Firestone Walker Double Barrel Ale

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

22 oz bomber with a a gold foil top. I’ve had this in my cellar and my fridge for a really long time, and I needed a brew tonight but not something super potent so this is what i chose. Pours dark bubbly orange brown with a stable white head. The aroma is lightly citrussy with a little bit of hops. The taste is hoppier with a crisp matly finish that lingers slightly in the mouth. This is a good drinkable brew.

Pours with a brilliantly clear, deep reddish amber colored body and is topped by a frothy, initially two-finger thick, tan colored head. The aroma is quite light, in fact at first it seems indistinct except for a soft berry-like fruitiness and a touch of grassy hop notes. Upon closer inspection the aroma opens up with a touch more fruitiness; notes of berries as well as sweet plums, golden raisins, and even a light aromatic apple note. In addition a soft citrus-like hop character, becomes more prominent after I first recognizable it. A very nicely balanced aroma, that is perhaps a touch too light even for a nice session brew.

Up front the taste is sharp with hop notes and dry malt character. It moves to a soft fruitiness that lingers on in the finish. The fruitiness is lead by that berry note, perhaps even a touch of strawberry. This beer has a fairly light body, though it does have some heft to it, especially towards the finish where a touch of malt sweetness and the fruit notes are found. The note that lingers the longest after swallowing a sip is that of biscuits or soda crackers. In fact this note helps to dry things out and prepare you for another sip. This beer is nicely hoppy with notes that are at times herbal, a touch citrus-like (leaning towards sweet citrus fruit notes), definitely with a nice bitterness, and maybe, just maybe with a touch of grass-like character. A touch of tannic astringency might be what is left of the barrel character, but this is soft and barely perceptible. I can’t help thinking that this is at the right level though.

This beer is very soft overall, it is really quite tasty and well balanced, but I do wish there was more to it. I have a feeling that this would be a killer beer if served in an unfiltered straight from the hand pump form. I will have to seek out such a beast at some point as I am intrigued at what heights this beer might be able to achieve.

Purchased: <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Liquors, Tucson, AZ

Another one of the beers from FWB and a good one at that. Very simple but yet good beer. Has a smoothness to it and yet more flavor than the Lager. The look and smeel were only average but the taste made up for it. Slightly less then the IPA IMO but I would down a sixer of these rather easily.

Amber, clear, medium white head, light malty nose, notes of caramel, flavor is lightly sweet, notes of caramel, light hop finish. Decent.

From 12 oz. A clear copper ale with a lacy light head that disipates almost as fast as it forms. Floral aroma and well balanced hops and malt. Doesn’t wow you wiht personality, but also doesn’t offend.

Bready and mild hop aroma; lightly floral and spicy; uninteresting malt base; creamy body; nothing special.

22oz bottle; very pleasing to hold and look at. Pours rich golden dark, but with little head. Aroma of fruit and alcohol. Flavor not unlike a cheap general ale, but more concentrated and less carbonated. Goes down with a little bite; just a hint of alcohol, but with a smooth finish. Flavor can be described as rich, but not very complex. Gets more and more enjoyable as you drink it. I love this beer.

12 oz Bottle. Sweet with a slight roasted aroma. Amber body with decent head. Flavor was medium sweet fruit at first and beer got richer as you get to the finish. Little complex and my sniffer is little off these days.