Double Barrel Ale (DBA)
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

Double Barrel Ale (DBA)Double Barrel Ale (DBA)
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From:
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
English Pale Ale
Ranked #49
ABV:
5%
Score:
83
Ranked #24,007
Avg:
3.67 | pDev: 11.44%
Reviews:
809
Ratings:
2,874
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 17, 2024
Added:
Aug 24, 2002
Wants:
  111
Gots:
  508
DBA—a.k.a. Double Barrel Ale—is the trailblazing flagship beer that started it all for us back in 1996. Partially fermented in our patented Firestone Union oak-­‐barrel brewing system, DBA quickly took the Central Coast by storm and set the pace for future beers to come. Today, DBA is regarded as a California classic, and stands as an iconic tribute to traditional cask-­‐fermented English ales. Pale malts create a smooth middle with ribbons of caramel, English toffee and toasted oak.
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Ratings by Infamous7100:
Photo of Infamous7100
Reviewed by Infamous7100 from Ohio

3.44/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: Pours a copper/burnt orange. A decent half finger head with a bit of lacing. Clear in nature.
S: After some slight agitation, I am met with equally subtle notes of pine, citrus and malt. Perhaps a bit of caramel is present as well. Nothing overwhelming and a tad non-descript. Not off-putting either.
T: Extremely well balanced and follows the nose quite well. Perhaps a tad muted, but I am not sure what this brew is trying to be. It's very straightforward, yet not aggressive. The sweet caramel malts blend well with the hops to produce a flavor that's easily quaffable.
M: Medium carbonation with a light to medium body. This is a very smooth brew with a decent aftertaste that is both piney and sweet.
O: This brew has session written all over it due it's low ABV, light body and well balanced flavors. It's remarkably unremarkable, in a great way. Wouldn't mind having a few more.
Apr 27, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.78 by bschmidt_37 from Illinois

Mar 17, 2024
 
Rated: 3.74 by 2beerdogs from California

Feb 08, 2024
 
 
Rated: 3.62 by siege06nd from Virginia

Aug 26, 2023
Photo of laketang
Reviewed by laketang from Arizona

3.74/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours out a lovely copper tone.
Nice malty notes of caramelized sugar.
A good mildly sweet beer, and there is some hop notes as well.
I also taste some toffee too.
Chewy medium feel with good carbonation.
I can see what they are going for with this ale.
Jul 21, 2023
 
Rated: 4.04 by Tsar_Riga from Minnesota

Mar 23, 2023
 
Rated: 3.85 by Beergod420 from Michigan

Jan 31, 2023
 
Rated: 3.98 by MJSFS from Florida

Nov 20, 2022
Photo of Peach63
Reviewed by Peach63 from New York

3.94/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Light amber with a 1" light tan head, which fades to a wisp.

Aroma is caramel, malty.

Taste is caramel, malty, light toffee, oaky.

Medium body, moderate carbonation. Semidry finish.

Another nice beer from Firestone Walker.
Sep 05, 2022
 
Rated: 3.71 by HarlotBronte from District of Columbia

Aug 12, 2022
 
Rated: 3.82 by Coronaeus from Canada (ON)

May 17, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by szmnnl99 from Michigan

Apr 14, 2022
Photo of DVMin98
Reviewed by DVMin98 from North Carolina

3.79/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
2013 bomber opened with friends. Carmel color. Murk as it gets to the bottom. Carmel and malts on nose. Flavor is the same. No oxidation! Some sweetness. Medium mouth feel. Aged gracefully.
Apr 05, 2022
 
Photo of evanwoertz
Rated by evanwoertz from California

4.26/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
really solid english pale. nutty and wooden. bitter but not harsh, almost buttery even.
Nov 22, 2021
 
Rated: 3.5 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Nov 21, 2021
Photo of TheBricenator
Reviewed by TheBricenator from Oregon

3.9/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look: A beautiful copper-red on the pour and sporting a silky-looking off-white head that lids up, leaving nice lacing behind
Aroma: Freshly baked bread, caramel, light earthy notes, raw bread dough, and some fruity esters as well
Taste: Caramel, bready malt, and earthiness combine forces to start it off and soon after, fruity esters start trickling in – Red Delicious apple & some quince. Dough and bread maintain their hold and the earthy hops keep it all in balance until the finish
Mouthfeel: Full, very smooth throughout, medium-high carbonation, and a soft and smooth finish
Overall: I’m digging this. I haven’t had this beer in several years and didn’t respect or understand its lure when I first had it many years ago as my palate was still very much a work in progress but now, this is definitely a winner. A great take on a British Pale Ale and checks all the right boxes for me; caramel, fruity esters, and rich malt. Yes please, I’ll take more
Nov 20, 2021
 
Rated: 3.44 by uncleotis from Illinois

Sep 14, 2021
 
Rated: 4.09 by jmbeerdude91 from Arizona

Aug 14, 2021
Double Barrel Ale (DBA) from Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 2874 ratings