-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
§ucaba
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
- From:
- Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- English Barleywine
Ranked #7 - ABV:
- 12.5%
- Score:
- 100
Ranked #153 - Avg:
- 4.51 | pDev: 7.98%
- Reviews:
- 1,022
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 06, 2024
- Added:
- Feb 21, 2008
- Wants:
- 1,364
- Gots:
- 2,935
Also known as Abacus
2011 Reserve Series Bottle Notes:
O.G. 27 Plato
F.G. 4.7 Plato
I.B.U. 42 units
Yeast: British Ale (House)
Cases: 1500 produced
Color: 36SRM (Dark Ruby)
2014 Bottle Notes
O.G. 27 Plato
F.G. 4.7 Plato
I.B.U. 42 units
Yeast: British Ale (House)
Cases: 3500 produced
Color: 36SRM (Dark Ruby)
2019 Bottle Notes
O.G. 24.5 Plato
F.G. 5.1 Plato
I.B.U. 34 Units
Yeast British Ale (House)
Cases 6000 produced (LTD)
Color 42.0 SRM Dark Ruby
Matured for 1 year in a blend of Heaven Hill, 4 Roses, and Old Fitzgerald barrels.
2023 version: Maturation - 1 year in Blanton's and Weller Bourbon
2011 Reserve Series Bottle Notes:
O.G. 27 Plato
F.G. 4.7 Plato
I.B.U. 42 units
Yeast: British Ale (House)
Cases: 1500 produced
Color: 36SRM (Dark Ruby)
2014 Bottle Notes
O.G. 27 Plato
F.G. 4.7 Plato
I.B.U. 42 units
Yeast: British Ale (House)
Cases: 3500 produced
Color: 36SRM (Dark Ruby)
2019 Bottle Notes
O.G. 24.5 Plato
F.G. 5.1 Plato
I.B.U. 34 Units
Yeast British Ale (House)
Cases 6000 produced (LTD)
Color 42.0 SRM Dark Ruby
Matured for 1 year in a blend of Heaven Hill, 4 Roses, and Old Fitzgerald barrels.
2023 version: Maturation - 1 year in Blanton's and Weller Bourbon
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by g00ey:
Rated by g00ey from California
4.43/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
May 12, 2017
4.43/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
May 12, 2017
More User Ratings:
Rated by moysauce from Illinois
4/5 rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Damn. I absolutely roasted 2018 Sucaba on untappd saying it was interchangeable with Parabola.
Mar 06, 2024Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts
4.32/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.32/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2023 vintage
I’m surprised it’s taken me so long to try this legendary yet seemingly accessible beer. I’ve had this marked as a want for almost as long as I’ve been on BA and I’m hyped to finally try it. Let’s pop it open and find out what it’s all about
Pours a cloudy medium reddish brown with a finger of soapy light beige head that fades to a ring and leaves decent lacing
The nose is quite sweet but really well balanced despite that. I’m picking up on aromas of brown sugar, molasses, sweet bourbon, toasted oak, honey, toasted walnut, vanilla bean, red grape, burnt caramel, and baked apple
In taste it’s unfortunately a bit sweeter, but it’s still pretty good. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting brown sugar, sweet bourbon, raisin, vanilla bean, molasses, smooth oak, pear skin, cocoa powder, red grape, and light caramel. The swallow brings notes of sweet bourbon, molasses, brown sugar, roasted peanut, red grape, baked apple, vanilla bean, burnt caramel, and smooth oak
A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a slick beer with some heat. Finishes mostly dry despite the sweetness
I like this, but I do think it’s a bit overhyped for what it is. I have another bottle that I’ll probably cellar for a few years
Feb 02, 2024I’m surprised it’s taken me so long to try this legendary yet seemingly accessible beer. I’ve had this marked as a want for almost as long as I’ve been on BA and I’m hyped to finally try it. Let’s pop it open and find out what it’s all about
Pours a cloudy medium reddish brown with a finger of soapy light beige head that fades to a ring and leaves decent lacing
The nose is quite sweet but really well balanced despite that. I’m picking up on aromas of brown sugar, molasses, sweet bourbon, toasted oak, honey, toasted walnut, vanilla bean, red grape, burnt caramel, and baked apple
In taste it’s unfortunately a bit sweeter, but it’s still pretty good. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting brown sugar, sweet bourbon, raisin, vanilla bean, molasses, smooth oak, pear skin, cocoa powder, red grape, and light caramel. The swallow brings notes of sweet bourbon, molasses, brown sugar, roasted peanut, red grape, baked apple, vanilla bean, burnt caramel, and smooth oak
A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a slick beer with some heat. Finishes mostly dry despite the sweetness
I like this, but I do think it’s a bit overhyped for what it is. I have another bottle that I’ll probably cellar for a few years
Reviewed by GregBarleycorn13 from New York
4.83/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.83/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Of the barrel aged Barleywines I've had this is easily the best. Mostly because of mouthfeel. Nice and rich. Great bourbon barrel aroma and taste. And, a nicely balanced barleywine flavor. 2018 Vintage.
Jan 26, 2024Reviewed by NiceTaps from New Jersey
4.32/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.32/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2018 Vintage, sipped on March 24, 2023 in a stout snifter glass.
Dark brown with deep red highlights. A near 1f cap appears briefly before settling to a thick rim film. A few spots of lacing, surprisingly.
Oak aged bourbon and booze aroma up front. Toasted dark bread malts, chocolate, and caramel.
Flavors of bourbon soaked toast and malt, vanilla, dark chocolate, and a touch of cherry wine.
Big and boozy body, yet quite smooth. There’s a light touch of carbonation and the dark chocolate slips in the finish.
An incredibly well aged Barley Wine Ale. A nice tug of war between strong booze and mellow sips.
Mar 24, 2023Dark brown with deep red highlights. A near 1f cap appears briefly before settling to a thick rim film. A few spots of lacing, surprisingly.
Oak aged bourbon and booze aroma up front. Toasted dark bread malts, chocolate, and caramel.
Flavors of bourbon soaked toast and malt, vanilla, dark chocolate, and a touch of cherry wine.
Big and boozy body, yet quite smooth. There’s a light touch of carbonation and the dark chocolate slips in the finish.
An incredibly well aged Barley Wine Ale. A nice tug of war between strong booze and mellow sips.
Reviewed by donspublic from Texas
4.53/5 rDev +0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.53/5 rDev +0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Vintage 2018
Poured from bottle into tulip, good 2+ finger head recedes rather quickly to a small pool, so so lacing. Jet black in the glass, no light gets thru. Big barrel on the nose, caramel, toffee and dried fruits, good nose. Taste follows the nose, big bourbon on the front, big hit of malt sweetness, creamy caramel, some raisin, plum on the tail end and finishes with a good assertive bitterness. Residual bourbon, caramel left on the palate.
Mar 13, 2023Poured from bottle into tulip, good 2+ finger head recedes rather quickly to a small pool, so so lacing. Jet black in the glass, no light gets thru. Big barrel on the nose, caramel, toffee and dried fruits, good nose. Taste follows the nose, big bourbon on the front, big hit of malt sweetness, creamy caramel, some raisin, plum on the tail end and finishes with a good assertive bitterness. Residual bourbon, caramel left on the palate.
Reviewed by BJB13 from Maryland
4.27/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.27/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
12 ounce bottle poured into a snifter.
2018 vintage
Drank January ‘23
Caramel brown with a half inch of short lived tan foam. Some suspended sediment from the second pour. Malty sweet aroma, caramel, bread, dark fruit and some mild alcohol. Tastes much the same, with the addition of toffee/molasses type sweetness and a touch of metallic tang. It is sweet but a clean bitter finish keeps the sweetness well in check. Medium body, low carination, smooth and soft closing with a warm alcohol bite.
This has held up well. But the BA character is gone and I’m guessing some of the hop flavor has disappeared but oxidative flavor, really only a small metallic tang, is low. Drinks easy considering the high ABV.
Jan 08, 20232018 vintage
Drank January ‘23
Caramel brown with a half inch of short lived tan foam. Some suspended sediment from the second pour. Malty sweet aroma, caramel, bread, dark fruit and some mild alcohol. Tastes much the same, with the addition of toffee/molasses type sweetness and a touch of metallic tang. It is sweet but a clean bitter finish keeps the sweetness well in check. Medium body, low carination, smooth and soft closing with a warm alcohol bite.
This has held up well. But the BA character is gone and I’m guessing some of the hop flavor has disappeared but oxidative flavor, really only a small metallic tang, is low. Drinks easy considering the high ABV.
Reviewed by 5toutman75 from Illinois
4.38/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.38/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2018 release
consumed 8/22/22
rightfully a classic of the style. The 2018 bottle is very smooth and although I taste the alcohol, it's very easy to drink. The bourbon is definitely there and wonderfully balanced. As it should be, the mouthfeel is thinner than a BA stout. This is a wonderful world class beer and always worth having on your shelf or fridge.
Aug 23, 2022consumed 8/22/22
rightfully a classic of the style. The 2018 bottle is very smooth and although I taste the alcohol, it's very easy to drink. The bourbon is definitely there and wonderfully balanced. As it should be, the mouthfeel is thinner than a BA stout. This is a wonderful world class beer and always worth having on your shelf or fridge.
§ucaba from Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
100 out of
100 with
5521 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!