Double Double Barrel Ale - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

emerge077

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Rusty sanguine color, a finger of foam rises and settles after a few minutes, leaving behind a threadlike ring of foam and trace wisps of lace in the glass. There is a slight murkiness to it

Deep caramel and vanilla barrel notes, sweet and sticky toffee, trace bourbon.

Drinks pretty smooth, though the numbing alcohol heat is there in the swallow. More caramel and toffee, vanilla, toasted marshmallows. Pretty sweet and sticky on the lips. Medium bodied with a lower level of carbonation. It's a slow sipper due to the sweetness and booze, which lingers a bit in the aftertaste.

Glad to have copped this for cheap, it's not quite on the level as Sucaba and most places charge upwards of $20 for it.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 03:03:03 | More by emerge077

snaotheus

Washington

4.1/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a large snifter

Pours cloudy and dirty brown with very little head -- the head that is present is pale, bordering on clear. Lots of extremely slow, extremely fine carbonation. Smell is barleywine -- musty, sweet, alcohol. Woody, wet, and dark.

Taste is sweet and musty again, mild, wet woody. Good, but hard to describe. Not as cloying as I expected from the smell.

Mouthfeel is unassuming. Not too sticky, not too thin.

Overall, this is a quite tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 00:44:59 | More by snaotheus

popery

California

4.43/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep, warm shade of amber. Small, light beige head, which dissipates to nothing. Filtered. The aroma is dominated by rich caramel and toffee malt flavors. There's some apricot, coconut, sugar cane, almonds and cotton candy. The taste is sweet and luxurious. It's pretty much a delicious barleywine with light barrel notes. I'm mostly getting vanilla and a light woodiness from the barrel-aging. There's some fairly subtle bourbon in the background, but it meshes into the other notes quite nicely. Some booze in the aroma, but it mostly just warms up the palate once you take a sip. The mouthfeel is smooth and thick, but it never got cloying for me. This is one of the best barrel-aged beers that I've had from FW, probably my second favorite after Sticky Monkey (? - one of the barleywines that was used in a recent FW anniversary beer). It does a particularly good job of showing FW's light touch with barrel-aging. Great stuff.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 05:57:41 | More by popery

GregSVT

Texas

4.65/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle into a tulip

A: Pours a hazy reddish brown with an eggshell white head that fades to a ring and leaves a little bit of lacing on the glass.

S: The nose is pretty amazing on this one...loads of vanilla, caramel, toffee, figs, and Belgian candied sugar.

T: The taste is even more impressive! Big flavors of vanilla, caramel, candied figs, and a small hint of hops on the finish. The finish really lasts.

M: The feel is medium bodied and slightly creamy.

O: I was way more impressed by this one than I thought I was gonna be. The aromas and flavors are really great. It's pretty sweet but it's nowhere near cloying.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 22:57:21 | More by GregSVT

spark3148857

New York

4.15/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a snifter:
Pours dark orange with a frothy off white head that quickly dissipates to a thin ring. Aroma is typical of FW barrels: rich toasted oak, sweet caramel malts, faint dark fruits, toasted coconut. Taste is huge notes of toasted coconut, American oak, and sweet caramel upfront. Middle of the mouth brings some notes of rum soaked dark fruits and slight bitterness to cut the sweet malts. Finish is long lasting and mouth coating. No alcohol is perceptible. Mouthfeel is exceptionally smooth and creamy. Another great FW barrel aged beer. The barrel characteristics are remarkably similar among these beers. Aroma and taste were very similar to Parabola in the barrel notes, until the crafting of the beer takes you in a different direction.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 23:20:08 | More by spark3148857

CuriousMonk

Virginia

4.23/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bomber into tulip glass. Pours a solid mahogany and amber color with a thin crown of beige foam. The nose is dominated by vanilla, caramel, coconut and toasted oak characteristics. The taste starts out with lots of toffee, brown sugar, candied date and caramel malt flavors. From the oak, there’s notes of vanilla, bourbon and caramelized sugars. The body is slightly syrupy with soft carbonation and a dry, oaky booze burn finish. Overall, a very nice double strength ale!

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 19:09:53 | More by CuriousMonk

cfrances33

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle thanks to Gehrig13, enjoyed in a HF stem.

Pour: Murky caramel color, with a finger and a half of white soapy head. Head recedes for a nice film. Leaves little to no lacing

Smell: Big chewy raisins and figs up front. Lot of candied sugar, caramel and toffee. Sweet bourbon finish.

Taste: Follows the nose but the bourbon sweetness hit first. Chewy raisins and figs, lots of candied sugar and caramel. Finishes with bourbon and caramel.

Mouthfeel: Smooth bourbon heat typical of most FW barrel aged beers. Not too hot. Nice. A definite sipper, and quite chewy.

Overall: I was more impressed with this than I was expecting. Quite good. I probably wouldn't get it over Sucaba or definitely Parabola, but I would have this again.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 18:36:29 | More by cfrances33

homebrew311

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into Duvel glass. Appearance is toffee colored gold with heavy visual weight and minimal head retention. Nose has intense rush of bourbon up front with heavy carmel malt character to follow. Notes of honey and pine come through at the end. Taste starts with rich molasses and plenty of malty sweetness. Vanilla and oak come next with a sharp boozy punch at the end. Mouthfeel is heavy with moderate carbonation. Overall, this is quite the bourbon bomb, the base beer doesn't seems to hold up the flavors as well as a stout or barleywine. Also a bit hot.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 02:11:40 | More by homebrew311

Googs

New York

4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Blind Tiger's VSK event. I was really looking forward to this one. I have a bottle sitting in my cellar and I had a feeling I should wait on it for a while.

A: Dark ruby colored brew with a 1/4 inch had which faded real quick leaving nothing. Some alcohol legs.

S: A nice smelling "American Strong ale", but really has the characteristics of an English Barleywine. Malt forward smell that is sweet, caramel and toffee aroma. There's also oak and vanilla from the barrels. Really not getting much hop aroma on this.

T: Taste of the beer follows suit to the smell. Bready english malts and I'm getting all that rich toffee and sweet malt. Whiskey/oak are subtle but work well. Slight bitterness from the hops but certainly on the English side of the Barleywine category.

M: On the thicker and sticky side, and a bit under-carbonated for my taste. Somewhat smooth but drinkability is on the low side, I had to sip slowly. It is a bit hot right now. No underage drinking for me.

O: Well I must say I was a little underwhelmed, I had higher hopes for this brew. I forgot to mention i was drinking this alongside of a Boltcutter and a 2010 Bourbon County Vanilla Stout, both very different beers, but just as big. It is certainly not a bad beer but I think the taste and mouthfeel could be better. And I'm sure it will be from the bottle conditioning and some age which will help blend the flavors and mellow the alcohol. I'd like to try the base beer too. I'll update my review when I revisit. Another interesting barrel aged concoction from FW and I'm not surprised. Copp a bottle and age awhile.

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2012 06:03:39 | More by Googs

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2012 Vintage. Bottled on 06/15/12. Poured in to FW tulip.

A - Dark amber with a ruby glow around the edges. Half a finger of taupe coloured head.

S - Sweet up front with dark caramel, brown sugar and toffee aromas dominating. Some lighter raisin, vanilla and toasted oak aromas are also present.

T - Toffee, caramel and brown sugar are dominant. The barrel notes are secondary but very much part of the palate, adding vanilla and toasted oak flavours. There is a warming alcohol presence throughout that perfectly cuts through the sweetness. The background adds lighter raisin and fig flavours.

M - Medium body. Slightly sticky. Low carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 02:33:23 | More by TheSevenDuffs

PicoPapa

Connecticut

4.2/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 vintage. Pours a murky dark brown color with almost no head. Good amount of lacing. Aroma is boozey with some dark fruits, brown sugar, some spices and caramel. Earthy with some nice notes from the barrel. The tastes is earthy booze upfront with some sweet caramel. Vanilla and booze at the finish. Reminds me a bit of a Scotch Ale. Heavy mouthfeel. Pretty tasty slow sipper with a nice boozey, barrel aged flavor. Overall, another hit by Firestone Walker.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 04:51:02 | More by PicoPapa

beerthulhu

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: A coppery pour leads to a dark ruby-ice tea coloring in the vessel. A creamy, frothy tan head is sturdy at one finger high while a head strong carbonation factor showing a rush of golden micro-beads, densely packed and rushing feverishly upward to rebuild the head. Retention was resilient, providing a thick sheet lacing.

S: Nice touch of burbon barell woodiness, tea with some herbal notes and dry malt.

T: Boozy dry caramel, apple, burbon and oak woodiness are the fine highlights here. Warm toasted richiness, toffee, cola, with a hint of toasted coconut and caramel/butterscotch. Alcohol is nicely balanced, evident but not overwhelming with the 12% blending beautifully with the rich malty flavors. Bite of cough medicine alcohol upon warming.

M: Malty mouthful, boozy, lightly syrupy with a slippery smooth texture.

O: Overall, boozy, solidly brewed. clean making for a smooth malt bomb to sip slowly by the fireplace on a wintery night.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 23:15:50 | More by beerthulhu

TempeBeerMan

Arizona

4.38/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a tulip glass.
2012 vintage, bought in September 2012.

A - Pours an opaque liquid caramel color, with a one-finger off white head, which is what I would expect for a beer that is 12% abv. Moderate retention. No lacing to speak of, except for the finest film of bubbles that sink back into the glass when sipped.

S - Powerful aroma of whiskey, wood, date/fig, and carmelized sugars of all sorts. This is probably going to be good.

T - Complex and intriguing. Getting all of the following in no particular order; caramel, malt whiskey, oak, butterscotch, overripe fig, vanilla, coconut, toffee, and brown sugar. Hint of rum-soaked raspberries in the finish. Superb. However, sadly this has one glaring flaw: heat. This sucker is like, just short of liquor hot. I know it's my fault for not aging it, but still...(and I must note that the booziness seemed to decrease as it warmed. Or maybe that was just me starting to care less, haha)

M - Oddly light bodied, with mild carbonation. FInishes the exact opposite of "dry".

O - Man is this tasty, one of the best tasting strong ales I have had. Why, oh why didnt I age this longer? (Answer: it was Thanksgiving and I my resolve crumbled) Besides the flaw of being a little too boozy, I found it could use a little more body as well. But don't let that talk you out of trying it, this is still an exceptional and rare treat. Nice job, FW.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 06:18:13 | More by TempeBeerMan

GilGarp

Colorado

4.4/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bomber served cellar temperature into a goblet with thanksgiving dinner.

DDBA is a redish amber brown color with a slight haze. The head is thick and creamy and is slow to settle.

Aroma is boozy and earthy, almost like a good scotch, with nice vanilla oak elements.

The flavor is sweet at first with a caramel and toffee. The bourbon barrel brings several qualities. Bourbon of course, but also vanilla, tannin, and maybe a bit of peat.

Mouthfeel is medium-full bodied and a nice low carbonation level.

Overall another very good barrel aged beer from Firestone Walker.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 02:49:17 | More by GilGarp

Vixie

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice looking red with a tan head that stays around longer than I expected due to the alcohol content.

Beers like this make me wish my sense of smell was sharper. I can really tell this is barrel aged, it has a nice smokey wood smell to it, and what IO assume is the smell of bourbon. Bit of sweetness and a hint of coffee.

Has a sharp booze bite to it, I don't drink hard liquor, so my best guess is whiskey or bourbon. It is smokey, hints of caramel and coffee and chocolate.

Solid and silky smooth.

This is a big potent beer. Very much a sipper, but really nice. There is a lot going on here, all of it good. Glad I got a chance to try this, another great beer from FW.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 03:49:00 | More by Vixie

yamar68

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to quirkzoo for this one!

Pours a murky copper body with bits of sediment, a half finger of off-white head that retains well and leaves a spotty set of lacing.

Toasted biscuit, caramel, french toast, molasses, very warm and inviting, bittersweet, corn bread, brown sugar, faint milk chocolate - beautiful.

More of the same... tons of vanilla, pale toffee, some caramel sweetness, organic wood notes, completely balanced in every way, smooth malts and subdued hops.

Surprisingly drinkable. Smooth.

A delight.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 06:21:57 | More by yamar68

Florida9

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Dark chestnut brown, but thin, and still quite translucent. Forms a fizzy off-white head that fizzes away as quickly as it forms. No lacing. If it weren't for the fizziness, I'd say this one was flat.

S: Lots of barrel flavors, especially oak, with some vanilla and caramel, but little else.

T: Mildly sweet. Buttery caramel, toffee, raisin, and brown sugar. Then you get the barrel flavors: lots of woody, tannic, oak. Alcohol. Light vanilla and some bourbon. More oak on the finish.

M: The mouthfeel is my problem with this beer. It's medium in body, but between the lack of a malt backbone and the high ABV, the beer ends up feeling thin and watery. There is a fairly appreciable tannic bitterness. Lower carbonation.

O: As the side of the box says, this beer was brewed to be a blending beer, which is exactly what it is. While it certainly showcases the barrel in a way no other beer does, it just seems incapable of existing on it's own, bringing little to the party other than barrel flavor. I have a hard time faulting this beer for being something it was not intended to be. It's like faulting Cook County Stout for not being BCBS. However, the difference is that GI has never bottled and released Cook County Stout as a stand-alone beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 01:57:07 | More by Florida9

Phelps

Arizona

3.83/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This one is an Imperial extra special bitter and is the brainchild of Firestone production manager Ali Razi. It's made with first runnings of DBA, hopped with EKGs and Styrian Goldings, fermented in the oak union system, then aged in a blend of new oak and bourbon barrels for ten months. Poured into a snifter.

Deep maroon, fairly clear. The head fizzes away quickly, just to a thin ring. Looks not so lively.

Nice. Sweet. Tons of toffee, buttery. Vanilla, oak. Just a touch of mild, earthy English hops.

Like a piece of buttery toffee. Hops are bigger here, lending a little flavor and more bitterness on the sides of the tongue. Alcohol heat numbs in the same spots. A little broght, sweet cherry like a jolly rancher, some mild orange, caramel, burnt sugar. Soft vanilla, a ton of buttery oak. More of a carrier for the barrels than a show case of the beer flavors. A touch of flowers.

Medium light body. Light. Lot of alcohol heat in the nose, some tongue numbness. Mild carbonation. Almost not there.

Like I said, the beer is just more of an engine to carry the barrel flavors. Which is fine; Firestone does barrels better than almost anyone. Like a mild barrel-aged barley wine.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 18:59:13 | More by Phelps

Chaney

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

For what it's worth:

OG: 26
IBU: 29
Cases: 1500
FG: 4.7
Yeast: British
Color: Dark

Thanks for the cool info FW!

Served in an Olde Hickory shaped-glass (the other side of the US from FW, according to my calculation).

A: Poured a gold/amber color, along with a slight, ring-like off-white head on the brew. If I didn't know any better, I'd think this was a DIPA.

S: I can tell this is boozy, but still fresh and delectable. Got a bit of coconut, melted Astro Pop, but overall, this was understated.

T: Coconut-like for sure. Seriously, this is definitely the primary taste to my mind. However, I could gulp this ALOT easier than the average BA beer, which told me lots. Imperial - yes, special - yes, bitter - absolutely not!

M: Actually, I found this HIGHLY drinkable for such a high-octane brew. Only splotchy lacing left on the glass, and the sweetness was quite delectable.

O: Man, what a great beer. Not sure the style, but still great nevertheless!

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 04:20:32 | More by Chaney

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.78/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22 ounce bottle into a St. Bernardus goblet. Bottled 15 June 2012.

A: Murky mud brown-yellow with light, short-lived head. Translucent.

S: Caramelized sugars and booze. Raisins, slight spice, and molasses.

T: Hefty. Reminds me of an English barleywine with its huge, sweet, malty base and noticeably high alcohol content. Rum-soaked raisins; distant, grassy-bitter hops; slight lemon zest; brown sugar; and a hint of distant spiciness.

M: Lightly sparkly, covered up by the booze. Rather pleasant.

O: Oversweet and overstrong. This is a one-trick pony, and I'm too not crazy about the trick.

Notes
OG: 26p
FG: 4.7p
IBU: 29
Yeast: British Ale
SRM: 27 (Dark Ruby)

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 05:49:51 | More by AgentMunky

arizcards

Arizona

4.08/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a boxed bomber in early August from Total Wine for 13.99.

Beer poured a deep amber with a little white head.

Nose is vanilla, charred oak, bourbon.

Taste is sweet bordering on cloying, vanilla and bourbon is huge, toffee lingers. Booze was very warming on the first sip but well hidden with subsequent sips.

Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied and pretty smooth.

Overall this is a pretty well crafted beer by FW, seems like it could use some more hopping to balance the sweetness. This is a pretty fun beer to try if you want to swing the price tag.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 23:48:33 | More by arizcards

gr0g

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

After using Pintley to keep track of my taste notes and reviews, I've gotten fed up with the lack of updates (such as Double DBA not being listed) and now resolve to posting reviews on BA.

2012 vintage Double DBA. Poured into my Double Bastard glass, slightly hazy orange-copper with a faint head comprised of tiny tan bubbles. Aroma is a complex blend of wood and fruit, not unlike FW's own Abacus/Sucaba. Big vanilla note showcases the barrel-aging. Sugary-sweet, rum-soaked fruit. Slight fuel note. Bittersweet on the tongue with a definite alcohol warmth. The oaky vanilla notes from the nose show up on the palate, too. Rich caramel/toffee from the malt body with enough hop bitterness to keep this from becoming a sugar bomb. Mouthfeel is akin to a pale ale but stickier and with a lighter, finer carbonation. It's matches up very nicely with the flavor profile, though I think the carbonation could be even softer.

Having had Abacus/Sucaba, I don't feel that Double DBA reaches that level of magnificence, but it's still an exceedingly strong example of a big, barrel-aged ale.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 00:36:29 | More by gr0g

barnzy78

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle shared with a friend. Pours brownish-red topped with a thin, beige head. Aromas are huge with bourbon, more bourbon, brown sugar, oak, booze, caramel, toffee, and vanilla. Tastes are just as full - vanilla, oak, bourbon, toffee, buttery, brown sugar, caramel, cotton candy, sweeeet but not cloyingly. Mouth-feel is creamy, smooth, and medium-to-full bodied. Overall, very nice treat, but for the price I'd probably never get it again.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 23:13:33 | More by barnzy78

Big_Eatums

Arizona

4.78/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This is my first posting, so I’m afraid to give it the full on 5.0. But seriously…..this one ROCKS!! Okay, wait…to get more sophisticated.

It has a caramel taste, which could be from the barrels. As a homebrewer, I’ve already made note to get some kegs to double barrel my own brews….okay. The flavor is very malty indeed with a nice small ring a foam.

Trust me, this BEER is worth the price you’ll pay for it. Heck, get two and save one for when the world comes to a end and enjoy……

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 22:17:50 | More by Big_Eatums

tobelerone

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle drunk alone over an hour or so while deep into some nfl. Pours brownish amber, with a small off white head that settles slowly and leaves some patchy lacing. As the beer sits and settles I notice a fair of amount of yeasty floaties; otherwise it exhibits good clarity.

Nose is sweet and malty; my wife described it as rum raisin; lots of caramel, brown sugar, and whiskey notes. Flavor follows closely; a very subtly bitter and herbal, floral hoppiness is detected, otherwise the beer is dominated by a pleasant toffee sweetness, hints of maple, and boozy whiskey notes. Although the barrel comes out nicely there's almost no burn or warmth in the chest.

Medium body, medium carbonation, just a touch of stickiness. Really enjoyable even if it falls a hair shy of profundity. Get ready for a sugary whiskey treat.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 01:25:20 | More by tobelerone