Firestone 20 - Anniversary Ale
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

Firestone 20 - Anniversary AleFirestone 20 - Anniversary Ale
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From:
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
ABV:
13%
Score:
97
Avg:
4.41 | pDev: 5.44%
Reviews:
80
Ratings:
330
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 24, 2024
Added:
Aug 26, 2016
Wants:
  24
Gots:
  101
40% Parabola - Russian Imperial Oatmeal Stout
20% Stickee Monkee - Central Coast Quad
17.5% Velvet Merkin - Traditional Oatmeal Stout
12.5% Bravo - Imperial Brown Ale
10% Helldorado - Blonde Barleywine
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Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Beer-Ed:
Photo of Beer-Ed
Rated by Beer-Ed from Netherlands

4.38/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Nov 26, 2017
More User Ratings:
Photo of Orca
Reviewed by Orca from Washington

4.47/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
22oz bottle into a tulip. Pours a deep dark chocolate brown with a nominal amount of carbonation, not much head to speak of. A thin ring of bubbles is sustained around the edge of the glass.

Aroma is rich and complex: toffee, figs, dates, chocolate, caramel, vanilla, booze, oak. Lots going on, as expected for the FW anniversary series.

Taste is likewise full of intermingled and layered flavors, many of the same as noted above. Good blend of sweet and bitter, neither dominating. Bready malt reminds me of a Belgian quad. Some vaguely spicy notes as well.

Mouthfeel is chewy and full bodied but not heavy or sticky. Just about right.

Again, as expected, an outstanding addition to the anniversary line for Firestone Walker, one of the best breweries that I know of in terms of both barrel aging and blending.
Feb 24, 2024
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

4.25/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle from my cellar. Ebony pour, small soft ring of beige head. Sweet roasty aroma. Taste is sweet, milky, chocolate with an afterglow. Incredibly smooth.
Nov 29, 2023
 
Rated: 3.26 by TP2MSU from Michigan

Aug 05, 2023
Photo of Treyliff
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
22oz bottle poured into a snifter

A- pours deep brown in color with a one-finger foamy off-white head that reduces to a ring around the glass

S- rich malty nose with initial aromas of brown sugar, caramel, brownie batter & fruitcake. Barrel elements add oak & equal parts bourbon and brandy, which add aromas of light vanilla, red grapes, black cherries & raisins. Hints of pipe tobacco and just a trace of citrusy hops

T- rich and malty up front with notes of caramel, toffee, brown sugar & molasses. Mid-palate brings out dark fruit notes of black cherry, raisins, figs and prunes. Beyond the fruity notes, the barrels start to come out, adding wet oak, bourbon and brandy. The finish turns to chocolate & a hint of cinnamon spice and booze. Caramel, brown sugar and oak on the linger

M- medium body with moderate-low carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel that continues into a silky and velvety warming finish

O- as with all of the anniversary beers, the complexity is impressive. It opens up more as it breaths in the glass
May 30, 2023
Photo of bluejacket74
Reviewed by bluejacket74 from Ohio

4.25/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
22 ounce bottle, 2016 vintage. Served in a Teku, the beer pours a very dark brown color with about an inch tan head that stuck around a while. There's also a good amount of lacing. I like the aroma, the brew smells like bourbon, vanilla, dark fruit, brown sugar, molasses, brandy and caramel. For the most part I think the taste is similar to the aroma, but there's also the addition of some dark bread, toffee and woody flavors. And a little bit of booze too as the brew warms up. Mouthfeel/body is medium/full, it's slick and a bit syrupy with a moderate amount of carbonation. I thought this was good overall, but think it might have packed more of a punch when fresher. Certainly worth trying if you get the chance!
May 14, 2023
Photo of BillRoth
Reviewed by BillRoth from Maryland

4.65/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Another outstanding Anniversary brew from FW.To my taste… above and beyond.
Was late to the party and was fortunate to pick up a bottle at FW Venice bottle shop a few years after release. Related, BIG kudos to the Venice team. Everybody from bar/beer guy to bottle shop guy to someone on phone who ok’d selling a single Anni… perfect! People who definitely know their beer AND are reallly cool people. I thought Paso Robles and Barrelworks people were great; but Venice people were as good as I’ve met anywhere.
Ok…beer…
Classic look and smoothness, but this one just reached out a bit more aroma wise. The taste lept out with super rich Parabola lovingly highlighted by the big quad SM and imp brown Bravo.
Unsure if I should think of this as a special year Anniversary… or maybe the best Parabola yet.
Had mine at about 5+ years out.
Special brew!
Jan 08, 2022
 
Rated: 4.9 by Sound_Explorer from Washington

Jan 01, 2022
Photo of hman43
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina

4.46/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Look: It pours dark brown with a slight bit of clouding. It clears as it warms. The head is light brown. Head retention is low.

Smell: A strong rich malt blend of caramel, toffee, and nuts to start. There is a bit of sweetness in the nose with black cherry and a bit of cherry pipe tobacco. There are hints of dark fruits.

Taste: The flavors are caramel, toffee, dark cherry, nuts to start. There is a bit of sweetness with some dark fruit and alcohol. It also has a low wood note plus some vinous qualities.

Feel: It has a full almost chewy body and smooth alcohol warming.

Overall, a very complex blend of flavors and aromas. An absolute pleasure to drink.
Jan 30, 2021
 
Rated: 4.75 by NonicPanic from Pennsylvania

Jan 13, 2021
 
Rated: 4.75 by TylerJ from Iowa

Jan 01, 2021
 
Rated: 4.3 by chossboss from Oregon

Dec 06, 2020
 
Rated: 4.28 by DucksFan16 from Tennessee

Sep 02, 2020
 
Rated: 4.36 by kmoen from California

Aug 07, 2020
 
Rated: 4.4 by BAsbill from California

Aug 07, 2020
 
Rated: 4.08 by dshansen1184 from Washington

Jul 04, 2020
 
Rated: 5 by bigred89 from Maryland

Apr 18, 2020
Photo of Captain69
Reviewed by Captain69 from Illinois

4.24/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
I saved this beer for 3-4 years - should have refrigerated. No head - still a great malty strong taste . just purchased a XXIII anniversary - will see ow this stands up to the newer one
Apr 16, 2020
 
Rated: 4.46 by BKotch from Texas

Mar 29, 2020
 
Rated: 4.57 by jmbeerdude91 from Arizona

Feb 02, 2020
Firestone 20 - Anniversary Ale from Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 97 out of 100 with 330 ratings