Alesmith - Bottle Releases

Was anyone else completely underwhelmed with Speedway Grand Prix this year? Usually my favorite SDBW event, this year felt like a step backward. Three of us split 2 of each lap.

Lap 1

Fast Track Speedway (session Speedway): I wish I had tasted this beer first, but compared to everything else, there was hardly anything to note here. (unfinished)

Chambord Speedway: The fruited Speedways usually taste very artificial to me, but this one lived up to the name and tasted like a great combo of Chambord and Speedway.

Caribbean Jerk Speedway: This sounded like it would not be great and turned into a very pleasant surprise. A lot of spices going on here and while it didn't taste like what I would consider a jerk flavor, it was very enjoyable.

Oreo Speedwagon: Pretty much nailed it with a flavor combo of Oreo and Speedway. Enjoyable, but can't imagine more than a taster of this.

Lap 2

Member Berries Speedway: This sounded like it would taste great, but I can't put my finger on what it actually tasted like. It reminded me of the tea variety from one of the past year's with some fruit added. I could see people enjoying it, but it was not for me (unfinished)

Coffee Cake Speedway: Really enjoyed this one and thought it tasted just like a coffee cake. My favorite of the lap.

Mint Chocolate Chip Speedway: It packed a punch of mint. It was okay, but we only made it through one taster between the three of us. (unfinished)

Old Fashioned Speedway: Loads of orange here. Smelled great, the flavor didn't quite live up to the smell. Decent, but another unfinished.

Lap 3

Salted Dark Chocolate Speedway: This one was pretty meh. I couldn't pick out any of the flavors. (unfinished)

Root Beer Float Speedway: Smelled great and tasted just like a root beer float. Another of the surprise ones that was better than expected.

Liquid Smoke Speedway: This was one of the worst beers I have ever had. I like Smokey beers and think Bruery's Smoking Wood is great. This however should not have ever been made and no idea how this made the cut.

Maple Bourbon Pecan Speedway: Sounds great doesn't it? We wouldn't know. Apparently they ran out of this and replaced it with orange creamsicle Speedway. I was quite bummed since this was the non-ba version I was looking forward to the most. The orange creamsicle had much less orange than the old fashioned. It was okay, but tasted like disappointment. (unfinished)

Lap 4

Barrel Aged Coconut & Vanilla Speedway: The coconut was a bit on the artificial side, but still quite tasty. I'd buy a couple bottles given the opportunity but wouldn't call my neighbor's cousin to mule for extra bottles.

Barrel Aged Kona Speedway: This needs to get bottled. This is the great beer I expect from Alesmith.

Barrel Aged Peanut Butter Speedway: In year's past, the peanut butter speedway variant is usually one of my favorites. With this, I could not taste the peanut butter. I had high hopes for this, but tasted mostly like regular BA Speedway to me.

Barrel Aged Hammerhead Speedway: Toss up here between this and BA Kona Speedway for my favorite of the night. Would not hesitate to max on bottles of either of these.

Overall, this was the most lackluster Speedway event I can recall (having been going since it was held at O'Brien's). Usually there's one or two that are duds, but felt like there were more duds than studs this year. With ~1/3 of them unfinished between 3 people who are big Speedway fans, I am hoping it's just an off year. Still a bit bitter that they would run out of one of the beers, especially since it was one of the one's I was looking forward to the most. Not sure how you run out of one and none of the others.

On a sidenote, the Mokasida Speedway was a great surprise in how much I enjoyed it. I would say it tasted like a non BA version of BCBCS.

 

Anyone know what the price will be for growlers of the bavss?

 

$20 - Vietnamese SS
$25 - BA Old Numbskull
$30 - BAVSS

 

Are they still doing growlers/grumblers of viet and BA viet?

 

Tomorrow only.

 

Ahhhh ty

 

This has probably been asked before, but what is a grumbler??? I've only ever seen that term used with Alesmith, and I didn't know if it was just a different term for a growler or what.

 

32 oz growler

 

What we refer to as a "howler".

 

Thanks...I kinda figured that, but just wanted to confirm.

Them crazy Californians and their fancy language.

 

Really dug the Coffee Cake Speedway. Spot on with the smell and flavors.

Lap 3 was pretty solid except for the Liquid Smoke which was interesting but not something I'd ever want to drink again. I really liked the Maple Bourbon Pecan. They nailed the flavor and the smell was roasted pecan.

I liked all of the VIP lap but I agree that the BA Kona stood out and PB was definitely very subdued. BA Kona was my favorite of the night I think, with a close second being Maple Bourbon Pecan.

 

Ha-ha I've always thought of that too! (Howling at the moon). Agreed it's an idiotic nomenclature, someone had to be really drunk when they came up with it. Plus you'd think a howler would be a step up from a growler.
Perrin does a 1gallon size called a "Stumbler", I can tell you, THAT is an appropriate name.

 

About 20 of us beer bros in line, clutching our crowlers. There goes the 1st keg...

 

Half growler = howler

Keep in mind beer nerds hate typing so everything is shortened.