ABV: 12%
Origin: San Diego, California, USA
Website: www.alesmith.com
AleSmith Speedway Stout
AleSmith brewery, based in the naval city of San Diego in southern California, emerged like many US craft breweries from the home brewing movement and has established itself as one of the most appreciated producers of big, strong “extreme” beers, with a range of specialities, often interpretations of European models with a lively twist, bottle conditioned in 750ml bottles. This huge imperial stout, dosed with coffee from local gourmet coffee roaster Ryan Brothers, is the example par excellence. It’s highly rated by beer enthusiasts — in its wood-aged form it was named best beer in the world on ratebeer, but this standard version is impressive enough.
Chocolate and black patent malts result in an oily black brew with a modest yellowy brown head and a big leathery malted milk and espresso aroma with a slight hint of mushrooms. The palate is equally thick and dark, dense and cakey with rummy brown sugar and light gravy malt notes, a touch of blackcurrant syrup and other red berries. The coffee is obvious but not overwhelming, becoming more pronounced in a chewy finish also bittered by roasted barley, with an effect a little like coffee nibs in chocolate. There’s also a touch of alcohol and a burry hop buzz. A big brave beer, certainly, but subtle, well-balanced and never overwhelming.
I’m grateful to the very generous San Diegan beer traveller who gave me the review bottle from a selection of samples he’d taken to the Zythos festival in 2008. Following the label’s advice that it will mature for 6-12 months, I kept it for around 10 months before drinking.
Read more about this beer at ratebeer.com: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/alesmith-speedway-stout/14232/
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