack a huge wallop that really shocks you coming off of the mellow, velvety body. But hey, I think it just adds character, hard to really find much fault here. Thanks again for the trade Bob. Rerate. After having Dark Lord, the magic of this is slightly paled, but it’s still fantasticly world class stuff.

2005 bottle sampled 10/27/2005 with SuIIy. Wow. It’s hard to believe this is a young impy stout. No edge on this at all. Exquisite appearance, mouthfeel and aroma. Superbly balanced. I never noted too much coffee in the least. I might even like this more than the 2003. Perhaps not as complex and powerful, but what it lacks in that, it makes up in sheer enjoyable flavor and balance. Raising the score a bit. 9/5/10/5/18

2003 bottle aged between 26-30 months Aging stouts with huge amounts of real coffee in them has not seemed to work out greatly. I think controlling the effect of the coffee over time is very difficult to predict and does have odd reactions with the rest of the beer. That being said, this was still very respectably preserved. The body had thinned out considerably and the carbonation was very low. Alcohol was too prevalent, while malt sweetness seemed much much less than when young. I had cellared this very carefully the whole way, but I think this one just dosent last that long, or rather, is better drunk fresh.

Aroma of coffee, chocolate, slight alcohol, pours dark with thick head that is persistent through out and tons of lace taste strong coffee, espresso, sweet alcoholic, chocolate some bitterness, lot’s going on with this one this is big in every way. full body, thick somewhat sticky dry with dry coffee finish at 12% this one grabs you and hangs on, great stout! find it and try it.

Shared by someone at the Monte’s Krown tasting yesterday. Pours a very deep black, solid, just a hint of red around the edges of the glass when held directly up against a lightbulb. 2 finger tan head. Notes off coffee, roast, chocolate milkshake in the nose. Taste is hoppy, coffee, chocolate. Very good.

Pours a dark black with a thinning brown head and aroma of coffee and espresso. Taste is sweet and strong, of roasted malt, coffee, liquorice, alcohol, and chocolate with a heavy mouthful throughout and a slight bitter finish. Strong, flavorful brew from AleSmith.

Pours black as night with a small mocha head. Appearance is stunning! Nose wafts of coffee and some chocolate malt. Taste is nothing but flavor, with strong coffee, espresso and slight licorice. Taste is also sweet with some bitterness that gives away. Finish is dry and sweet , a wonderful stout. Don’t leave home without one in your frig. Amazing Imperial Stout, Quaff Score 9 / 10

Shared 750 ml bottle @ Cosmic Comic Cafe. Pours black, no tinges, with a huge, thick, mocha-colored head. Gorgeous. Aroma is heavy with coffee and roasted malts. Some dark fruits and hints of salty liquorice. Taste is quite sweet with a lot of roasted malt, quite a bit of bitter, dark chocolate, lots of coffee. Aftertaste has dark fruits as well. Palate is surprisingly just medium, not much carbonation.

Poors dark nice brown head. Taste is of coffee, chocolate, caramel. The taste is not overbearing like some other coffee stouts. This is very drinkable and not bitter. It is smooth and does not have much of an after taste. The alchohol is present but not harsh at all. This is an amazing stout. Wish I could get this more readily in the midwest.

Pours black with nice amount of brownish head. Aroma is roasty, lots of coffee. full body, creamy, average carbonation. Really great beer.

Pours dark brown with a medium head. Aroma roasted malts, coffee, nuts. Strong full body with an oily texture. Not Bad.

750 ml bottle @ O’Connell’s, Tampere.
Pours a pitch black colour with a beige head. High viscosity. Looks beautiful. Strong aroma of roasted malts, strong dark chocolate, licorice and some tar with syrupy sweetness. Flavour is strong as well with notes of roasted coffee, roasted malts, dark chocolate, tar, raisins and plums. Full bodied, thick and smooth mouthfeel. Finishes warming, roasty, dry, vinous and mellow fruity finish. Some bitterness after a while. Truly a treat as this is so complex and packed with flavour. Top 10. I’m glad to have a bottle in my cellar.

75 cl bottle @ O’Connel’s, Tampere.
Originally rated on 20100721.
Pours pitch black color with medium-sized beige head. Aroma of dark roasted malts, dry dark chocolate notes, some dried fruit notes and mild peat and hints of vanilla. Flavour of tasted malts, very dry ashy chocolate and cocoa, mild dark dried fruit notes, mild coffee and some caramel and vanilla hints. Some mild liquorice notes present themselves as the nectar warms up a bit. Very dry chocolaty and mild creamy palate with a long, dry fruity and chocolaty finish. Excellent.
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