Double Jack - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

magictacosinus

California

4.08/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured out of a bomber into a tulip glass. Freshness date is "11/08/12," and was consumed just in time for Christmas Eve of the same year.

Pours a dense, deep amber color complete with loads of carbonation, all which rise aggressively to the top of the tulip glass despite the beer's high ABV. There's tons of bubbles on this thing, almost to the point of being champagne-like. At the same time, this seems like every DIPA I've had that, when aged long enough, seems to be on its way to becoming a barleywine or any similar kind of fortified ale. The presentation is still near world-class, especially with the lovely lacing it leaves behind.

The aroma is quite intense, in ways that both remind me of strongly alcoholic DIPAs and fortified, aged ales. On one hand, the strong citrus aromas are definitely all there, complete with a near pungent yet fruity yeasty backdrop; on the other hand, there's an enormous sugary, wooden smell going on here, as the malts began to take place over the hops as they start to break apart. I don't think I've ever had an IPA variant like this in a while. But the zest here is enormous, and alcohol strength is really strong here, almost to dizzying heights when combined with the hop oil and woody resin. Quite intense, but pretty solid overall.

The flavor is quite similar, and the hops dominate overall in this situation. There are enormous notes of citrus grove fruits combined with floral aspects that overpower and nearly numb the tongue, and at the finish, the alcohol takes place over the slightly charred, woody yet extremely caramel like flavors. I have no idea what this would have tasted like fresh, but it seems that even while aged there are tons of complex notes to pick out here. The texture is enormously syrupy, and perhaps even more so as it warms up substantially. At the same time, the bready notes that FW are known for shine pretty well here, and the beer is not unsurprisingly thick and oily with these kinds of chemical effects all happening at once.

This is by far the finest beer I've had from FW, and I'm looking forward to trying more of their Reserve series. While not my favorite DIPA of all time, I can't deny its ambition and it embodying a product of both craft and creativity in brewing. Cheers to that!

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 09:40:04 | More by magictacosinus

PaleZombie

Arizona

4.78/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a large wine glass.

A - Deep tangerine color leaning toward a copper color. About 1 finger of white pillowy head that receded into a nice white foam leaving excellent lacing.

S - Wow could smell this as soon as I opened the bottle. Grapefruit, tropical fruits(mango's, pineapple, pears) some apple hints, nice amounts of orange, sweet caramel malt, with a tad bit of piney smell on the end. Dang this one has a freaking awesome nose. So complex.

T - Very similar to the nose. All of the fruity tropical hops hit you at first followed by a bitter piney finish with a nice amount of sweet caramel malt to balance it out.

M - On the heavy side of medium body with perfect carbonation. Somewhat syrupy in the feel but not too heavy overwhelming.

O - This beer did not disappoint at all. It is nearly perfect as far as DIPA's go. Amazingly balanced and full of tropical and fruity aromas and flavors. I have to say that this is probably the best DIPA I have ever had. I think this one will become a regular in my fridge. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2013 05:14:59 | More by PaleZombie

Hellmeh

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%

06-20-2013 03:48:41 | More by Hellmeh

En29356

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +8.9%

06-20-2013 00:31:13 | More by En29356

bnuno

California

5/5  rDev +14.7%

06-19-2013 20:35:49 | More by bnuno

MightiestBeard

Florida

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

06-19-2013 11:42:30 | More by MightiestBeard

kguard

Iowa

4.76/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Bottled on 2/9/13. I little past its prime. But can't get in Iowa so take what you can get.

A: Rather clear amber color, reminds me of the mosquito cane from Jurassic Park. Small, white head.

S: Grapefruit rind gives way to orange blossom. Just my style.

T: Grapefruit dominates, fades to floral alcohol but mildly.

M: Less malt than most DIPA I've had lately. A bit on the lighter side. I'd imagine more carbonation and crispness if this was super fresh.

O: I will get this again! Wish I had more than one. I would recommend to those who like west coast DIPAs.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2013 04:25:36 | More by kguard

fehrminator

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -14%

06-19-2013 01:06:44 | More by fehrminator

mrchrisray

New York

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%

06-18-2013 23:55:29 | More by mrchrisray

MMAJYK

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

06-18-2013 20:55:06 | More by MMAJYK

Jacob007

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

06-18-2013 16:31:48 | More by Jacob007

headyhopzhead

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

06-18-2013 12:42:44 | More by headyhopzhead

mjm47

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

06-18-2013 11:54:43 | More by mjm47

nootch23

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -8.3%

06-18-2013 11:19:27 | More by nootch23

RyV

California

4/5  rDev -8.3%

06-18-2013 06:06:22 | More by RyV

beerloverofbham

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +8.9%

06-18-2013 05:27:43 | More by beerloverofbham

jep2606

Virginia

4.16/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

The bottling date was 2/19/2013. I bought this bottle within a week of the expiration of the 120 day freshness period that Firestone Walker recommends for enjoying this delectable IPA so I must say that my scores may need an asterisk as I did not drink it until 6/17/2013.

Appearance was very nice and clean as the beer was a clear yellow-orange and smelled particularly hoppy and a distinct alcohol bite was present. Taste seemed more bitter than the reported IBU level would suggest but was still fantastic and had a very nice sweet citrus taste after the hops did their work.

I picked this beer up because it's not seen often in VA. I only wish I had found it before it had already been almost four months since bottling, that may have changed this one way or another so I write this review with full understanding that it may be skewed.

I was working on my own 10 point scale and gave this an 8.5/10. I tried t have the score on here reflect that.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 04:42:48 | More by jep2606

jdhowe

California

4.43/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

22oz bottle dated 5/17/13 -- thanks to the employee at Whole Foods who made sure I got a fresh bottle today.

A: Pours a clear deep golden color with a half finger of off-white fluffy head that quickly dissipates to a film.

S: Overwhelmingly citrusy -- so much grapefruit in this one. Citrusy hop character up front and a little bit of malt showing through behind. Very appealing, but sort of one-dimensional... this is a grapefruit bomb.

T: Taste follows the nose... lots of grapefruit and a little bit of malt. The finish is strongly bitter and lingering. Mildly earthy, but dominatingly citrusy. The alcohol is well masked for a 9.5abv DIPA.

M: Clean, crisp, and refreshing. The malt in this is lighter than many other DIPAs in the 9-11abv range, and the result is that it isn't cloying. Just a crsip, drinkable, bitter beer. Plenty of carbonation.

O: very good. All I wanted tonight was hops and something refreshing to drink and this delivered in a wonderful way. I'm always slightly put off by the $8 bomber, but never disappointed once I've got it in my possession. I will continue to drink this -- it's one of the best easily obtainable DIPAs out there. It is a little bit one dimensional and is unapologetic about it, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 03:23:19 | More by jdhowe

BeerChanticleer

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%

06-18-2013 01:53:49 | More by BeerChanticleer

KyleMA

California

3.5/5  rDev -19.7%

06-17-2013 23:53:21 | More by KyleMA

atinman

California

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%

06-17-2013 23:25:33 | More by atinman

Mattco

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%

06-17-2013 21:39:44 | More by Mattco

Jtrigonis

California

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%

06-17-2013 01:34:34 | More by Jtrigonis

beerinNV

Nevada

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%

06-16-2013 15:32:21 | More by beerinNV

swinyeju

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%

06-16-2013 15:06:29 | More by swinyeju