AleSmith Speedway Stout - AleSmith Brewing Company

tectactoe

Michigan

4.71/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Opened at a tasting alongside the BA and Kopi versions. Pours a deep, dark black color; very dark brown tints the edges when held close to a light. The cap forms - creamy, small, fine, and a shade just lighter than tan. Initially, Speedway doesn't look quite as oily thick as I was expecting it to be, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

The aroma is very smooth on the nostrils, flowing with a river of roasted coffee beans - more on the sweet, creamy, and milky side of things, with a nice roasted quality acting as the strong backbone. Chocolates bounce in and out, never really pushing the coffee aromas to the side, rather blending with them softly in a "mocha java" kind of way. For one of the first times ever, I'm picking up a big marshmallow flavor - creamy, and toasty, a slight touch of char even, but I'm definitely getting marshmallow, and it's absolutely wonderful.

Just from the aroma, my palate is already expecting a big-time roasted coffee flavor, and that's exactly what Speedway delivers. Coffee beans attack the palate, slightly oily and definitely roasted - almost to the point of being charred or burnt. What I love about this is that the coffee flavor in Speedway is so unique - so definitively roasted, bitter, and sweet all at the same time, with an incredibly distinct pungency to it - it's amazing.

There is a good amount of cocoa in the taste, much more than on the nose, and it introduces a deep fudge flavor that plays with the fine line between bitter and sweet so well. And hot damn - that fuckin' marshmallow - I can actually taste it. Now, I don't know what exactly would produce that marshmallow taste/aroma, but it's definitely there. 100%. I thought maybe my nose was tricking me, but my mouth is saying the same thing. Lightly creamy on the finish with some bittersweet fudge and fading coffee. Heavy, oily body, silky and smooth with pretty moderate carbonation.

This is a fantastic stout. Despite being comprised of the tastes found in many stouts - chocolate, coffee, roasted malts, etc. - the raw flavors are unique and definitely set Speedway apart from the rest. Not to mention that incredible toasted marshmallow flavor I was picking up. Are you serious?! Call me crazy, but between this beer, the barrel-aged version, and the Kopi coffee variant, this one was tops for me. Hey - if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 12:51:41 | More by tectactoe

jakeox

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%

05-19-2013 00:55:50 | More by jakeox

Kreko7

California

4.75/5  rDev +7.2%

05-18-2013 17:27:44 | More by Kreko7

eyeenjoybeer

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -15.3%

05-18-2013 16:50:43 | More by eyeenjoybeer

SrMonkey

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev -4.1%

05-18-2013 15:35:03 | More by SrMonkey

Netdogca

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%

05-18-2013 03:16:50 | More by Netdogca

timoteo833

New York

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%

05-18-2013 01:58:23 | More by timoteo833

nrs207

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -9.7%

05-18-2013 01:10:59 | More by nrs207

EricClayton

West Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +7.2%

05-17-2013 19:04:24 | More by EricClayton

MistahBeah

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -4.1%

05-17-2013 18:15:45 | More by MistahBeah

RobertColianni

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -4.1%

05-17-2013 03:53:51 | More by RobertColianni

admonster00

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +7.2%

05-17-2013 02:44:40 | More by admonster00

Kevincredible

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -15.3%

05-17-2013 00:07:59 | More by Kevincredible

carlosega

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +7.2%

05-16-2013 20:11:30 | More by carlosega

Popp24

California

5/5  rDev +12.9%

05-16-2013 18:57:46 | More by Popp24

deekyn

California

4/5  rDev -9.7%

05-16-2013 04:02:04 | More by deekyn

Boilerfood

Indiana

4/5  rDev -9.7%

05-16-2013 03:24:07 | More by Boilerfood

cmdmzmjm

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -4.1%

05-16-2013 02:06:06 | More by cmdmzmjm

jimctin

Ontario (Canada)

5/5  rDev +12.9%

05-15-2013 18:12:28 | More by jimctin

Zbeetleman

California

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%

05-15-2013 05:01:45 | More by Zbeetleman

2dogbrew

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%

05-15-2013 04:54:43 | More by 2dogbrew

tuka

New York

3.75/5  rDev -15.3%

05-15-2013 04:38:26 | More by tuka

CharlatanSin

Connecticut

4.61/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Had a couple of times before, just getting around to reviewing now. Poured from a bottle into a tulip.

A- Pours black with a nice tan head, which lingers. A little lacing.

S- Delicious dark chocolate and coffee. Dark fruit as it warms, with a little alcohol. Definite coffee liqueur character.

T/M- Coffee is the main flavor. Very roasty. Dark chocolate, dark fruit. A little bit of wine-like sweet booziness, but with no burn. That dark fruit is more pronounced as it warms. All of these flavors are powerful and delicious. Definitely let this one warm up, folks. One of the most flavorful non-BA stouts I've enjoyed. Mouthfeel is thick and creamy with low carbonation.

O- Outstanding. Go get some.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 01:45:44 | More by CharlatanSin

johnnydicfore

Ohio

4.31/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

First review... Here it's goes

Poured in to a pint glass

A: pours thick, pitch black, one finger head

S: roasted coffee beans hit the nose first, followed by dark chocolate, and roasted malts

T: bitter dark chocolate up front fades to coffee/espresso and finishes with the malt and a hint of alcohol at the end

M: thick, creamy, heavy, very smooth, warm alcohol feel as you swallow

O: very enjoyable and balanced. gets better as it warms up, that's when the complexities shine.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 00:28:55 | More by johnnydicfore

OUJayhawk1799

Oklahoma

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%

05-14-2013 04:05:19 | More by OUJayhawk1799