§ucaba (Abacus) - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

SkeeterBoganski

Colorado

4.7/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

2013 Vintage, although I'm sure I'll update with 2012 when it's consumed. Poured in to CS snifter.

A - Sucaba pours a Ron-Burgundy-laced black with a decent khaki-colored head; the lacing is solid, the rim consistent against the glass, and the carbonation minimal

S - I've got some sugary-bourbon notes up-front, with some vanilla, raisin, subtle coffee notes, caramel, and oak all present in the nose

T - The taste of this one advances the nose in the avenues of coconut, cherries, sugared dates, toffee, and booze; the vanilla, raisins, chocolate, and oak are all carried over from the smell

M - Mouthwise, this is one of the smoothest drinking barleywines I've ever encountered; the beer is pretty medium-to-heavy but not at all cloying giving the complexity of flavors; this one is truly an easy drinking BIG BW with complexity and ease of consumption highlighted

O - One of the best BWs I've ever had; the complexity of the flavors, ease of consumption, and generally booze-soaked sweet notes are all pulled off without being even a tad overbearing; I'd say this is the best FW beer I've had, but I still have a Parabola and Sucaba 12, along with 15 sitting in the cellar. GREAT work here FW.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 01:51:34 | More by SkeeterBoganski

SchuStar

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -6.4%

05-26-2013 01:41:35 | More by SchuStar

deltatauhobbit

Maine

4.54/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 Vintage

Pours a dark amber approaching brownish, decent light tan head but fizzes away surprisingly quick, no cap on top and not much lacing either.

Smell has a nice caramel malt backbone, lots of dark fruit hitting the nose, definitely a touch of vanilla to sweeten it up before the boozy barrel aged aroma creeps in.

Taste has a very malt mixed with dark fruity raisin-y flavor going on, sweetness in the aftertaste but nothing too cloying, body is nice and full, carbonation is soft but active which lends a hand with the full body, the boozy alcohol burn is present but surprisingly is really only hits the back of the throat and not so much in the mouth which is nice, a very nice sipper indeed.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2013 00:18:13 | More by deltatauhobbit

Gargamel92886

California

5/5  rDev +10.1%

05-25-2013 19:08:11 | More by Gargamel92886

Hallertau

Wisconsin

5/5  rDev +10.1%

05-25-2013 17:49:26 | More by Hallertau

ajzy

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +4.6%

05-25-2013 17:06:29 | More by ajzy

SDStoneEnthusiast

California

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%

05-25-2013 05:54:20 | More by SDStoneEnthusiast

sholland119

Pennsylvania

4.74/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

2011 vintage opened on 5/24/13.

A-Pours a lovely ruby brown, low to moderate carbonation leaves a thin tan ring and a small pool of tan head in the middle of the glass.

S-Some nice boozy head overwhelms the nose with some dark figgy fruit underneath. A hint of marshmallow.

T-A perfect barleywine. Sweet and rich, moderate booziness and a nice hop underbite. Sweet raisins, marshmallow, alcohol. Terrific.

M-Medium bodied, rich but not wearying on the palate. Right on.

O-Outstanding, even better with a bit of age.

HV

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 00:02:15 | More by sholland119

Joenajera

California

4.75/5  rDev +4.6%

05-24-2013 18:16:36 | More by Joenajera

Andrew61923

Connecticut

4.7/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

2012 vintage poured into my Sierra Nevada tulip. Toasting the graduates of 2013 with this one.

A: Pours a deep ruby red with a finger's worth of cream colored head that fades to a nice halo along the edges of the glass. Nothing groundbreaking, but a good start.

S: A lot going on with the nose. The barrel makes its presence known for sure with big hints (oxymoron?) of vanilla, toasted coconut, and caramel. A lot of sweetness, which makes sense given the style of the brew and the daunting ABV.

T: Wow. This is an amazing, and a big, beer. The bourbon that I picked up is a bit more subdued on the palate, but is still definitely there. Much of the same sweetness with a lot of vanilla and some more raisin coming through. I'm excited to see how this develops as it warms up.

M: There's no way this is 12.5%! Incredibly smooth and velvety on the tongue, the flavors last incredibly long and make me yearn for another sip. I think I'll have to indulge...

O: There's a reason this has such a strong reputation. It has the impressive ability to meld together a smooth drinkability with an amazingly complex taste, and is truly a unique drinking experience. I have a 2011 bottle sitting around too...I'll have to see how that's drinking soon.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 03:17:02 | More by Andrew61923

IHyphySF

California

4.75/5  rDev +4.6%

05-24-2013 00:32:27 | More by IHyphySF

Michael_20P

California

4.75/5  rDev +4.6%

05-23-2013 23:07:16 | More by Michael_20P

zoober911

New York

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%

05-23-2013 03:05:47 | More by zoober911

Abrengle

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +4.6%

05-23-2013 01:29:04 | More by Abrengle

firecrack0r

California

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%

05-22-2013 23:05:06 | More by firecrack0r

ThirdEyePA

Texas

4/5  rDev -11.9%

05-22-2013 20:00:19 | More by ThirdEyePA

grover37

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%

05-22-2013 04:20:48 | More by grover37

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +4.6%

05-22-2013 01:10:59 | More by mikeincharleston

PalatePilot

Colorado

4.75/5  rDev +4.6%

05-21-2013 22:44:58 | More by PalatePilot

Justinsosmart

California

4.68/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On-tap as part of a Firestone tap takeover. Pour is a dark chestnut brown. Very barrel-forward in the nose and in the beginning. Lots of vanilla is present. Mouthfeel is amazing, i can drink this all day. Warming towards the end, I would love to see this after a year.

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2013 22:03:37 | More by Justinsosmart

ackeeper

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%

05-21-2013 21:02:02 | More by ackeeper

VirginiaJeff1

Virginia

5/5  rDev +10.1%

05-21-2013 19:16:31 | More by VirginiaJeff1

Busker

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +10.1%

05-21-2013 14:09:39 | More by Busker

PlinyBeMiney

California

4.25/5  rDev -6.4%

05-21-2013 07:05:21 | More by PlinyBeMiney

CosmoHopHead

Kansas

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%

05-21-2013 04:05:52 | More by CosmoHopHead