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Speedway Stout - Bourbon Barrel-Aged
AleSmith Brewing Company
- From:
- AleSmith Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #9 - ABV:
- 13.3%
- Score:
- 100
Ranked #141 - Avg:
- 4.52 | pDev: 7.52%
- Reviews:
- 397
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 11, 2024
- Added:
- Jan 01, 2004
- Wants:
- 2,037
- Gots:
- 659
We’ve matured our imperial stout in premium bourbon barrels for an extended period of time to create the perfect blend of flavors. Notes of oak, vanilla and bourbon add complexity to this beer’s already massive flavor profile of chocolate, locally sourced artisanal coffee and roasted barley. Designed to be enjoyed now or aged in the bottle for years to come, this special release is truly a unique beer that is as smooth as it is rare.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by NJBrews609:
Rated by NJBrews609 from California
4.99/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Jul 04, 2016
4.99/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Jul 04, 2016
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey
4.47/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.47/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
(2023 version, 16 oz can, canned on 10/10/2023; purchased cold yesterday at the brewery... poured into a stemless wine glass)
L: darn near black liquid with an ample build of a relatively dark brown head... the head hangs for a bit, but falls, but why then is its lacing so purdy??... razor thin collar maintains
S: dark chocolate cake, espresso ganache, hint of charcoal... powerful grain and toasty cookie character... nutty accents and a prune brandy booze note slowly emerge... bourbon is not immediately apparent I think due to the heavy dark malty aromas, but delicate wood and vanilla overtones eventually meld with the rest of its potent snuffables
T: the bourbon barrel influence leaps out upon first sip but soon gets swallowed by the muddy, motor oily, muscular malts... cindery heat, burnt raisiny... thick malty but not all that sweet(?!?); the aftertaste seems dry; all suggestive byproducts
F: full bodied is pretty spot on, however, it has a slick, lithe texture likely from being smoothed with aging, not to mention the attenuating effect of the jet fuel booze... gets fluffier as it goes?... it's levity is phenomenal, but I like my legs
O: it doesn't quite have the subtle idiosyncratic nuances of the best batches of standard Bourbon County, but why am I comparing them?... Eh, tempting to ship home (2273)
Mar 06, 2024L: darn near black liquid with an ample build of a relatively dark brown head... the head hangs for a bit, but falls, but why then is its lacing so purdy??... razor thin collar maintains
S: dark chocolate cake, espresso ganache, hint of charcoal... powerful grain and toasty cookie character... nutty accents and a prune brandy booze note slowly emerge... bourbon is not immediately apparent I think due to the heavy dark malty aromas, but delicate wood and vanilla overtones eventually meld with the rest of its potent snuffables
T: the bourbon barrel influence leaps out upon first sip but soon gets swallowed by the muddy, motor oily, muscular malts... cindery heat, burnt raisiny... thick malty but not all that sweet(?!?); the aftertaste seems dry; all suggestive byproducts
F: full bodied is pretty spot on, however, it has a slick, lithe texture likely from being smoothed with aging, not to mention the attenuating effect of the jet fuel booze... gets fluffier as it goes?... it's levity is phenomenal, but I like my legs
O: it doesn't quite have the subtle idiosyncratic nuances of the best batches of standard Bourbon County, but why am I comparing them?... Eh, tempting to ship home (2273)
Reviewed by Scotchboy from Idaho
4.3/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.3/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
16oz can pours out that inkish black that's so familiar in Speedway, with a decent-sized tight-bubbled light khaki head. Prominent barrel notes of bourbon and oak abound, along with present coffee and hints of smoke...rich and sweet on the palate, the barrel-aging seems well-executed here. Definitely worth trying, I liked this variant more than the Vietnamese coffee version; this one just seemed more cohesive, roasty, rich, and pleasant.
Feb 19, 2024Reviewed by DokiDokiLitFam from New Jersey
4.6/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.6/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
2022 Version
Pours out a very dark brown. On a straight pour, very little foam is agitated out.
Nose is oak, roasted malt, and a peppery quality. Almost like rye spice. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that this was a rye barrel aged stout. Or perhaps even a rye based stout.
On the taste, however, there is more of a story. Oak and bourbon come through first on the palate. Behind that is the roasted malt bringing a dark bread note and a beautiful dark chocolate the sings throughout. I picture an overdone rugelach with a dark chocolate filling in my minds eye with this brew. The only sweetness being from what little is in the dough and the mildly sweetened chocolate. While the oak shows up quickly, it dims down as the palate progresses, and the more subtle flavors appear. Like a tide retreating to show the rocks that sit beneath.
Mouthfeel is fullbodied but not oily or cloying. It has heft, but not the residue that often accompanies. There is drying for sure, most likely due to ABV and barrel tannins. The carbonation is considerable too, for a stout at this percentage. Mild compared to most anything else, but surprising in this regard.
Overall this is what I expected from Alesmith. A respectful, expert brew. The base brew is a hallmark; an example of how often "less is more". The barrel aging brings it up a notch while still maintaining that level of composure and elegance. I had no doubt that this would be a world-class offering.
Sep 11, 2023Pours out a very dark brown. On a straight pour, very little foam is agitated out.
Nose is oak, roasted malt, and a peppery quality. Almost like rye spice. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that this was a rye barrel aged stout. Or perhaps even a rye based stout.
On the taste, however, there is more of a story. Oak and bourbon come through first on the palate. Behind that is the roasted malt bringing a dark bread note and a beautiful dark chocolate the sings throughout. I picture an overdone rugelach with a dark chocolate filling in my minds eye with this brew. The only sweetness being from what little is in the dough and the mildly sweetened chocolate. While the oak shows up quickly, it dims down as the palate progresses, and the more subtle flavors appear. Like a tide retreating to show the rocks that sit beneath.
Mouthfeel is fullbodied but not oily or cloying. It has heft, but not the residue that often accompanies. There is drying for sure, most likely due to ABV and barrel tannins. The carbonation is considerable too, for a stout at this percentage. Mild compared to most anything else, but surprising in this regard.
Overall this is what I expected from Alesmith. A respectful, expert brew. The base brew is a hallmark; an example of how often "less is more". The barrel aging brings it up a notch while still maintaining that level of composure and elegance. I had no doubt that this would be a world-class offering.
Rated by BeerDawgs from Georgia
4.84/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.84/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
2016 bottle, aged for 7 years and cracking it on my last Saturday night in my house in Georgia
Jul 09, 2023Reviewed by stortore from Illinois
4.45/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.45/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
12 ounce bottle into a snifter. Bottled 4/18/22, had 6/15/22.
Pours near black and opaque, with a half inch foamy head and light foamy lacing. Aromas of coffee, bourbon, roasted malt, vanilla, oak, some chocolate, light caramel and char. Flavors of bourbon, coffee, roasted malt, vanilla, oak, some chocolate, light caramel. Has a decent amount of hop bitterness. Smooth, a solid full body, appropriately carbonated.
Coffee and barrel for days. Vibrant aromas and flavors, with a bitterness that’ll leave a chip on your shoulder.
Jun 13, 2023Pours near black and opaque, with a half inch foamy head and light foamy lacing. Aromas of coffee, bourbon, roasted malt, vanilla, oak, some chocolate, light caramel and char. Flavors of bourbon, coffee, roasted malt, vanilla, oak, some chocolate, light caramel. Has a decent amount of hop bitterness. Smooth, a solid full body, appropriately carbonated.
Coffee and barrel for days. Vibrant aromas and flavors, with a bitterness that’ll leave a chip on your shoulder.
Speedway Stout - Bourbon Barrel-Aged from AleSmith Brewing Company
Beer rating:
100 out of
100 with
2375 ratings
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