Alesmith Speedway Grand Prix Variety 4PK

AleSmith Speedway Grand Prix Variety 4PK is a seasonal mixed four-pack of 16 oz cans featuring four distinct imperial stout variants at 12% ABV. Each beer starts from the same Speedway Stout base that earned Gold at the San Diego International Beer Competition in 2012 and 2014, then layers in a different set of adjunct ingredients to create four separate drinking experiences in one box.

Quick Facts: ABV: 12%  |  IBU: 70  |  Origin: San Diego, California, USA  |  Style: Imperial Stout (Adjunct Variants)  |  Brewery: AleSmith Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

AleSmith Brewing Company operates out of the Miramar neighborhood of San Diego, California. The Grand Prix variety pack is built on the original Speedway Stout, an American imperial stout brewed with chocolate malts, roasted malts, and locally roasted premium coffee added directly to each batch as a core ingredient rather than a flavoring. Each variant in the pack then receives its own combination of adjuncts, such as cacao nibs, vanilla, caramel, toffee, or other specialty ingredients, resulting in four beers that share a common backbone but differ meaningfully in flavor. The beers in this format are not barrel-aged; all complexity comes from the base grain bill, coffee, and the individual adjunct additions. New themed variant combinations are released annually in conjunction with the San Diego Beer Week Speedway Grand Prix event, making each year's pack unique.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Rich roasted coffee hits first, followed by waves of dark chocolate and cocoa. Underneath, toffee and dark fruit sweetness round things out, with a restrained alcohol warmth that stays in the background.

Taste: Bold dark chocolate and roasted malt anchor the palate across all four variants. Espresso bitterness meets dark fruit sweetness at mid-palate, with each variant introducing its own character through its specific adjuncts, whether that is vanilla creaminess, salted caramel richness, or toasted nut depth. At 70 IBUs, a firm hop bitterness cuts through the sweetness and keeps the beer from becoming cloying, a balance unusual for heavily adjuncted stouts.

Finish: Long, warming, and layered with lingering roasted malt and coffee bitterness. Despite the 12% ABV, the finish stays smooth rather than hot, with the adjunct flavors trailing off gradually.

How to Drink Speedway Grand Prix

Pour each variant into a tulip glass or snifter at a cool cellar temperature, around 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, to let the full aroma open up. These are sipping beers, not session beers, and the complexity rewards a slow pour. AleSmith officially designates the Speedway Stout base as a beer that improves with age, so cellaring individual cans for months or even years is a legitimate approach. A Black Velvet float, combining one of the chocolate-forward variants with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, leans into the dessert-stout character. A Speedway Espresso Martini riff, using chilled Speedway in place of the traditional coffee liqueur component, brings real body and roast to the cocktail. Pairing a pour alongside a classic affogato dessert creates a complementary coffee-on-coffee pairing that highlights different roast profiles.

Best For

• Stout enthusiasts exploring adjunct-driven imperial stout variations side by side
• Hosting a guided tasting flight with friends during colder months
• Gifting a craft beer fan who already knows the Speedway Stout name
• Cellaring individual cans to compare fresh versus aged flavors over time

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Speedway Grand Prix taste like? All four variants share a bold dark chocolate and roasted coffee core with firm hop bitterness at 70 IBUs, then each one diverges into its own adjunct-driven flavor, ranging from vanilla and caramel to cookies and tropical fruit depending on the year's theme.

How does Speedway Grand Prix compare to Founders Breakfast Stout? Both are widely cited as benchmark American imperial coffee stouts, sharing a roasted malt and coffee-forward flavor profile at high ABV. The Grand Prix pack distinguishes itself by offering four separate adjunct-driven variations in a single release, while Founders Breakfast Stout is a single, consistent recipe.

Is Speedway Grand Prix good for sipping neat? Yes, these are full-bodied 12% ABV imperial stouts designed for slow sipping from a tulip glass or snifter, not for rapid drinking, and the complexity rewards patience as the beer warms slightly in the glass.

Where is Speedway Grand Prix made? The Grand Prix variety pack is brewed by AleSmith Brewing Company at their facility on AleSmith Court in the Miramar neighborhood of San Diego, California.

What foods pair well with Speedway Grand Prix? Dark chocolate truffles mirror the cocoa and roast character. Smoked brisket or barbecue ribs stand up to the beer's weight and bitterness. Blue cheese, with its salty tang, contrasts the malt sweetness. Rich bread pudding or a pecan pie works alongside the toffee and caramel notes present in several variants.

What sizes does Speedway Grand Prix come in? The Grand Prix is released as a mixed four-pack of 16 oz cans.

Is Speedway Grand Prix worth the price? As a seasonal, limited-release variety pack tied to San Diego Beer Week, the Grand Prix positions as a specialty offering above the standard Speedway Stout. The four distinct variants provide genuine variety and the opportunity to taste the same acclaimed base beer taken in four different directions, which adds value for anyone interested in exploring adjunct stout variations.

Why Speedway Grand Prix?

The Grand Prix pack takes a proven foundation, a Speedway Stout base that has earned Gold medals at the San Diego International Beer Competition and a 4.372 out of 5.0 expert score on RateBeer, and branches it into four distinct directions in a single purchase. The annual rotation of themed variants means no two years are alike, giving repeat buyers something genuinely new each release. At 70 IBUs, the hop backbone provides a structural bitterness that most adjunct-heavy stouts lack, keeping the flavors in check even as the individual variants push into dessert territory. For anyone who already respects the Speedway Stout name, this pack is the most efficient way to experience what the base beer can become.