PNC Imperial Buckwheat Stout
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

PNC Imperial Buckwheat StoutPNC Imperial Buckwheat Stout
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From:
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
13.3%
Score:
99
Avg:
4.49 | pDev: 6.9%
Reviews:
65
Ratings:
542
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Sunday at 12:58 PM
Added:
Jun 11, 2013
Wants:
  274
Gots:
  70
This bold and deliciously complex beer is an Imperial Buckwheat Stout aged in Tequila barrels for 13 months. Only a collection of pioneering, well seasoned, extensively traveled and passionate pub owners could come up with such a notion. A massive grain bill consisting of Pale, Munich and toasted Canadian Buckwheat was blended with pearled drum-kilned barley from Chile, a generous amount of Wisconsin toasted wheat and a slug of British crystal malts. A couple lumps of Mexican Turbinado sugar were added for good measure while we loaded the kettle with Styrian Golding hops. This carefully calculated collision of flavors, concocted over copious amounts of Orval well into the night, was laid down in fresh Tequila barrels wrangled over our southern border by the beautiful and gracious Meg Gill. We simply call this beer “PNC” in honor of its collaborative creators – the gothic symphony of flavors will speak for themselves.
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Ratings by FosterJM:
Photo of FosterJM
Reviewed by FosterJM from California

4.2/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
1792nd Review on BA
Bottle to Stemmed Tulip
22oz

Batch 1
Purchased at Toronado SD for my birthday 5/16

App- A standard appearing stout from FW on this one for. A good solid dark color, a nice soft khaki brown head, a slight cling and no light penetration.

Smell- I am going with a 4 because it was just a little hard to pick anything out on this one really. I let warm for about 10 mins and tried to get the Tequila and had minimal chocolate aromas. Maybe a touch of lime to go along.

Taste- I enjoyed this one. It was quite different and brought a lot to the table. Many flavors competing on this one and then they all kind of got lost in the shuffle. The oak is really what dominates.

Mouth- A big solid medium body with a medium carbonation level. Delectable creamy and quite a bit smooth. The tequila is there when it warmed to almost room temp.

Drink- I don't quite think this was worth the price I paid for it, wish I would've had it at retail price. Don't we all have those moments though.
May 19, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of JohnnyHopps
Reviewed by JohnnyHopps from Indiana

4.58/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Appearance - The beer was slick black in color with a mocha head topping the pour.

Smell - Sweet berries, chocolate, and alcohol came through in the nose.

Taste - Chocolate began the profile, before they were accompanied by red grapes. Slight agave notes were noted leading to the wet wood of barrel aging. The finish was pleasantly warming.

Mouthfeel - The body was slick with light carbonation and an overall smooth body.

Overall - The barrel combination worked well together.
Sunday at 12:58 PM
 
Rated: 4.3 by mattmarka1 from Minnesota

Sunday at 03:04 AM
 
Rated: 4.5 by paulish from New York

Mar 07, 2024
Photo of pathman
Rated by pathman from Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
02/27/24 bottle @ home; 2021 vintage
Feb 27, 2024
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.31/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
a true beer of lore that i have been dying to try. thanks to the gentleman who hooked this up for me, ive been wanting to try it for many many years. buckwheat stout in tequila, bourbon, and brandy barrels, whoa! 2021 vintage still doing great despite just a little oxidation, i dont mind it here, adds to the deep grain mystique. pretty from the little bottle, high headed with airy burlap colored bubbles and a matte black base much less viscous than anticipated. the nose is striking to me, tequila dominant with some vinous sweetness in behind it, some definite spice, a ton of grain layers, ashy almost burnt roast, cardboard, tree bark, very autumnal, light smoke, dry cereal, heady dark chocolate, less alcohol than expected for its strength, wildly intriguing. the flavor is fantastic too, not like anything i have ever had, and for how interesting these barrel treatments make the beer, its the malt bill that has me geeking. the buckwheat is cool in this, spicy in the center almost like pale rye, but also deeply earthy and with a rustic bread vibe, all real compatible with the roasty elements. i love the tequila out in front, its lush and sort of juicy to me, adds a freshness to an otherwise extremely mature brew, brandy is most prominent in the center of this adding some sweetness, bourbon is the least influential to me, but comes out as it warms a little and all on the finish. super interesting mix of flavors here, but oddly cohesive for how weird it is. full bodied for sure but it doesnt feel heavy because its quite dry for what it is, love the spicy back end and the subtle yeast character that creeps in, almost english for a second. better carbonation than a lot of beers in its class have, and really unique and well done overall, weird, but great. feels like one of the giants checked off my most wanted list! worth the wait!
Oct 24, 2023
Photo of mrmsmith
Rated by mrmsmith from District of Columbia

5/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
2013 at Toronado in 2014
Aug 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4.59 by BeerRay from Rhode Island

Jul 21, 2023
 
Rated: 4.33 by ADG2995 from Missouri

Jun 20, 2023
Photo of CarolinaCardinals
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina

4.56/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Received a bottle in a trade 12-6-22. 2021 bottling date consumed 6-15-23. ABV is 13.3%

Beer poured black with a pretty nice tan head that dissipated quickly.

Nose is very nice with roasted malts dominating and giving notes of bourbon, vanilla, and dark fruit.

Taste is awesome! Large heavy roasted malt base gives a touch of boozy heat with notes of vanilla and dark fruit lingering in the background. Finishes perfectly balanced with the heavy roast and barrels the large malt base.

Mouthfeel is full bodied, chewy, and smooth.

Overall an amazing brew with a very nice price point!
Jun 15, 2023
 
Rated: 4.51 by Bhubbard34 from Pennsylvania

Jun 11, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by dtm426 from Michigan

May 21, 2023
 
Rated: 4.29 by crobinso from Colorado

May 14, 2023
 
Rated: 1.8 by Bugsmcl from Ohio

Jan 18, 2023
Photo of MadMadMike
Reviewed by MadMadMike from France

4.5/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2021 vintage. Love the boxed presentation, as always.
Popped the top, poured down the center of a FW snifter.
Deep dark, xlnt beige foam that laced down with each sip.
Tequila barrel right up front, then chocolate, a bit of pepper, light molasses. Quite aromatic!
Taste is chocolaty at first, then piloncillo, vanilla, good alcohol burn. On the tongue, the tequilla barrel leaves a quick impression, then brandy and bourbon bring it all together. Great long finish, not overly sweet.
Full mouthfeel, medium carb.
Overall: Another winner from Firestone Walker's incredible barrel program.
Jan 16, 2023
 
Rated: 3.25 by Jkolls from Ohio

Jan 08, 2023
Photo of Sandis
Rated by Sandis from Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2021 version tasted on tap at the Propagator May 15, 2022. Subtle tequila on the nose. Creamy and....just excellent.
Dec 21, 2022
 
Rated: 4.19 by RAlmeida77 from Massachusetts

Dec 20, 2022
 
Rated: 4.5 by Tmappin from Canada (NS)

Aug 22, 2022
 
Rated: 4.42 by SadMachine from New Jersey

Aug 19, 2022
PNC Imperial Buckwheat Stout from Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 99 out of 100 with 542 ratings