AleSmith Speedway Stout - AleSmith Brewing Company

Morris729

Texas

4.97/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I was quite surprised after peeling away all of the silver foil on the top of the bottle to find only a plain gold cap rather than a cork! Pours a black ruby color with a thick tan head that fades into a creamy lace. Nose is roasted coffee beans along with chocolaty cocoa and some fainter notes of dark fruit. Lots of sweet roasted chocolaty malts are in the tasting along with some espresso and a touch of molasses followed by just the right amount of hop bitterness. The flavors continue to develop in complexity and perfection as the beer warms. The alcohol is noticeable, but extremely well hidden for such a strong brew. Truly magnificent.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2006 03:21:35 | More by Morris729

Mavajo

Georgia

4.97/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

As this beer pours from the bottle, it's a fairly translucent deep, dark brown - but as it all coalesces in the glass, it settles into an impenetrable near-black. No light could shine through, even in my small snifter. Nice sizeable brown head with great retention, and nice lacing down the glass. Very good appearance - it does everything great, but fell just short of truly wow'ing me.

Nose is brilliant. I genuinely said "Ahhhh..." as I took a whiff. Great notes of chocolate, roasted malt and coffee. My shoulders just slumped and I broke into a shit-faced grin as I inhaled the wonderful aroma. This is exactly what I wanted my coffee stout to smell like.

The taste follows in perfect lockstep with the nose - again, brilliant. The full-flavor just explodes across your tastebuds. You have the coffee there, along with the sweet chocolate notes and great backbone of roasted malt. Everything balances so perfectly - the layers of sweetness and bitterness play off of eachother so wonderfully. They manage to complement eachother, removing the harsh edges without compromising their contributions. Total perfection. I've never tasted a better coffee stout. As for the alcohol...what damn alcohol? Surely this must be about 4%...no? 12%?!? I don't believe you. The alcohol is so well blended into the rest of the beer that you won't even notice it unless you remember to search for it.

The mouthfeel is massive, with perfect carbonation - smooth and creamy.

Genuinely a world class beer. The absolute best coffee stout I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2010 18:11:04 | More by Mavajo

patm1986

New Jersey

4.97/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

deep black, thick with a khaki-colored head. a bit of carbonation relieves the motor-oil-like characteristic.

immediately hit with coffee beans. immediately. slowly some chocolate and vanilla and booze, but quickly the coffee intensity returns to overpower the other aromas. excellent.

it's a smooth ride through moderately roasted coffee, hint of vanilla and smoke, a bit of oat grain, but then, like the aroma progression, a return to coffee-town. sweet and rich and with a slightly bitter-dry finish.

smooth though. has a bitter bite from the roast, but it is incredible. big beer, but it doesn't come through at all. the huge coffee flavor and sugars cover the alcoholic bite. so damn good.

i don't think i've had a stout with more coffee flavor than this one. if i were a coffee drinker, i'd make the comment to replace my morning starter with speedway, but i'm not, so i'll enjoy this even more. intense but smooth as silk. exceptional stout.
cheers

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2011 15:52:03 | More by patm1986

chargerfanjess

California

4.95/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

OK I am new so I am reviewing the beers I had last night and they happen to be my favorites so thats why the high scores...as I taste more and sample the scores will be more reasonable. Anyways this beer poured thick with a nice tall tan head that lasted for ever. I could have balanced a semi truck on this head. The amlty aroma I could have smelled for hours. Nice subdued hops in the nose not to overpower the lovely malts. The taste is incredible very complex with anise, raisin, roast, slight smoke and hung around on the palate for ever. the mouthfeel was equally incredible without being too thick. Very drinkable. a sligh alcohol edge that soothed with time. I felt I was drinking some expensive bottle of wine the way I judged it (Screaming Eagle like). I got this at Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido. I have heard this is hard to come by. try it if you find it...you will not be disapointed

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2006 19:09:36 | More by chargerfanjess

Tallboy

Antarctica

4.95/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Jet Black, with a toast-brown head Flavor: Starts with a strong coffee and dark chocolate sensation, then fades to a multitude of toasty, roasty and caramelly flavors. Finishes with a nice fullness but dry enough not to be cloying.
Aroma: COFFEE!
Mouthfeel Velvety smooth texture. Clean and crisp, full-bodied. Warmth from the high alcohol content lightens up the feel just a bit. Still, you won't fool your taste buds -- this beer is freaking Huge

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2006 05:43:59 | More by Tallboy

DaPeculierDane

Wisconsin

4.95/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

There’s a running theme with Speedway Stout and my attempts to review it. I open a bottle with the full intent on writing a review. Half way through that bottle, I am overcome by the amazing wonderment that is Speedway. Soon after a desperate craving to drink more and more Speedway develops and doesn’t subside until I have filled my gullet with every stout and coffee beer in my house. By the time I recover, I have usually forgotten half of what I had intended to write about the beer. Still, all themes change and alas, it is time for me to finally review Speedway Stout.

This particular bottle was a touch over 3 years old, well cellared, and was given to me in San Francisco some time ago. Compared to younger vintages, I found that the aging mellowed the body, dramatically reduced the coffee flavor, and brought out more dark fruit character.

Appearance: Jet black with a thick head the color of antique, old growth Douglas Fir. Head retreats rapidly to a skim. Ample carbonation.

Aroma: Espresso beans, 85% cocoa chocolate bars, fermented cherries, blackberry, date, and plum and molasses.

Taste: Cocoa and dark roasted coffee beans. Lots of dark fruit alcohol. Toast and a touch of molasses.

Mouthfeel: Thick, chewy, full bodied. Alcohol does not overwhelm lending only a pleasing warmth throughout. Balanced coffee acidity, chocolate bitterness, and fruity/alcohol sweetness.

Drinkability: Flawless. As I said, Speedway turns me into a fiend for more every time I let it touch my lips.

I love this. Again, the big difference I see with aging is that the coffee aroma and flavor are really reduced. The beer as a whole seems better balanced, more mellow, and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2008 17:11:23 | More by DaPeculierDane

Wackyfoot

Oregon

4.95/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

750 ml bottle from Market of Choice. Last beer I drank in Oregon before flying back east, and did it ever ensure that that coast would need to do a lot to impress with its beer. Black and viscous like oil, this was so smooth going down that I didn't even notice how fast I was drinking. There's almost no alcohol taste either, which is astounding in something 12%. It's beers like this one that make me wonder if I'm missing something by not drinking coffee.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2008 07:42:53 | More by Wackyfoot

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

4.95/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

750ml bottle served in a snifter glass.

A: Pours a deep black oil like color forming a medium brown head which is bubbled but quite aired, with big bubbles. Retention is low, however, a small layer lasts forever and some lacings are left in the glass. Kind of small bubbles around. Just beautiful

S: Smell is quite sweet and dark chocolate like with strong notes of moka coffee, roasted malts and a bit of alcohol in the end

T: Perfect taste. Sweet upfront followed by intense dark chocolate, coffee and roasted malts. End is roasted malts bitterness mixed with a delicious grassy hops bitterness and taste. Perfect

M: Such a powerful and, at same time, delicate beer. Extremely pleasant in the mouth you do not fell the 12% ABV, impressive. Body is medium and carbonation is low. Mouthfeel is a bit molasses. Upfront in sweet and the end is bitter as it just should be

O: Absolutely drinkable. Impressive quality. Perfect American Stout

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 11:56:44 | More by eduardolinhalis

Wildman

Ohio

4.93/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This beer poured darkly out of the champagne style bottle and no light was making it through the inky black darkness. Even with a hard pour, only a small dark tan bubby head formed, which quickly fled, leaveing circular lace around the glass. Very little carbonation seems to be present. An aroma of malt with a heavy chocolate aspect followed by coffee notes of course and molasses. The flavor was of malt with a heavy dark cocoa aspect with expresso notes. Some of the alcohol present could also be detected, yet it does not impact it's drinkability. It had a medium to light body with some bitterness in the slightly silky finish. While boasting coffee beans, I still feel it holds it's own as fine imperial style. Thanks again to lou91.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2004 01:08:22 | More by Wildman

rudylaw

Illinois

4.93/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I just ordered a couple of bottles from Liquorama and they were delivered at almost the perfect drinking temperature. Poured into a snifter, I filled it up 3x... quite a bargain for $10!

It pours jet black with a slightly off-white head. It starts out with a strong coffee and chocolate taste, then as it warms, segues to a caramel malt flavor.

I put this right in the same league as Founders Breakfast Stout and a half-step below Darkness. It's that good!

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2008 16:30:42 | More by rudylaw

MJR

Missouri

4.9/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours absolutely pitch black with no clarity whatsoever. It's extremely thick and dense tan head is a solid finger-deep. Nice amount of lacing on the glass.

Smell: Rich and painfully inviting with massive coffee and chocolate notes. Underneath the huge malt aroma is one of fresh, green hops. A hint of alcohol hides way under the surface, somewhere in the muck... Outstanding aroma here.

Taste: The overall flavor is HUGE with the mammoth coffee, burnt caramel, roasted grain, and chocolate malt flavors beautifully balanced with a prodigious amount of fresh hops. The coffee flavor alone has more richness and character than most other brews. Each sip is an explosion on the palate, with the malt sweetness and hop bitterness fighting for supremacy. There's a touch of alcohol, but it's really well hidden for a 12% brew. Finishes with the one-two punch of coffee and green hops. Positively sublime...

Mouthfeel: Thick and chewy with a lush, round mouthfeel. This is carbonated motor oil...

Drinkability: Top notch. Forget about what style it is...this is one of the best beers I've ever encountered in all my years of better beer drinking. I've got to get ahold of several bottles of the 2003 vintage that recently was announced. Mere words aren't enough...

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2003 22:17:12 | More by MJR

mattcrill

Ohio

4.9/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 750 mL green champagne bottle capped and with black foil around the top. The label states that this beer that I'm about to enjoy is an "Imperial Stout brewed with Ryan Brothers Coffee Beans". I am tingling at the thought of an imperial stout brewed with coffee. Hail to the beer geniuses that make craft brew and add coffee to it!

Appearance: Pours black hole black, thick, and viscous with a chunky tan head. I figured with the high ABV that I wouldn't have the pleasure of seeing a perfectly capped beer with a foamy head. However, I was pleasantly suprised. It didn't last too long but it was long enough for me to pick up the beautiful and subtle aromas that were wofting out of my snifter glass.

Smell: Raisins, dark chocolate, dried cherries, and a touch of smoke. Definitely not overdone. Perfectly balanced leading to the anticipation of tasting this beautiful looking beer.

Taste: Espresso, dark chocolate with an alcohol backbone. Even though I can taste the alcohol, it's not overdone, it doesn't wear you done and it only adds to the complexity and myth of this fantastic beer. I get a nice coffee-bitter aftertaste. This is absolute perfection in a glass. All tastes balance out. This is what all Double Stouts should aspire to be.

Mouthfeel: Creamy, thick, lip-numbing goodness. This is definitely a sipping beer. It has a HUGE body and enough character to have it's own TV drama.

Drinkability and overall: I am humbled. This is my all-time favorite Double Stout. Just because it says "Speedway" on the label, do not hurry with this beer. There is nothing that should be rushed with drinking this fantastic creation. Sit back, sip away, and let the goodness of this beer permeate your entire existence. I saved this one for my 100th review and it was surely a treat. Find. Drink. Be Merry. I only hope that Alesmith will stick around Ohio longer than they are predicting.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2004 14:03:03 | More by mattcrill

LuckySevens82

Florida

4.9/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

750ml Bottle courtesy of kmpitz2.

Pours a very deep black with brownish hues. Head isn't all that impressive, but still a deep brown, one finger head in a 12% abv beer isn't that bad. Lacing isn't bad and collar is pretty impressive. There is a swirling ethereal quality to the slight lacing that sits atop this one.
Smell, wow. Intense cocoa aromas waft out of the glass. Followed closely by espresso coffee. Very slight wine like qualities as well. Definitely able to detect the 12% alcohol, but not nearly as "hot" smelling as I would have thought. Very slight hop aromas complement the other qualities of the smell quite well. This one just screams drink me at this point. So on I press.
Taste is very sweet up front, very much milk chocolaty. As this one sits around for a while, you can taste the naked espresso beans almost perfectly separated from the rest of the flavors. Sweet milk chocolate soon becomes a more bitter bakers or dark chocolate. Very wine like and dry at one point, somewhere near the middle-back of the tongue. Definite fruit flavors are present in this one (figs, cherries, grapes, dates). Balanced out very well in the finish by a pleasant hop character that is not too bitter, but certainly makes itself known. Alcohol is nearly undetectable, which is REALLY impressive for a beer of this stature. Even in the finish there is almost no trace of the 12%.
Mouthfeel is perfect, a little oilier than I usually like my stouts, but it works really well in this one. Carbonation is perfect.
Overall, I probably could give this beer all 5's but I don't think that at 12% alcohol the drinkabilty on this one should be a 5. The flavors are strong, well balanced, and overall excellent, but I know that I couldn't drink this one all night. That being said, this is still one of the best Double Stouts I've ever had. Definitely worth the price and definitely worth seeking out and selling your children for. This is better than Dark Lord by miles. Thanks so much Kevin for going out of your way to let me try this one.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2005 02:03:20 | More by LuckySevens82

soulfly967

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Seved this up in a tulip glass. Big thanks to Zorro for the trade.

Poured an evil looking black, with a fluffy tan head that faded fairly quickly to a ring of tiny bubbles on the outer edges. This looks great!

The smell was of fresh coffee, dark chocolate, roasted malts, some dark fruits and toffee.

The taste was of rich chocolate, caramel, coffee, a slight hoppiness in the middle and finished with bittersweet chocolate, some more coffee, and a slight alcohol warming.

The mouthfeel was thick, rich, and satisfying. Amazingly smooth and warming.

Overall... this is one bad ass brew. This is a perfect way to blow an hour of your day. Sip, savor, and enjoy this woderful beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2005 17:22:54 | More by soulfly967

Hibernator

Massachusetts

4.9/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Alesmith Speedway Stout
750 ML hunter-green colored bottle
Served in an Allagash tulip glass

Pours a marvelous and extremely black with a head that demonstrates great sustain. A khaki-colored head formulates instantly and provides amazing patterns of sticky lace as I swish back and forth in the tulip glassware. This beer is purely an aesthetic masterpiece.

The nose is ripe as can be. Strong whiffs of roasted coffee beans, chocolate and floral hops.

Dark, rich chocolate and a sugary-sweet molasses punch lay down the base. Spicy, black pepper hop punch that validates my initial concern that I should have cellared this beauty for a few months and then reviewed. Nevertheless, great complexities are prevalent with every sip. Hints of dairy, chocolate syrup, chalk and raisins.

In many ways, the flavors of this beer remind me of the Rogue Imperial Stout, which is unquestionably one of my favorites. The drinkability level is ridiculously favorable and quite deceiving at 12.0% ABV.

One of my favorite styles of beer and easily one of the best I’ve yet to enjoy. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2006 22:35:14 | More by Hibernator

objectivemonkey

Minnesota

4.9/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

An "Imperial stout brewed with Ryan Bros. coffee beans"... dear lord... this will be good...

Into a tulip glass, an agressive pour yields a whopping dark tan head, massive frothy creamy cloud, bubbly underneath. Comes out thick and dark as motor oil. Color is black, pitch black, one of those few that are a completely opaque darkness, with sploches of ameoba-like lacing sticking to the side of the glass.

Aroma in and of itself is intoxicating. Molasses, roasted and black malts, licorice wrap around bourbon-like alcohol, while the coffee espresso quality adds a little tingle toward the back of the nose, or is that the alcohol, maybe both tinglin the schnoz. Truly, deeply delicious, one of the few (imo) that could stand alone on aroma alone. "Please, sir, may I smell your stout" "Why yes indeed, you rogue." "Yhar."

Note: now about 10 minutes into this beer, the head has finally subsided to a thick (ie not thin) foam. Of course, every time I refill the glass, it explodes to an inch or so yet again.

Now, as I drink this thing, I struggle between wanting to share with my drinkin bro down the street, and wanting to keep it all to myself. A formidable beast, yet remarkably well refined and conceived, like a sasquatch in a tux. And this is where I realize, its 12% ABV. Looks like I should've called the bro. This just may be the most formidable impy stout I've had yet.

Anywho, now that its warmed up a bit, everything is coming out. Indeed, rides the line between big and overwhelming. Black, roasted, toasted malts float around a column of warm alcohol. Coffee seems to be everywhere, providing a good backdrop, backbone as it were, to other characters as big molasses up front, bitter chocolate floating around like a drunken pixie, and brown sugar to round things out. Much is made of the fresh ingredients on the bottle, and it shows up in the beer.

And as if it couldn't possibly get better, the mouth is truly ... f'in sweet Goddamn holy Moses... Barbra Streisnad!!! Ah, ya, really, its really good. Among the thickest, baddest, sludge-like bodies I've seen, almost like a thick creamy malt. And yes, very creamy, smooth, just envelopes the tongue, providing the slightest carbonation to keep it just lively enough. Fantastic.

Simply put, this is a beer that will make me quit my job, order several dozen cases, and sit around with a hand down my pants, sipping myself into oblivion. It wasn't even the most anticipated beer in this trade, and I didn't even realize how high it was rated till just now after I scored it. Now that I have though, well worth all the praise, truly a man among boys in the halls of stout-dom.

Big, huge, monsterous thanks to fitzIPAtrick for this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2006 03:02:16 | More by objectivemonkey

Backer2004

North Carolina

4.9/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Really f--ing amazing is the only way I can describe it. Held out for 6 months before bringing it to our Homebrewers Christmas party. Without a doubt, one of the best five beers I've ever experienced. tons and tons of fanastic coffee beans are involved in making this brew. Lots of chocolate and rich malts balance out the slight hoppiness. Cannot tell it's high ABV. Worth every bit of the $12.99 I got it for . . . and will get again and again, mainly for special occassions.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2006 03:23:39 | More by Backer2004

sessycuban

California

4.9/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Purchased this beer from Lone Hill. Thanks Stan!

A - The beer pours completely opaque. Even when held up to the light, the beer remains a dark black. There is a one inch tan head with a slightly orange tinge to it that retains well. This beer is fun to look at.

S - The aroma is complex and rich. I'm getting tons of coffee, cocoa powder, cherries, and oats. The aroma really changers (for the better) as the beer roams.

T - Chocolate and coffee dominate this beer through and through. Furthermore, the chocolate notes really run the gamut, from bitter to sweet. As the beer warms, the potent alcohol undertone takes hold. Since this is a stout, I'm not particularly turned off by this. I think the beer really changes as it warms, so you get a different experience as the session transpires. Wonderful!

M - The beer is medium bodied, and is very creamy, even for a stout. My only complaint is that it does come across a bit boozy after it warms a lot.

D - If you are into stouts, you can easily enjoy this beer at any time of the year. It's obviously not one that's easy to come across (unless you're in SoCal) but this one still ranks near the top at drinkability. If you can get your hands on this beer, enjoy!

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2007 23:23:47 | More by sessycuban

BeerManDan

California

4.9/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

When poured, the color was on the verge of black. But, after a short period, a very small amount of dark tan foam popped up in my glass. Also, a small amout of lace stuck to the face of my glass while drinking this stout. The smell of coffee and roasted malts was not really overpowering, but, suttle. The flavor was of chocolate, coffee and roasted malts was fantastic. All the flavors were well balanced and even more as this stout warmed up. In fact, I like it a lot more as it got warmer. More intenise flavor. I love this Stout so much, I didn't share it with anyone else. More please!

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2008 22:06:51 | More by BeerManDan

Mauerhan

California

4.9/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I had this beauty on tap at alesmith this weekend. the batch i had was the first that alesmith had roasted its own coffee for the brew.

amazingly rich, roasted coffee flavors with hints of chocolate. this beer is so close to perfect its not even funny. i had to go back for seconds, the majority of my last review stands. this beer is incredibly rich and full flavored has amazing lacing and it answers a big question ive had for a while. wwjd, what would jesus drink? well im guessing speedway.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2008 05:38:47 | More by Mauerhan

SteveO1231

Connecticut

4.9/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

*** New Review ***

Picked up this bottle back in 2006 saved in my basement for a while and busted it out for my birthday/newyears eve 2009.

Large champagne bottle with the speedway label laser printed onto the bottle no bottling date but I bought it back in 06'

pours jet black with an excellent tan head that maintains it's thickness throughout.

Aroma is full of dark chocolate reminds me of a chocolate eater bunny, dark fruit, and black coffee.

Thick, full-bodied mouthfeel and a thick, slickness left on the palate. ABV stings the palate a bit.

Sweetness of burnt sugar upfront, charred malt, toffee, and caramel followed that lingers throughout the brew, some hints of dark fruit like plum or dates that is flushed away by a hop bitterness, coffee flavor, and burn from ABV.

Finish still maintains burnt sweetness with a huge dark chocolate bitterness. A bit of a sting form the ABV and finally an aftertaste of black coffee.

I'm not sure how much coffee they use in this brew but I bet it's a lot I actually had to drop a massive deuce halfway through the bottle.

Overall this beer has maintained it's quality over the past 3 years and was just as enjoyable as fresher samples. Still one of my favorites. Huge ABV by the time I reach the bottom of the bottle I'm buzzed out of off my tits!

Cheers!

*** OLD REVIEW*** 2005

Picked up a 750ml bottle from Marine Mart at MCAS Miramar. I picked up a newer bottle w/ out the paper label indicating that it is an Imperial stout brewed with Ryan Bros. coffee beans. Wrapped in a silver foil.

Pours a delicious jet black with a awesome espresso colored head. Leaves a nice ring of tan bubble lacing along my glass.

Very strong roasted chocolate and coffee aroma. I can smell the alcohol phenols in the brew.

Huge roasty toasty taste. Creamy texture on the palate. Deliciously strong flavors of a death by chocolate triffel and coffee. A dry smokey bitterness of black coffee bean and alcohol really clings to the palate.

Absolutely delicious brew, roasted and bitter, very strong, really need to sip this one. Packs a punch at 12% ABV

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2009 21:11:51 | More by SteveO1231

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.9/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Unbelievable. As remarkable in every sense as the World Wide Stout from Dogfish Head. Dark as midnight; can't even see through it up to the light. Dark brown, bubbly head that settles quickly. The roasted malt comes through more than anything but the coffee is still noticeable. The finish is the best aspect, where there is a lot of dark chocolate, roasted malt, and fresh, dark coffee. As expected, fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2009 00:06:50 | More by Gatch

ShrLSU

Louisiana

4.9/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This one pours out a thick black like asphalt on a racetrack :). It has a nice tan ring around the glass and some nice tan bubbles in the center. The nose is chocolaty and malty. There is a coffee hint as well. The taste is nice and complex. There is a very upfront choclatiness with some roasted malt and coffee taste. A nice bit of alcoholic twinge makes this definitely a slow drinker. It's quite creamy and full bodied. I'm amazed at the balance of coffee and chocolate. This might be one of the best stouts ever had. Bravo alesmith! If you have the means, DRINK THIS!

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2009 07:09:12 | More by ShrLSU

umpquabrewer

Oregon

4.9/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured into a Klokke Roeland snifter.

A- Pours black and opaque with a two finger head that is frothy, soapy and looks like the whipped head of a latte.

S- Coffee, smoke, dark chocolate and hops.

T- Bitter coffee, chocolate and currants.

M- Creamy and slick with a nice carbonation.

D- WOW- Almost too drinkable for a 12% superstar! I'm 2/3 of the way through the bottle with a Vacuvin cork in it thinking hmm...

This is now my favorite stout! (sorry Old Rasp) What can I say? This is a great tasting beer, I just wish it was more available... maybe not, I do have to work. :)

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2009 06:35:03 | More by umpquabrewer

cbutova

Massachusetts

4.9/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Split a bottle with a friend last night. Pours pitch black with a 1-2 finger dark tan head, laces the glass like a fresh coat of paint. Smells mostly like coffee with some chocolate and malts. Has a HUGE coffee taste with chocolate in the background, don't remember tasting any of the 12% alcohol, more coffee comes out as it warms up. Mouthfeel was thick and creamy and coated my mouth for the next few hours of the night, delicious. Very addicting, only flaw is it filled my stomach up quickly, would drink this every night if I could find some around here. The coffee flavor and mouthfeel of this one would never get old, cant even taste the 12% either.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2009 20:57:32 | More by cbutova