Firestone Walker 11 (XI Quercus Alba)

Formerly brewed at Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Style: American Strong Ale
Paso Robles, California USA

Thanks to UncleJedi for sharing at the sexual chocolate grand tasting! Dark brown pour with a thin beige head and a small amount of drippy lace. Caramelized cane sugar and bourbon on the nose. Flavor was pretty complex with notable hints of oak, vanilla, faded hops, roast bread, and brown sugar

Rating #1500! First, gotta thank Ledger’s for the bottle. I forget the guys name, but in December of 2007 these guys really took care of me even though I was an out-of-towner. Nice darker brown color on this one with a hint of red and a very small head. Aroma is full of sugary caramel, smooth oak, dark fruits, brown sugar, and bourbon. Flavor is heavy on the caramel with the bourbon, vanilla/oak coming through late. Smooth with some dark fruits and sugary chocolate too. This one gets better as it sits and gets some O2 in there. The Imperial red seems too strong at first and in my opinion should have been reduced or dropped from the blend. Other than that, this is fantastic and comes close (but doesn’t match) the XII.

Deep chestnut brown pour with a thin, short-lived beige head. No lacing. Sweet and rich bourbon cover a light malty and cocoa filled aroma. I want to think there is more, but the bourbon is very prominent. Tastes more mellowed of the bourbon , a little malty and sweet. Chocolate and then a bit more bourbon sweetness. A little bit of faded hops. Very smooth and rich, but the bourbon barrel notes are more of a fixture than compliment. I wish I could have cellared this a bit longer... Oh well, how often does a team win a sixth Super Bowl anyway? Bottle was from Degarth, thanks to a great trader!

22oz bottle. Pours a dark brown, with little to no head. Aromas of sweet malts, vanilla, oak, bourbon, light chocolate, brown sugar and some booze. Flavor is sweet malts, layered with chocolate, vanilla, oak, bourbon, and molasses. Palte medium to full bodied. I enjoyed this, a lot, but not nearly as much as the XII.

Bottle. Pour clear brown with not much of a head. Smells of piny hops with some booze and sugary malts. Tastes about the same but is pretty easy to drink. I’m not sure why this one is all that special though. Nothing that makes is stand out.

Bottle from Ledger’s. Pours a clear dark brown with a diminishing head. Smells of bourbon and alcohol. Sweet with aromas of oak and bourbon. Quite malty. Bready hints. Sweet bourbon finish. Kinda unbalanced.

Bomber shared by mreusch. Pours a dark cola brown with a thin beige head that settles to a slick at the surface. Sherry-like dark fruit, sweet woody bourbon, cola, light vanilla and brandy-like alcohol. The palate is on the light side of medium-bodied, super slick and slightly vinous with a mildly hoppy and smooth alcohol finish. Sweet round malt, brandy, vanilla, oak, brown sugar and the lightest cocoa. Wow. This is a really tasty beer. If it had a bit more body, it would be even better, but I certainly can’t complain. Thanks a ton for sharing this with me Matt!

22oz. bomber, with a big thank you to Enniskillen for yet another rare treat! Pours a lighter than expected brown with a one finger off-white/tan head, moderate lacing and retention. Aroma is vanilla, oak, brown sugar, light chocolate, caramel, dark fruits, brandy; lots going on, but it definitely needed a couple minutes to warm and open up. Flavor provides less complexity than the aroma, but still nice. More brown sugar, oak, chocolate, vanilla, etc., and a little brandy-like bite that’s a bit more alcohol forward on the finish; a thinner palate than expected but not in a bad way at all. Wow, another nice one from Firestone, thanks again Chris!