Firestone Walker tasting advice

I can partially help you.

There was a food/FW beer pairing dinner the other night in MD with a FW representative hosting the event. The last 3 beers went in order Stickee Monkey (Quad), Sucaba and Parabola as the last one. Velvet Merkin and Helldorado were sold separately if you wanted them and not part of the pairing. I thing Pivo and Union Jack may have started it off.

Would have went but $110 a person was a little steep for my liking, plus I just split a Stickee Monkee with some of my pals (wow what a great Quad that one was).

 

Always Mildest to Strongest in flavor.

Stickee Monkee -> Velvet Merkin -> 14 DDBA -> Helldorado -> Parabola -> 14-18 -> Sucaba.

 

I like your mindset here, but as always, subjective.

As personal preference goes, I rather close with a Stout than a Barleywine. I'd switch Sucaba & Parabola. Velvet Merkin is lighter in feel (and ABV if I'm not mistaken) so I'd switch Velvet Merkin & Stickee Monkee. Cheers!

 

Merkin first since it's lower alcohol and ligter bodied than the rest.

Then I recommend Helldorado since it's the lightest of the big beers.

Then do Sucaba, DDBA, and SM. They are all similar barleywines and that progression follows increasing residual sugar.

Then I would do Parabola as it's the biggest single beer.

End with 14-18 in chronological order. You want to taste the components before the blends and then the oldest blend first as it will have the mellowest flavor.

I honestly think that's way too many beers to do in one sitting to fully appreciate each one but that's how I think you should go for the best impression of all of them. Have fun and report back!

 

Just curious where is the tasting? If it's not private and there are spots open I'm interested..

 

"Yup, tastes like some good beer!" - Me drinking beer

 

Spot on. If you are having the tasting with food pairings, I would switch the SM and Parabola. SM is awesome with dessert or just the last tasting because of it's sweetness.

 

If it were me, I would try the lighter stuff first and finish with the big boys. Once I had that foundation of flavors of set up in my mind, I would take a break, then sample 14-18 in order for desert.

 

If this is a private group of friends, I would consider reducing the number of beers in the tasting. So many big beers and your taste buds will likely be shot towards the end. Whether you finish with a big stout or big barleywine is personal preference, but if it is your 7th beer you won't taste all the flavors anyway and the point is moot.
On the other hand, throw 'em back and enjoy yourself. Who cares what I think?

 

I was going to say something similar. If you haven't had the anniversary beers and wait until the end to drink them you may not get the same appreciation for them.

If you get someone to pour I would do them as blind pours (for 14 - 18) and have everyone rate them.

 

I totally agree with bulletrain76. excellent idea.

SteveD082791 , you have alot of beer to drink in one night!

I've drank alot of Sucaba this year, and it's so fantastic. I had it side by side with Helldorado , and it made Helldorado a poor man's version of Sucaba. So whatever you do...I'd suggest drink Helldorado before Sucaba .

My palate wouldn't be able to enjoy that many types of beer in one night.
Good luck!

 

First of all, wow that's a lot of beers! I assume that, with the exception of DDBA, everything is the 2015 vintage? I would suggest:
Velvet Merkin
Helldorado
DDBA
Stickee Monkee
Sucaba
Anniversaries 14-18
Parabola

And perhaps a little Pivo to help keep the palate somewhat manageable with a lineup like that?! Let us know how they all tastes and what the favorites are!

-Jemma W.
[email protected]

 

I live in Jamestown............. lol.
Was actually in Buffalo last night to hit up Premier. Enjoy that tasting. It's one hell of a line-up. I'm no expert on tasting order, but I'd go with @jemwilson choice.

 

You'll be so smashed it wont matter too much.

 

A group I drink with does a big FW tasting every year. We try to actually pair a component with an anniversary for each year (typically the largest component representation in the anniversary beer but that can be hard sometimes). That would be my suggestion if possible.