AleSmith Speedway Stout - Spearmint - AleSmith Brewing Company

notchucknorris

California

3.38/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at O'Brien's

A: Black with a 1 finger mocha colored head.

S: Lots of roasted malt, coffee and a touch of mint.

T: Has the great roastiness and coffee flavors of Speedway, but something about it feels lighter. A bit of menthol and mint towards the end. Overall, kind of strange. I think the mint takes away from the beer more than it adds to it.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2011 19:14:25 | More by notchucknorris

ehammond1

California

3.63/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On Tap

Night of a Million Zillion Speedways
O'Brien's Pub
San Diego, CA

Dark as night black with brown edges, thin head but the body of this beer is just spectacular. It's thick and oily and leaves the glass absolutely covered in sticky lace. Thick as can be and dark as night. Spectacular.

This has a relatively simple, though strong, aroma, mostly because the spearmint is so incredibly dominant. It smells a bit like Scope mouthwash and has a hint of alcohol heat as well. Underneath is a bit of roast, but the mint is strong and slightly medicinal.

The flavor succeeds more admirably than the aroma. The mint flavor isn't nearly as medicianl, and there's enough chocolate, coffee, and roast elements from the base beer peeking through to provide some semblance of balance.

Medium to thick mouthfeel with low carbonation.

Good, but not great.

Serving type: on-tap

11-14-2011 02:14:44 | More by ehammond1

HopHead84

California

3.78/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11/13/2011

On tap at O'Brien's.

A: Black with a finger of dark brown foam. Good retention and scattered lacing.

S: Dark chocolate blends with spearmint in the nose. Coffee is restrained and I get some black licorice and roast.

T: Chocolate is pronounced, and surprisingly the spearmint is well integrated and doesn't dominate like one might expect. Coffee is light and earthy, and malt is moderately roasted. Licorice is evident. The beer finishes with chocolate and lingering spearmint.

M: The mouthfeel is chewy, sticky, and smooth with notable alcohol warming.

Overall: Interesting, but the mint detracts from the drinkability, limiting me to one pitcher of this beverage. This is more of a novelty than a beer I'd want a few growlers of.

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2011 20:18:24 | More by HopHead84

DarthKostrizer

California

3.98/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at O'Briens night of a million zillion speedways

Look: Black and totally opaque with a 1/8 inch tan head with good retention and some spotty lacing

Smell: Mint toothpaste

Taste: This beer honestly tastes like Andies those little chocolate covered mints you eat during the holidays. A quite surprisingly good taste

Mouthfeel: Full body and low carbonation and a bit sticky

Overall: Based on the other mint beers I have tried this quite good but still not a great variation a bit of a step back from the regular version

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2011 18:57:52 | More by DarthKostrizer