AleSmith Speedway Stout - Arabian Mocha Java - AleSmith Brewing Company

ehammond1

California

3.68/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

On Tap

Alesmith Brewing Company
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.

Some coffee notes for sure, but they don't stand out or seem as strong or fresh as other coffee stouts I've had--even regular Speedway Stout for that matter. There's some roast and chocolate as well, but the coffee character in this one actually brings it down.

Similar to the aroma, the coffee here seems somewhat old and stale, with a cloying sweetness on the finish. Some roast and chocolate, along with a little bitterness, combine fairly well, but I'd prefer a regular Speedway Stout no doubt.

Thick in body with low carbonation. Creamy. Alesmith never fails here with their Speedway variations.

One of the weaker Speedway variations.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2012 01:43:22 | More by ehammond1

FosterJM

California

4.28/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

1478th Review on BA
Draft to 4oz taster

@Alesmith Brewing, San Diego, CA

App- Much like the base speedway, its a thick and viscous pour. It poured a inky black color but was more brown in the end. A well capped light brown with a tight bubbly look. Even in a plastic cup a good looking cling.

Smell- On the nose you get more of the arabian coffee. A touch of creme with a slight earthiness and nuttiness. The ABV and the mocha seems well hidden throughout.

Taste- A very good treatment. My 1st variant of Speedway and cant wait for me. The beer is more dessert like than a straight coffee stout. The cream and mocha nutty and smoothness come out on this profile.

Mouth- A big and chewy stout. It was a medium body almost bordering on thick bodied. The carbonation was a lot thicker and creamier than I remembered the base beer being.

Drink- This is cra cra good. I forced myself to walk away after just this glass. I couldve easily drank a ton of this beer. Sneaky drinkable and amazingly smooth. One day I hope speedway will get bottled variants as do I wish BT did.

Serving type: on-tap

08-31-2012 02:04:48 | More by FosterJM

HopHead84

California

4.28/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

8/16/2012

On tap at Alesmith.

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

S: Prominent earth and dark chocolate. Soft caramel aromatics blend with dark chocolate, molasses, and a dash of licorice. Touch of nutty character. Complex coffee profile.

T: Strong earthy coffee presence with a touch of caramel and notes of dark chocolate. A little nuttiness and a firm roasted malt profile. There's an insistent moderate bitterness throughout with a drying and slightly boozy finish.

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

Overall: A nice speedway variation. I like the coffee profile quite a bit.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2012 19:09:11 | More by HopHead84

pmarlowe

California

3.6/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

On tap at the brewery.

A: Impenetrable brown, darkish film of brown head which recedes to a ring and some swirls layered on the surface of the beer. The head is very nice looking, like espresso. Lots of lacing and very good retention.

S: Smells vegetal, like green leaves or unripe bananas or something. Light coffee notes and some roasted malt are a haven.

T: Sweet and fruity with the usual chocolate and roastiness of Speedway. Finishes with dark espresso with the associated mild coffee bitterness. Much better than the aroma, but the greenness is still there.

M: Medium carbonation and medium-full body, a bit on the thin side.

O: Not sure what's going on here, it seems like something's off. As it stands, my least favorite of all the Speedway variations.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2012 06:02:15 | More by pmarlowe