Firestone Walker, wow.

No doubt, FW is one of the very best. Just had this year's Parabola last night and was fairly blown away. Also really liked their FW15 anniversary beer this year. (Haven't tried Sucaba yet--only have one bottle and I'm savin' it.) Their ESB is one of the great Brit-style pales in the US, Pale 31 is one of the best Cali style pales, and their Reserve is one of the best porters. No wonder they won best mid-sized brewery again.

Plus, David Walker's a nice guy.

 

I guess I could've phrased that question a little better. I know they can't be compared head to head being completely different styles. The question should have been, is Parabola as good of an RIS as Abacus is as an EBW....
Hopefully they have it on tap at the tasting here on Thursday.

 

Yep. Parabola is a world class RIS just like Abacus is a world class BW

 

Their beers are amazing. I first was introduced to the brand ( not the beer itself) about a year so when I was at an anual training for the army at Fort Hunter Ligget. Being from Pennsylvania I was very unfamiliar with everything out there but when I saw the beer in the PX on the base something was telling me I've heard od it before but didn't think much of it, espescially since I was told since I was at a training I wasn't allowed to even purchase any alcohol. Well a couple months later I a visiting some relatives in philly and came across some union jack. Had I known at the time when I was in California on the training what I found out it philly....it would have been worth the article 15....I would have left all my shit there and bought enough to fill a duffel bag if I could have. It's till a nice treat whenever I go to philly, too bad philly is as far of a drove as it is a flight to San Jose from where I'm at....

 

Firestone Walker is on the short list of my favorite breweries, period. Really enjoyed anything I've tried from them and some like Double Jack and Velvet Merkin have been pretty much awesome.

 

Had a fresh growler of the barrel aged Merkin recently, and found it really jaw-dropping. Just pour that baby into a snifter, let it warm a bit, and all is good.

 

Firestone Walker has been one of my favorite breweries since I discovered them on a visit to California four years ago. I've visited the brewery the last two years during trips to the Central Coast. Great beer! And, picked up a variety case of 24 bottles (Pale 31, DBA, Union Jack, and Velvet Merlin) at a California Costco for about $24. How can you beat that? Only wish it were that available and that cheap here in Central Pennsylvania!!!

 

This thread just made me go out to my chest freezer (temp controlled) and get some Pale 31 (best pale on the planet) and a bomber of Dbl Jack!

 

Sometimes I feel like the only one who's very underwhelmed by Firestone's offerings. But if you're a hardcore fan of the brewery, check out their offerings at the Yardhouse chain. I do like Velvet Merkin and unfiltered DBA, but the others I've had (including Abacus) have been very mundane.

 

"Firestone Walker, wow" about sums it up. quickly moved up to a top 5 brewery for me since they started distributing to boston a year or so ago.

 

N.H just started getting Union Jack last week and is probably the IPA in the state now. Sorry Green Flash, but $11.99 for six not four and a easy to read bottle date. Just wonderful!

 

Firestone 15 is one of about 4 or 5 beers that awakened something in me. It was the first FW beer I'd ever tried and was in disbelief that a beer could taste like that. Sucaba, Parabola - they both have that special barrel aged character that I only taste in a FW beer. I've had plenty of BA beers, but there is nothing quite like what comes off of the FWs. Add to that the fact that Union Jack and Double Jack are masterpieces and you have yourself a brewery who I'll gladly spend a lot of my money on.

Despite being a self-admitted ticker, I'll always go back to the FW beers.

 

Do you guys know that a Merkin is a pubic wig!!

 

B/c of hype. I bought my bottles at half that price and worth every penny.

 

I really appreciate how consistent the quality is from this brewery. All the beers are spot on, and the reserve series is amazing. Add that Pale 31 is one of my go-to beers (what other pale ale, pray tell, is as good as this?) and you have a great brewery for sure.

 

I just picked up 2 bottles of parabola yesterday for 15.99 each. Basically it's because of the hype

 

NO WAY

 

Never thought I'd learn so much on a beer forum...