Firestone Walker 11 (XI Quercus Alba)

Courtesy TheCheeseMan. Dark brown pour, sparse thin off-white head. Ton of oak on the aroma, some sweet candied malts and alcohol. Real tannic tastes over a defined malt sweetness. Lots of oak on the finish. The barrel-aging mixes nicely with the sweetness and neither gets to be too much. Alcohol becomes more apparent as it warms.

Pours dark brown, with a rather small, light broen head. Aroma is brandy, bourbon, vanilla, oak, malt, and fruit. Flavor is bourbon, oak, vanilla, oak, fruit, brandy, caramel, and chocolate. A very nice brew, I’m impressed. It might be even better with more brandy and less bourbon, and a bit of a heavier body. Even so, I’m liking this alot. It get better as it warms. Thanks to Pepsican for this bottle.

Bottle. Dark mahogony brown beer with a little tan head. Sweet vanilla, caramel, bourbon aroma. Rich bourbon, vanilla, malt, toffee, caramel, oak flavor with a bit of chocolate, slight roast, and some brown sugar. Nice balance. Medium-plus body. Lingering brandy, caramel, malt, slight chocolate. Alcohol present, but nothing overpowering. Great beer.

Courtesy TheCheeseMan. Pours a translucent, melted chocolate color. A bubbly, beige colored head leaves sudsy sheeting behind. The nose shows massive amount of barrel influence. Bittersweet chocolate, nougat, and caramel provide the malt base, while oak, vanilla, and strong bourbon add highlights. Flavors are creamy up front, almost like chocolate milk with a drop of vanilla extract. Cola sweetness follows, a touch of molasses buried within. Finally, warm, oaken bourbon comes through to finish things off in a woody, boozy sort of way. The body is substantial, but not as full as I was expecting. Smooth, but pretty hot on the palate. Overall, a very, very good brew that might actually benefit from a little less bourbon influence. Very similar to New Holland’s Dragon’s Milk, though a touch more boozy.

Pours a deep mahogany brown, virtually no head at all. Aroma is unmistakable, as the barrel component dominates. Pushing through are notes of vanilla, oak, raisins, dates, dark plums. Flavor is bold and warming, with a nice boozy quality that is well integrated.