AleSmith Speedway Stout - Mole Surprise - AleSmith Brewing Company

ehammond1

California

4.1/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | 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 is perhaps the most "busy" aroma of all the Speedway Stout variations. The roasted coffee and chocolate elements are still present and fairly strong, but there's also significant amounts of roasted peppers, licorice, and a bit of vanilla.

The flavor follows the aroma very closely, with the coffee and chocolate elements dominant with a very, very mild bit of chile pepper heat lingering after the swallow.

Medium bodied with low carbonation.

Another terrific variation of a great base beer, but not nearly my favorite of the evening.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2011 05:00:40 | More by ehammond1

HopHead84

California

4/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | 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: Ancho and pasilla with a hint of clove and anise. Black pepper is evident, and coffee is restrained. I get licorice and roasted grains.

T: Chocolate blends with a moderate roast, licorice, and a light spiciness that reminds me of ancho pepper. I get some anise and black pepper. Coffee is light and there's some astringency in the finish.

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

Overall: Good, but not great.

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2011 20:02:07 | More by HopHead84

DarthKostrizer

California

4.22/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On Tap at O'Briens during Night of a million zillion speedways

Look: Black and totally opaque with a 1/8 inch tan head and good retention for a small pour

Smell: Semi sweet chocolate backed up by a hint of spice and smoke.

Taste: Very very sweet chocolate backed up with some mexican spice that lingers for just a bit and adds a unique level of flavor to the chocolate. For me the sweetness was just a bit too much

Mouthfeel: Full body and low carbonation and a bit sticky

Overall: Good variation of speedway but for me it was just a bit too sweet but overall a good example of what you can do with a solid base beer

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2011 19:05:22 | More by DarthKostrizer