Tag: anniversary blend

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XVIII

I was reading one day, when I suddenly realized, I had not added the 2024 Firestone Walker Anniversary Ale to my rolling five year collection.  I do not know why I had not recognized that deficiency earlier as each year I review the new edition.  So I dutifully headed to the FW website only to find that XVIII is a Brewmasters Collective only release which was the second crappy thing that life had handed to me in November.

But when I calmed down, I reached out to learn, to my relief that the barrel-aged blend would indeed be purchasable by the likes of me and now I can review it!

Before we dive into the newest blend, let us cast our taste buds back to 2019 and the XXIII and see what five years has done for the beer.  

The 2019 pours a close but not quite black color.  The nose on it is cola, dark berry and a touch of chocolate.  The first sip is giving me barleywine vibes as there is both a lightness on the palate with a bit of hop still there but that gets taken over, slowly, by the more roasty and cocoa hits so that the finish becomes quite smooth.  Only at the end does a little alcohol burn poke out s little bit.

Now on to 2024 / XXVIII, headlined by 37% Stickee Monkee and 28% Bravo, both bourbon barrel-aged. In fact only 11% was not bourbon rested and that 11% was Rye barrel-aged. The other noteworthy bit is that a collaborative stout blend with Colorado’s Weldwerks makes up 7% of the beer.

And this blend pours a pitch black, not seeing through this. Smells clean with pops of vanilla. This is very smooth and has a nice combo of vanilla and caramel. Almost an ice cream swirl. I say this a lot but especially, in this case, how will this soft flavor age? As the glass warms, the bourbon notes start to assert themselves which gives me more hope.

Of the two, the new one is more my speed and more 2024 craft beer as well.

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Firestone Walker Anniversary Now and Five Years Ago

Each year, I taste test the current FW Anniversary blend and then taste the blend from five years ago.  This time around it is 27 vs 22.

This years anniversary beer, aka XXVIII or 27 was created by the team of Molly Lonborg from Alta Colina, Kevin Sass from Halter Ranch Beer Club Member Ezekial Palmer. Below are strands used in the blend:

DDBA Batch 10k – Aged in Wheated Bourbon Barrels (33%) – Imperial Special Bitter

Dividing Time – Aged in Wheated and Rye Bourbon Barrels (29%) – Munich Wine Made in Collaboration with Private Press

Bravo – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (13%) – Imperial Brown Ale

Rip This Joint – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (13%) – Imperial Stout Made in Collaboration with Side Project

Velvet Merkin – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (12%) – Milk Stout

XXII is made up of the following componemts: 44% Stickee Monkee, 22% Parabola, 22% Bravo, 7% Rum Barrel Helldorado, 5% Gin Barrel Helldorado.

Now onto the reviews…

22 – even though the rum and gin barrels are only 12% of the total, I am getting a bit of both. There is chocolate and a kick of spice here that I like the interplay between. Has a definite Belgian quad taste, sorry Central Coast Quad.

27 – seems kind of one note to me overall. It is a really good chocolate brownie. in beer form. Thick and muddy in a good way. Not much barrel notes to be found which I was sorta expecting considering the beers in the blend.

Even five years on, the 22 wins. If there has been more bourbon in 27, I might have given it the nod though.

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27 is Coming

One of my most anticipated beers of the year is the anniversary blend from Firestone Walker.

If you are in Los Angeles or Paso Robles, now might be the time to see if their company stores have any lingering 26’s on shelves so you can prepare a taste test.

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21 V 26

Each year, I review the Firestone Walker Anniversary blend from five years ago along side this year’s model. Let’s dive into 21 and 26.

2017 – 21st

lovely espresso colored foam. bourbon and sugar aroma. silky and very sweet on the tongue. the bourbon flavors compliment the sweet notes. no alcohol burn to be found on a plus 11% beer. almost an imperial milk stout.

2022 – 26th

not much of a head at all. pours a pitch black color. aroma is surprisingly neutral. cherry is the dominant note here. bright, with no heaviness at all. there is a tiny bit of oak if you search for it. this will be interesting to see what happens with age to this.

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My Favorite Things

When stores put up Halloween items in July and Christmas sprouts up in October, you need to find a better marker for the end of year holiday season.  Mine is the release of the Firestone Walker Anniversary blend.  

This year the winning blend was done by the trio of Valia From and Emily Miller – Desparada Wines, Russell From – Herman Story Wines and Danny “Fullpint” Becker – Editor-in-Chief, of The Full Pint.  And it has some fun additions to it.

Here is the final blend:
Parabola – Russian Imperial Stout – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (32%)
Velvet Merkin – Milk Stout – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (32%)
Bravo – Imperial Brown Ale – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (24%)
Heavy Things – Barley Wine Made in Collaboration with The Bruery – Aged in Brandy Barrels (6%)
Helldorado – Blonde Barley Wine – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (4%)
Wheat Wine -Strong Golden Barley Wine Co-Fermented with White Wine Grape Juice – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (2%)

I always buy one to age and one to drink now.  It is pretty much the only beer I age now, it is that good.

And of course, as per BSP tradition, I will review 26 next to the blend from five years ago.

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# 26

Now that the Firestone Walker Invitational for 2022 is in the books along with my jealousy of all who got to go and experience that excellent festival, it is time to move onto what this years anniversary beer will look like…

XXVI will be in the 12oz bottles with the special box packaging and are not to be missed. I did an anniversary flight last November (a great time to visit I might add) and it was fun to see how four different years tasted.

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25

Since I am here in Paso Robles, seems good timing to speak of Firestone Walker and their recently released 25th Anniversary blend..

Here are the details from the press release:

“Winemakers from the following Paso Robles wineries participated in this year’s blending: Booker Vineyard, Desparada Wines, Epoch Estate Wines, Halter Ranch Vineyard, Herman Story, Ledge Vineyards, Tablas Creek Vineyard, TH Estate Wines, Thacher Winery and Torrin Wine.

For the first time, the winemakers were joined by two members of Firestone Walker’s Brewmaster’s Collective beer club, who won the chance to participate in the blending session. Russell From of Herman Story Wines and Taylor Mathiesen of Booker Vineyard, along with Brewmaster’s Collective club member Paul Rios (with guest Christian Smith), created the winning blend that became “25.”

Parabola Autumn Edition – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (41%) Russian Imperial Stout

Tequila Barrel Merkin – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (28%) Milk Stout                                                                  

Brandy Barrel Barley Wine – Aged in Brandy Barrels (13%) Blonde Barley Wine

Stickee Monkee – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (10%) Central Coastal Quad

Whiskey Barrel Wheat Wine – Aged in Tequila Barrels (8%) Strong Golden Barley Wine

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24 – The Blend

Place your bets as to who won the blending challenge for this year’s Anniversary Ale from Firestone Walker. Paso Robles wineries: Denner, Halter Ranch, Herman Story, Ledge, Linne Calodo, Lone Madrone, Tablas Creek, Thacher, TH Estate Wines and Saxum competed.

The winning blend—the basis for XXIV—was ultimately created by Winemaker Kevin Sass at Halter Ranch.

XXIV: The Final Blend

Velvet Merkin – Milk Stout – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (27%)

Stickee Monkee – Central Coast Quad – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (26%)

Parabola – Russian Imperial Stout – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (16%)                                                             

Smoked Imperial Walkers Reserve – Robust Porter brewed with beechwood smoked malt- Aged in Bourbon Barrels (16%)

Bravo – Imperial Brown Ale – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (11%)

Tequila Barrel Helldorado Blonde Barley Wine – Aged in Tequila Barrels (4%)

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FW23

Looks like the Anniversary Blend for 2019 is the start of a blending dynasty.  According to a recent press release from Firestone Walker, “for the second year in a row, the winning team included Sherman Thacher and Daniel Callan of Thacher Winery, as well as Will Freeman and Phil LaMontagne of TH Estate Wines. They all walked away with the coveted “cardboard crowns” that are accorded to the winners each year.”

And in the e-mail were the details of the blend…..

 XXIII: The Final Blend

 Stickee Monkee aged in Bourbon Barrels (28%) – Central Coastal Quad

Parabola aged in Bourbon Barrels (28%) – Russian Imperial Stout                                                        

 Bravo aged in Bourbon Barrels (20%) – Imperial Brown Ale

Bourbon Barrel Helldoradoaged in Bourbon Barrels (15%) – Blonde Barley Wine

Velvet Merkin Aged in Bourbon Barrels (5%)  – Milk Stout

Tequila Barrel Helldoradoaged in Tequila Barrels (4%) – Blonde Barley Wine

It is cool that there is a double dose of Helldorado in this years mix, maybe they have other Helldorado barrels to make a single Blonde Barley Wine blend?  As is custom on BSP, I will review the new beer as well as the beer from six years ago.