§ucaba (Abacus) - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at City Beer Store. Good barleywine aromas, creamy mouthfeel, A tad of creamy off-white head on brown. Carbonation was a tad fizzy. Decent drinkability, I could have much more in a meal. A decent barleywine,British in character though not exceptional on this day.

Serving type: on-tap

05-30-2010 03:26:14 | More by northyorksammy

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.53/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

had the pleasure of splitting this one with calton last night and what a great beer, poured into my pint glass and enjoyed on 5.24.11

great look here with a nice hazelnut brown color and a smooth and even head of light tan that really seemed to show quite nicely how well it would be.

aroma was to die for with rich vanilla tones, tons of barrel and just a huge oaky and caramel presence. this was a monster for sue. it seemed each sip became more complex then the one before and soon i was totally sucked into its workd and just beaten down. nice light feel , a bit different then what i would have thought but overall i think it was quite nice.

an outstanding ba barleywine for sure!

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2011 01:53:56 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

4.47/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to LtDan (from RB) for a sample of this one.

A: The pour is a dark, rich amber color with a small off-white (perhaps beige) head.

S: The nose has an incredibly rich fruitiness to it which I really was not expecting. Plenty of sugar, caramel, bourbon, vanilla and oak in the nose as well.

T: The nose gave this one a lot to live up to, and I'm happy to say the flavors delivered! A lot of caramel and toffee sweetness, obviously, but also some really great barrel character as well. The bourbon, vanilla, oak, and even some hop bitterness really round this beer out.

M: The body is very full with a low level of carbonation that works well here.

D: Normally you don't associate barleywines with easy drinking, but this one is so smooth and delicious that it's easy to keep going back for more. I can't wait until this is bottled.

Serving type: growler

02-25-2010 17:17:00 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.72/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap as a guest draft at Dark Lord Day 2009.

A: Fairly dark--especially for the style. Some reddish highlights with a light, cream-colored head.

S: Oak, roasted malt, chocolate, and bits of vanilla. The oak definitely came through, as I had this not too longer after sampling the Oak Aged DL.

T: Fairly-roasted malt with some caramel/toffee taste as well as a certain earthiness to the underlying malt. On top of this lies some of the oak/wood flavors as well as characteristics of chocolate and hints of vanilla. A bit of bourbon in there, too.

M: Very chewy and quite heavy. Fairly low carbonation.

D: Quite drinkable, as the alcohol is hidden, but not too much.

Serving type: on-tap

05-01-2009 18:22:27 | More by Thorpe429

UCLABrewN84

California

4.85/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours a dark crimson red/dark brown with a very, very small tan head that fades to nothing. The head came out very fizzy, much like a soda. No lacing whatsoever on the drink down. The smell coming off this beer is absolutely fantastic. Caramel, toffee, butterscotch, brown sugar, cherry, coconut, earthy woods all come out of the glass. I spent about 5 minutes just smelling this beer before I even took a sip. Not surprisingly the taste is out of this world. The first taste that I get is toasted coconut. This is followed by sweet caramel/toffee, candied cherries, and very subtle hints of chocolate. There is an aftertaste of some woody notes from the barrels. This beer has a good level of carbonation which I think helps it from being too thick and cloying. This is by far the best barleywine I have ever had. The 13% ABV is really not noticeable at all. The aromas and flavors mesh together amazingly well. I have 2 more of these in my cellar and I can't wait to see how these age. I am going to seek more of these out for sure.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2011 04:11:07 | More by UCLABrewN84

brentk56

North Carolina

4.43/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: With a 13% ABV, it is a rare beer that will produce much of a head, so it is not surprise that this one fades quickly, leaving the coffee-colored liquid denuded

Smell: What it lacks in head, it makes up in aroma, with a rich combination of fruit (hints of fig, date and black cherry) and spice cake (brown sugar, toffee, cinnamon and vanilla), ensconced in the oak barrel

Taste: Spice cake favors, up front, followed by the fruit and building vanilla/brown sugar elements; earthy hops add some balance, at mid-palate, with the oak barrel adding complexity to the finish

Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with low to moderate carbonation; some warmth in the gullet

Overall: This is a really nice English Barleywine that is brimming with complexity and hides the alcohol mysteriously well

Thanks, jodan, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2012 02:00:26 | More by brentk56

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a medium clear amber color ale with a small foamy head with good retention and light lacing. Aroma of bourbon and corn is very deep with some sweet caramelized malt notes. Taste is a very rich mix between some bourbon notes with light corn ester and some deep caramelize sugar. Bourbon is intense though not too much too ruin the balanced though vanilla notes are harder to distinguish. Residual sugar is also not too overwhelming and some attenuation remains to keep some kind of balance into this big beer. Well done and something I would have again.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 19:50:42 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.6/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Extremely complex, powerful, and gentlemanly, this Barleywine carries a plethora of flavors but without the heavy body that's normally associated with the style. Warm body with amazing drinkability sets this one apart.

Deep garnet in color, the beer allows for only the most supple of light to announce it's ruby-like glow. Low carbonation, the beer forms a creamy light head that disipates early in the session- seemingly very port-like.

A potpouri of aromas erupt from the glass, with the shape of maple, toffee, chocolate, plumbs, grapes, figs, walnuts, oak, bourbon, sherry, vanilla, cherries, and currants- the independent notes seem endless.

Sweeter malty notes show in flavor first with the maple syrup, toffee, vanilla, and chocolate. Very savory and succulent before the alcohol ushers in the powerful flavors of bourbon, rum, cherries, berries, light coffee, mild toast, and oak. Late flavors of alcohol and fruit bring about the strong estery notes and balance of oak, walnut, and bitter alcohols.

Rich and sweet early, the low levels of carbonation allows the full weight of the beer to rest on the taste buds- seemingly heavy and chewy. But the beer's thinning alcohols lighten the brunt of malty character and give a warm and numbing effect on the mouthfeel. Powdery woods and mild tanins give balance late for impressive dryness and palatable weight.

A world class barleywine that makes a statement with intense alcohols and a remarkably dry finish and smooth variety of flavors. Where a mystery flavor seems to emerge with each sip, so does the intensity of alcohols that seem to distract from time to time. This the only reason to keep it from top scores.

Thanks given2flybrewing!

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2011 03:20:55 | More by BEERchitect

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a tulip glass.

Big thanks to Alpar for sharing this bottle!

I haven't busted out an abacus since seventh grade math class. Let's hope this beer tops those memories (not much of a challenge, really). It pours a dark garnet-brown topped by a finger of dirty off-white foam. The nose comprises sharp caramel, mild cocoa, graham crackers, and butterscotch. The taste reunites all of these elements, while simultaneously introducing them to a few newbies: ruby red grapefruit, orange peel, and mandarin orange flesh. The body is a solid medium, with a light moderate carbonation and an oily, sorta syrupy feel. Overall, a more-than-solid b-wine, though I'm not sure it deserves all of the praise it gets. Don't get me wrong: this is some tasty stuff, but there are many better barleywines more readily available.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2011 20:23:43 | More by TMoney2591

metter98

New York

4.45/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is very dark reddish brown in color. It poured with a thin beige ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass and a small patch of bubbles in the center.
S: There are moderately strong aromas of bourbon, oak toffee and vanilla in the nose.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste is somewhat sweet and has complex flavors of bourbon, caramel, toffee and vanilla.
M: It feels medium- to full-bodied and smooth on the palate and has some hints of stickiness. There is a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This is a great beer to sip because it continually keeps your taste buds interested due to its complex flavors. It definitely tastes quite strong but the alcohol does not detract from the taste.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2012 00:43:48 | More by metter98

drabmuh

Maryland

4.65/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bottle shared by Huhzenbendahahaaha, thanks other Matt.

Beer served in a snifter, beer is ruby red, dark, thin off white head, some lacing, low carbonation, looks good.

Aroma is great, sweet, bourbon, some fruitiness, mild oak, smells awesome.

Beer is the most drinkable beer I think I've ever had. I'm not the biggest barleywine fan out there, but this is an incredible beer. Sweet, not a dry finish, great liquor character, nice body, creamy smooth, you can hold the beer in your mouth for a long time without any alcohol bite or any heat. Wonderful, truly wonderful.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2011 21:51:36 | More by drabmuh

zeff80

Missouri

4.33/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Poured out a dark, dark burgundy color with a small, off-white head of foam. Nice retention with a soapy residue of lace.

S - It smelled of sweet caramel malt with some floral notes and sweet citrus fruits.

T - It tasted spicy with a sweet caramel maltiness. It had a nice toasty flavor, too.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium to full bodied ale with a dry, snappy finish.

O - This is a really good barleywine. Delicious on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

03-17-2011 01:25:30 | More by zeff80

MasterSki

Illinois

4.65/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Toronado a couple times - got a preview before the big party thanks to an extremely generous and amazing bartender. Served in a small tulip glass.

A - One and a half fingers of tan foam with surprisingly good retention that dissipates to a ring - pretty impressive considering the alcohol. Attractive hazed dark red/brown color, although I think it gets darker as one nears the bottom of the keg.

S - Burnt sugars, dark fruits, vanilla, chocolate, bourbon, wood, cocoa, molasses, a touch of booze. It's amazing - the only knock is the slight harshness of the alcohol as it warms up.

T - Thankfully the alcohol heat doesn't show up at all in the taste, which otherwise is just as good, if not better, than the aroma. The complexity and depth of flavor is immaculately preserved. When I think of barrel-aged barleywines, this flavor is my reference sample.

M - Low carbonation, medium-thick body, some light alcohol heat as it goes down. Pretty much spot on for the style.

D - It's a slow sipper, and at 12% it can quickly wear down my sobriety, just as fast as the intense flavor wears down my palate. Just a touch less drinkable than the awesome 10, as this batch seemed a little younger and hotter.

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2009 04:12:23 | More by MasterSki

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.13/5  rDev -9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap 4/3/2011 at Track 84 in Warwick, RI served in a tulip glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark reddish brown color, large off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains candy sugar, dark fruit, caramelized malts and a touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out very sweet with strong flavors of brown sugar, caramel & dark fruit. The malt character is very hearty and there's some chocolate in the background. There's also a mild alcohol sting which is to be expected with a 13.00% ABV. The hops presence is mild but complementary and brings some balance. The after-taste is likewise sweet.

M: Smooth and crisp, medium-to-heavy body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down dangerously easy, slightly filling, very strong kick, good representation of style, for a high-gravity sipper this is a good beer to drink for as long as you're able to handle it.

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2011 20:19:44 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.78/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Another big thanks to jzeilinger for cracking a bottle of this brew for us to try. This was one I've wanted to try for a while and I'm honored to say that I finally had it. The beer poured out as a deep amber color with some brown hues to it. The head was white and actually stuck around for a little while. There was a light lacing on the glass too. The smell of the beer is sweet and earthy, lots of caramel and toffee notes along with some hops too that I am a bit surprised to pick up. The barrel aging also comes in on the nose too. The taste of this beer is awesome. I can't even explain the kind of flavors I experienced here. There is some serious complexity here. The mouthfeel is very good too, it's super smooth with a nice subtle carbonation to it,. Overall this was great, There is no doubt that I will buy this for myself one day to have it again. I miss this beer already and it's only been a few hours since i had it. Very very good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 16:49:31 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.15/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this one kenm1228, cheers Ken

Pours a chill-hazed chestnut with a pinky of khaki colored head. Nice viscosity with minimal lacing & no head retention

S: Vanilla, bourbon, dark fruit (cherries), a bit of booze

T: Follows the nose, rich cakeyness to go with some butter rum notes as well up front. Jammy notes mix with raisins & figs as this warms, along with dryness, some woody & herbal hop presence as well. Finishes dry, fruitty, with some rich oaky notes

MF: Chewy, low carbonation, nice balance, warming booze there as well.

Started strong, but faded a bit as it warmed; still a keeper

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2011 13:38:34 | More by russpowell

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.63/5  rDev -20%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Sampled at 1702, Tucson; April 2010
This beer arrives from the tap with a dark, concentrated amber / brown color that shows a clear'ish hue in the light. It is topped by a thin, creamy textured, dark tan to amber-tinged colored head. Bourbon aromatics jump out at me from the get-go; notes of vanillin, coconut, a hint of woody spiciness, lots of oak-wood like fresh cut plank aromas and even a touch of alcohol heat are noticeable. The aroma is quite nice, but leaves me wondering were the aromatics from the base beer are.

The beer is sweet tasting as it first hits my mouth, with a viscous, chewy character that finishes with a hot alcohol and Bourbon spiciness that lingers on the palate; it actually does remind me of sipping on Bourbon. There are lots of flavors reminiscent of vanilla and toasted coconut; wow, the Bourbon barrel really just completely dominates this beer. Luckily the malt is big and sweet enough to carry all the barrel character, but you better really like Bourbon if you are going to enjoy this beer. The base beer really plays a subservient role here. The Barley Wine does contribute a lush texture, with caramelized malt sweetness and some toasted malt character. The beer finishes with a really spicy, almost hot at times, peppery barrel character that lingers on the palate for quite some time.

The vanillin and coconut notes are nice in this beer and it is well accentuated by the malt sweetness, but this is too hot and too Bourbon dominated in the end. If you really like Bourbon then I can see this being quite the enjoyable tipple, but it is perhaps a bit too much for me.

Serving type: on-tap

06-28-2010 03:13:35 | More by Gueuzedude

emerge077

Illinois

4.63/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2011 edition.

Poured into a tulip glass, served at 52º cellar temperature.
Frothy spotty lace around the edges, sturdy collar of foam and a wispy broken skim across the surface after a few minutes. Glinting highlights of saturated crimson where the light gets through.

Aromas of English toffee with crushed almonds, maple syrup and freshly toasted creme brulee. Traces of oak and sweet vanilla. Spec-fucking-tacular.

Flavors of toffee, toasted almonds, syrupy maple, caramel, almond toffee. Light woody bitterness on the back end. Chewy, fudgy, decadent... smooth and luxurious. This is some serious stuff to get lost in. Full bodied and packing a punch, the alcohol heat is well integrated but still lurking in the periphery. A frostbitten winter beast that's a real treat to sit with and sip over an hour or two.

Far from "fallen off" this is as good as it was 8 months ago when I had it last.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 04:29:29 | More by emerge077

Halcyondays

California

4.38/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Beachwood BBQ,

A: Pours an exceptionally dark brown, with a light bubbly head, imposing and inviting at the same time.

S: Heavy bourbon and vanilla, wood, black cherry, and volatile ethanol, great to smell, more spiritous in the nose than beer-like. Reminds me of FW11, though none of Abacus was in that ale.

T: Big oak, maple sugar and roasted malt notes hit first, and the bourbon just smooths it all out. Great malt flavour.

M: Smooth, full-bodied, alcoholic for sure but it melds well with the overall flavours.

D: Another outstanding barrel aged product from Firestone, they've certainly found a niche they excel at.

Serving type: on-tap

04-24-2009 22:10:44 | More by Halcyondays

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 650 mL bottle in a goblet. From Foofaa.

A: Still and murky, the barleywine sits tranquilly, a few isolated wisps of off-white head. The underlying ale is dark, a deep brown color that is opaque, verging on black occasionally.

S: Oak, molasses, anise, raisins, brown sugar, rich caramel, lightly toasted breads. I'm getting cramps typing all that out. The varied aromas are a treat, sweet and spicy with a strength that can't be hidden. Bourbony vanilla is a pleasing crescendo.

T: The bourbon, the last full measure of the nose, brings its strength immediately to the fore. The vanilla and oak, sweet and plodding and strong, are majestic. The boozy heat isn't that strong as I was expecting. Spices follow, the anise (black licorice) and brown sugar mixing with a bit of heat. Caramel, and a lot of it, is a recurring theme, running throughout each sip. The relatively low levels of carbonation (another tale for another time, I suppose) is a blessing and a curse, thick malts against the sweetness of the body. An astounding barleywine, the age has made the bourbon a star. Quite nice.

M: Thick and smooth, the bourbon even lending some cinnamon heat to the mix. Thanks, Dan, for this bottle; the howling winds outside give it a seasonal appropriateness.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 23:59:27 | More by akorsak

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

2011

Real thick malts on the nose of this one. Figs are in there as well, but as an accent. Flavor is nice. Smooth and fairly sweet with a bit of a boozy thing to it. Maple seems evident on here as well. Smooth, certainly. But as it's a 2011, it could probably use some age to harness some complexity. As it stands now though, it's quite good. Few barleywines are able to get to this point so fresh. And that is worth noting. After several beers before this, and drinking them "too fast," I wanted a sipper. This is that. Something to relax with, savor, and enjoy. A notable beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 04:18:50 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.55/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured a deep brownish color with a small white head(so to speak)

S: Nose was like WHAM! bourbon, vanilla, wood, chocolate hints of cocoa and espresso

T: Complex..vanilla, bourbon, oak, oats, caramel, toffee, cocoa, roasted malt and a mass amount of sugar not to mention well hopped.

M: Nice, sweet big body beer for sure but I like a bit of chewiness in my bwines. This was good but opposite almost to easy to drink for a bwine, like buttery smooth

O: Amazingly good!

Serving type: growler

07-30-2011 18:21:24 | More by barleywinefiend

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in a snifter)
2011 batch
A- This beer pours a dense brown body with a garnet glow at the base of the glass. There is a bubbly tan head that soon fades to a thick ring and it the body is a bit to dense to see any carbonation.

S- The aroma of cream and vanilla oak notes have a soft bourbon note to follow. There is a dark toffee sweetness in the finish that grows as the beer opens. The oak character also grows a bit as the beer warms.

T- The dry bitterness in the finish has some qualities of roasted malt and a bit of hops in it. As the beer opens up there are some slightly sweet malt rich characters with oak notes and a soft bourbon that all blend together.

M- The medium mouthfeel has a thick texture that coats the back of the throat and a gentle alcohol warmth in the finish.

O- This well blended beer has some rich malt notes and bourbon notes that come through when it opens up but everything takes on a 1 dimensional character. It is a nice barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 21:26:25 | More by rhoadsrage

Wasatch

Utah

3.05/5  rDev -32.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks goes out to Mess for this brew.

22oz. Bomber

Pours a nice dark brown color, nice carbonation, nice little fizzy light tan head, with sticky lacing left behind. The nose is malty, bourbon, slight chocolate/toffee. The taste is malty, slightly sweet, lots of bourbon, chocolate/toffee. Medium Body. OK, this is not an English Barleywine, since when do barleywines have bourbon in it.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 19:18:44 | More by Wasatch

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Tap at Armsby Abbey

Fluffy 1/2 finger head fades at med pace over super dark brown color

Nose lots if aged soft malts, dark malts, crystal, caramel, molasses, toffee, some dark fruits, lots of aged malt aromas, very light earthy hops.

Taste aged malts, dark fruits, light fig and raisin, light fluffy malts, crystal and caramel, molasses, toffee, bit of minerality but not much, bit of a very dark roast, some booze but not much for 12%, light earthy hops. Chewy, soft, light choc, tasty. Finishes a bit bitter, light minerality, aged malts lingering, drier, it gets a nice earthy and slight spicy hop on the finish.

Mouth is a bit heavier bodied with decent carb.

Overall great, cross between old ale and barleywine. Very soft, delicate and tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

03-19-2011 04:21:12 | More by jlindros