Firestone Walker Double Barrel Ale

Brewed by Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Style: English Pale Ale
Paso Robles, California USA

Tried this beer a while back because my favorite radio personality said he keeps it on tap at his home. I’m not sure if i bought a bad batch or if I was just not ready to drink a beer like this at the time, but the first couple of beers tasted/smelled like soy sauce. After fighting through the initial displeasure I found it a bit easier to drink but this is probably not a beer I will try again (which is odd because I really enjoy their Pale Ale).

I think this is a well-done beer, but on some level it reminds me of why I generally don’t care for ambers. With a promising start - a crisp nose with subtle oak notes and a nice fruity profile that isn’t too hop-forward - the brew is enjoyable. But as it warms, the flavor dissipates for me and the body is just to thin and soupy to be anything more than average.

Bottle. Pours amber color w/ nice lacing. Hint of caramel is present along with a citrus flavor.

1pt., 6 fl. bottle. Pours a rich copper color with an ample off-white head that quickly retreated to 1/8 inch and then maintained that head level. Aroma was sweet caramel and some earthiness. Flavor was mostly corn syrup sweet malts with some hoppiness in the background. Wood notes were very subtle and were overwhelmed by the sweetness. Mouthfeel was a bit thin and watery, this beer tasted flat after five minutes in a glass pint beer stein. Finish was short with more lingering sweetness, I also picked up a faint trace of Raid ant and roach killer in the aftertaste. I may try this beer again someday just to see if I get the same results.

Caramel and grapefruit aroma, some yeast notes are detected. Hazy copper pour with a thin white head, good glass coating. Caramel and walnut taste, nuttier in the finish. Subtle but good hop finish. A good everyday beer. I can easily imagine ordering this on a regular basis at the local pub.

Draft. Pour was a very dark amber with a good amount of head. The flavor is mostly sweet malt, vanilla and spices. Good body.

Appearance: Pours a clear amber-red body with a thin, off-white head. Smell: Musty grain scent, with light floral notes and some hints of caramel. Taste: Light, thin caramel sweetness with a faint chocolate taste. Way off in the distant background is some woodiness and soft vanilla notes and something that makes me think "tin!" A very subdued floral hoppiness on the finish. Mouthfeel: Thin-bodied. Medium carbonation. Watery mouthfeel. Drinkability: One was more than enough, thanks.

A better than average, though not fantastic ale. Nice smooth brew, with a clean crisp bite, much more complex than English ales. Tastes of smooth caramel, though only lightly sweetened, with a mingling of currants and floral hops creating a moderately complex palate. A good brew with salty foods, setting off burgers well.