AleSmith Speedway Stout
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Tasting Notes
The aroma leads with roasted coffee and dark chocolate, underscored by a faint boozy warmth that signals the unusually high ABV for the style at 12%. On the palate, flavors of espresso, bittersweet cocoa, and molasses dominate, with a thick, velvety body that coats the mouth. Bitterness from both the roasted malt and hops keeps the sweetness in check rather than tipping into cloying territory. The finish is long, dry, and warming, with lingering coffee grounds and a subtle dark fruit note.
About the Brewery
AleSmith is a San Diego brewery that has been operating since 1995 and is considered one of the foundational craft breweries of Southern California. They built their reputation on technically precise, high-gravity beers and have long been a fixture on best-brewery lists. Their lineup leans heavily on rich, malt-forward styles alongside classic hop-forward West Coast work, and Speedway Stout is widely regarded as their flagship achievement.
Food Pairings
A chocolate lava cake or dark chocolate brownie plays directly into the beer's cocoa and roast character, reinforcing rather than fighting the bitterness. Aged cheddar or a sharp blue cheese provides enough salt and fat to cut through the thick body and make both the food and beer taste cleaner. Braised short ribs work well because the beer's roasty depth mirrors the fond and caramelized meat. A scoop of vanilla ice cream floated in a small pour makes a straightforward dessert pairing where the dairy rounds off the coffee edge.
Style Guide
American Double or Imperial Stout is a domestic evolution of the English Imperial Stout tradition, pushed to higher gravity and more aggressive roast character than its British counterpart. Defining features include an intensely roasted malt backbone, flavors of coffee, dark chocolate, and dried fruit, a full and often viscous body, and ABVs that typically run between 8% and 13%. American versions often layer in more assertive hop bitterness than English examples and sometimes incorporate adjuncts like coffee, vanilla, or chocolate. It sits apart from standard American Stout primarily through sheer intensity and alcohol presence.