Double Jack - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

bambam2517

Arizona

4.59/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Day-old growler tapped at Whole Foods in Chandler, AZ. Shared with a buddy, first pints were at 45F and we allowed the growler to warm up while we drank.

A - A little sleepy for a DIPA, lt coppery body and medium carbonation. Forms a strong off-white head though, and decent sticky lacing down the glass.

S - Wow, dialed up the citrus hops in this one! Grapefruit, tangelo, coriander and a touch of honey or caramel sweetness.

T - Grapefruit is strongly present, also a nice complex taste of mango, tangelo and piney hop. Sweetness like caramel, very similar to Brown Shugga in that respect.

M - Real heavy hitter with a nice puckering effect.

O - I had been looking forward to trying this for awhile and excited to get it off the tap. Didnt disappoint at all, highly recommended.

Serving type: growler

05-09-2013 04:25:10 | More by bambam2517

fmccormi

New York

4.35/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Straight pour from 750ml swing-top growler (HF!) to my nice Hill Farmstead stemware, the oversized wineglass. Supposedly this keg is super-fresh, so I’m looking forward to having (potentially) fresh Double Jack, finally.

Appearance (4.5): Wow. Very impressive. I prefer my DIPAs on the cloudy / hazy side, but if you’re in the opposite camp, this beer is perfect, in terms of appearance. Crystal-clear body the color of copper (but a bit lighter), white head rising to two solid fingers before dissipating to a spotty haze on the surface, a good collar and some sudsy, spotty lacing and collars on the sides.

Smell (4.0): Straight-up citrus: passionfruit, mango, and red grapefruit, in that order. Some tangerine. Maybe some honey-sweetness underneath, but really just sweet citrus—not horribly complex, but fragrant and very nice, very appetizing.

Taste (4.5): This is more like it! Sweet citrus (tangerine), bitter citrus (rind), some crystal malt sweetness underneath that melds with the sweet citrus, and a bitter piney-ness that rides out the finish, fading slowly and leaving a slightly soapy feel here—but I like it. That soapiness could be some alcohol heat creeping in here, but at this strength it’s a welcomed component. God these hops are great, and just enough malt to keep them in check.

Mouthfeel (4.0): Subtle carbonation, very oily body—medium thickness, somewhat viscous. Pretty dry finish. Foams nicely on the way down, slightly tingly all around.

Overall (4.5): This is a palate-challenger, alright. Not as abrasive as Palate Wrecker or Heady Topper (definitely not as hoppy as HT, in my opinion), but this is damn hoppy, big, and gorgeous. Glad to have finally gotten this bastard fresh—very, very big difference compared to somewhat-old Double Jack, where the hops lose their bite and get kind of catty. This, on the other hand, is gorgeous, and I will be seeking this out given that it’s fresh in the future. Damn good beer.

Serving type: growler

05-18-2012 01:30:37 | More by fmccormi

albertjr21

New York

4.53/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a tulip, a very clear and bright mild orange gold lives under a sudsy head with a great retention. A well tended hop garden of an aroma gently cuddles up to the nose with inviting notes of nicely mended floral and pine hops. Bitter tingly hop notes romance the palate up front before a gentle and smooth syrup of citrus glides along into a resinous bitter finish. Notes of orange, pineapple, and grapefruit citrus are displayed beautifully in the hops with what seems to be the perfect malt complement.

Serving type: growler

04-22-2012 03:08:25 | More by albertjr21

cosmicevan

New York

4.53/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

wow, surprised i don't have a review down for this already. none-the-less nabbed a 32oz fill yesterday at a FW in store tasting at beer city.

a - poured a generous portion into my hill farmstead oversized wine glass. poured the classic orange with a generous frothey white ipa head. some visible carbonation can be seen. transparent.

s - smells fresh and fantastic. perfectly balanced. great sweaty piny thick hops with a decent mix of sweet citric. as good or better than any other IIPA i've ever had.

t - as the nose whispered...this is a fresh badass ipa. sticky and rich...sweaty and piny...citric with just the right amount of bitterness.

m - medium bodied with a nice bitterness and great finish.

o - overall a homerun. probably the best accessible IIPA for me in NY. the freshness on this beer really makes it. after an ounce pour at the tasting, i immediately got a growler fill. SO good.

Serving type: growler

03-18-2012 01:48:50 | More by cosmicevan

ao125

Virginia

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

This is a really nice beer - but like other IPA’s with more than two or three hop varietals, the flavor gets muddied and you can’t really tell what you’re drinking.

A - Big grapefruit and apricot, and very floral.

C - Dark copper

T - Patches of both sweet and bitter, though like I said above, all of the different hop varietals muddy the flavor.

P - Despite the high alcohol content, it’s a really drinkable beer.

Serving - Troegs Mad Elf tulip glass / Growler from Whole Foods Market.

I will say though, that despite the muddied flavor from the multiple hop varietals, that it really seems like the brewers were trying to go somewhere with it, unlike Bell's Hopslam, which lacks any and all direction in the hop department.

Serving type: growler

11-13-2011 14:21:25 | More by ao125

dasenebler

Maine

4.43/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Growler purchased at Decicco's.

Pours a clear, glowing copper with a small but creamy white head. Good amount of lacing and carbonation for a growler.

The aroma is very floral and hoppy, with notes of grapefruit and pine. Nice and fresh.

The flavor is very bitter, but also quite malty. Lots of grapefruit, herbal character and resinous hoppy-piney goodness. Really juicy hop flavor on this full-bodied DIPA. The mouthfeel has low carbonation (growler pour) and nice smoothness and weight.

This stuff is really good, one of the best DIPAs I've had. Will have to seek out more beers from Firestone Walker.

Serving type: growler

08-15-2011 20:34:00 | More by dasenebler

prdstmnky

Vermont

3.6/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

1L growler filled @ Whole Foods Plymouth Meeting

Very clear, golden amber color with a finger of quickly fading head - very little retention but some spotty lacing. Very tropical and citrus in the nose, lots of orange, grapefruit, mango, maybe even some melon. Nice dose of the fruity hops upfront, with a balanced finish. Also getting a bit of heat in the back at fridge temp, which really increases throughout - alcohol just doesn't seem as hidden as it could be. Medium bodied and lighter in carbonation, though could have been a growler / draft issue.

I dunno, was a decent DIPA, but the alcohol was very detectable and distracting. Tasted pretty fresh, which is always a plus...and glad I got to try this west coast offering, just not something I would actively seek out again.

Serving type: growler

07-12-2011 01:47:38 | More by prdstmnky

jnn4v

Virginia

4.47/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Honey colored golden orange with a decent amount of foamy pale yellow / off-white head. No sediment or haze.

S: Pine, grapefruit, pineapple, honey, tropical fruit hard candy. A bit of pungent herbal or even "catty" scents as well. Lots O' Hops.

T: Matches up nicely to the scent. All of those bitter and citrusy, juicy hops along with a seriously dense and sweet malt base. Hops, then malt, then a blend of balanced flavors, followed by a lingering resiny hop bitterness.

M: Very good DIPA texture and density. Thick, but not syrupy. Good amount of carbonation with medium-sized bubbles.

O: maybe it was the fact that there haven't been any other good DIPAs released in the past month or two here, or maybe it was that the preceding beverage was "only" a pale ale, but whatever the reason, this is a standout beer. One of the better DIPAs I've had. Snag it if you can experience it as fresh as this was.

Serving type: growler

07-02-2011 18:57:56 | More by jnn4v

peacebone116

California

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

Filled at the brewery 1 day prior to enjoyment from a tulip glass.

A: Golden, almost clear, straw colored body. Egg shell head--two-finger thick--slowly recedes to leave thick, gracious lace at the edge. Beer appears to be well carbonated.

N: Tropical fruit, pine...a slight hint of strawberry.

T/M: Immaculate! Oily body with resinous hop dominated profile. Pine and grapefruit. Not much malt backbone. Prickly on the tongue with great carbonation.

This is a wonderful and complex Imperial IPA! Honestly it is one of my favorites! So good, I believe it needs a more poetic description.

Gorgeous body and head
Tropical flavors abound
Beer hops on tongue

Serving type: growler

05-04-2011 21:05:20 | More by peacebone116

Yagman3000

New York

4.33/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Purchased in a growler from Superstar Beverage in Huntington, NY. Had a small sample and knew I was buying a a 64 oz growler despite $23.99 price tag.

Appears a golden orange blossom. A bit surprised. Lighter in appearance than I imagined based on smell.

Very nice balance of hop bitterness with citrus sweetness. Borderline cloying but falls short in a good way. Finishes bitter but not long.

A bit syrupy and heavy on the tongue.

Overall a very nice beer but not as fully developed as a 120 or as hops-refined as a Hop Stoopid. Standout feature is citrus sweetness balance.

Serving type: growler

05-01-2011 00:57:08 | More by Yagman3000

ommegangpbr

New York

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

From the growler filling station at the Tribeca Whole Foods in NYC.
Pours a clear, slightly brownish pale amber. A bit darker on hue than what one typically finds in an IPA. The aromas coming from the growler gateway are enticing and, perhaps, downright sexy.
Floral and citrus goodnesses are abundant. Flavors are not a disappointment. A little heavy on the grapefruit for my taste but it's done very well. The alcohol is slightly heavy but it's forgiven.
My first taste from this brewery and it's a good one. I look forward to more.

Serving type: growler

03-13-2011 02:42:44 | More by ommegangpbr

Dreadnaught33

District of Columbia

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks again to BigSexy410 for another fine brew, in a growler from Whole Foods. Thanks Ben.

A: Copper color with small ring of head and semi clear and active look. Ok lacing.

S: Pungent flowery and little citrus and pine, sort of perfume-like. Big malt base as well. Fresh and open, nice.

T: Long lingering flavor. Lots of crystal malt to go with great citrus and hay-like hop. Orange, tropical fruits and bready/cereal tastes as well. Nice stuff.

M: Great carbonation and consistency.

D: Good stuff I'd get again.

Serving type: growler

03-06-2011 00:40:03 | More by Dreadnaught33

Billolick

New York

4.33/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Growler pour from DeCicco's, Ardsley, NY.

Clear, lighter honey amber, off white fluffed head, good retention, thick collar, more then ample fine lace and sheeting.

Super fresh citric hop nose, with some melon and honey noted.

Full flavor, loaded with more biting citrus soaked hops, gritty and brightly flavorful.
Honey malts, smooth and adding a sweet nip to the finish.

Perhaps laking the depth of flavor and intensity of the top examples of the style, but this one is no slouch.

Highly enjoyable night capper, hop head's delight, glad to have gotten the chance to enjoy a fresh growler pour of this one.

Serving type: growler

02-12-2011 03:37:45 | More by Billolick

MasterSki

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to d0b for sharing this growler with me and my wife. Leaked a tiny bit in transit, but seems to be no worse for wear. Served in a Goose Island pint glass.

A - A finger and a half of off-white foam that dissipated fairly quickly and leaves a fair bit of sticky lacing. Nice transparent golden color. I think it had been on-tap it might've had a little more foam.

S - Lots of sweet citrus and earthy dankness hoppiness that is well balanced lots of toffee and doughy malts.There's also some notes of zest and rind. Big smell - jumps out of the glass.

T - The taste starts sweet with a nice mix of candied sweet orange citrus and piney flavors. I don't get as much of the dankness in the taste as I did in the aroma. There's some nice toffee balance and a decent amount of bitterness in the finish, although I'm shocked that this is supposedly 100 IBU.

M - A little thinner than I like for DIPAs - needs a little more viscosity to support the 9.5% ABV. Carbonation is kind of low, which I would attribute to the leakage in transit, but it doesn't bother me so much as I prefer just the slightest tingle anyway. Lots of residual stickiness in this one.

D - The drinkability is kind of off the chart for a 9.5% brew. You can't taste the booze at all, and the bitterness is under control. It was easy to down two pints of this - wish there was more of this in Chi-town.

Another great FW offering, and another high quality west coast DIPA.

Serving type: growler

07-03-2009 23:23:07 | More by MasterSki

OStrungT

California

5/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer pours a clear golden yellow color, with a thick and fluffy light khaki head. The head fades very slowly, leaving a massive lacing.

This beer has a nice grassy hop aroma. Some citrus grapefruit mixes in. This beer has a slightly piney aroma also. No traces of the 9.5 percent ABV.

This beer tastes much like it smells. Grassy up front, with a lot of grapefruit. Just a bit of sweet caramel mixes in with the flavor. As with the aroma, the alcohol is well masked.

This beer is full bodied. It is criso, and refreshing. It leaves a grassy aftertaste.

This beer would make an excelent session beer if the alcohol content wasnt so high. It is too easy to forget that this is a high alcohol beer.

Overall: Great beer. I really like a grassy IPA or DIPA. It kind of reminds me of Apline Beer Companys Duet. As that is one of my favorite beers, this one definately ranks up there.

Serving type: growler

06-28-2009 03:08:51 | More by OStrungT

AES

California

4.8/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Am I really the first to review? Here goes. From a fresh Growler 6/26/09, delivered by my wonderful girl.

A: Pours golden amber, great clarity. Two finger white head dissipates quickly, but not too fast. Extensive lacing graces the sides of the glass.

S: Hops. Like a bag of Cascades. Piney with some distinct citrus. I just don't smell any malt over the hops. Not a bad thing, though.

T: Initial impression is just wow... citrus hops all the way down. The pine flavor comes through, as well as some bitterness, but you can just taste the dry hopping. Some sweet malt in the aftertaste; it actually comes to dominate after the citrus dies down. Doesn't seem as bitter as Union Jack, but it's still there to some degree.

M: Excellent, just light enough but with enough malt to give it some backbone. I can feel this beer, but it doesn't overwhelm at all.

D: Dangerous stuff, here. I could drink this for days. Goes down so easy. Not too much of anything.

Overall, the dry hopping dominates, and I wish I could do so well with my homebrew. The drinkability is almost scary. An exceptional brew and one that I hope they do again, as the tasting room staff say they will.

Serving type: growler

06-27-2009 00:31:31 | More by AES

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

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

DrankIT

New York

4.35/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Double Jack IPA

Pour. Smooth, crisp and clean. Nice Head and great copper color
N. Plenty of fruit scents very subtle
M. Thick, smooth a true DIPA
T. Nice hit of hops, not too much of an alcohol taste with a sweet after taste
Overall another killer DIPA from the west coast. Firestone continues to impress

THE VERDICT: B,T OR P

BUY IT

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2013 01:19:16 | More by DrankIT

pjkelley82

New York

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

Wow.... that is what my whole review boils down to....
Wow!

Seen a bunch of really good reviews about it so decided to try it...

12Oz. Bottle, bottled on 11/12/12

Poured into a pint glass.
flavor iful color, nice thick 2 1/2 finger head... very live carbonation which made lots of dancing bubbles.

I smelt the beer before it even was close to me.... smell was very very citrusy, grapefruit, pineapple dominated the smell... smells so good.... before e'er I drank it I knew this was a great beer....

Taste and mouthfeel were beyond phenomenal... I'd say it was perfect but nothing's ever truly perfect.... you know what.... for my taste it it was perfect.... first sip the big pinaple and grapefruit hit the middle part of your tongue, extreme citrus hit, then the hops kick in but nothing too crazy, perfectly balanced...mouthfeel was right on par for the flavor profile, not to heavy, not too light... crisp, virtually no alcohol taste till the end with slight if any warmth. Insanely smooth.

Overall... I like damn good beers and dare I say this is the best beer I've ever had.... yes... it's currently the best beer I've had in any style... I'm not even a hop head at all.. I prefer stouts and cask aged beer.... if you see those beer and you do not try it you are doing yourself a great diservice. This is a top 5 beer easily... not 80.... which still isn't bad.

Side note.... the same night I also had the highly acclaimed KBS and two other beers ranked higher than this one and Double Jack Shat on all of them.... I burped an hour later and still tasted that beautiful grapefruit pineapple taste... over all those cask aged beers

Perfection

Edit...

After this review I went out and purchased two more from the same bottle date. They did not taste like the first one i had. They werent as fresh tasting or crisp or strong on the citrus end of it or sweet... since then i have tasted fresh IPA's and they are correct when saying drink IPA's or most hoppy beers fresh... so i have no clue what it was about that original bottle i purchased but it tasted perfect and the next two with the same bottle datewere not as good.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2013 00:43:09 | More by pjkelley82

utopiajane

New York

4.44/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Pours clear copper-amber with a head of bone white soft foam that fell gracefully to some really gorgeous lace. The entire inside of the glass is coated with fine white lace. Beautiful! Nose is tantalizing. Tropical fruits, tangerine, melon, doughy malt, nutty, grass and floral with a tad bit of spice in back. Alcohol doesn’t come to the nose at all. Smells clean and vibrant. You could describe the nose as glowing it’s so animated. Taste follows the nose. You are greeted with oily hop resins and bitter, those delicious fruits all juicy and some nutty flavor from the strong caramel malt that has more bread than you think. Finishes dry with good bitter, earth and dank.

This was one of the most artful west coast DIPA’s I’ve had. Everything in balance and playing off one another. Bitter like crazy but not offensive. Fruits were so juicy up against the alcohol dryness and hop bitter. Alcohol is a little bit on the palate but it belongs there. You are left with the sweet taste of pine like a gracious afterthought. Smooth, really smooth. Original, strapping, unconfined.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 11:58:29 | More by utopiajane

MVotter

New York

3.96/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours into a chalice the color of gold, with a 1/2 inch cream colored head.

S - Whoa...spice? Grassy hops, diacetyl...buttery malt.

T - Orange and tangerine sweetish hop flavors, alcohol diacetyls, AND some roasty malt backing...NICE!

M - A load of effervescence, sticky, heavy.

O - Definitely taste the diacetyls/alcohol in this one, not as masked as I thought it would be. I did enjoy the tangy-sweetness in the hop flavors...as opposed to overbearing bitter hops. Plenty of malt backing.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2013 03:59:22 | More by MVotter

davidsumner

Virginia

4.28/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poor - Poor's great with nice voluminous head that settles down to a decent half a finger top liner. Some lace. Perfect clear amber color.

Nose - I could smell it while I was poring it. Lot's of Hop. Citrus, Grapefruit, Apricot.

Taste - Very very nice. My only complaint if I could really make one is that it's a little too roasted malt for my taste. But it's not off putting.

Great West Coast Double IPA. I'll be keeping some of this in my fridge. There's a little ethanol heat and it doesn't have that nice malt crystallized sweetness to it; so there's a couple of other IPA's that I prefer, but this is very good and one that I'll be drinking on a regular basis.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2013 21:50:45 | More by davidsumner

MattGoose

Massachusetts

4.19/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Initially a little disappointing - nice appearance and nice citrus and pine aroma but seems a bit mellow or laid back.

A few sips in and the balance and depth of the beer becomes evident. The citrus and pine aromas show up again and are well balanced by a slightly bitter finish. High ABV is completely invisible.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2013 01:35:37 | More by MattGoose