Speedway Stout
AleSmith Brewing Company


- From:
- AleSmith Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
Ranked #89 - ABV:
- 12%
- Score:
- 97
Ranked #595 - Avg:
- 4.38 | pDev: 8.45%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 1,870
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 24, 2026
- Added:
- Nov 09, 2002
- Wants:
- 932
- Gots:
- 2,246
A HUGE Imperial Stout that weighs in at an impressive 12% ABV! As if that's not enough, we added pounds of coffee for a little extra kick.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by DraftMonger:
Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark
3.99/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.99/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Copenhagen 14/10-2015. 50 cl from draft at Søernes Ølbar.
Pours dark brown - almost black with small light beige head. Moderate lacing.
Aroma is of chocolate and coffee.
Soft carbonation and creamy palate.
Taste is very well balanced between sweetness which is not too sugary and rich coffee bitterness. You can sense the quite prominent intensity from the alcohol.
A very nice imperial stout you are forced to enjoy at a thoughtful pace.
Sep 11, 2025Pours dark brown - almost black with small light beige head. Moderate lacing.
Aroma is of chocolate and coffee.
Soft carbonation and creamy palate.
Taste is very well balanced between sweetness which is not too sugary and rich coffee bitterness. You can sense the quite prominent intensity from the alcohol.
A very nice imperial stout you are forced to enjoy at a thoughtful pace.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Premo88 from Texas
4.18/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
16 oz. can poured into nonic
(canned 12/24/25 printed on bottom of can)
L: pours like motor oil out of the can and even off a relatively light pour pushes up a massive head of brown foam, at least an inch and a half thick; the foam is painting the inner walls of the glass off the head, huge amount of sticking; keeps a fairly thick collar of brown foam and most of a thin skin; 100% opaque ... light does not pass through this wall of black liquid, not even around the edges
S: milk chocolate and coffee, cafe mocha latte; molasses, maybe a hint of toffee or dark toffee (if such a thing exists); a hint of oak wood, charred wood
T: dark roasted coffee, bitter coffee bean ... formidably bitter up front with hints of sweetness coming mostly in the form of dark chocolate; over time some very nice wood notes show up, charred oak and pecan and hickory, and at the same time more sweetness appears ... never a ton, but instead of tasting like coffee or bitter espresso, you get a punch of a cafe mocha latte made with dark chocolate (something like 70% cocoa); the more it warms, the more the dark chocolate note grows
F: not as thick as you'd think after that motor oil pour but still a hefty brew, at least a midweight but lightened a little by the high level of carbonation
O: they may add coffee to this beer, but it certainly doesn't come off as an adjuncty gimmick of a stout tricked up with loads of extras — it's a simple but powerful tour de force of dark malt; to be honest, this can could've used a bit more age, probably 6-12 months in the fridge to help it tame down a little and sweeten, but it's still very good and one I would definitely buy again — in fact, I might snag another can of this 12/24/25 batch and stow it in the fridge until next winter ... my guess is this beer ages very well and probably for as long as you care to try, though I'd bet it hits its stride around the 12-18 month mark
May 24, 2026(canned 12/24/25 printed on bottom of can)
L: pours like motor oil out of the can and even off a relatively light pour pushes up a massive head of brown foam, at least an inch and a half thick; the foam is painting the inner walls of the glass off the head, huge amount of sticking; keeps a fairly thick collar of brown foam and most of a thin skin; 100% opaque ... light does not pass through this wall of black liquid, not even around the edges
S: milk chocolate and coffee, cafe mocha latte; molasses, maybe a hint of toffee or dark toffee (if such a thing exists); a hint of oak wood, charred wood
T: dark roasted coffee, bitter coffee bean ... formidably bitter up front with hints of sweetness coming mostly in the form of dark chocolate; over time some very nice wood notes show up, charred oak and pecan and hickory, and at the same time more sweetness appears ... never a ton, but instead of tasting like coffee or bitter espresso, you get a punch of a cafe mocha latte made with dark chocolate (something like 70% cocoa); the more it warms, the more the dark chocolate note grows
F: not as thick as you'd think after that motor oil pour but still a hefty brew, at least a midweight but lightened a little by the high level of carbonation
O: they may add coffee to this beer, but it certainly doesn't come off as an adjuncty gimmick of a stout tricked up with loads of extras — it's a simple but powerful tour de force of dark malt; to be honest, this can could've used a bit more age, probably 6-12 months in the fridge to help it tame down a little and sweeten, but it's still very good and one I would definitely buy again — in fact, I might snag another can of this 12/24/25 batch and stow it in the fridge until next winter ... my guess is this beer ages very well and probably for as long as you care to try, though I'd bet it hits its stride around the 12-18 month mark
Reviewed by mushroomcloud from Texas
4.29/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
16oz canned on 12-24-25, opened 5-3-26.
1-1/2 finger tan head with excellent retention and early lacing. Black body with no light or fading edges perceptible.
Aromas of rich, charred malt, molasses, licorice, faint coffee, and dark fruit esters.
Bitter coffee, roasted malts, tongue scraping char, dark bitter chocolate.
Full bodied with a velvety mouthfeel. Some heat in a roasty, powerful finish that lingers with a touch of sweetness and charred malt.
Powerhouse of a beer, love the mouthfeel.
Outstanding.
May 03, 20261-1/2 finger tan head with excellent retention and early lacing. Black body with no light or fading edges perceptible.
Aromas of rich, charred malt, molasses, licorice, faint coffee, and dark fruit esters.
Bitter coffee, roasted malts, tongue scraping char, dark bitter chocolate.
Full bodied with a velvety mouthfeel. Some heat in a roasty, powerful finish that lingers with a touch of sweetness and charred malt.
Powerhouse of a beer, love the mouthfeel.
Outstanding.
Reviewed by Some_Beer_Sometimes from California
3.34/5 rDev -23.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.34/5 rDev -23.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Big, dark, bitter, and boozy. Tastes like coffee, cream, chocolate, molasses, and subtle red and dark fruit with a lot of bitter hops and noticeable ethanol. It’s macho. It’s not that good. But it’s kinda good. It’s bombastic and kinda works.
Jan 14, 2026Reviewed by dcotom from Iowa
4.41/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.41/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from 16-ounce can into a tulip glass. Glossy opaque deep brown, with a thin tan head of foam. This is sweet, with aromas and flavors of dark roasted malt, coffee, molasses, dark fruit, and char. It's also quite boozy. Syrupy mouthfeel, with bitterness and sweetness lingering on the finish. This classic is what every imperial stout aspires to be. Highly recommended,
Jan 05, 2026Reviewed by Audus from Sweden
3.99/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
3.99/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Draft pour from 2021 keg. Poured 2025-10-09 with a nice dark head of foam above the 40cl of beer.
Smells banana, alcohol, licorice, coffe and chocolate.
Taste a bit thin with ethonal notes at a 12° serving temperature. Afterwards come coffe, rye, licorice, burnt notes and some dextrose.
Feels good in the mouth except for the ethanol which i would expect less from this beer.
All in all a solid 4 and worth it again.
Oct 10, 2025Smells banana, alcohol, licorice, coffe and chocolate.
Taste a bit thin with ethonal notes at a 12° serving temperature. Afterwards come coffe, rye, licorice, burnt notes and some dextrose.
Feels good in the mouth except for the ethanol which i would expect less from this beer.
All in all a solid 4 and worth it again.
Rated by ttoadee from Texas
4.5/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
RB transfer
Aug 22, 2025Reviewed by Chickenhawk9932 from Pennsylvania
4.31/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.31/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours as dark as midnight oil with a chocolate colored head.
Chocolate, coffee, plum, raisin, dark roasted bread malt in the nose.
Taste follows nose chewey up front and thin in the back. Full flavored without being too heavy.
Jul 23, 2025Chocolate, coffee, plum, raisin, dark roasted bread malt in the nose.
Taste follows nose chewey up front and thin in the back. Full flavored without being too heavy.
Reviewed by 1BrewBacca from Georgia
4.04/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.04/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
would be nice if it had a taller head. Smell and tastes of strong black coffee almost like espresso it's so strong and somewhat bitter. the feel is quintessential Imperial Stout. I love stouts and this one is right up there I the excellent range,
Jun 23, 2025
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