Double Jack - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

JordanPhraczek

Massachusetts

4.49/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Served on tap in a Dogfish Head glass at Gulu Gulu Cafe' in Salem, MA.

A - Super fast moving bubbles, the bubbles move so fast it is almost like champagne. Two finger soapy-textured foam head at first with high retention but then it gives way to a light retention quarter-finger head after a few minutes, although the head never goes away completely. True golden color. Clean, clear look with a clean looking lace.

S - Orange, tangerine, and alcohol. Pinnacle of hop flavor has cream soda aroma and pierces the nostrils while you drink it. Does not have a harsh smell upfront, but again, once the beer is sipped the hop aroma is stinging.

T - Sour taste with hops that can really wreck the palate. Tangerine-alcohol hop flavor, with not as much of a cracker malt taste as regular jack. Much denser hop profile than regular Union Jack.

M - Swished mouthfeel turns the beer into a velvet hop froth. Exceptional mouthfeel. Medium body with a creamy feeling going down. Very nice smoothness for an imperial IPA.

O - West Coast Double with a nice smoothness. Great sour taste with a big alcoholic punch. Much less English style flavor than a regular Jack. My favorite so far from Firestone Walker.

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2013 02:54:47 | More by JordanPhraczek

coldriver

Texas

4.45/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Fort Worth Flying Saucer, one week after Firestone Walker's DFW debut. Pours a medium amber, head and lacing average. Smells of tropical fruits, pine, and caramel. Taste is juicy blackberries, peaches, citrus and pine. Alcohol is well hidden and not overly sweet for a DIPA - well balanced. Mouthfeel is medium, sticky finish begs for the next sip. Overall a fantastic DIPA and one that is very welcome in Texas.

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2013 18:28:08 | More by coldriver

Bauzen

New York

4.74/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

This beer is a hyper-hopped, delightful masterpiece for bitter IPA lovers. While I found it to be unbalanced, I don't think it was trying to be. Some would call it over-the-top, and I tend to agree. Double-Jack is best enjoyed fresh, young, and on tap. I never enjoyed it as much from a bottle, but I'd chose this over 90% of other locally available Imperials.

The depth and complexity to this beer develops the more you sip it, making it a memorable experience. This is one of my favorites, and I'm thankful it's readily available in my area when some of its 'top 250 beers' competitors aren't.

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2013 20:57:52 | More by Bauzen

57md

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

This offering completed a trifecta of excellent hoppy brews from Firestone Walker (started with the Union Jack and followed it with a Wookey Jack).

Appearance is clear and copper with a thin layer of head. Pine and hops notes are distinctly featured in the nose. There is a very modest malt sweetness up front. The finish is dry with hop flavor that is clearly present, but not quite the level I expect in a DIPA (especially after having their VERY hoppy single IPA). The finish does get more hoppy as one drinks, but I still think it falls short of exceptional.

Maybe after the Union and the Wookey, I was expecting too much.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2013 06:58:08 | More by 57md

Big_V

Maryland

4.4/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

This review is from my first taste at Churchkey on tap. Had bottle as well....

A - Lovely, served in pint glass. Deep orange with about 1 finger of head.

S - Got citrus, other complex aromas

T - This was served at exactly the right temperature, suggest if drinking from bottle not be ice cold. I could taste all the flavors when almost luke warm. Grapefruit mostly. Very hoppy.

M - Medium bodied

O - One of my favorite DIPA's. The reason I'm a hop head.

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2012 07:55:28 | More by Big_V

CooperEllis

New York

4.05/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

8oz goblet on-tap.

Great aroma with lots of resin, grapefruit and a thin head topping light lacing across the amber/ruby colored pour. The short pour didn't last long enough to warm much, but wasn't served too cold.

There's a good chance I'd die if I drank too many of these. It drinking boozier than the 9.5% listed. The low 'overall' is because of a peculiar aftertaste and the fact that after it settled in my stomach it turned my stomach a bit. No other good explanation but the final impression on this one was that the total is less than the sum of it's parts.

(189th)

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2012 19:26:12 | More by CooperEllis

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On Tap at Dinosaur BBQ Syracuse NY for 8$

Appearance - Clear orange colour with a very large size frothy and beige coloured head. There is a low amount of carbonation showing and there is some great lacing. The head lasted for over 5 minutes.

Smell - Malts, caramel, hops, grapefruit, oranges

Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and I can taste caramel and malts mixed with hops. There is also some grapefruit/oranges mixed with some light pineapple. It ends with a sugary sweet aftertaste with some lingering hop bitterness.

Overall – You really can't go wrong with this beer. It got a little of everything taste wise and it has a nice balance. I'd like a tad more hop bitterness if I could change anything.

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2012 18:02:42 | More by spinrsx

divineaudio

Michigan

3.93/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

on tap the owen & engine pub in chicago. served in a tulip.

a - pours a hazy, bright amber color with a thin cap of tan head. after calming i get a thin film and sheets of lacing on the sides of the glass.

s - mango, grapefruit, pine resin, toffee.

t - sweet citrus complemented by a pronounced, resinous bitterness. has enough of a malt base to not be a total hop bomb. notes of toffee, grapefruit, mango, pine. faint alcohol taste in the finish.

m - heavier side of medium, but just barely. adequate carbonation, medium co2 profile. noticeable alcohol warmth.

o - a solid beer, well crafted, and enjoyable. had to take my time getting through this one though, 9.5% abv catches up fast. i'd like to get my hands on more of this.

Serving type: on-tap

11-06-2012 23:45:43 | More by divineaudio

Philousa

California

4.7/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Imbibed on tap at Good Karma, 10/10/12.

Golden copper in appearance, clear with a metallic shine. A thin white head laces well when poured correctly. The hop aroma is strong with this one. Equal citrus and pine with some dankness. I can't really pick out different citrus because the pine is so strong. Golden biscuit and coppery malt lie underneath as a strong base. Biscuit carries to the taste, which turns bitter quick. A metallic taste is prevalent along with a flash of malty sweetness with grapefruit before going full on back of the tongue bitter. Earthiness and a tingly tongue signal the high IBUs in this one. The feel is acidic, but not annoyingly so. The finish is, you guessed it, dry. The lighter side of the hops show up in the burp, which is floral, kinda sweet.

Double Jack packs a punch. It's in your face, but it's not over the line and is still quite palatable. Makes you sit back a bit after a gulp, but the sweetness pulls it back enough to make it less of a sipping beer. One of the best DIPAs for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2012 01:03:14 | More by Philousa

Zimbo

United Kingdom (Scotland)

4.3/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From a 2.5 pint bomber by the time it got to my tongue.
Lots & lots of raw rubber intense pine grapefruit on the nose this has an orangy golden colour. Not big head, maybe a quarter inch at most, but the head is very glossy. In the mouth there is some sap and malt, maybe a touch of silk too, but certainly matter than I expected. Some passing hints of malt in the background but totally surrounded by all those hops and stuffing. So so much stuffed in here but it remains a really begging linear harmonious whole. A powerful intense beer that goes the distance .

Serving type: on-tap

10-07-2012 18:47:22 | More by Zimbo

SpasticKoala

New York

4.1/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Dark orange/amber with a bright white head that laced nicely. Very sticky as it went down the glass.

Smell: Lots of citrus hops on the nose with grapefruit predominantly up front. There's definitely some pine in the background and I'm getting just a touch of malt.

Taste: Not very heavily upfront on the hops. Lots of citrus, grapefruit, and some pineapple sweetness. I'm getting some pine in the background of the palate as well. There's some malt trying to soften the hops, but it unfortunately puts the beer in a odd area of not being a hop blasting Double IPA but also not being very well balanced.

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel was fairly medium. Maybe slightly sticky.

Overall I would put this as a slightly above average Double IPA. I would definitely be happy to order it again (and probably will), but it didn't entirely blow me away.

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2012 23:00:41 | More by SpasticKoala

billsmorrison

Pennsylvania

4.83/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

this one is definitely one of my favorite doubles on the market for a few reasons and here they are. yes the Hop complexion is pronounced but its even release of the malt is only noticed when enough of this great liquid is assimilated by the pallet at least for me anyway. a blast of floral and fruity notes hit the noise first before having the first sip and then the complexities abound when into the first few real mouth fulls. on draft its mouthfeel is absolute perfection not too sharp not too thin, a good melding of ibu's and sweeter characters are prevalent. definitely a stand out beer for a stand out brewery here no matter how's its served this one is gold in a glass for me!

Serving type: on-tap

10-02-2012 18:16:37 | More by billsmorrison

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.95/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Sweet yet spicey. Citrus and pines. Good balance. Yellow to brown blouse when held up to a window. Very fine carbonation. The lacing on the glass is unique - doesn't fall off but also not webbed. Nose is orange and pine sap. Some malt syrup is present via the pine sap. Taste is sweet at first with a grade A maple syrup and the. Quickly spices with the hops.

Serving type: on-tap

09-07-2012 18:01:45 | More by Oakenator

brystmar

New York

3.73/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Blind Tiger.

Good appearance, decent head retention. Piney, fresh hop aroma and smells malty too. Gets more pungent as it warms. Taste is good but not great: lots of piney hops, some malt too but it clearly leans towards the West Coast style. I prefer my IPAs juicy, though, and Double Jack doesn't do that for me. Above average, not great.

Serving type: on-tap

08-07-2012 16:48:56 | More by brystmar

TheRealBigC

Nevada

4.08/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

It's a rare thing for me when a double IPA is outshined by it's single counterpart. Union Jack is just that good. I think this one offers a little more in the nose, but the extra alcohol and stickiness of the Double Jack get in the way a little more on the tongue. Don't get me wrong, though, it's still a great IIPA, but when you also consider the stiffer competition in this field, I can't give it my highest recommendation.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2012 19:13:55 | More by TheRealBigC

cfrances33

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Varga Bar in Philly. Served on 6/28/12 into a snifter.

Pour: Mostly clear deep amber. Little bit of carbonation. Two finger off-white head.

Smell: Great caramel malts and pine. Sweet. Some grapefruit.

Taste: Pine followed by bitterness and caramel sweetness. Ends with honey.

Mouthfeel: Pretty light and drinkable, not as bitter as I expected based on the Union Jack.

Overall: Very tasty, and recommended. Not Firestone Walker's best (especially for price) by a long shot, but still hold's to their standard of excellence.

Serving type: on-tap

07-16-2012 19:11:59 | More by cfrances33

marlinsfan4

Maryland

4.38/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on-tap at No Idea Tavern in Baltimore (clever name? not so much). This was a fantastic (double) IPA. Maintained a good balance and wasn't overly bitter, super smooth and tasty, and was finished way too quickly.. always a sign of a good brew. Great hoppy aroma and awesome mouthfeel, I can see why it's been rated so highly and for $5 a pint it's tough to beat this one.

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2012 22:59:19 | More by marlinsfan4

hagbergl

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had a full (12 oz.) pint of Firestone Walker's Double Jack Double India Pale Ale at Gulu-Gulu in Salem, MA on Father's Day. Review is from notes.

Appearance (4/5): Double Jack has a clear bright orange color that seems to glow in the glass. Very nice looking. However, it was served to me with barely any head–not cool; I guess whoever was tending bar is under the impression that a head of foam is bad <smacks head>. But that notwithstanding, a nice looking DIPA.

Smell (4/5): Good piney and grapefruit-like flavors rise from my glass, though with a beer as bold and strong as this, I would love to have it served in a tulip glass–the better to savor the aroma. This is a citrusy smelling DIPA, though it does have a little sweetness to it, too.

Taste (4/5): Double Jack's flavor follows its aroma–it has a ton of hop flavor. I taste lots of grapefruit and tart lemon; these flavors are backed up by sweet malts. Surprisingly, the sweetness of the malt really sticks around in the finish and gives the beer a slightly syrupy quality. This isn't really that off-putting, but it does take away from the hop bitterness and keeps it from joining the likes of Port Mongo and Hill Farmstead Abner, the best tasting DIPAs I've had. There's a little alcohol presence in the taste that imparts a tad of booziness. (Another knock on Gulu-Gulu's bartenders–the beer should have been served a little colder.)

Mouthfeel (4/5): Good medium carbonation. The beer is slightly viscous, due to the maltiness that shows in the finish. The moderate "thickness" the beer has is a little reminiscent of Dogfish Head's 90 Minute DIPA. Finishes smooth with some nice hop residue and sweet maltiness that coats the mouth...a little alcohol warming in the back is present.

Overall (4/5): I like this beer; I don't love it. It has lots of bold hop flavor but I feel it's held back a little by the sweetness and viscosity of the malt bill and the touch of booziness. I would really like to try this beer from a fresh bottle and compare it to how it tasted on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

06-22-2012 02:05:38 | More by hagbergl

BostonHops

Massachusetts

4.58/5  rDev +5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

on-tap at sunset grill and tap, allston MA.
(review from notes)

pours a completely clear golden-orange tone while yielding a frothy finger+ of off-white head that demonstrates great retention and tons of lacing. not sure what else you could ask for from a DIPA's appearance. nose is aromatic and mouth-watering. obviously hop-forward, bold notes of pine and citrus leap from the glass, coupled with some lesser malty notes.

flavor follows and exceeds the aroma. *just* what i look for in my DIPAs. juicy citrus, pine, some secondary floral notes and a nice sweet malty backbone. taste is subjective of course, but to me this is close to perfect. medium bodied mouthfeel with average carbonation.

overall, a world class DIPA IMHO. probably my favorite to date. just love this stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

06-19-2012 22:43:53 | More by BostonHops

stephenjmoore

Maryland

4.2/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Dark golden transparent body with a bone white head.

S- Floral hop aroma, with a good mix of pine and citrus.

T- Very hop forward, with the pine coming through the most. Slight malt backbone to balance the overall flavor.

M- Good carbonation, stickiness left from the hops, just the slightest dryness at the end.

O- Very solid IIPA offering.

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2012 22:33:02 | More by stephenjmoore

Chickenhawk9932

Pennsylvania

4.73/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice amber with a white head that had good retention and lacing.

Citrus in the nose with orange and ruby red grapefruit backed by a nice floral bouquet.

Nice hop bitterness up front with bitter orange, grapefruit, and herb dancing on your palate. Then notes of sweet orange and apricot waltz into a solid malt backbone. The warmth of the alcohol is hidden in the sweet citrus notes that linger and compete any dry notes that would claim the finish. This is a big tasty beer with subtle complexities. Certainly the best II IPA I've had.

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2012 11:43:32 | More by Chickenhawk9932

Kadonny

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from tap into a sinfter glass at TJs in Paoli.

A: A medium orange color with a small half finger white head that leaves full lacing that disappears eventually.

S: Citrus goodness with grapefruit and other tropical fruits. The sweetness is almost sugar like in smell with the citrus lasting.

T: Citrus flavors are first with huge grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple and a bit of lemon. There is a deep malt sweetness that is sugar like, but not overwhelming in nature. The sweetness then mixes with the fruit and turns slightly bitter as some pine notes come in. Finish stays fairly sweet and the bitterness really doesn't linger. Nice complex beer. Alcohol is there, but just warming.

M: Full, coating, fairly sweet and the hops don't pound your mouth. Prickly with some alcohol.

O: Another top notch DIPA that I'm glad made it to PA. I think this is a little on the sweeter side for a DIPA and I'm not sure I could drink a bunch of them.

Overall another quality beer from FW that ranks up there with the best of the DIPAs.

Serving type: on-tap

05-24-2012 17:47:06 | More by Kadonny

phishsihq

Colorado

4.55/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Double Jack Imperial IPA pours a dark orange color, with one-inch of fluffy white head that also provides plenty of lacing. A true California IIPA with a HUGE bouquet of hoppy aromas like citrus, grapefruit, pine, apricot, and pineapple all seemingly dipped in caramel. Amazing nose! The brew begins with a strong caramel flavor that quickly gives way to hoppy bursts of citrus and tropical fruit flavors with some piney notes in the finish. Super smooth and incredibly balanced, Double Jack is medium bodied and moderate in the level of carbonation. Simply a fantastic Imperial IPA by a fantastic brewery!

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2012 01:43:15 | More by phishsihq

mactrail

California

4.05/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Golden amber in the glass. Modest head, pleasantly spritzy. Huge slam of hops in the aroma.

Rich malty mouthful with a sharp flavor, but mellowed by the warm malt. Lots of piney woods in this, with a mango taste. Quite bitter, but not a tongue takeover. Some orange flavors, with plenty of citrus peel.

Really a fine big DIPA, and I'm not especially an enthusiast of the style. Very spicy with loads of aromatic hops. A winey mouthfeel. Really tasty stuff. Another win for Firestone Walker.

Serving type: on-tap

05-10-2012 20:53:50 | More by mactrail

gcamparone

Rhode Island

4.55/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Was served this beer at Mews Tavern fresh from the tap into a snifter. Crystal clear with a small head and some lacing. Had a delicious citrus/fruity/earthy aroma which was extremely inviting. First taste can be described as an excellent balance of tangerine tartness and IPA bitterness. Aftertaste was quite bitter and earthy. Would definitely drink again! Exceptionally smooth.

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2012 02:49:14 | More by gcamparone