Firestone 13 - Anniversary Ale - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

csmiley

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours nearly black in color. Slivers of dark brown show at the very edge. It ends up with a slight tan head that shows average retention. Given the 12% mark, this is pretty good. Very light lacing stays in the glass. Appearance is good, not great.

S - Starts with strong aromas of vanilla and cocoa. Actually, I really like the was this one is starting out. Something about it stands out for me. Alcohol soaked cherries come in soon thereafter and stick around til about midway. Thick sweet bread is present midway to end. Touches of milk chocolate finish it all up. Very well done.

T - Tons of chocolate and cocoa up front. Also, there is a light sweeter flavor that is mixing with the chocolate. Could be a combination of caramel and honey. The 12% really doesn't lond back in the flavor. It's almost too much. Almost. Coffee and toffee hong out right around the middle. They mix with some dark fruit (mostly cherry) very nicely. Again, with the thick sweet bread. I like it though. Vanilla starts to shine as this one warms.

M - Fuller bodied with light carbonation. Finish starts out sweet and ends with a warm feel.

D - Drinkability is pretty remarkable for a beer this big. It's very well put together with a layering of flavors that just keeps going and going. Really, at every turn there is something that grabs your attention and keeps it very intriguing. Based on my experience with other Firestone Anniversary releases, this one easily lives up to expectation. Kudos to FW for another stellar brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2010 23:48:25 | More by csmiley

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California

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4/5  rDev -9.5%

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Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -32.1%

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Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

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4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

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Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

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4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

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California

4/5  rDev -9.5%

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California

5/5  rDev +13.1%

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California

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

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4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

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New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

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Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

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4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

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New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

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California

5/5  rDev +13.1%

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Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

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Oregon

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

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South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

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Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

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Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -9.5%

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Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

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Virginia

4/5  rDev -9.5%

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xhuskr

California

4.73/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Cracked this one with some friends...to make sure my aged beers were holding up..this one..yep!
A: black beer gold with a bit o'lace
S: complex as you'd expect from a blend...not one dominating aroma...just a mixture as you'd get from standing in a pasture on a Spring blooming day...ahhh
T: licorice, choc..all the usual suspects were present and accounted fo
MF: carb was spot on...smooth on the palate begging for moe
O: Wish I had more

this hit the spot and bummed I only have one left...next up..a FW12 or FW14

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 20:51:23 | More by xhuskr