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Hydra Cuvée
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
- From:
- Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- 91
- Avg:
- 4.08 | pDev: 9.07%
- Reviews:
- 14
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Apr 15, 2019
- Added:
- May 10, 2014
- Wants:
- 18
- Gots:
- 15
A collaboration blend made with Flying Dog Brewery for the 2014 SAVOR in Washington, DC.
Hydra Cuveé is a blend of four different beers—two barrel-aged beers, a robust imperial porter and a black rye IPA. In keeping with Greek mythology, the Hydra represents three distinct parts—the Lion, the Bear (both from Firestone Walker’s insignia) and the Flying Dog. The imperial porter was brewed on March 25, 2014 and was blended with two barrel-aged beers and a black rye IPA. Expect the porter to be rich and chewy with a lot of caramel and chocolate malts alongside oat flakes and a mellow stone fruit hop profile. Flying Dog’s Matt Brophy and Firestone Walker’s Matt Brynildson picked the barrel-aged beers from Firestone Walker’s Barrelworks program.
Hydra Cuveé is a blend of four different beers—two barrel-aged beers, a robust imperial porter and a black rye IPA. In keeping with Greek mythology, the Hydra represents three distinct parts—the Lion, the Bear (both from Firestone Walker’s insignia) and the Flying Dog. The imperial porter was brewed on March 25, 2014 and was blended with two barrel-aged beers and a black rye IPA. Expect the porter to be rich and chewy with a lot of caramel and chocolate malts alongside oat flakes and a mellow stone fruit hop profile. Flying Dog’s Matt Brophy and Firestone Walker’s Matt Brynildson picked the barrel-aged beers from Firestone Walker’s Barrelworks program.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
3.9/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.9/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottled 4/21/14; drank 3/10/16 @ California Split.
Opaque brown appearance.
Minimal khaki head; minimal lace.
Plum, fresh earth & dark cherry notes in the nose.
Medium thick mouthfeel.
Plum & caramel flavors up front; faint booze heat notes on the finish.
Enjoyable quad vibes here; above average.
Apr 15, 2019Opaque brown appearance.
Minimal khaki head; minimal lace.
Plum, fresh earth & dark cherry notes in the nose.
Medium thick mouthfeel.
Plum & caramel flavors up front; faint booze heat notes on the finish.
Enjoyable quad vibes here; above average.
Reviewed by weareallfalafel from Virginia
4.22/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.22/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Bottled 2014, enjoyed march 2017. Poured from the bomber into a snifter. Pours a deep and dark brown/mahogany, but not quite black with an inch or so of tan head that dissipated slowly and leaves lacing on the side of the glass. Smell is bourbon all day, not a lot else. Some caramelly sweet notes, but mostly just bourbon. Taste is more complex, with a stout like caramelly burnt sugar quality, a bite of hops in the middle, bit sweet vanilla and bourbon at the end. Feel is full in body, with next to no boozy flavor or burn. Overall, it's tasty af, just hard to pin down exactly what to look for since it's got so many different components blended together. Age may have done this one more harm than good, and maybe it was easier to pick out distinct qualities when fresher, but still delicious!
Mar 08, 2017Reviewed by ThisWangsChung from Maryland
3.46/5 rDev -15.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.46/5 rDev -15.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
My friend managed to gift me one of these bottles - apparently, this is a blend of FW's Bravo (BA brown ale), Double DBA (not my favorite FW offering), Wookey Jack, and an imperial porter from Flying Dog that's "inspired" by Gonzo.
Pours a dark brown color that doesn't look perfectly black, but still manages to be opaque. The head is about two fingers high and mocha in shade. The texture of the head is a little thin, and doesn't leave much lacing on the glass as a result. Retention is mediocre as well.
The first thing I get from the aroma is a faded hop bite - this must be the influence of Wookey Jack and "Gonzo". I also pick up hints of espresso. A mildly tart aspect shows up afterwards, suggesting fruity ale esters. And then, after many inhalations, Firestone Walker's distinct barrel character takes the forefront (and is the best part of the nose) Make no mistake, this is insanely complex. It's a bit chaotic also, but hey it's a blend. As deep as it is, I'm a little disappointed that I can't distinctly pick out Bravo - otherwise, this is an intriguingly imperfect aroma in all facets.
On my first sip, I begin to believe it's shockingly balanced - and then on the second sip, it reveals itself to be the swirling maelstrom the aroma suggested it to be. It opens up with some gentle toasted malt and brown sugar. It also seems to have picked up Double DBA's insipidness, as the midtaste is surprisingly empty (apart from mild ale esters). The hops of Wookey Jack and "Gonzo" finish it off well, cleansing the palate of excess sweetness. The FW barrel character is subdued compared to the aroma. It's blended well enough to damper some of the complexity, but not enough to balance the individual notes well.
The feel is deft and light. Perhaps a touch dinky in body, but I don't care. Carbonation is somewhat mild befitting a brew with barrel-aged components. It seems like this relies on a hop bitterness to dry the palate more than anything - and it works.
This is a very interesting experience, but not a great beer. The whole thing smacks of "a couple brewers having fun" rather than making a perfect drinking experience, and I respect it for that. Obviously it will never be made again, but I'm still enjoying this well enough. Drink it now if you have a bottle.
3.46/5: Lots of fun, but not an artistic masterpiece
Dec 13, 2016Pours a dark brown color that doesn't look perfectly black, but still manages to be opaque. The head is about two fingers high and mocha in shade. The texture of the head is a little thin, and doesn't leave much lacing on the glass as a result. Retention is mediocre as well.
The first thing I get from the aroma is a faded hop bite - this must be the influence of Wookey Jack and "Gonzo". I also pick up hints of espresso. A mildly tart aspect shows up afterwards, suggesting fruity ale esters. And then, after many inhalations, Firestone Walker's distinct barrel character takes the forefront (and is the best part of the nose) Make no mistake, this is insanely complex. It's a bit chaotic also, but hey it's a blend. As deep as it is, I'm a little disappointed that I can't distinctly pick out Bravo - otherwise, this is an intriguingly imperfect aroma in all facets.
On my first sip, I begin to believe it's shockingly balanced - and then on the second sip, it reveals itself to be the swirling maelstrom the aroma suggested it to be. It opens up with some gentle toasted malt and brown sugar. It also seems to have picked up Double DBA's insipidness, as the midtaste is surprisingly empty (apart from mild ale esters). The hops of Wookey Jack and "Gonzo" finish it off well, cleansing the palate of excess sweetness. The FW barrel character is subdued compared to the aroma. It's blended well enough to damper some of the complexity, but not enough to balance the individual notes well.
The feel is deft and light. Perhaps a touch dinky in body, but I don't care. Carbonation is somewhat mild befitting a brew with barrel-aged components. It seems like this relies on a hop bitterness to dry the palate more than anything - and it works.
This is a very interesting experience, but not a great beer. The whole thing smacks of "a couple brewers having fun" rather than making a perfect drinking experience, and I respect it for that. Obviously it will never be made again, but I'm still enjoying this well enough. Drink it now if you have a bottle.
3.46/5: Lots of fun, but not an artistic masterpiece
Rated by maxifunk777 from California
4.08/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
On tap at FW Venice a good perfect spring and summer time outdoor festivities.
Jun 02, 2016
Hydra Cuvée from Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
98 ratings
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