§ucaba (Abacus) - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

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BA SCORE
100
world-class
-
1,978 Ratings

rAvg: 4.54
pDev: 8.15%
Reviews: 631
Hads: 1347

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Brewed by:
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

California, United States

Style | ABV
English Barleywine | 12.50% ABV

Availability: Rotating. bottle (506), on-tap (116), growler (9).

Notes:
2011 Reserve Series Bottle Notes:
O.G. 27 Plato
F.G. 4.7 Plato
I.B.U. 42 units
Yeast: British Ale (House)
Cases: 1500 produced
Color: 36SRM (Dark Ruby)

View: Beers (50) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by cfrances33:

cfrances33

Illinois

4.45/5 rDev -2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2012 vintage bottle poured into a tulip glass on 7/4/12.

Pour: Deep mahogany with a finger and a half of tan head that recedes to a rim.

Smell: Vanilla bourbon to the max. Maybe dark fruit, but barely if at all.

Taste: Bourbon and vanilla with a milk chocolate mixed in. Some oaky woodiness is also present. As it warms, cinnamon and baking spices begin to flare out on the nose and the taste.

Mouthfeel: A sipper for sure. Warm but not overly so.

Overall: Wow. This is damn good. The best barleywine I've ever had and up there on the list of best beer period.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 22:10:13 | More by cfrances33

More User Reviews:

Jpirkle2715

California

4.5/5 rDev -0.9%

06-18-2013 01:52:44 | More by Jpirkle2715

JamesGWittel

New Jersey

4.5/5 rDev -0.9%

06-18-2013 00:26:07 | More by JamesGWittel

acurtis

New Jersey

4/5 rDev -11.9%

06-17-2013 22:51:23 | More by acurtis

bonbini26

New Jersey

4.25/5 rDev -6.4%

06-17-2013 10:54:49 | More by bonbini26

bird22

California

4.75/5 rDev +4.6%

06-16-2013 19:49:19 | More by bird22

blmar311

Connecticut

4.5/5 rDev -0.9%

06-16-2013 16:52:25 | More by blmar311

vande

Illinois

4.75/5 rDev +4.6%

06-16-2013 14:35:20 | More by vande

errantnight

California

4.5/5 rDev -0.9%

06-16-2013 07:14:52 | More by errantnight

douginromeo

Michigan

4.75/5 rDev +4.6%

06-16-2013 02:22:14 | More by douginromeo

12packpoet

Arizona

4.75/5 rDev +4.6%

06-16-2013 01:29:33 | More by 12packpoet

anson42

California

4.5/5 rDev -0.9%

06-16-2013 01:17:47 | More by anson42

huddyball

New Hampshire

4.5/5 rDev -0.9%

06-16-2013 00:22:15 | More by huddyball

cindyjeffsmith

Georgia

4.91/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

2013 vintage. Had the pleasure of drinking a couple of 2011's and a couple of 2013's prior to this. Enough to know it's one of the most sublime beers to pass my lips.
Appearance: quite dark, hazy bronze. Some deep ruby highlights. Impressive head on the pour that mostly subsides. A thick swath of big bubbles lingers around the ring.
Smell: that's the stuff. First sniff is simply...amazing, damn fine nose. after pondering...Vanilla, oak, bourbon, caramel, even a touch of fruitiness.
Taste: technically I guess you can't do better than a 5, but the taste is even better than the nose, by a nose.
Overall: just an outstanding, fine work of art. Thank you FW.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 21:38:18 | More by cindyjeffsmith