Speedway Stout - Velvet
AleSmith Brewing Company

Speedway Stout - VelvetSpeedway Stout - Velvet
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From:
AleSmith Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
12%
Score:
97
Avg:
4.39 | pDev: 9.79%
Reviews:
32
Ratings:
121
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 21, 2021
Added:
Jul 19, 2015
Wants:
  114
Gots:
  30
Aged in 60-year old Spanish Sherry barrels, 24-year old Central American Rum barrels, and 23-year old Evan Williams Bourbon Barrels, then infused with Madagascar Vanilla beans and locally roasted Jamaica Blue Mountain and Kopi Luwak Cold Brew from Mostra Coffee.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SaltySizzle:
Photo of SaltySizzle
Reviewed by SaltySizzle from California

4.9/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Poured from a bottle into a taster glass.

Classic barrel-aged Speedway mouthfeel and look. Viscous, thick, and wisps take hold nicely. Aroma hits the nose with a very strong vanilla waft, oak, and hints of tobacco.

Taste: Vanilla isn't too sweet, present with every sip but not overpowering the Evan Williams bourbon. Vanilla tastes organic, not artificial like you get with some stouts. Notes of a vanilla toffee bar. Very well balanced and not too much heat or booziness. If you know bourbon, EW 23 year old is a bourbon whale, and very appreciative of how this beer respects that. Complex and contemplative. Others in my group feel that this is the best Speedway ever, and I agree.

Thank you, Mike and Grant for sharing, for a sneak peek! I feel like I can crush a 750ml by myself but with 12%, do I dare and share?
Jul 20, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of Harrison8
Reviewed by Harrison8 from Missouri

4.29/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
2017. Bottle 295 of 550.

Pours black with a finger of khaki foam. Head retention is okay. Aroma is caramel, toffee, molasses, coffee, and roasty, toasty malts. There is a tiny kick of bourbon booze at the rear, but what is there is faint. Flavor profile is caramel, toffee, molasses, coffee, and roasty and toasty malts. Booze is regulated to the rear, offering a little swell of heat at the finish. Coffee is present, albeit it's buried behind the rest of the beer at this point. Perhaps fresh, or with a year or two of age, the coffee would sing a little more loudly. Mouth feel is medium-thick with a creamy effervescence. Overall, a bold stout with a little coffee left over despite the age. It's not horrendously loud, instead offering a more nuanced and subtly dynamic sipping experience.

Served in a 15.5oz Speigalau tulip from a 750mL bottle. Vintage: 2017. Bottle 295 of 550 (silver Sharpie on rear of bottle).
Feb 21, 2021
Photo of mothman
Reviewed by mothman from Minnesota

2/5  rDev -54.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
2017 vintage on tap.

Tan head. Dark brown black color.

Lots of rum, char, and burnt rubber. Covers up most of the coffee. Vanilla isn’t even present. Chocolate and cocoa.

Not even thick. What a joke of a beer. Not sure how this gets 4.44
Feb 29, 2020
 
Rated: 4.46 by Futbolmanby from Michigan

Jun 13, 2019
Photo of patre_tim
Reviewed by patre_tim from Thailand

4.33/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Dark brown with a little hint of transparency, and a small beige foam.

Chocolatey and fruity, like raspberries. I smell the sherry, umami, bourbon oak and meaty a quality.

It goes in a different direction than the double barrel. Light and perfume like and elegant. Somewhat like a sweet red wine. Also a bit like salt water taffy.

Medium light and smooth body, with little carbonation.

Drinking this at AleSmith bar in San Diego, June 1st, 2019.
Jun 02, 2019
 
Rated: 4.49 by DVMin98 from North Carolina

May 10, 2019
 
Rated: 4.75 by eawolff99 from Minnesota

Apr 03, 2019
 
Rated: 4.81 by rcjennings from Ohio

Feb 03, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by smartassboiler from Illinois

Dec 08, 2018
 
Rated: 4.69 by TrilliumFan from Massachusetts

Nov 07, 2018
Photo of BeanBump
Reviewed by BeanBump from California

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This sucker lives up to its name; its rich, warm and insanely smooth. The various barrel agings mix well and make this one of smoothest stouts Ive ever had the pleasure of imbibing. Toss in a little vanilla and some kopi luwak and Bam! Youve got yourself a winner. Not the easiest Speedway variant to find but Alesmith will have it on tap a few times per year. If you can get your grubby little mitts on it - do it.
Aug 13, 2018
 
Rated: 4.4 by PhineasMcClintock from Massachusetts

Jun 16, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by acurtis from New Jersey

Jun 15, 2018
 
Rated: 4.5 by rspauldi from Texas

Apr 16, 2018
 
Rated: 3.93 by Sammy from Canada (ON)

Jan 19, 2018
 
Rated: 4.34 by swanfungus from California

Dec 12, 2017
 
Rated: 4.35 by frasergrove from California

Dec 10, 2017
 
Rated: 4.5 by caverog from California

Nov 12, 2017
 
Rated: 4.46 by dfhhead25 from Pennsylvania

Sep 05, 2017
 
Rated: 4.79 by _beerini from Wisconsin

Aug 11, 2017
Speedway Stout - Velvet from AleSmith Brewing Company
Beer rating: 97 out of 100 with 121 ratings