Firestone Walkers Reserve (Robust Porter)

Brewed by Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Style: Porter
Paso Robles, California USA

Thanks to hopdog. Pours a dark brown with some red when held to the light with an average bubbly light tan head. Aroma of chocolate, toasty, hints of oak and some vanilla. Flavors of the same but a bit on the thin side...very light hints of oak.

bomber from OhioDad. nearly black on the pour with a great looking tan head. aroma was mostly chocolate with some coffee beans. flavor was bittersweet chocolate, coffee and some citrus hops on the back end. a very enjoyable drink, thanks Scott.

On tap: Dominating oak nose with some slight hints of chocolate. Dark brown with no transparency and a small beige head. Quick sweet chocolate presence up front with a touch of roasted coffee. Huge oak finish with some slight pine bitterness. Without a doubt the strongest oak flavored beer I’ve ever had and it was a little too much for me.

Thanks to Kook. Deep dark brown body with a short head. Smooth chocolate flavour that starts to lose it a little midway, taste the american oak.

Bottle, Tri County Produce, Snata Barbara. Pours a dark ruby color. Sweet roasted coffee aroma. A little bit of chocolate. Bitter maltiness up front. Quite of bit of coffee going on. Some sweet hoppines and a little hoppy bitterness.

22 oz bottle, via BA Dano213. Pours a clear dark brown colored body with some light passing through on the edges. Head is moderate, fizzy, light brown, and faded quickly. Aroma is a nice interplay between chocolate, light roast, and raw oak. Fairly subtle and delicate. Lighter notes of toasted marshmellow, coffee, and light chalk. Flavor wise, really well balanced between the beer and the barrell. Dry chocolate malt with some roast, moderately bitter. A decent Porter with a nice tweak. The oak mostly comes out on the finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, just shy of a creamy texture with soft fizzy carbonation. The above was really my intial impression. As I made my way through the bottle (by myself) the oak became overpowering and tannic, especially as the beer warmed toward room temperature. I think a 12 ounce portion of this would have scored much better.

22 ounce bomber purchased at the Nugget on Covell in Davis, CA. 2006 vintage, I believe. Nice, pleasant woodsy, oaky barrel aromas with some light toasted malty aromas along with some chocolate hints as well. This is a very nice aroma and I think the oak compliments this very well. Moderately-mostly opaque dark brown color with a fair, perseverant tannish-yellow head. Light sweet chocolate flavors start out, which turn a little more roasted later on. A slight woodsy dryness is also appreciated from the barrel-aging. A tad thin, but it is a porter after all. This is very enjoyable and the barrel-aging compliments this lightly. I don’t understand why this beer isn’t as highly rated.

Sweet aroma of toffee and light bittersweet chocolate. Deep crimson black in color with a nice off-white head. Very creamy mouthfeel, velvety and nice. Flavor abounds with vanilla, roasted toffee, bitter chocalte and bit of toasted malts. Slight bitterness at the swallow. Very nice. Thanks to Tever.