Firestone Walker Bravo Barrel Aged Brown Ale

Brewed by Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Style: American Strong Ale
Paso Robles, California USA

On tap at Firestone night at Stone Bistro. I loved this beer. Poured a Dark brown with light tan head. Hugely bourbon, with rich biscuity malt, vanilla, oak, molases, and notes of dark fruit. It’s like bourbon soaked sweet bread. The alcohol is warming, but I didn’t think it was overpowering.

It’s evident from the ratings that this years is a lot better than years past. This monstrosity pours brown with a thick halo of light tan, somewhat lacy. Nose is literally insane..thick as fuck for a brown ale of any kind, with big notes of bourbon, vanilla, brown sugar, and chocolate but super thick and creamy beyond belief. Flavors are like the nose...thick, creamy vanilla custard, chocolate mousse, soft but evident bourbon. This is by far the best brown ale that I have come across. holy shit.

My god this an amazing beer. And all I have to say is that I disagree with highlandlad in many ways. Had 2, 8 ounces glasses of this amazing brew and I can’t believe its not bottle yet. Pours black with no head. Nose is super bourbon with a lot of nice sweetness. Taste is exceptional, a true bourbon beer, Epic, EPIC, EPIC. The bourbon really works with the beer and its not boozy, its very balanced between alcohol and flavor. So damn good!

This is one of those massively-alcoholic one-dimensional monsters that we love on RateBeer. Or hate. I forgot to check which this week. I don’t much care for bourbon - sticky-sweet sickly stuff for sugarbabes who can’t handle Scotch - so I’m all in favour of anything that involves replacing the contents of a bourbon barrel with something else. This will do just fine. Firestone Walker Bravo Barrel Aged Brown Ale (snappy title) is as brown and clear as the previous contents of the barrel with a skimpy corona of suds. It smells piercingly alcoholic - turpentine wood, demorara sugar and tokay. Oily, spiritous mouthfeel. Big licks of vanilla and oak on the tongue, burnt sugars and a huge alcohol burn in the swallow. It’s a sipper that would sit well with a cold night, a fireplace, a bull session and no rush to get up next morning. Quality stuff. (Bottle courtesy of Linc at Sully’s SYdney RB Xmas 07 gathering)

Deep crimson/copper with a frothy ecru head. Aroma of buttered biscuits, coffee, caramel, Bourbon, dates. Flavor was sightly sweet with an alcohol burn.

Toffee coated figs with a nougat center. Mild spice and toasted bred on the palate with soft oak and hops. Mild white pepper mixed with oaky vanilla and spice finish.

Its hard to believe this is a brown ale. The only thing similar I have had is Hakusekikan Brown Ale, which is equally as nice IMO. Dark brown color, molassess, brown sugar, truffles, caramel, brandy and milk chocolate come off the nose. The mouth reminded me of a top notch espresso with ample caramel syrup and frangelico, dusted with cinammon. Slight oaky character that doesn’t add or distract. Cinammon chocolately finish. Amazing. Age has helped this beer. Alcohol is not noticable at all.

Name: Barrel Aged Brown Ale
Date: 12/01/2006
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewfest, Strong Ale Fest

muddy brown, scant beige head, sweet bourbonand chocolate aroma, flavor is all hot alcoholic bourbon with barely a hint of choclolate, nice sweetness,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 2.9/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4