AleSmith Speedway Stout - Cherries & Rye Whiskey Oak Chips - AleSmith Brewing Company

HopHead84

California

4.47/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12/22/2011

On tap at Alesmith.

A: Appearance is a deep brown that borders on black, with a creamy tan head exhibiting good retention and leaving scattered lacing.

S: Great blend of cherry and dark chocolate. The fruit is expressive and manages to stand out amidst the traditional robust Speedway notes. In this iteration coffee takes a back seat to the fruit and chocolate. Roasted malt notes are soft and harmonious.

T: Deliciously sweet dark cherry flesh and skin with light oak notes. The fruit goes wonderfully with the dark chocolate and earthy coffee. Alcohol is very well hidden. Coffee comes out a bit more in the dark chocolate cherry finish, and I get a touch of oak.

M: The beer is full bodied, mouthfeel is dry, lightly astringent, creamy, and thick. Carbonation is at a moderate level.

Overall: Cherries do the beer much credit.

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2011 19:34:21 | More by HopHead84

notchucknorris

California

3.85/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Alesmith

A: Black with a thin light brown head. Like all Speedways, it looks bomb.

S: Dark chocolate, cherries, oak and some dark fruit. Smells pretty tasty.

T: Big dark cherry and milk chocolate sweetness. It reminded me of a cordial cherry a bit. Tons and tons of sweetness which, coupled with the slightly syrupy mouthfeel, was a bit much. My least favorite of the 4 versions I tried today. Still pretty good though.

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2011 23:51:18 | More by notchucknorris