GRADE: A+
I'm not sure how I heard about this beer and it's bothering me! I got familiar with Firestone Walker and their quality brews last year when I picked up bottles of Double Jack and Parabola. I loved the latter so much that I bought 3 more bottles that are sitting in a far corner of my cellar aging gracefully. I am not sure if it was my random web surfing of beer blogs and websites or if it was a tip from a friend. Either way, when I sent an email to my local beer guy asking about it, I was VERY pleased to hear that they will have two bottles waiting for me at the end of the month.
This past weekend, I decided to hit a couple of well respected beer stores a bit off the beaten path for a bit of an adventure before band rehearsal. At the second shop I visited, a guy named Adam asked me if I was a fan of bourbon barrel aged beer. I still wonder what made him ask me that question. Was it my look? The way I spoke? My body language? Regardless, I practically yelped that I loved that style of beer much to the surprise of a couple of customers standing near by ("No, really, I'm NOT an alcoholic..... I just like beer.... A LOT...."). He walked me over right to this beer: Firestone Walker's 15th Anniversary Ale. I literally jumped in front of him, took the last two bottles off the shelf and asked if he had more in the back. Adam looked pleased but swore those were the last ones. I bought a few more bottles on that trip but these two bottles were the pick of the litter.
Firestone Walker is known for barrel aging their beers. According to their website,
"Our patented union of barrels uniquely incorporates 60-gallon heavy or medium toast American oak barrels into a brewing process that yields beers of extraordinary character and complexity. This system improves the fullness of the palate, enhances hop maturity and lends a clean briskness to the finish. The influence of the toasted oak also imparts unique hints of smokiness and vanilla, as well as a subtle fruitiness to the flavor profile."
Yeah, what they said! The bottom line: their beers are full of complex flavors that you will enjoy. I have yet to be disappointed with their offerings so far and I was excited to try this brew.
Appearance: Before I even get to the actual look of the beer itself, I must talk about the packaging. As you can see above, it comes in a beautiful cardboard box designed very elegantly. When you have it in your hand, it looks like one of those Johnny Walker Black scotch boxes. Not only does the bottle inside look good but they included a double-sided one page overview of the beer. I discovered that it is a "blended" beer that is a combination of 8 different beers that were aged in different barrels (?!). They even LIST the beers and the corresponding percentages that make up this brew! Pretty intense!
Now about the actual look of the beer: dark plum, not black. Deep mahogany yielding very little head.
Smell: Bourbon but not too boozy (surprising for 12.5% ABV). Toffee and oak. As it warms, aniseed, licorice and vanilla. My brother in-law and I could not stop smelling this beer the whole time we were drinking it! Beautiful nose...
Taste: Follows the nose. Bourbon up front, dark fruit, licorice and vanilla on the way down. Extremely well balanced for a blended beer. Nothing dominates or overwhelms.
Mouthfeel: Silky smooth and light. Very low carbonation. This is definitely a "big beer" but it doesn't overpower like most big beers.
Overall: I thought that Founder's Backwoods Bastard was the best barrel aged beer I had ever had. Until now. This is, by far, the best barrel aged beer I have ever tasted! I must add that the "experience" of drinking this beer (the packaging and the one page detailed description of the beer and its brewers) makes it all feel special. I guess it's because it IS a special beer. If you can find it, buy at LEAST two bottles: drink one now and enjoy the other years later.
This past weekend, I decided to hit a couple of well respected beer stores a bit off the beaten path for a bit of an adventure before band rehearsal. At the second shop I visited, a guy named Adam asked me if I was a fan of bourbon barrel aged beer. I still wonder what made him ask me that question. Was it my look? The way I spoke? My body language? Regardless, I practically yelped that I loved that style of beer much to the surprise of a couple of customers standing near by ("No, really, I'm NOT an alcoholic..... I just like beer.... A LOT...."). He walked me over right to this beer: Firestone Walker's 15th Anniversary Ale. I literally jumped in front of him, took the last two bottles off the shelf and asked if he had more in the back. Adam looked pleased but swore those were the last ones. I bought a few more bottles on that trip but these two bottles were the pick of the litter.
Firestone Walker is known for barrel aging their beers. According to their website,
"Our patented union of barrels uniquely incorporates 60-gallon heavy or medium toast American oak barrels into a brewing process that yields beers of extraordinary character and complexity. This system improves the fullness of the palate, enhances hop maturity and lends a clean briskness to the finish. The influence of the toasted oak also imparts unique hints of smokiness and vanilla, as well as a subtle fruitiness to the flavor profile."
Yeah, what they said! The bottom line: their beers are full of complex flavors that you will enjoy. I have yet to be disappointed with their offerings so far and I was excited to try this brew.
Appearance: Before I even get to the actual look of the beer itself, I must talk about the packaging. As you can see above, it comes in a beautiful cardboard box designed very elegantly. When you have it in your hand, it looks like one of those Johnny Walker Black scotch boxes. Not only does the bottle inside look good but they included a double-sided one page overview of the beer. I discovered that it is a "blended" beer that is a combination of 8 different beers that were aged in different barrels (?!). They even LIST the beers and the corresponding percentages that make up this brew! Pretty intense!
Now about the actual look of the beer: dark plum, not black. Deep mahogany yielding very little head.
Smell: Bourbon but not too boozy (surprising for 12.5% ABV). Toffee and oak. As it warms, aniseed, licorice and vanilla. My brother in-law and I could not stop smelling this beer the whole time we were drinking it! Beautiful nose...
Taste: Follows the nose. Bourbon up front, dark fruit, licorice and vanilla on the way down. Extremely well balanced for a blended beer. Nothing dominates or overwhelms.
Mouthfeel: Silky smooth and light. Very low carbonation. This is definitely a "big beer" but it doesn't overpower like most big beers.
Overall: I thought that Founder's Backwoods Bastard was the best barrel aged beer I had ever had. Until now. This is, by far, the best barrel aged beer I have ever tasted! I must add that the "experience" of drinking this beer (the packaging and the one page detailed description of the beer and its brewers) makes it all feel special. I guess it's because it IS a special beer. If you can find it, buy at LEAST two bottles: drink one now and enjoy the other years later.
Suppose you own 10 of them...enjoy one now, then slightly later than now, than slightly later than that, then for a birthday, nye, birthday...and have a few left. That's where I'm at now, as it's my favorite beer I've ever had out of a couple thousand beers from all over world!
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