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Firestone Walker 12 4.02 185

Firestone Walker 12

 (RETIRED)
Percentile
100
overall

bottled
common

on tap
unknown

Regional Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
1854.06/5.04.02/5.0Special12%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?  
bulldogp04 (7), Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
does not count click to see why this rating of Firestone Walker 12 does not count
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/58/104/517/20
May 10, 2009  
Mmmmm....Pours dark brown, with a very minimal off-white head. Aromas of figs, dark cherries, chocolate, tobacco, bourbon, and a little vanilla/oak. Mouthfeel is medium-full body, with velvety and creamy texture. Simply fantastic. Taste is of dark fruit, semi-sweet chocolate, very slight hop bitterness, bourbon, tobacco, vanilla, and a leathery/woodsy flavor. This beer is complex and pretty darn amazing.


 Lothore (276), California, USA
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/56/104/512/20
May 9, 2009  
A- Pours a deep, dark brown hue with a thin, frothy, off white head. S- Smell is deep with hints of plum, fig, caramelized sugar, a little mettalic T- Taste very round, hints of spices, rum soaked raisins, brown sugar and rounded out with a bit of roasted malt / coffee flavor at the end. Very balanced and full but not nearly as complex as some other big beers. M- Thick with medium low carbonation. D- Very big, thick, and sweet. Hides the alcohol well. I really don’t think I can justify the retail price let alone some of the ridiculous markups (not that i graded it down for this, just thought i would mention it).


 punkrkr27 (649), Berkley, Michigan, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/105/517/20
May 8, 2009  
Bottle thanks to DuffManSW. Just got home from closing on my new house and cracked this open to celebrate. Murky brown pour with a small, frothy tan head. Lots of vanilla, oak and bourbon notes in the aroma with hints of leather, cocoa, caramel, molasses, and pine sap. The flavor is ripe figs, plums, red grapes, molasses, tobacco, charred oak, vanilla, bourbon, chocolate,pine and a hint of alcohol on the finish. The barrel aging is nicely balanced, not over the top. Sips like a good smooth bourbon should. The body is creamy and smooth with soft carbonation and some alcohol warming in the back of the throat. Great beer to just relax and sip!


 petematte46 (227), Dallas, Texas, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/518/20
May 6, 2009  
This is a dark brown pour with flavors fo coffee, caramel & chocolate. It has a very dry feel to itl. I’d love to have it again. Verry nice!


 BlackForestCO (828), Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/102/513/20
May 3, 2009  
Bottle from tytoanderso, thanks Ty! Poured a deep brown color with a 1/4 inch off-white head that faded to a thin layer. Aroma of vanilla, light chocolate, some moderate chalkiness, a faint roastiness, and some alcohol. Smooth, lightly sweet entry with chocolate and vanilla combating as the dominant flavor while undertones of molasses, some faint roast, and a bit of chalkiness lead into a lightly dry finish with hints of bourbon, oak, and a bit of alcohol. Low carbonation and seemed a bit thin on the palate. Overall, this was a solid beer, but it really didn’t seem to have any stand out characteristics, and the body was pretty disappointing. Still nice to try, thanks again Ty.


 holdenn (1444), Chicago, Illinois, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
May 2, 2009  
Huge thanks to drewbeerme for inviting me to share another Firestone anniversary beer. 22oz bottle pours brown black with a tan head. Aromas of raisins, oak, bourbon, rich sweetness that becomes more complex as it warms. Cherries, bourbon, chocolate, toffee, and rich caramels all rise from the surface of the beer. Flavors of raisins, sweet chocolates that develop into bourbon and charred notes. Solid beer, I really enjoyed this one.


 CaryTheDude (1113), Longmont, Colorado, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/58/104/516/20
Apr 16, 2009  
Huge thanks to Smokepot23 for this brew. Crushed with Jakebra. Nose of spices, little booze, bourbon, a little sharpie, and just plain awesomeness. Flavor follows suit perfectly. Bourbon dominates the flavor, but hops are very present, and hardly any boozy flavor. A badass mother of a beer.


tlay10 (6), , Nevada, USA
does not count click to see why this rating of Firestone Walker 12 does not count
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/104/59/104/519/20
Apr 15, 2009  
Delicious. Just plain delicious. Nice malt and bourbon flavor. Excellently balanced. The alcohol is hidden very well for a 12% beer. Wonderful beer.



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