The events keep coming here in craft beer world and if you want to have a great dinner and sample some Firestone-Walker brews than I think I have the info that you need for a dinner with beer at the Federal Bar in North Hollywood….
You can even take the Metro Red Line and not worry about parking.
Kings Row
Firestone Walker Backyard BBQ with (8) Firestone Taps + Surprise Keg!
BBQ gets fired up at 5pm!!! and featuring:
Wookey Jack
Double Jack
Unfiltered Double Barrel Ale
Union Jack
Solace Summer Ale
Walker’s Reserve Porter
Pale 31
Double Barrel Ale.
There will also be a SURPRISE CASK ALE flowing from a hand pump that Firestone Walker is bringing especially for this momentous night.
BBQ Menu
We’ll be serving a Firestone Walker inspired BBQ menu, including the
“Juicy Dolan” – named For Firestone’s own Cathy Dolan – This Port Salut Stuffed Ribeye Burger is topped with all the fixin’s including a proprietary Firestone Walker Double Barrel Ale BBQ Sauce!!!
Summer Solace Salad – which is a stone fruit salad topped with a Solace Vinaigrette.
The Sloppiest Beef Po Boy that You’ve Ever Eaten rounds out the menu for the night with Slaw and Grapefruit Union Jack Reduction Sauce.
Two from Firestone Walker
Firestone-Walker has gone all out on two events that you should really ponder attending. They have grabbed some seriously great breweries. (Some of which do not venture to California). Read the descriptions below and start drooling.
“From the Barrel will return for the second year at the Historic Santa Margarita Ranch and will feature some of the best barrel-aged beer in the country as well as Ports, Bourbons and great local food. The event is March 30th and tickets are on sale now at fromthebarrel.net. Breweries that will be there will be Russian River, Jolly Pumpkin, Crooked Stave, Lost Abbey, Ballast Point as well as Firestone Walker. This is a prohibition themed event that was very well received in its first year. There will be even more this year with the inclusion of more Bourbons and a beer cocktail station run by the Beer Wench herself Ashley Routson.”
“The Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest will be making its debut on June 9th and will feature a TON of great breweries. In partnership with the Pioneer Day Committee we decided to put on a world class beer event in the middle of wine country. We had a dream list of breweries that we could get to attend this and sent out the invites and to out surprise and pleasure they pretty much all said yes. We have breweries from all over the country and some from overseas as well some of whom have never poured their beer in California. Visit Firestonebeerfest.com for all of the info and the full list of breweries. Tickets will go on sale February 10th.”
Wookey Jack
Coming up next from Paso Robles and Firestone-Walker is a slew of beers, but I want to tease a 2012 beer from the Proprietors Reserve Series, Wookey Jack.
A – The name is great.
B – “an Unfiltered Black Rye IPA weighing in at 8.3% ABV.”
XV on 11/5
I am one of the lucky who have had a taste of the XV from Firestone-Walker and I am really jazzed about it being released. Due to limited cellar space, I generally buy only one bottle to store. (I have XIV and Parabola) But I liked this one so much, I might get more and I highly recommend getting it. And this coming from a guy who occasionally mocks the Big/Imperial/Double craze.
But here is the rest of the story from Firestone-Walker, “The result of one of the most unique and intriguing beer projects in the world will be released the beginning of November. “XV”, Firestone Walker’s 15th Anniversary Ale, celebrates the founding of the brewery as well as pushing the boundaries of what beer can be.
The anticipation and reputation of XV precedes this beer. XV is the culmination of intense blending sessions by local Paso Robles area winemakers to create a complex yet balanced ale. Eight beers were artfully blended together to create this masterpiece.
“I really like what the winemakers bring to the process, they usually go for blends and flavor profiles that brewers never think of,” said Firestone Walker’s Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “That’s why I like bringing them in, it pushes the boundaries of our taste and that’s exciting.”
Past year’s anniversary ales from Firestone have changed the perception of beer. These higher alcohol complex blends are more akin to wine than beer. Like wine, the anniversary beers are vintage releases that can be laid down and aged for years with the flavor profile slowly changing. The secondary market for these beers is similar to wine, with bottles that originally sold for around $20 now fetching upwards of $100 each.
“Who’d have thought a bottle of beer would be valued at $100 plus. It is an affirmation that there is real passion for beer out there,” said David Walker, Co-Owner of Firestone Walker.
Firestone XV will go on sale for the first time on Saturday, November 5 at the Firestone Walker Brewery in Paso Robles. Patrons who purchase 3 bottles or more of this amazing beer will gain access to the brewery’s anniversary party featuring complimentary beer and food tastings, music and more.
“XV” will make its debut across all markets where Firestone beers are sold this fall in limited amounts in 22oz bottles. It will also be made available on draft in select accounts.”
LA Beer Week – Day Three – Firestone/Walker Deconstructed
This was the event that I was waiting for, the famed Sean Z Paxton, the Home Brew chef paired with Firestone-Walker’s 15th Anniversary Ale. Welcome to Deconstructed….
Mark off this bucket list item. Dinner created by Sean Paxton. And this was in grand style. All 8 beers that make up the XV anniversary beer from Firestone-Walker. Plus Pale 31 and/or Unfiltered DBA to start with some malted cashews or Moroccan themed popcorn.
The event was held at the Avalon theater across from the Capitol Records building in Hollywood. Great space with old timey movie theater architecture. The downstairs portion got real hot so beer buddy Richard and I hightailed to the more AC friendly upper space to enjoy the evening.
The food (as these photos will show) was plated with care and artistry and the food was just great. Even the items like scallops or peppers that I don’t usually like were done so well that you had to tip your hat even if it wasn’t your thing. 
The winner for me was the lamb tenderloin that was presented on a spoon and was just delicious. Second place goes to the chocolate covered bacon that was so rich and savory.Neither of which are pictured because I still want them all to myself.
So you had great food and then Matt Brynildson walked around and talked to everybody about the beers, David Walker (yes, the Walker) was pouring beer and Sean Paxton made the rounds. 
But let’s briefly get down to the beer:
Sticky Monkey – Big and brassy. Almost whiskey in it’s own right.
Double Double Barrel Ale – mellower but strong in different ways
HellDorado – dark golden gem that was my favorite other than XV
Double Jack – really excellent IPA. Paired well with the sausage
Bravo – another dark, big and bold beer
Bourbon Barrel Aged Velvet Merkin – I still prefer the regular of this
Good Foot – similar to Sticky Monkey but lighter and brighter to me.
Parabola – my least favorite of the night. too medicinal
Then the XV was unveiled. And if you are a fan of the Anniversary ales, this one will surprise you. The Double Jack cuts through the barleywine and barrel aged flavors to make for a demanding brew that is hoppy and hot and rich. I really enjoyed it but it is a huge beer and is best sipped in small portions.
LA Beer Week. The bar has been officially raised.
Mission Street 2011
One of the great surprises of 2010 were Firestone Walker bombers made for Trader Joesunder the Mission Street Label. The Hefeweizen was solid and even better was the brown ale that had just the right balance of malt and thickness with a spice kick.
Now they have produced a new beer, Mission Street 2011 Anniversary Ale. The copy on the label explains: “This year’s Mission St. Anniversary Ale showcases complex malt flavors with roasty notes layered in and medium hop character. It is a blend of three incredible brews carefully blended for maxiumum aroma and flavor. We affectionately call this brew an Imperial Brown Ale. 8.5% ABV.”.
Firestone-Walker @ Blue Palms
It started with X and is now at XIV. And I and fellow beer geek Richard were there to try the nearly complete line-up of anniversary beers at Blue Palms.
And here is the proof…
I voted for XIV while Richard selected XI as his favorite. The best part is we get to do this again next year.
Firestone-Walker brewery video
Thanks to the Brookston Beer Bulletin for finding this so that I could pass it on.
Velvet Merk- check that, Merlin
When Solace runs its course over the summer, it will be replaced by a sixer of Velvet Merlin. No, this isn’t an offshoot of the Velvet Merkin. It is he same thing just changed to avoid any “imperial entanglements” so to speak.
Either way, I am looking forward to it.