Tag: Firestone Walker

Posted on

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%)

Posted on

Hazy x2 + Lager Too

Firestone Walker’s Lager is getting a label makeover and bigger news, Mind Haze is growing. Now there will be a Double…

The lager label seems old school beer design without the font and the use of the word premium. Plus it has the earthy tones of the barrel-aged beers like the Gin Rickey. As for Hazier, I bet they took their time with it like they did the original so I expect a winner.

Posted on

Review – Gin Rickey from Firestone Walker

Long time readers of the blog will know two things. One, that I am a fanboy for Firestone Walker and two, that I like me some gin. And when I saw that the barrel wizards of Paso Robles has a gin barrel-aged beer, I was on it opening weekend.

With a hearty barley wine base, I figured it would be a knockout. The base is fine, offering a nice, almost creamy texture. But the lime is not there, overcome by an Indian spicing that is new to my beer drinking experience but is too heavy handed to let anything else shine. I would add though that this might, if handled with care, be an interesting dessert pairing due to the alcohol level.

Posted on

Mood Ring

Firestone Walker’s Barrelworks division has gotten in the mood with Sante Adairius Rustic Ales for “Big Mood”, “a new wild child crafted with Blenheim apricots and white wine grapes.

Here is more info on the collaboration

Jim “Crooks used the Sante Adairius yeast to ferment 2,000 pounds of Blenheim variety apricots sourced from Sante Adairius’ supplier in Hollister, California—enough to fill 50 oak barrels of beer, which underwent six months of aging. This apricot beer was then blended with a special selection of barrel-aged wine hybrid lots dating back to the 2017 vintage, all made with local Santa Barbara County white wine grapes.”

Posted on

XXIV

The Invitational may have been cancelled for 2020 but the other momentous landmark for Firestone Walker is in the works as the have started the competition for blending bragging rights. This is one of those releases where you buy two bottles and taste one now, make your notes. Then store the other away.

Posted on

Divine

If we were to rank fruits best and often used in beers, apples probably would not make the cut. And certainly the aggressively tough Arkansas Black would be too hard to use in a beer. Well, two wild ale maestros disagree with me.

I would side with Jim and Chad and check out this new offering from Barrel Works.

Posted on

Gen-4

You just might have a nautical themed summer with this new DIPA from the SoCal Firestone Walker. Look for it in their mixed packs, that is generally where you will find it or head to the Propagator.

Posted on

Best Beers of June 2020

This month the Best of battle boiled down to two styles. IPA vs the barrel. Four beers were in contention and placing just out of medal Reach was Infinite Wishes from Smog City. This was a luxurious beer and the ABV was hidden behind that so well that the chocolate and bourbon had the forefront to themselves.

Bronze goes to Firestone Walker and their latest Luponic Distortion. #16. A swirling mix of peach and pear with just the right amount of balancing bitterness. The other IPA comes from Bearded Iris. I had never heard of them but Jimmy at the Glendale Tap pointed them out to me and Homestyle IPA was fantastic. Big aroma. Hops everywhere but no palate wrecker.

Which brings us to the winner….

Firestone Walker’s Cherry Barrel Blossom. This was such a layered beer. A touch of smoke here, Cherry note there, salt perking up the beer. Then the final barrel impact just made for a fantastic beer.