Double Barrel Ale - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

DM1293

California

4.13/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Taste - The hops are the first thing to hit you and then they immediately dissipate, leaving a lingering finish on the palate. There's no bitter aftertaste, so this Ale is all Bite and no Bark. Interestingly, as I got halfway through, the ale seemed to ease up on the sweet hoppy taste and pulled back into more of a malt taste.

Overall - Its a crisp refreshing brew thats strong, but very smooth and easy drinking. I wish there was a little more flavor to it, but its otherwise solid.

Serving type: on-tap

02-26-2012 02:25:47 | More by DM1293

amart79

California

3.8/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap

A - Clear golden brown color. A decent head that dissipates fairly quickly.

S - nice fresh smell. A little toasty with a fresh citrusy hops.

T - pretty smooth, bready/malty taste with a little bitter bite at the end.

M - just the right amount of carbonation. It was very smooth on the palate.

Overall - Good solid beer. It's got just a little of everything you'd like to be there.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2012 06:29:12 | More by amart79

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.9/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a Victory tulip/snifter glass. Bottle date is 11/21/11, so nearly 3 months old at this point.

A: Pours a really pretty clear reddish orange color. I got about a half finger of soapy off white head. It's a very clear beer. Good carbonation. You get some sticky lacing bits on the swirl.

S: Biscuity, bready malt sweetness. Basically no hops on the nose.

T: This is just an easy sipping, session beer. Very malt forward as per the style. Only hops used in the boil were probably mild additions. It's very smooth sweet malty goodness.

M: Light to medium bodied.

O: It's a nice representation of the style. Nothing mind blowing or anything, but I'd order it again in a bar to see if getting it fresher does anything for the hop nose and taste.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 14:48:55 | More by inlimbo77

BenHesk12

California

4.25/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Admittedly, I may have a bias towards the Firestone DBA because it was the first craft brew I ever drank, and I lived near the brewery for many years so fresh Firestone was always the choice at restaurants. Appears a classic pale ale coppery brown with a soft creamy head. Smell is average EPA but the oak really stands out. The mouth feel is soft and smooth. The flavor seems to combine a traditional english ale with a cali PA to make something memorable, especially if you like beers aged in oak. The guys at Firestone really created an outstanding beer out of a simple style with this one.

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2012 02:21:55 | More by BenHesk12

beergoot

Colorado

3.1/5  rDev -16%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

The beer pours out of the bottle and presents a nice, very clear copper-colored body with a decent thick, white head.

Mild biscuit-like malt aroma. Faint, grass-like hop presence.

The taste is pretty subdued. A tad bit of light malt flavor, a hint of bitterness at the finish. There is a satisfying smoothness to this beer, crisp and clean on the finish.

Certainly a good beer, a nice representation of the style. Nicely balanced. A good beer to introduce craft beer newbies to, I suppose.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 20:07:31 | More by beergoot

ely2000k

California

3.4/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I hadn't had this in awhile, and decided to pick it up again and see what I thought. Overall it's pretty solid, but I realize now that I prefer a lot of other stuff by Firestone much more. I can see why they call this an English Pale Ale... it certainly has many characteristics of one. The look is spot on for the style. Dark amber hue, good clarity, looks pretty in the glass. The nose has a bit of "medicine" smell to it, mixed with perhaps some herbal tea. I used to find this smell nasty, but I do enjoy it in some beers now. Taste... has a very "tea like" taste, some bready malt, and some slightly bitter hops that come through on the end. I find the taste to be very English. Mouthfeel has good carbonation, but perhaps does feel a bit full for the 5.0% alcohol. I do enjoy this beer a lot, but I don't think it's a regular drinking beer, and I think it works better as an occasional deviation.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 05:21:42 | More by ely2000k

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured out as a nice looking amber color with a decent looking head on top. The retention and was nice along with lacing. The smell of the beer was malty with a nice hop aroma in there also. The taste of the beer had a solid balance also. Very drinkable mouthfeel, lightly carbonated. Overall this beer was pretty, it's something that is easy going and not too extreme.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 03:45:52 | More by Knapp85

Drinkerofales

California

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours crystal clear amber with a large off white head that would have spilled over the SA Perfect Pint glass if I hadn't stopped pouring the beer about 65% of the way. Not much lacing.

Smell is bready, that's the first thing I noticed, then slightly roasty with a hint of hop fruitiness and yeast.

Taste follows closely, bready malt body, with a flash of bitter hops at the end, and a strange toast aftertaste.

Feel is smooth and light, without being fizzy. Great carbonation makes this feel almost creamy.

Overall, not a bad beer, especially if you don't want get too crazy. Easy for me to drink, except the toast aftertaste might be unappealing to some, but it's enjoyable for me.

DOA

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2012 09:54:13 | More by Drinkerofales

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.73/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

this ones all over the map. pours a brassy bronzey color with a one inch head quickly fading but leaving nice lace each sip. smells fairly straight forward, a little malty but nothing unique. flavor is not too exciting either, but it is delicious. just a well rounded glass of ale, the definition of a session beer, gorgeous malt profile just the smallest sweetness at the end. doesnt stand up to pickled garlic, jalapenos, and okra, but thats alright. will be buying this one when i plan to sit out back and watch a long slow sunset over the rockies...

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 02:14:42 | More by StonedTrippin

tony223366

California

3.55/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Good looking beer! Excellent clarity with a rich copper color. Two fingers of white fluffy head. Small bubbles interspersed with large ones. Fantastic lacing is immediately present. Some action from the carbonation lingers for a while.

S: Rich caramel and a dark fruitiness is present in the beer. A small amount of breadiness. Hard to come across much by way of hops. Smells like it could be sweet.

T: Taste follows the nose. Rich caramel hits me first. Followed by a mild hop citrus. That quickly gives way to the dark fruit. Maybe even some brown sugar. A breadiness exists throughout as well. The finish is a little bitter but mostly clean.

M: Medium body with crisp carbonation. Smooth and almost creamy.

O: Very drinkable but almost a little cloying. It's interesting how much this feels like a dessert beer. Unfortunately this falls into the category of very average for an English Pale Ale. Not quite sessionable enough to be truly great.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 08:20:14 | More by tony223366

EricCioe

Montana

3.55/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to my neighbor Andrew for picking this up on a swing through CA.

This pours a medium copper with a frothy head that dies down to a little ring and island that leaves decent lace. On the nose there is caramel, esters, toasted malt, and earthy hops. It's well-balanced almost to a fault. In the mouth the toast and earthiness of the hops are the central players. The finish is medium and there is very good drinkability with this one, as the low abv and lack of super-assertive flavors make it easy to consume in quantity.

Overall, this is a decent beer, not a favorite, but not bad. I like my sessions brews a little more assertive and a little less balanced, but that's just me. The quality here is undeniable.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 22:08:18 | More by EricCioe

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

2.53/5  rDev -31.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a pint glass.

A: Pours a golden amber with 1 finger of head that dissipates quickly leaving behind spotty lacing. Low carbonation and excellent clarity.

N: Bread and caramel primarily. There's really no hop aromas coming off of this at all save for hints of grapefruit.

T: Bread and grapefruit upfront followed with some caramel and toasted grains. Finishes with bread and grapefruit. Meh.

M: Medium bodied, smooth and clean.

O: I'm not impressed. This is a very mediocre EPA. The only good thing about this beer is how easy drinking it is.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 17:08:10 | More by justintcoons

Nugganooch

California

3.58/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Firestone Walker's flagship Double Barrel Ale. A brew I probably take for granted and grow tired of often becuase it in every restaurant nowadays. Having attended college on the Central Coast of Cali lets just say DBA has been around and I have been around DBA. Each time I revisit brings thoughts of an English Style Pub. With a Passion for the Pale.

12oz Bottle Dated 10/04/11
*Pint glass

A: DBA Pours a clear copper like amber color with a perfect khaki two fingers of cakey foam. Head slips away slowly leaving a maze of lacing.

S: Smell is malty with a sweet carmelized sugar aroma and a dry leaf tobacco component. The combination of spice, earth, and wood notes. Some light pines as well.

T: Has a caramel toffee malt sweetness overall. Although served up nice and light with a distinct moderate hop bitterness. Oak breezes through with some pine and earth notes. Drinks more like an English Bitter with the woodsy flavors really well incorporated. Incredible in balance.

M: Light to medium body with a frothy mouthfeel and dry crisp finish. Perfect carbonation levels.

D: Simple yet complex. Great caramel flavors and nice hop bitterness yet sessionable at the lower ABV range. Barrell treatment provides another intricate layer of flavors. Still tastes fresh and delicous after 2 months.

As I sit back and reflect to break down this old friend it all makes perfect sense as to why this is so flagship. Everything just comes together to make perfect sense.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 23:11:17 | More by Nugganooch

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

3.63/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The Firestone DBA, a beer that is not an ESB, not an Amber ale and barely a pale. This beer doesn't know what it is and neither do I. Though this beer may be in a bit of an identity crisis, It wont disappoint.

Pours light brown/red with a whitish head. It smells of some dry hopping but mostly malt... almost entirely malt, smells like a red to me. A good unique caramel malty sweetness and sugary character. This beers taste is mostly malt driven but you can definitely taste the hops, though theyre not strong and the beer seems overly bitter considering the relatively light hop influence. A somewhat numbing character in my mouth is to thank for the bitterness but the beer is rather drinkable.

This is a good beer that just doesn't know what it is, its all over the place and therefore, doesn't really land among the greats.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 05:41:51 | More by TwelveOunces

Cinderbike

Nevada

3.53/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had as part of a NYE party.

A - Copper/light brown, clear, off-white head.
S - Bread, malt, more malt. Faint floral and earthy hop aromas.
T - Caramel/malt sweetness. Some hop bitterness. Nice carbonic bite.
M - Thin with good carbonation.
O - Not every beer has to be a huge in your face DIPA or RIS. This is a good go-to drinking beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 03:36:11 | More by Cinderbike

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this on 2012-01-01 in Columbia, PA

A - Beautiful, clear orange-caramel with a 2-finger off-white head that unfortunately disappears quickly. Little lace.

S - Floral, light sweet malt. Not very strong.

T - Light pale and caramel malt sweetness, citrus flesh and rind, mild oak,pretty good amount of hop bitterness. Dries quickly and leaves a light coating of oak, caramel and citrus zest.

M - Light body and medium carbonation. On the watery side.

O - Certainly sessionable but not one of my favorites from this brewer. I found the flavors insipid, perhaps because of the style, but there are many other sessionable beers I'd pick before this. My wife liked this brew quite a bit more than me.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 18:51:58 | More by Tucquan

NittanyBeerFan

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass

Coppery amber in color, there is not much head or activity within the body of the beer. Fairly still throughout, though a wisp of bubbles does appear on the surface.

The aroma has some fruity esters, much like those of an APWA...mainly apricots. There is a malty sweetness that comes through as well. On the palate, it permeates all aspects of the beer. Balanced well with the fruity esters of the British yeast, this beer tastes really darn good. Some piney and grassy hop flavors round it out.

Fairly still on the palate, seems about spot on for an English style. Overall, I would definitely grab some of this for everyday drinking.

Been a long while since I have had an English Pale that I have enjoyed like this one..

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 00:06:01 | More by NittanyBeerFan

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.28/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz snubby into a dark horse pint glass

A- DBA casts a bronze going towards light brown with a dark cream colored inch of foam that dies. Just a ring around the collar over time. No lace.

S- Smell is very malt driven. The english influence in the malts chosen is evident. Apple skins come up with a deep sense of caramel. A slight candy vibe after some warming. Some cereal comes into play and kills the scent for me.

T- This is pretty much your standard English Pale, except it's a bit darker in color, bolder in the nose and the taste is evidently more malt driven than any of the style that I have had. Maybe the style should be changed. A very deep amber ale if there was one. Fruit juice, malty caramel sweetness. Is there any barrel in this?

MD- The feel was pretty dim, not very lively, yet it is English driven so It might be adaquate. Taking time with this beer, I felt that the mouthfeel fit whatever firestone was going for here. While this is not all that jazzed up, it remains a simple beer, that has some taste. Drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2011 03:27:29 | More by onix1agr

Treebs

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle served in a shaker pint glass. This was on the menu at Claim Jumper which was strange since we still don't get this in stores here.

A: Pours a clear dark amber with a one finger off white head that quickly recedes to a thin ring. It leaves some splotchy lace on the way down.

S: Some caramel malts, a touch of roast, a little pale lagery type yeast.

T: A little bit of the barrel is shown here. Slightly woody and sweet from the booze. Caramel malts are present as well with a touch of light citrus hops on the backend.

M: This was very sessionable. My glass was emptied before I even know what happened. Highly drinkable.

O: While not the best tasting, it was highly drinkable and it went incredibly well. A solid beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 13:45:21 | More by Treebs

elNopalero

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Tried this from the bottle and on tap at the brewery.

The filtered (regular) DBA has a crisper flavor than the unfiltered version. There’s a nice and toasty malt flavor to this honey-blonde looking beer, with some sweet nutty flavor and a touch of honey on the finish. Simply put, it’s a delight to drink.

(9/2011) One of my favorite beers from one of my favorite breweries. Of course, I could say that about any number of their beers.

Gave this one a vigorous pour into a tall Moonlight Ale pint glass. I immediately get an inch of foam. Big, billowy bubbles topping a wonderful caramel brown colored beverage.

Looks great, smells great too. I get a mellow caramel roast on the nose and full flavors from first taste. Warm, pleasant mouthfeel. Muted hints of oak/barrel-aging—but ever-so slightly, which should be expected since this beer isn’t aged, merely resting for a brief nap. Very mild, pleasant, some well-worn leather and light malts. Overall just a well-rounded, smooth, incredibly balanced beer. Not big, hoppy, or otherwise extreme—just excellent.

Serving type: on-tap

12-18-2011 06:08:24 | More by elNopalero

Tone

Missouri

3.95/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, copper color. 1/3 inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and decent lacing. Smells of citrus hops, sweet malt, slight yeast, hint of alcohol, candy sugar, and a hint of pine. Fits the style of an English Pale Ale, but is trending towards an American Pale Ale. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of sweet malt, citrus hops, slight pine, hint of pale malt, hint of yeast, and a hint of caramel malt. Overall, good appearance, aroma, body, blend, and feel.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 22:17:00 | More by Tone

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clean orange-ish to yellow color with a light tan head. In the aroma, mellow fruitiness and oaky presence. In the taste, fruity, small oak, and a caramel like presence. A small bite and medium bodied mouthfeel, with a lightly dry fruit and caramel like aftertaste. Very English, nice oak and fruit presence.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2011 20:58:45 | More by OWSLEY069

DarthKostrizer

California

3.28/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Look: Pours a nice reddish brown color with a 1/2 inch tan head and great retention and great circular lacing

Smell: Upfront is a bit of earthy hops and to be honest I don't get much else

Taste: Very sweet forward character. The combination of the hops and malt create a unique fruit sweetness that I am not a fan of. The beer also has a brandy character maybe from the barrel again..Not sure if they used brandy barrels or not and the beer finishes with some caramel and toffee

Mouthfeel: Medium to low body and and medium carbonation

Overall: I am confused by what this beer is trying to be actually. I found it overly sweet and not all that enjoyable

Serving type: on-tap

11-22-2011 01:41:00 | More by DarthKostrizer

alli4051

Colorado

3.83/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a SA perfect pint

Poured a clear tarnished copper with a small off white head. A somewhat aggressive pour gets about a finger and a half of head that recedes quickly with chunky lacing. Nose is earthy, biscuity malts. Taste is also malt forward with a faint, but pleasant, hop finish. Malts are bread and toffee notes rounded out by a nice herbal and tea-like finish. Medium bodied and a bit light on the carbonation. Feels more like and amber than a pale, and English amber? Is that even a style? What ever it may be it is a solid, drinkable brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 23:54:07 | More by alli4051

tronester

Oklahoma

3.78/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear amber color with a thin off-white head. Smells primarily of rich English toffee and malts. Taste is up front a toasty biscuity malt, followed by the herbal, earthy and tart flavor of Goldings hops. Mouthfeel is full, nice low carbonation. Overall quite good, a pretty accurate example of a English Pale Ale.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2011 01:05:43 | More by tronester