AleSmith Speedway Stout - Vietnamese Coffee (Bourbon Barrel Aged) | AleSmith Brewing Company

4.38/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Shared 2013 bottle with coffee.
Near black with s good light brown head.
Excellent super with a lot of bourbon flavor. Very smooth, full body.
Excellent, lasting aftertaste.

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4.88/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Had this after regular Speedway Stout and Barrel-aged Speedway Stout. This was the clear winner. Bourbon is there, but it doesn't taste quite as boozy as the standard barrel-aged Speedway Stout, primarily because beautiful coffee notes really shine through at the back end after every sip. Thick mouth-feel and a sipper for sure.

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4.68/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

I know this is the only version of Speedway that got the perfect 100, but I was (very sadly) a bit underwhelmed. It was still phenomenal, and I'm really glad I tried it, but I would say the regular, or BBA regular was still my preference.

Appearance: lighter in color, a tad more translucent than regular SS. A bit lighter brown, shinier, looked a little thinner (but definitely didn't taste any thinner!)

Smell: a lot of bourbon, really hid the Vietnamese coffee more than I would've liked. Bourbon really overtakes the nose, although over a firm foundation of aromatic coffee/stouty/thick Speedway.

Taste: Here's where I really wanted a little more - it really tasted like just BBA speedway, the vietnamese coffee wasn't really present. If anything, I could taste a more bitter and stronger aftertaste, which would've been great if it has been accompanied by strong vientamese coffee notes, but I think it just got lost in the sauce in this one.

Mouthfeel: still spectacular. thick, creamy, bold, heavy, full-bodied...Speedway really captures my ideal mouthfeel for a big ol' stout. just perfect.

Overall: glad I got to knock off another 100 Beer Advocate beer off my list, but I would hesitate to say it's the best version. Still, buy it whenever you can, it's worth it.

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4.63/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A more bitter coffee bourbon coffee stout than bcbcs. I prefer the more chocolate milk like taste of bcbcs than this one, but I'll be god damned if this isn't also awesome. Pretty much just coffee, whiskey, chocolatety stout awesomeness.

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4.88/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

This was awesome. Very lucky to try this in a share. Had a very nice size pour. Got to really get a good smell of coffee from it still after all this time. Bourbon and chocolate really come through on this. not to thick but has a creamy feel in the mouth. the best BA from Alesmith for sure.

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4.65/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

****2014 Edition****

L: Pours black with a small head that fades fast.
S: coffee, rich chocolate, sweet bourbon. Very nice to get all 3 components.
T: Big barrel sweetness, the coffee is there but not over powering. There is still a little heat on the back end, not bad but noticeable.
F: very smooth and creamy. It's very coating, but not the thickest.
O: A big upgrade from regualr ba speedway, a great beer!

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4.77/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Glad to finally check the infamous BAVSS off my list! Did a side-by-side with the Kopi Luwak and regular VSS variants, and this was the clear winner. One of the most well-balanced BA stouts I've ever had.

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4.71/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Had this yesterday at BHT in Glastonbury, CT. By far the best Speedway variant I've had (and I had 3 others that day!) The coffee is strong, but the bourbon makes for a super creamy mouthfeel. Not too boozy. #1 Speedway! Dig it!

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4.73/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Had on tap @ the grand opening of Alesmith's new brewery. It was good, it was really good, but I had too many awesome beers that day to be able to write a good review. I do actually like the regular BA Speedway better though.

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4.92/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

wow- my first thought is big vanilla and softer coffee and bourbon smell.. taste is absolutely world class.. coffee is great on the taste.. bourbon is there perfectly.. this is easily one of the best beers I have ever had.

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4.6/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

My favorite Speedway variant, and one of the most awesome, underrated BA stouts out there....I've had beers that 'cost' 3x as much but weren't even close to as good...definitely one of the best coffee BA stouts I've had.

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4.71/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

L: Opaque black hues with a very light 2mm sandy head and ample lacing
S: Very coffee-forward nose and a bit malty
T: Complex stout and dark black coffee flavor profile - the subtleties of the Vietnamese coffee is evident and well curated
F: Thick and syrupy mouthfeel with minimal carbonation
O: This is a decadent and bold coffee stout. Starting with the mouthfeel and ending with the complexity of the coffee/mocha flavor profile, I thoroughly enjoyed this one by AleSmith. If you can get your hands on this one, don't let go - it is divine.

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4.48/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Vintage 2013 with some rust under the cap. Started off with a slightly copper/metallic smell in addition to the great coffee and malt. Incredible flavor and mouthfeel; intensely viscous that seems to coat the mouth more the longer it stays. Intense and rich.

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4.99/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

May be the best beer Alesmith has ever done. Pours a thick dark black with sweet coffee aromas. Flavor absolutely backs up those aromas as well. Thick on the mouth feel and smooth going down with those sweet coffee flavors hanging on through out the taste. Still holding on and tasting great right now. If you have a bottle and haven't tried it before, now is the time.

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4.77/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Mini whale share, bottle from 2014 shared. Had this after BCBS Rare, and most beers would pale in comparison. Not this one. Pours nice with a brown head, lots of coffee on the nose, mouthfeel is nice, but not quite to the level of rare, after a few sips this one really shines, lots of coffee and superb blend of base stout, coffee and barrel. Overall this one really held its own after rare, drinks great and is on a similar level to rare, would seek out again.

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4.71/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

I was fortunate to get a pour of this at the CW18 party. Another fine offering from Alesmith; coffee adds a nice dimension to the already wonderful BASS. Definitely would not pass on a bottle if I had a chance to get one.

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4.75/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Split with two great friends.

Typical Speedway appearance. Near black with a small beige cap. Lovely aroma filled with coffee, roast, chocolate, vanilla. Just beautiful. Elegant and awesome. Highest recommendation.

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4.73/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

From 11/28/15 notes at our huge Mega-Speedway tasting.

Like the others, pours a pitch black color with one inch of dark tan head and low carbonation evident. Awesome sweet bourbon nose and taste...love it. Lots of bourbon, milk chocolate, roasted malts, vanilla, caramel malts, and toffee. Amazingly smooth and great mouthfeel.

Overall a fantastic beer; one of the best at the tasting. I think this beer does so well in Bourbon barrels and this one did not disappoint. One of the best.

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5/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This one outshined VR, DB cake, BT and a few other whales in a bottle share. Wasn't really close either. Whomever handles the coffee production at Alesmith should be given a medal and a boat load of cash. Perfectly balanced the coffee, barrel and base stout. Slightly sweet but in a good way. Notes of vanilla helps the balance. Chewy mouthfeel. This beer is under hyped. It should be held in higher regard.

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4.98/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

A - Opaque black with a fairly quickly dissipating tannish head.

S - aggressive coffee nose pops right off the bat. Faint vanilla from the barrel in the background. Hint of cacao nibs but mainly that amazing coffee

T - cold brew coffee with a background of toffee, cacao, caramel malts. Freaking delicious, the best parts of the base Vietnamese with added vanilla/bourbon/oak presence.

M - silky and smooth, perfect stout coating

O - very impressed, worth trading for and very close to being a top 5 for me.

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4.82/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

I truly remarkable beer. I was fortunate enough to have this at a tasting last weekend courtesy of @Beer4B from Lakeland, cheers buddy! The nose was the only thing about this beer that didn't wow me. Otherwise the experience of this one is truly remarkable. The coffee and barrel pair perfectly and the flavors make this one to truly savor. I'm already wishing I had another bottle!

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4.46/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

750ml 2014 bottle poured into tulip 22/8/15, thanks kumatmebrew for the bottle

A black liquid that has a thumbnail deep cola edge, two fingers of dark foam has decent retention leaving just a few polka dots of lace, some color and wide legs try to form on the side of the glass

S this stuff smells intense, the second I pop the cap you get a whiff, bourbon, booze, and coffee hit me first followed by vanilla, coconut, marshmallow, and chocolate fudge, the barrel and coffee work well together

T chocolate covered bourbon soaked coffee beans, booze comes out even more then the nose but still well concealed for 12%, more barrel, more of everything really, shes a big one, intense stuff

M thick but not chewy, silky, enough bubbles to give it some life, some heat but its well managed all things considered, a little sticky on the lips, charred coffee linger

O a little booze popping up here and there but to be expected in such a big beer, great coffee notes, lots of bourbon barrel, shes a winner

One of those beers that needs age but would lose some of its great qualities with cellar time, dammed if you do and I'll stop short of saying dammed if you don't because this ones great right now.

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4.85/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Heavenly. Nose is coffee and marshmallow and smacks you hard. Taste follows suit with a bit of chocolate sweetness. Really makes me want to seek out Velvet speedway as well.

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4.55/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to Pushkinwow for sharing the bottle!

Black with a thin brown head, down fast with no lacing. Loads of roasted malt, chocolate, coffee, fruit, boozy bourbon, vanilla...a thing of beauty! Big malt, roasted and sweet, nice coffee, big bourbon, vanilla, milk chocolate and some warm alcohol. Awesome!

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4.35/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Pours a completely black color, with a small, light brown head.

Full of fudge and ground coffee on the nose with lots of dough cream and a warming barrel appearance. Coffee is extremely well pronounced, revealing a flowery berry quality, gently wrapped up into fudge and charred malts.

Drinks outstandingly smooth, very soft on the tongue with an intense barrel infusion, creating a hot bite during the finish, together with bitter coffee.

Tastes of sweeter fudge, immediately coated up by earthy, silk coffee with a faint berry quality to it. This foundation gets joined by a prominent, vanilla heavy, warming barrel, adding smoky oak, camp fire warmth, resin and a whiff of hazelnuts to the taste. Finishes with present, hot, dry bourbon among cream, coated by coffee and fudgy booze.

Features a full bodied beer, surprisingly fudgy, with flowery, berry infused ground coffee. Extremely smooth, almost easy drinking if it wasnt for the prominent barrel.

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