Firestone Walker Double Barrel Ale

22 oz bottle. Their "commercial" boasts an aroma that’s a "fragrant, spicy bouquet". I didn’t get that at all. It was is nothing special. Has a nice, medium amber color, with a medium head that settles down and dissipates quickly. Flavor was caramel, some light hops, floral. Smooth, easy to drink. Years ago, I used to treat myself to one of these from time to time, but on this go around it left me less impressed than in the past. I enjoy this beer, but it’s lost a little of its luster for me.

Tasted 10/29/09. 22oz bomber. Filtered with a dark golden hue. Webbed and ring of off-white head. Very faint aromas. Medium bodied with too much smoke and wood. Kinda watery. Top heavy and muddled. Dry but mildly. Mildly tingling effervescence with a sticky red fruit note that pops up and throws off the palate. Meh...

Bottle poured amber with a white head. Aroma of caramel malt light hops. Flavor was malty, toasty, with a nice hop finish.

Had on cask. smooth and creamy. almost viscous. light hop aroma and taste

Light amber, medium white head. Nice balance, malty at the outset with a crisp, floral hop finish. Good stuff.

22oz bottle. Pours a slightly hazy, orange-amber color; thin off-white head with light retention and lacing. Solid aroma of orange, candied fruits, and reserved sweetness; a mild, soft bitterness. Medium mouthfeel: the most noticeable character is a toasty, soft marshmallow sweetness over everything else: lightly toasty, creme brulee / vanilla sort of malt chewiness; non-astringent hop character; lightly viscous and impressively generous for 5%; some citrus and mineral acidity, crispness on the tip of the tongue; tasty stuff. Lasting finish, lightly sweet: toasty malts, toasted marshmallow, dried fruit.

The long anticipated Firestone Walker Double Barrel ale sits before me. I love the shape of the bottle... the Label, all very classy, I’m excited to see how it tastes. Pours with a big but kind of loose head leaving some spotty lace. The color is a nice copper. The aroma is English hops, slightly woody and slightly herbal. The flavor is a wonderful interweaving of European hops both grassy and herbal as well as lightly earthy and woody with a malt character that reminds one of an American pale ale, lightly caramely and dry some light baguette like notes sneak in with light fruity qualities. I think this must be about as complex and tasty as I’ve had from this style. If this were readily available to me I’d drink it with some frequency.

On tap at Tempe Oktoberfest. Pours a nice amber with a small white head. Aroma is malt, touch of hops, and some floral notes. Flavor is malt, caramel, touch of hops and floral notes, nuts, roastiness. Very creamy mouthfeel. Decent brew.