Speedway Stout - Bourbon Barrel-Aged
AleSmith Brewing Company

Speedway Stout - Bourbon Barrel-AgedSpeedway Stout - Bourbon Barrel-Aged
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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:
398
Ratings:
2,377
Status:
Active
Rated:
Monday at 02:13 PM
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 younger35:
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Reviewed by younger35 from Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Big thanks to 0110x011 many moons ago when he sent this tasty treat. I've been sitting on it for quite some time but what better time to break it out than for losing a bet with Scoobydank. Drank from a specialty Sam Adams glasses.

2006 version bottle #68 of 233

Appearance- Pours a pitch ass black with a big beautiful one finger dark tan head. A decent cap and collar is maintained the entire beer along with a fair amount of spotty lacing.
Smell- Sweet and caramelly with a big bourbon boozy thing erupting out of my glass. A bit of chocolate and coffee but nothing with the potency of the original. The bourbon and wood are very overpowering and totally take over the base beer that is Speedway Stout. Plenty of vanilla makes its way through along with a bit of light caramel.
Taste- Wow, the taste is so much more soft and balanced than the nose. A bracing bit of fruitiness from a big hoppy bite right from the get go. The original Speedway isn't really present in this beer (meaning the huge coffee and chocolate) but there is a bit of an acrid roastiness present. Plenty of wood and vanilla though as the barrel is crazy intense - bourbon galore. A fair amount of caramel though as there is a lightly bitter finish from the malt roast.
Mouthfeel- Big and rich and heavy with a very light bit of carbonation that lends itself to a nice creamy feel.
Drinkability- Not bad but honestly I'd much rather have the original. The barrel just covers all the great aspects of Speedway and doesn't help to make it better. Yes, it's still very good but for how limited it is but there are other barrel aged brews out there that are slightly better. One of the few beers that I prefer the regular to the barrel aged. Thanks Matt!
May 11, 2010
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.52 by BubalooBrewMaster from Kentucky

Monday at 02:13 PM
Photo of AdmiralOzone
Reviewed by AdmiralOzone from Minnesota

4.67/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours inky black with a thick mocha head that leaves spotty lacing. Aroma is dark chocolate, oak, vanilla, bourbon. Flavor follows the nose, heavenly chocolate cake, bourbon and vanilla. Feel is thick and lightly carbonated. Overall, the bomb.
Mar 19, 2024
 
Rated: 4.27 by Gooseman80 from Illinois

Mar 11, 2024
 
Rated: 3.9 by Original_Gravity from Washington

Mar 11, 2024
 
Rated: 4.06 by LunchMoney from Minnesota

Mar 09, 2024
Photo of Bouleboubier
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
(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, 2024
 
Rated: 4.48 by cbuzz24 from Mississippi

Feb 25, 2024
Photo of Scotchboy
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
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, 2024
 
Rated: 4.31 by Bhubbard34 from Pennsylvania

Feb 18, 2024
 
Rated: 4.33 by Manthon from Pennsylvania

Feb 18, 2024
 
Rated: 4.5 by PprBurke from Virginia

Feb 16, 2024
 
Rated: 4.25 by Dope from Massachusetts

Feb 04, 2024
 
Rated: 4.49 by IdrinkGas from Pennsylvania

Jan 21, 2024
 
Rated: 5 by mamaraza from Texas

Jan 06, 2024
 
Rated: 4.43 by gelasin from California

Jan 05, 2024
 
Rated: 4.54 by Can_if_you_can from Minnesota

Dec 27, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by timmy2b from New York

Dec 09, 2023
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Reviewed 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
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, 2023
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Rated by BeerDawgs from Georgia

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, 2023
Speedway Stout - Bourbon Barrel-Aged from AleSmith Brewing Company
Beer rating: 100 out of 100 with 2377 ratings