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 #24,049
Avg:
3.67 | pDev: 11.44%
Reviews:
809
Ratings:
2,874
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sunday at 04:20 AM
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 foles:
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Reviewed by foles from Australia

3.91/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Probably underrated given the expectation for this beer to be a hop driven american ale. However this is an authentic english style offering from Firestone Walker. Nice malt, tea like hops on the nose and palate - seems like EKG. A rounded english profile, firmly bitter, maybe some esters in there. Maybe a bit too dry? Either way this wouldn't be out of place on cask in England.
May 19, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.78 by bschmidt_37 from Illinois

Sunday at 04:20 AM
 
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