RateBeer
Firestone Walker 12 4.02 189

Firestone Walker 12

 (RETIRED)
Percentile
100
overall

bottled
common

on tap
unknown

Regional Distribution
Find this beer

Add Distribution Data
send corrections | shelftag |
RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
1894.06/5.04.02/5.0Special12%98.4Snifter, Trappist glass
Commercial Description:
The Barrels The individual lots were aged in oak barrels, most of which were hand selected from premium Kentucky spirits producers by Tom Griffin, who is extremely passionate and knowledgeable about bourbon barrels and beer. Each barrel lends its own unique influence to the final blend. Tom continues to hand deliver some real treats to us, including some 20+ year old Rip Van Winkle Barrels! Barrels freshly dumped from the distilleries and hand delivered by Tom Griffin: Rip Van Winkle Bourbon Old Fitzgerald Bourbon / Old Fitzgerald Wheat Whiskey Heaven Hill Bourbon / Heaven Hill Brandy / Heaven Hill Rye Barrels purchased directly from American Coopers toasted to Firestone Walker’s specifications: New American Oak produced by World Cooperage / medium and medium plus toast Retired Firestone Union Oak produced by World Cooperage, and Barrel Associates (water bent staves) The Aging Cellar – The Components Following are descriptions of key components with their original code names: Final Blend % Parabola ྭ% ABV) - Aged in New American oak, bourbon and rye barrels ࿌%) -Russian Imperial Oatmeal Stout (brewed02-09-06 and 01-18-08) OG=28P FG=7.5P IBU=80 Color=Black / Hopped with Simcoe, Bravo, Styrian Golding and East Kent Golding Opal ྫ% ABV) – Aged in rye barrels ྼ%) -Wheat Wine (brewed 2-25-08) OG=22.4P FG=6.2P IBU=45 Color=17 / Brewed with torrified and malted wheat, lightly hopped with Saaz Rufus ྫ% ABV) – Aged in rye and bourbon barrels ྲ%) -Continental Imperial Amber Ale (brewed 8-17-07) OG=22.5 FG=4.5 IBU=40 Color=15 / Brewed with Belgian Dark Candi Syrup / Hopped with Styrian Goldings and Saaz Saucerful of Secrets ƙ% ABV) – Aged in Brandy Barrels ƙ%) -Belgian Strong Ale (brewed 10-30-07) OG=23.4 FG=6.1 IBU 25 Color=39 / Brewed with Belgian Dark Candi sugar and everything else but the kitchen sink Union Jack IPA Ɨ% ABV) - Aged in stainless steel Ƒ%) -American Style IPA (brewed 10-28-08) OG=17 FG=3.5 IBU=75 Color=12 / Brewed with massive amounts of hops and a very kind attitude The Finished Piece- As a finished beer, XII is in some ways more aggressive than any previous blend, but it maintains a great deal of depth and complexity. Everyone seems to get something different when they taste this beer- mocha, tobacco, toasted almonds, olallieberries... I leave the interpretation to you. It is best enjoyed in a half filled brandy snifter or wine glass. Allow it to warm to 55F to fully enjoy the pleasing and complex aromas. If left in a cool dark place, I suspect that this beer will age well. Only time will tell. If you find something you like- please contact us and let us know your thoughts. I truly hope you enjoy our third oak-aged blend. This crazy beer journey continues!
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 Gregis (1136), Shawnee, Kansas, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/59/104/517/20
Jan 17, 2009  
Bomber generously shared by mreusch. Pours an opaque, deep, dark brown with a small frothy, beige head that diminishes to a thin skin at the surface. Sweet roast and bourbon, light chocolate, prunes/dark fruit and more alcohol on the finish. Medium to full-bodied and super-slick with a bit of alcohol heat and graininess at the finish. Burnt caramel, dark fruit, vanilla, oak, light cocoa, and alcohol and a warm, slightly boozy finish. This is a fine beer and one that I would imagine will improve even more with a bit of age on it. Thanks for sharing this with me Matt!


 mreusch (745), Olathe, Kansas, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/517/20
Jan 16, 2009    Updated: Jan 17, 2009
22oz. bomber, with thanks to both AgentSteve and EinWeizenbitte from over on BA for a bottle! Pours a lighter brown, with a one finger frothy tan head, lesser retention and lacing than the FW 11. Aroma is also more muted, even with adequate time to warm up, but notes of oak, vanilla, bourbon, espresso, and light chocolate come out. Flavor jumps ahead of the aroma on this one and is quite nice - oak, bourbon, chocolate, espresso, yada yada, very nice all the way around on the flavor. More warming than the 11, but works well. Very nice stuff, and a thicker mouthfeel than the 11 as well. I think the 11 and 12 are both very, very nice, but the 10 still stands above both. Thanks again to Steve and Todd, MUCH appreciated guys!


 miketd (685), Cleveland, Ohio, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/516/20
Jan 16, 2009  
Bottle thanks to Odeed and also whoever shared at Dickensonbeers tasting. Pours brown with a smallish off white head. Aroma is wood, sweet malt, caramel and booze. Flavor is oak, vanilla, booze and spicy. Nice body. The best of the series.


 bitbucket (2036), Kirkland, Washington, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/516/20
Jan 14, 2009  
Boxed bomber, shared at beer:30. Pours murky dark brown with a creamy beige head. Lots of oaky vanilla and bourbon, some caramel, chocolate, prune and a hint of citrus in the aroma. Full body, moderate carbonation. Wow, this is really chewy! Bittersweet chocolate along with more of the same bits of wonderfulness that hit my nose appear in the taste. Brown sugar and espresso finish. Rather nice!


 SamGamgee (1469), Santa Cruz (La Selva), California, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/518/20
Jan 11, 2009    Updated: Dec 6, 2009
22oz bottle purchased at the brewery. Tasted along side 11. Definitely can tell that imperial stout was much heavier in the blend this time. Dark red-brown color with a small head. Oak and whisky are heavy in the aroma, with lots of caramel and some dark chocolate. Moderately sweet, with a smooth roasted character and plenty of bourbon character. Finishes dryer than 11, with the roast helping in that department, along with some more alcohol. A tad thicker than 11 as well, but definitely nothing on the heavy side for 12%. The barrel aging, along with the blending, has smoothed out everything so all the edges are rounded and the result is just really pleasant to sip on, without a dominant quality that you might dwell on in an unblended beer. (8,4,9,4,10=43)

rerate: One year old bottle tasted next to a fresh 13. A touch lighter in color than 13, with a dark brown hue topped by a small head. Aroma of vanilla, oak, light salty charred wood, chocolate, and fruity alcohol. The flavor is pretty boozy in the finish, and off-dry, quite bourbony, with some dried fruit and chocolate. Not as smooth or nuanced as 13, and even with another year of age on it. I can’t say that this is as good as I remember it eleven months ago. though I’m keeping that score up, right now, this bottle would be about an 8,4,7,4,15=38.


 gunhaver (1044), Tampa, Florida, USA
4.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/510/105/519/20
Jan 11, 2009  
Bottle, courtesy Kevin. Pours a dark brown color with caramel red highlights and little lacing. Nose is of oaky caramel, cherries, vanilla, bourbon, chocolate, coffee, molasses. Very complex. Flavor is just flat-out awesome. Incredible caramel punch, chocolate, vanilla, bourbony spike, some cider, dark fruit, peanut butter, molasses...just a ton going on here, it’s great. Soft, full-bodied, zero alcohol presence, and so damn easy to drink. Love it.


 argo0 (7025), Washington DC, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/103/515/20
Jan 10, 2009  
(22oz bottle, thanks SamGamgee) Small tan head atop red-black body. Aroma is moderately sweet, chocolate, bourbon/vanilla, some alcohol. Taste is sweet, alcohol/bourbon, some bittersweet chocolate. Medium-full body, low carbonation.


 ryan (1781), Beltsville, Maryland, USA
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/56/103/512/20
Jan 10, 2009  
Courtesy of SamGamsee. Dark brown body with a small tan head. The nose is chocolate, light bourbon, molasses and toffee. The flavor is moderately sweet, lots of chocolate, molasses, raisins, bourbon and vanilla. Full body is sticky with moderate carbonation. Not as good as the 11 and that’s not saying much.



We Want To Hear From You



Join us! RateBeer is made by beer enthusiasts for the craft beer community. Your basic membership is free and allows you to read all beer ratings. Click here to create your account... and give your opinion!

Join Us »

View Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Share Your Opinion!
Get started reviewing beers at RateBeer.com now.

First, choose your user name

About RateBeer | Add A Beer | Log In | Edit Personal Info | 100 Beer Club | FAQ | Feedback?
Copyright © 2000-2010, RateBeer LLC