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Firestone Walker 12 4.02 190

Firestone Walker 12

 (RETIRED)
Percentile
100
overall

bottled
common

on tap
unknown

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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
1904.06/5.04.02/5.0Special12%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?  
 Swalden28 (1531), McKinney, Texas, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/518/20
Aug 11, 2009  
Bottle thanks to ericandersnavy. Pours a black with tan head. Aroma of burnt grain, nuts, malt, alcohol, dark fruit. Flavor of dark roast, malt, alcohol, dark fruit. Mouth feel is heavy body with low carbonation. Overall, great stuff!


 otakuden (518), Vero Beach, Florida, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Aug 6, 2009  
It wasn’t all that unusual to blend beers just a few hundred years ago. In fact, it wouldn’t be that far from the truth to say that blending beers has been a centuries old practice. In Belgium, Lambic blenders still blend their specialty beer, Lambic. The Porter originated from the practice of blending light and dark beers in England while pubs would have their own blends that they would sell as their house specialty. Farmers who also brewed their own beer for sustenance and as a source of extra income would blend new and old batches of beer. So no, it is not wrong nor sacrilegious to blend beers, especially barrel-aged beers. Firestone Walker honors this time-honored tradition with their Anniversary Ale XII, a blend of barrel-aged beers. I can’t wait to see what layers of delight and complexity she has to offer me.

The Firestone Walker Anniversary Ale XII pours dark browns with shades of black. A small head says hello, and then fades into nothingness, allowing her nose to ensnare my senses. Vanilla, wood, bourbon, cinnamon, nutmeg, cream, and more wood ride atop a sweet undercurrent of molasses and bourbon on a direct course to my heart. I can and will never tire of the luscious perfume of barrel-aged beers; it is truly nirvana. Seduction complete, we seal the bond with the first of many sensual and hot kisses. She pierces the back of my mouth and throat with a sharp, sweet kiss while leaving a lingering mark of maple and brown sugar. Immediately alcohol warmth starts to permeate my body while spice lingers in my breath hinting of cinnamon sticks and oak. Dark breads, near-burnt toast, and more spice and warmth send my senses into an orgy of blended bliss. Truly, Firestone Walker knew exactly what it was doing when it blended this beauteous beast of an Anniversary Ale.

Our current diverse portfolio of "straight" beers will never waver, but I would love to see a more active resurgence of blended beers. There are many spirit institutions where blending is a time-honored and skilled profession. The same too was and can still be said of beer. Thank you, Firestone Walker for bringing a new breath of life to blending with your Anniversary Ale XII.


 joeneugs (371), Livermore, California, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/57/103/517/20
Aug 2, 2009  
Pours dark brown with a brown head. The aroma is of chocolate, vanilla, bourbon, peat, wood, and prunes. The mouthfeel is very thick and oily with low carbonation. Flavors of bourbon, wood, vanilla, peat, salt, caramel, toffee, raisins, molasses and brown sugar. Very complex and flavorful, yes, but it’s almost too potent for me to enjoy it in any more than 6-8 ounce samples.


 fiulijn (7520), Como; Lausanne (CH); Malmö (SWE), Italy
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/518/20
Aug 2, 2009  
Blind tasting at Papsø’s
Black color; small creamy head. Stylish aroma, harmonious mix of roasted malt, chocolate and vanilla. Good body, sweet chocolate flavor, well complemented by the vanilla, good bitterness level. Very good.


 MrChopin (706), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/58/104/515/20
Jul 29, 2009  
Bottle thanks to lb4lb!
Dark brown, rich tan head. Lots of dark malt, vanilla, some chocolate and wood and minor alcohol with warmth. All surprisingly balanced and thankfully not very sweet. Very woody flavor, some more roast and chocolate, also some borderline bourbon/cognac, definitely not over-sweet like most barrel beers. Moderate alcohol, gets stronger near room temp. Pretty good stuff, and I love that the sweetness is kept at bay, but this was disappointingly simple given the hype.


 Tmoney99 (4800), Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/59/104/517/20
Jul 21, 2009  
Bottle shared at Noogfest High 5. Poured dark brown with a moderate to large frothy brown head that mostly lasted with excellent lacing. Heavy toasted malt, woody with a small alcohol aroma. Full body with a smooth texture and flat carbonation. Heavy bourbon woody and malt flavor with a heavy bourbon bittersweet finish of long duration. This is a standout beer.


 brentfeesh (1040), Gadsden, Alabama, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/105/518/20
Jul 14, 2009  
Sampled at Noog 5. Never thought I’d get to try this. Deep roasty brown color that is fairly opaque with a wispy head. Lots of dark fruit in the aroma surrounded by sticky malt and alcohol notes. Bourbon and coffee are also noticeable and the overall nose is a bit hot. Whatever the flavor, there is oak and vanilla in abundance. A bit of whiskey like alcohol, chocolate and toffee, and a sweetness that is well balanced. A very fine sipper. Very slick mouth feel that is oily and coating. Yum.


 fonefan (11890), VestJylland, Denmark
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/58/104/517/20
Jul 9, 2009  
Bottle 66cl. @ [ Tasting by cgarvieuk ].
Clear dark brown color with a average to large, frothy, good lacing, mostly lasting, beige head. Aroma is light heavy malty, chocolate, kokus, vanilla, wood, light to moderate roasted and caramel, alcohol notes. Flavor is heavy sweet and bitter with a long duration. Body is medium to full, texture is creamy, carbonation is soft. [20090411]



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