AleSmith Brewing Company Speedway Stout (Vietnamese Coffee)

**Aroma:** “Subdued nose, but there are notes of dark roast coffee, chocolate, and very subtle dark stone fruit esters when you hunt for them. Strong bold roasty notes.” **Flavor:** “Roasty with hints of dry chocolate, sweet chocolate, and cherry. Vanilla. Some oak and bourbon notes are present. Nice warmth in the end. Some dark toffee and even black licorice notes. Some prominent fruitiness and tannin character emerges as it warms. The barrel character isn’t overly pronounced.” **Overall:** “The malt and dark fruit sweetness are really nice in the beer with some nice vanilla notes. A bold beer, that veers a little off course for the style, but still provides some unique flavors that are worth exploring.”

**Aroma:** “Nose is relatively mild. Light chocolate up front. As it warms, a bit of alcohol and more chocolate. Low hops aroma, no sweetness. Light sherry note. As it warms, slight fruity esters (plum, pear, cherry). Less chocolate and roast than expected. Some woody English character. Black licorice mixed with dark chocolate.” **Flavor:** “Rich roast and chocolate up front that is moderately dry. Moderate astringency throughout the sip that emphasizes the alcohol at the end and into the aftertaste. Smooth and strong, roast is medium. Alcohol warmth gets your attention without being harsh. Hop flavors medium strong, resinous, spicy. Some tart notes in the aftertaste. Thin bodied.” **Overall:** “Dry with roast, chocolate, and alcohol that are all fighting to be #1. The roast and alcohol finish in the aftertaste leaving the chocolate hanging. Slight sharpie note, perhaps a bit too much black patent malt. Seems to be aged, mostly good oxidized but some flattening of malt notes.”

Aroma: “Notes of peat smoke, chocolate, bourbon, plum pudding, vanilla, and spice. There are faint tart notes, hints of grape and caramel, and definite soy sauce as it warms.” Flavor: “Bourbon liqueur–filled chocolate. Lots of malt sweetness. Some nice dark-fruit notes like cherries and a bit of plum. The oak gives some earthiness, and this finishes with a nice warming sensation.” Overall: “Sweet, potent, and smooth. Like drinking a bourbon liqueur–filled chocolate.”