AleSmith Speedway Stout

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

Serve in Snifter

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Another one of the beers I recently picked up at Hi-Time Wine in Costa Mesa, and curiously one of several Imperial Stouts with coffee I seem to have run into lately. Out of the green 750 ml. bomber, and into the goblet, the beer came out deep reddish black with a one finger thick light brown head. The body was opaque when held up to the light with some brown highlights at the extreme edge. Aroma was chocolate malt and leafy hops mingling together. The first taste was about as intense as I have ever had in a beer. The acrid roastiness of the malts provided the backbone of the flavor profile, while the green bitterness and acidity of the hop oils provided the muscular heft. Together they had quite a tug of war on my tongue. I believe the hops won out in the end. They claim to have poured in pounds and pounds of coffee beans in the brew, but the other flavors were so strong, the coffee was barely detectable as a distinct taste. There was a lingering note of chocolate in the aftertaste. The body was thick and smooth, providing an excellent feel on the palette, which was spoiled only a little by the peppery spiciness of the alcohol. The strength was well covered by the abundance of the flavor while the beer was in the mouth, but since there are no taste buds in the stomach, the warmth spreading to the extremities from there was dead giveaway. This is a beer best suited for a nightcap duty, although the large bomber size gets in the way of that a bit. I would love to see what some age can bring out, as at this fresh stage the hops dominated everything else. Maybe I can get my hands on some more to set it aside for a while.

750 ml bottle purchased April 2011. Nice coffee taste, smooth but not complex. Great beer; following Dark Lord impossible.

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.