Firestone 16 - Anniversary Ale | Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Brewed by:
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
California, United States
firestonewalker.com
Style: American Strong Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 13.00%
Availability: Limited (brewed once)
Notes / Commercial Description:
23% Velvet Merkin
22.5% Stickee Monkee
20.3% Double Double Barrel Ale
10.8% Parabola
8.1% PNC
5.4% Helldorado
5.4% Bravo
4.5% Wookey Jack
Added by AgentMunky on 11-15-2012
This beer is retired; no longer brewed.
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers
Ratings: 1,131 | Reviews: 170
3.01/5 rDev -30.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I guess I'm the odd man out on this one... I was eagerly awaiting this release, the anniversary beers from FW being one of my favorite. Unfortunately I was not a fan of some of the flavors in here. It's difficult not to judge relative to previous incarnations, especially the 14, which I feel sets the bar. The component beers were well executed and the blend made sense, the sum of the parts being greater than the whole. I can't say this for 16. The beer itself is thinner with less mouthfeel - like the FG is just less. The tequila component is noticeable and doesn't complement the other pieces well. The blend has a drying property that chops the back end of the taste profile off; a decay that I think is hard won and an important contribution from the barleywines and stouts. All of the tastes that the other reviewers noted - chocolate, toffees, leather, etc. - were muted, mottled, and attenuated. The whole is less than the sum of the parts, IMO. I can only assume it was the PNC and not some degradation of the other beers, all of which I am familiar with. The PNC is only 8% and I'm surprised it had this much of an impact.
1,135 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I guess I'm the odd man out on this one... I was eagerly awaiting this release, the anniversary beers from FW being one of my favorite. Unfortunately I was not a fan of some of the flavors in here. It's difficult not to judge relative to previous incarnations, especially the 14, which I feel sets the bar. The component beers were well executed and the blend made sense, the sum of the parts being greater than the whole. I can't say this for 16. The beer itself is thinner with less mouthfeel - like the FG is just less. The tequila component is noticeable and doesn't complement the other pieces well. The blend has a drying property that chops the back end of the taste profile off; a decay that I think is hard won and an important contribution from the barleywines and stouts. All of the tastes that the other reviewers noted - chocolate, toffees, leather, etc. - were muted, mottled, and attenuated. The whole is less than the sum of the parts, IMO. I can only assume it was the PNC and not some degradation of the other beers, all of which I am familiar with. The PNC is only 8% and I'm surprised it had this much of an impact.
1,135 characters
4.27/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured into a Kate the Great tulip.
A: Pours near-opaque, dark ruby with half a finger of head.
S: The nose is incredible with bourbon notes dominating but vanilla, coffee, and chocolate are also present. The nose is quite heady, booze is present and noticeable.
T: Upfront bourbon sweetness presents. In the mid-palate vanilla mixes with slight toffee and biscuit. In the back it is malty sweet then hot with a touch of fruity tequila.
M: Mouthfeel is surprisingly light and well carbonated providing a nice balance to the boisterous flavors that are present.
At 13% ABv it is very warming in the back and makes no attempt to conceal its alcohol content but this is not a bad thing as I found it quite balancing. This here is all about the barrels. It is an excellently blended beer that provides a complex look at the influence of a barrel and the beers which constitute it. The influences of the barrels are presented linearly down the palate in expert fashion. A big, big beer that it is very complex and is a great example of fantastic barrel aging.
1,062 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured into a Kate the Great tulip.
A: Pours near-opaque, dark ruby with half a finger of head.
S: The nose is incredible with bourbon notes dominating but vanilla, coffee, and chocolate are also present. The nose is quite heady, booze is present and noticeable.
T: Upfront bourbon sweetness presents. In the mid-palate vanilla mixes with slight toffee and biscuit. In the back it is malty sweet then hot with a touch of fruity tequila.
M: Mouthfeel is surprisingly light and well carbonated providing a nice balance to the boisterous flavors that are present.
At 13% ABv it is very warming in the back and makes no attempt to conceal its alcohol content but this is not a bad thing as I found it quite balancing. This here is all about the barrels. It is an excellently blended beer that provides a complex look at the influence of a barrel and the beers which constitute it. The influences of the barrels are presented linearly down the palate in expert fashion. A big, big beer that it is very complex and is a great example of fantastic barrel aging.
1,062 characters
3.97/5 rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Dark coffee brown with no head to speak of. Leaves thick legs on the glass.
S - Lots of whiskey, tobacco, leather, and smoke. Smells a lot like the 15th.
T - Lots of whiskey and barrel wood. Lots of dark chocolate and cocoa nibs. Lot's more chocolate than I remember.
M - A little lighter than I expected and no carbonation. A little booze on the tongue.
O - Not as good as last years but still another amazing brew from Firestone. A little too close to the 15 though.
477 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Dark coffee brown with no head to speak of. Leaves thick legs on the glass.
S - Lots of whiskey, tobacco, leather, and smoke. Smells a lot like the 15th.
T - Lots of whiskey and barrel wood. Lots of dark chocolate and cocoa nibs. Lot's more chocolate than I remember.
M - A little lighter than I expected and no carbonation. A little booze on the tongue.
O - Not as good as last years but still another amazing brew from Firestone. A little too close to the 15 though.
477 characters
4.2/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Christmas dinner 2012
A - Poured out an opaque, jet black color with a one-finger, off-white head of foam. It left thin sheets of lace on the glass.
S - It smelled of vanilla and oak. Some dark chocolate notes, too.
T - It tasted of roasted malts, vanilla, oak, bourbon, toffee and a touch of bitter hops. Fairly boozy, too.
M - It was smooth and clean finish. A medium to full bodied brew.
O - This is fantastic. Firestone Walker's anniversary beers have all been great.
476 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Christmas dinner 2012
A - Poured out an opaque, jet black color with a one-finger, off-white head of foam. It left thin sheets of lace on the glass.
S - It smelled of vanilla and oak. Some dark chocolate notes, too.
T - It tasted of roasted malts, vanilla, oak, bourbon, toffee and a touch of bitter hops. Fairly boozy, too.
M - It was smooth and clean finish. A medium to full bodied brew.
O - This is fantastic. Firestone Walker's anniversary beers have all been great.
476 characters
Firestone 16 - Anniversary Ale from Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
4.35 out of
5 with
1,131 ratings
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