Double Barrel Ale - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

illidurit

California

3.65/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap. Copper color, with a bright white head that clings to the glass. Aromas of toasted malt and some citrusy hops. Flavor is grounded by the sweet malt as a candied citrus hoppiness lingers atop it. Medium bodied, well-carbonated, easy to quaff.

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2008 05:13:02 | More by illidurit

yourefragile

District of Columbia

3.48/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at the Chart House in Monterrey, CA. My first Firestone beer. Tasted closer to a brown ale to me than a Nugget Nectar, Red Rocket, Big Hoppy, etc (not to say they taste all that similar to each other)
A: A clear dark amber color with a very thin white head that leaves a tremendous amount of thick lacing.
S: Malt, caramel, not overly strong and some hops but not much presence from the oak here.
T: Clean and refreshing, but as I said above, taste reminded me more of an english brown (slightly thicker) than other ambers. Up front taste of roast malt, slight caramel, a little nutty and breadiness. Finishes with a slight hop taste. Nothing remarkable from the oak present in this. Very easy drinking pleasant beer, but nothing too exciting
M: Medium body, smooth and creamy with high carbonation, clean aftertaste
D: As it warmed up, this became slightly dry with a slightly unpleasant aftertaste like I felt about Duck Rabbit's Brown. Before that I was enjoying this much more. Glad I tried it, but would probably pass on it in the future.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2008 20:44:14 | More by yourefragile

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

Thouroughly enjoyed after loosing a lot of money at Pour 24, New York New York Casino, Las Vegas. The beer seems to be a standard ESB, but with some American hops. The caramel flavors stand out along with slight buttery hints, and a big malt profile. The hops give some bitterness, spiciness, and citrus qualities, but also offer perfumy, pungent, pine character as well. The body seems a bit light for anything called 'double barrel'. I should not have expected a big beer. But the beer is nicely textured if you want a standard amber or ESB. All in all, a nice beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-07-2007 20:02:18 | More by BEERchitect

terrapinchris

California

4.05/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer holds a special place in my memory for me, so I'm going to make it my first review here. In college I'd purchased six-packs of it, but my palate hadn't really developed to where I could say much about it. However, a few months ago, I had the pleasure of tasting it from a keg at my wedding (best man had purchased it for me). It definitely doesn't fit the profile of the many California brews that are overwhelmingly hopped. It pours a very deep amber, with a head that recedes quickly. The carbonation is very nearly what I would consider ideal for this type of beer. This had a hint of bitterness in the sip, but it seemed to warm in the mouth and finish with a chewy sweetness. The taste reminded me of a good Scottish ale, where the malts complement the bitterness in such a way that it avoids the sort of cloying sweetness that so many amber ales seem to fall prey to. All in all, an excellent beer for a session if you can find it on tap, Less so in the bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

10-08-2007 18:28:05 | More by terrapinchris

Overlord

California

2.08/5  rDev -43.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Wow. What a disappointment. I hear great things about the near mythical Firestone 10 (one of the White Whales here at Beeradvocate.com), and was eager to try this. I actually gave it a whirl in San Luis Obispo, and yipes.

Not much carbonation, perhaps a one inch head. Taste was ... strange. I almost want to say it tasted as though it was flavored with wood chips. Some caramel/malt overtones, but nothing really to balance it out or add complexity. I see that many reviewers note some faint hops ... I detected none. A thin, strange tasting beer that wasn't my cup of tea.

It looked pretty with a nice amber color, though.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2007 08:53:44 | More by Overlord

Floydster

California

3.25/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pitcher at Baja Sharkeez in El Porto

Poured a much deeper brown than I though it would, had this beer several times previously out of bottle and did not notice this

Good amber and my parent's choice when drinking a beer

Widely available and available in six packs and 22 oz. bottles

Smells more like a brown an ale than a red, but has a smooth taste, not bitter at all

Goes down easy and highly drinkable, also a good summer beer

Serving type: on-tap

09-10-2007 00:30:24 | More by Floydster

DoubleJ

California

3.48/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I have a tough decision to make. I'm at Angel Stadium and I want a beer to go with my hot dog. What should I get? Get Budweiser Select on draft, or part an extra 50 cents for Firestone Walker? Or I could part $12 for a bomber of Corona Light. I'll have a Firestone, please. And it was granted. Time to try it out:

Dark amber in color with a creamy head, it's first impression was better that the watery light beers other fans were guzzling. It has a pleasant flavor of apricot, caramel, and some pine. A quick brush of hops ended each sip. The feel seemed a bit watery, but I'll take this beer over many of the other options available at the ballpark.

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2007 17:23:15 | More by DoubleJ

BradBLR

California

3.35/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This beer was poured a fairly dark brown with a slight hint of red. The head was just slightly off white and very thin. There was a good amount of lacing considering that the head was so thin. The smell was a toasted malt aroma with a slight hint of hops. There was a slight wood smell, but very very faint.

The taste was a sharp malt flavor with a hint of toasted malt essence. There was a nice hop bitterness at the end, but nothing too strong. The mouthfeel was ok, but the CO2 was too strong. The beer's thickness was fine.

A really nice beer to have on tap at a restaurant that does not have craft beers. A good standard in any book.

Serving type: on-tap

01-22-2007 20:23:14 | More by BradBLR

DogFood11

California

1.93/5  rDev -47.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Poured into a pounder it formed a mediocre head that was eggshell white and left traces of lace. Brown body with medium to light carbonation.

A really odd tasting beer. I'm a category geek sometimes and I have no idea where this would fit in. It's kind of its own style so to speak. Has an odd woody backer that effects every pull. Roasted malts are somewhere between charred and roasted, creating a slightly bitter malt bill that is like drinking freshly cut dried kendling. Hops are a bit zippy although they have a tendancy to take a backseat with everything else going on. There is a sort of candied presence as well towards the beginning and lasts just for a brief second.

Notes: I really couldn't figure this one out. Not to say that complex and confusing can't be good, because it most definately can. This is just to much all over the map and the profiles are rather odd and don't blend well....Not for me.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2006 21:09:47 | More by DogFood11

JayTheFinn

California

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice reddish brown with a decent off white head. Malty smell and taste to this one. More so than expected. It's kinda caramel/vanilla like. Fairly full body. Nice and smooth. Goes down easy. This is a good stand alone session beer or I could definitely drink this one with a snack or even a meal.

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2006 03:10:05 | More by JayTheFinn

MiScusi

California

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

I was totally surprised when I got a beer that was as malty and smooth as this one. The carbonation was fairly low (but not so low you'd think it was flat), the hops were very low, but still there just a bit.

There was just something about this beer I enjoyed. This was one of those amber ales that are on the more malty/full bodied side instead of having a generous amount of hops too, but regardless, it was solid.

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2006 02:46:59 | More by MiScusi

SethB2

California

3.18/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at Red Robin in Yuba City.

Beer served in a liter sized mug. Deep transparent redish amber color with a very nice head on the mug. Smell was nothing great. Some hops and a slight amount of sweetness. Taste was similar. It reminded me of what a APA is when it misses the target. Mouthfeel was thin and watery to me. Drinkability isn't bad. It's a fairly non offensive brew, so throwing a few back wouldn't be too difficult.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2006 02:19:16 | More by SethB2

joecast

Australia

3.63/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

clear deep copper color. half inch foamy head leaves little lacing.

aroma is malty sweet with some floral notes. fairly light even after letting it warm.

not much residual sweetness. leaning towards malt, but a nice finishing bitterness. an easy drinker if you dont want to maul your tastebuds.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2006 00:59:57 | More by joecast

poluti

Virginia

4.03/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I had this beer on-tap at the Westwood Brewing company. It poured a lacy white head with a deep amber color (pretty typical). It smelled like a light ale with a hint of floral noted. I enjoyed the smell. It had a great body of smell with the hint of hops hitting the nose- almost spicy. The taste was malty sweet and the hops were present- I wished I had a little more of the bitter kick- but the goldings were def. present which is a great sign for an english ale. It had a bit of a fruity kick to it. The texture was smooth as it lightly covers the palate. I found this beer highly drinkable and have already recommended it to friends who can kind it on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

11-08-2005 06:04:37 | More by poluti

Jamie134

California

4.5/5  rDev +22%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is a British Pale Ale despite others believing it is an amber. Amber merely describes the color. Website says all imported malt and hops. The result is apparent in the taste. It is more of a low-key session beer, highly drinkable. The oak fermentation also contributes a smoothness and sweetness to the beer. Very enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2005 17:32:27 | More by Jamie134

BrewMaster

California

3.25/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On tap at McCormick & Shmick's in Pasadena.

Appearance: Clear reddish brown color with thin, off-white lacing for a head. The carbonation slowly drifts to the top, almost like it doesn't want to go. The head thins very quickly and swirling doesn't really revive the head. It has no stickiness to it and barely stays together as on clump of bubbles.

Smell: Crisp malt aroma with a light floral hop scent. Not much to smell on this beer besides the malt.

Taste: Lightly sour and roasty malt flavor with a bready sweetness. Some faint diacetyl fruit flavors crop up around the earthy hop ending. They combine to give the beer a nice bitter sweet ending. Crisp malt flavor dominates throughout the beer.

Mouthfeel: Dry on the palate yet very smooth. Light to medium bodied and it got lighter in the last quarter of the beer to give it a watery ending. It surely was refreshing on a hot summer afternoon.

Drinkability: I can't say I'd go looking for this beer again, but I probably wouldn't turn it down either. Middle of the road and forgettable, but still tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2005 18:39:12 | More by BrewMaster

baiser

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark copper red, with a small, off white head. Some caramel and fruit in the nose. Medium bodied, crisp carbonation. Decent taste, very well balanced. Bready, caramel, slight fruity sweetness and moderate bitterness. A very drinkable, average ale.

Serving type: on-tap

07-07-2005 19:52:26 | More by baiser

Dukeofearl

California

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

Tasted on tap at a Mexican Restaurant in Cambria, CA on 12/28/04. Pours a typical amber brown with slight reddish hints with a large, creamy head- much larger than seen on many ambers. Aroma is roasty malty, and the flavor follows through with a nice balance of hops at the end- not strong, but definetly present. Definitely drinkable- nothing outrageously wonderful, but pretty good. I had a chance to pick up a six pack on the way home, but passed, not because I didn't like it; there's plenty of good, similar amber ales around.

Serving type: on-tap

12-29-2004 23:43:55 | More by Dukeofearl

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours with a one-fingered off-white head that fades slowly and leaves traces of lace. Medium carbonation and medium bodied. Cloudy amber color. Nose is slightly malty. Starts with some sweet undertones and finishes with a even mix of hops and malt. $1.79 for a 12oz bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2004 23:44:53 | More by jdhilt

mickeymac

California

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

From a 12 ounce bottle, it pours a nice-looking deep orange with a fairly thick head. The smell is mostly summer fruit, with just a bit of hops. The taste is pleasant but not really remarkable in any way. It's just a bit on the sweet side; perhaps another helping of hops would improve it a bit. It's quite drinkable and would probably be a good choice when looking to move friends out of macros and into ales.

Serving type: on-tap

06-30-2004 04:34:35 | More by mickeymac

kmcnair

California

3.63/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled from a 12oz bottle. Pours a deep golden brown and makes a thin white head. Lots of cereal malt character in the nose, not much in the way of hops. Flavor is spicy and sharp, slightly bitter and has a syrupy-sweet malt character. Leaves a creamy coating in the mouth. Rather drinkable, overall above average for the style. I really wish the typical macro brew tasted like this.

Serving type: on-tap

05-24-2004 06:34:39 | More by kmcnair

Zorro

California

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

Pours a nice clear brown ale, dark for a pale ale.

Smell is very malty with some perfume and sweetness, and some hops. Faint wood and vanilla scent from the French Oak barrels they make this stuff in.

Taste sweet malt and bitter hops fight each other to a draw leaving a pleasant range of flavors. Vanilla, oak, caramel, malt, tea, citrus, all show up in the taste. Starts sweet and ends dry and woody.

Mouthfeel is full and a bit astringent.

Super drinkable, my favorite local brew, superior to SNA Pale Ale in my opinion.

Serving type: on-tap

03-03-2004 04:14:11 | More by Zorro

jonnylieberman

California

4.35/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a deep copper/orange almost red color in the glass. Good initial head.

Smelled like a proper California ale.

The taste; Firestone either uses a whole lot of caramel malt, or else this ale goes through a decoction mash. Serious caramel flavor brilliantly balanced with good hop bitterness. Damn fine in my opinion.

Felt very nice in my mouth. Felt nicer going down the hatch

I could drink many of these. I'm kicking myself for having waited so long to try it. I think the packaging turned me off. No matter, for now I know!

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2004 09:05:19 | More by jonnylieberman

Chsyhkr

North Carolina

3.38/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

An English Style Pale Ale from the west coast. Crystal Malt with ample hops to offset and a nice dry finish.

Probably better on tap as it is pretty average from the bottle here on the east coast. Amber to copper in color, little head and not much body. More dry than complex, but not a bad beer. Just not distinguished in any way.

A nice pale ale, enjoy.

Serving type: on-tap

02-19-2004 02:56:33 | More by Chsyhkr

Rumrunner

California

3.48/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pint Glass.

Poured a clean amber color. Very nice to look at. A good head which disappears quickly. Decent lacing. The scents started musty, weak and unenjoyable. As the ale warmed the scents got better. The musty wood gave way to fruity hops. The malt was practically non-existent on the nose.

The flavor is okay overall. The ale has an overall wood flavor to it. Great if you like this but in this ale it masks the hops and malts. There is some fruit in the flavors but the hops have a hard time asserting themselves. There is a sweet vanilla flavor and a bit of a sweet yeast flavor. The malts are present but again they are not strong. Overall the flavors are on the side of unsatisfying.

It has no bite on the mouth. It feels slick and unfortunately a bit oily. It drinks easy and the carbonation has a nice feel to it.

Overall, this is a just slightly above average ale.

Serving type: on-tap

10-16-2003 06:59:03 | More by Rumrunner