Firestone Walker Releases 2014 §ucaba on January 6

Discussion in 'Beer Releases' started by Todd, Jan 3, 2014.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Page 1 of 3
  1. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    Paso Robles, CA—Firestone Walker Brewing Company is set to release its first Proprietor’s Vintage Series beer of 2014 with the return of §ucaba, a barrel-aged English barleywine that remains confoundingly unpronounceable yet eminently drinkable.

    §ucaba was one of the first components created as part of Firestone Walker’s annual barrel-aged Anniversary Ale blend starting in 2006. It is now a mainstay in the brewery’s Proprietor’s Vintage Series, which is reserved for limited-production vintage beers aged in oak barrels for a year or more.
    Longtime fans know §ucaba by its original name, which was undone by a legal challenge. It has been several years since Firestone Walker reversed course and changed the name to §ucaba, but who’s counting?

    2014 §ucaba Lowdown
    • Release Date: January 6, 2014
    • ABV: 13.5% IBU: 42 Color: 36 (Dark Ruby)
    • Malts: Munton’s Pale, Crisp Maris Otter Pale, Munich, Dark & Light Crystal, Chocolate
    • Hops: Bravo (bittering), East Kent Golding (late kettle)
    • Aging: Barrel-aged for one year on average in retired Bourbon barrels
    • Production: 3,500 cases (22-ounce bottles)
    • Retail: $16.99 (22-ounce bottle). Available while supplies last in CA, NV, OR, WA, AZ, CO, MO, Chicago, TX, MA, NJ, NY, VA, PA, DC, and MD.
    Tasting Notes
    Big, boozy bourbon and American oak aromas combine with soft chocolate malty undertones. Complex malt flavors are framed in oak with hints of dark chocolate, vanilla, tobacco, coconut and just a touch of dark cherry. A sipping beer that is best served in a brandy snifter, §ucaba pairs well with dark chocolate and sturdy cheeses.

    Cellaring
    §ucaba is built to last and will reward careful cellaring (ideal aging temperature: 45F) for years to come. We recommend counting the years with an abacus.

    http://www.firestonebeer.com

    ###
     
    #1 Todd, Jan 3, 2014
    Johnnyhitch, 2beerdogs and Bartos like this.
  2. Netdogca

    Netdogca Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2013 Illinois

    Thanks for the notes
     
    #2 Netdogca, Jan 3, 2014
  3. Tayloraphilips

    Tayloraphilips Initiate (0) Aug 9, 2013 Texas

    I saw some released at Lonestar Beverages in Dallas a week or two ago.
     
    #3 Tayloraphilips, Jan 4, 2014
  4. beerborn

    beerborn Initiate (0) Jan 22, 2012 Louisiana

    wish I had a PayPal buddy out west lol
     
    #4 beerborn, Jan 4, 2014
  5. JayPeso

    JayPeso Zealot (703) Oct 25, 2013 California

    Available today at Barrelworks and the brewery at Paso Robles.
    [​IMG]
     
    #5 JayPeso, Jan 5, 2014
    dianimal, Quickicks, swolepeer and 1 other person like this.
  6. musicman7070

    musicman7070 Initiate (0) Aug 26, 2012 New Jersey

    How'd ya do that with that "S" in Sucaba?? Very cool.
     
    #6 musicman7070, Jan 5, 2014
  7. musicman7070

    musicman7070 Initiate (0) Aug 26, 2012 New Jersey

    Am I the only one here who thinks this wasn't that great? I tried this a few days ago (the '13 version) and was a bit let down. I'll take Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Barleywine and Mother of All Storms over this any day of the week.
     
    #7 musicman7070, Jan 5, 2014
    fritts211 and funhog like this.
  8. TastefulNudity

    TastefulNudity Zealot (507) May 7, 2013 California

    Will be buying 1 (probably 2) of these as soon as I can find them.
     
    #8 TastefulNudity, Jan 5, 2014
  9. PsilohsaiBiN

    PsilohsaiBiN Maven (1,473) Aug 10, 2010 New York

    BCBBW 4eva!
     
    #9 PsilohsaiBiN, Jan 5, 2014
    SeanBond likes this.
  10. kaseydad

    kaseydad Pooh-Bah (1,924) Nov 23, 2008 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I liked Abacus better. Oh wait.

    I'll buy a few since FW rules. Sure it's not the best barleywine out there....but it's damn good and gets the "job" done.
     
    #10 kaseydad, Jan 5, 2014
    dianimal and charlzm like this.
  11. zefarrett

    zefarrett Initiate (0) Oct 19, 2013 Maryland

    jeez, i don't think velvet merkin or 17 has even hit maryland yet.
     
    #11 zefarrett, Jan 5, 2014
    Cubatobaco likes this.
  12. TruePerception

    TruePerception Initiate (0) Aug 30, 2013 California

    Probably, the easy way: Copypasta'd the website!
     
    #12 TruePerception, Jan 6, 2014
    musicman7070 and JohnnyMc like this.
  13. MontereyBay831

    MontereyBay831 Zealot (622) Dec 15, 2012 California
    Trader

    §ucaba.

    (If you have an iPhone, click and hold the & sign until § shows up.)
     
    #13 MontereyBay831, Jan 6, 2014
    Rizalini and dianimal like this.
  14. RangnaR

    RangnaR Initiate (0) Dec 17, 2012 California

    ALT 21 for those on their PCs... Even more fun if you're drinking one while doing it.
     
    #14 RangnaR, Jan 6, 2014
  15. Streaky

    Streaky Zealot (701) Mar 26, 2013 New Jersey

    Had the good fortune to be at a bar the other night that had this and Bourbon County Barleywine on tap, so I got to do a side-by-side. VERY close but everyone at the table preferred the FW -- possibly because it had a year on it to take the edge off. Both are world-beatingly delicious.

    One girl at the table who didn't drink beer at all had one sip of mine and immediately ordered her first craft beer ever -- a Sucaba, because she said it basically tasted like a Starbucks Caramel Macchiato.

    And y'know? She's not that far off!
     
    #15 Streaky, Jan 6, 2014
    funhog, m34josh and Cubatobaco like this.
  16. Cubatobaco

    Cubatobaco Pooh-Bah (2,057) Jan 27, 2013 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Today's the big day! May be able to grab a bottle or two.

    Still haven't even seen 17 around here. Such is life...:slight_smile:

    I don't drink a lot of Starbucks, but I mainly only order Caramel Macchiatos. Great comparison!
     
    #16 Cubatobaco, Jan 6, 2014
    Streaky likes this.
  17. SomethingClever

    SomethingClever Grand Pooh-Bah (4,871) Feb 22, 2013 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah

    I just got my hands on a 2013 bottle a month ago now they are releasing the 2014 does it ever end!?!

    ISO.....
     
    #17 SomethingClever, Jan 6, 2014
    Modernrickk and Cubatobaco like this.
  18. Cubatobaco

    Cubatobaco Pooh-Bah (2,057) Jan 27, 2013 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Not a chance...Lol! :grinning:
     
    #18 Cubatobaco, Jan 6, 2014
    AirborneBeer and SomethingClever like this.
  19. theandychrist

    theandychrist Initiate (0) Apr 21, 2013 Maryland

    I just called the Total Wines and the guy was like "I don't know what that is, but maybe next week."
     
    #19 theandychrist, Jan 6, 2014
    therealcassino, fehrminator, Johnnyhitch and 2 others like this.
  20. gshak

    gshak Savant (1,220) Feb 20, 2011 Texas

    And the price goes from $14.99 to $16.99. Not sure if I will pick one up or not, this season, but it sure is a great beer; cheers to everyone who can land one.
     
    #20 gshak, Jan 6, 2014
Page 1 of 3
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.