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Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

Appearance: Pours a burnt amber color capped by a two finger ecru head that fades to a collar, leaving spots of lacing

Smell: Strong oak and Bourbon aromatics, complementing the caramel and chocolate-covered cherry elements

Taste: Caramel and chocolate-covered cherry forward with vanilla tones building; the Bourbon emerges, in the mid-palate but the vanilla is more prominent in the finish

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with low to moderate carbonation; some warmth

Overall: Too much vanilla in the flavor profile, to my palate; just doesn't hit the high notes overall

Poured at 53.1°. Deep amber/copper color; ruby see-through; light tan cap; poor cap retention; thin ring at best; no legs. Whiskey/caramel nose, boozy retronasal. Taste follows nose; sweet bourbon, and slightly phenolic; chocolate, covered cherries; vanilla; sugared raisin as liquid worms. Medium mouth warmth from 13% ABV; moderate minus carbonation; medium minus body; silky minus feel. Overall, outstanding; base and barrel balance nicely.

 

 

 

Pours dark brown with reddish hue. Decent nose but simply malts & dark fruits. Taste is more complex and sweet. Nice combination of caramel, bourbon dark fruits, cherry and malts.
Mouthfeel is on the light side of medium. Enjoyable barleywine.

2024 version, Draft at the emporium

Dark like a stout.

Alcohol but not blowing out my sinuses.

Honey sweet, booze is hidden, zero bitterness. From the color, I expected roasted malt, chocolate, coffee. Just boring.

Carbonation's right but no weight to it.

Bottle pour - ruddy dark brown, short foamy khaki head leaving a ring of tiny bubbles. Nose is slightly boozy with barrel wood and dark stone fruit. Taste follows with a caramel sweetness that lingers on an oaky finish.

Look - Dark dark brown with no real head slight rimming and lacing
Smell and taste - barrel, caramel, prune, cherry and slight smoke
Feel - Medium body with a light carb
OVerall - Best when it warmed up and the taste really shined.

 

Super dark with a tanish head that was there one minute and the next gone! Nose was slightly barley/malty, but the ABV nose overwhelms the barleywine. Taste was slightly candy, maybe dried fruit. Very boozie in taste and warmth down throat.