Firestone Walker Appreciation Thread

I am a GREAT fan of Firestone Walker beers when I can find them fresh.

With the exception of Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest I have not purchased any Firestone Walker packaged beers in the past year; I simply can’t find fresh versions of their beers.

There is an ongoing discussion about the non-freshness of Firestone Walker beers: http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/old-firestone-walker-bottles-everywhere.160792/

Cheers!

 

i cant freaking wait for sucaba! definitly going to the taproom to pick up a case of that guy!

 

Top to bottom, I believe they are the best brewery in the country. They have a wide array of top of their class beers across all different styles and they have decent availability. I don't believe any other brewer can say that.

 

The short answer - Chicago.

 

F-W makes awesome brews. Esp. Wookey Jack and Union Jack which, I think, are among the best of their respective style.

 

I'll call you crazy because I don't think Union Jacks is a top 3 IPA, but Firestone Walker is easily a top 5 brewery in my eyes. I had the luxury of drinking a 2011 Parabola on Christmas and it was one of the single best beers I have ever had.

They have one of the best barrel-aging programs in the entire world. Sucaba is a top notch barleywine and is one of the standard barleywines to which all other BWs are compared with. DDBA was one of the most underrated beers out there, despite the high scores it received. Velvet Merkin, while some can't seem to justify the price/ABV is a great beer and the base, Velvet Merlin is also great.

I'm still waiting for that newest Anniversary beer to hit New England though.

 

The ones I can find in SW MO are all first rate, but sadly it's only a handful of them, haven't even seen a pivo or Velvet Merkin, let alone the bigger beers. As stated previously, sometimes it is a challenge to find the hoppy stuff fresh; when I do, I bite...

 

Every beer I've had from FW has been top notch. Easily one of my 3 favorite breweries.

 

Totally agree, OP. FW are, by rather a large margin, my favorite brewery. Incredible diversity of releases, each one totally on point. And, you're not crazy, fresh Union Jack is a thing to behold, and every time I have one I wonder why I bother trading for the latest/greatest IPA.

Between the hoppy stuff and the barrel-aged goodness, I already thought they were at the top of the game. Then I went and tried Agrestic and was floored at how incredible a sour it was. It's almost not fair that one brewery can produce so much high quality beer in such a wide array of styles.

 

“And, you're not crazy, fresh Union Jack is a thing to behold…”

I wish that I could “behold” some fresh Union Jack. All of my local retailers have Union Jack that is greater than 3 months old.

Cheers!

 

I feel for you, Jack. Just keep a weather eye. Those date stamps are easy to find -- when you find a fresh one (or see it on tap), grab it!

 

I'm a big fan. From their normal beers (except DBA...something about it doesn't jive with me) to their crazy BA monsters, to their experimental sours. They're doing it right.

 

Firestone Walker is the definition of excellence in the world of beer.

 

Not sure what part of SEPA you are in but I went to my sister's in Phoenixville for Christmas. I snagged a 4pk of 3 week old Double Jack at Wegmans that was outstanding.

 

you wrote merkin, my brain processed merlin.

I liked Merkin but i wasnt as impressed by it as their other Barrel aged beers. A little thin

 

World class brewery in every aspect.

 

Lucky you!

I prefer Union Jack to Double Jack but it really doesn't matter too much for me, my local (King of Prussia) retailers don't have fresh of either.

I have been pretty lucky with Victory DirtWolf; my last two cases were less than 2 weeks old.

Cheers!

 

Love their stuff. Went to their brewery and pub last year..outstanding! IMO its a must visit if you get to California. Some of the most friendliest folks and the grub is outstanding like their beer. I always felt FW was underrated and didn't get props like they deserve but I think that is changing for the better for them. And they are the barrel kings IMHO.

 

I would "appreciate" some fresh beer of theirs here on the east coast .