Firestone Lager - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

dark brown with a huge billowing white head that settled down to reveal some subtle lacing that was quite nice. Smell was of caramel, grains, and breads, yeast primarily. Taste was typical brown lager. Some subtle spiceness, great all around flavor. Lots of earthy tones, with a ever so slight sweetness. Mostly malts on this one. This was a decent beer, extremely sessionable and a samn fine ca

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2011 03:38:54 | More by mikesgroove

pugpresley

California

3.75/5  rDev +9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I'm bummed they quit brewing this beer. I started noticing the stores around SLO weren't carrying it anymore. This beer is what Budweiser would taste like it was better (guys, I'm not slamming Bud. I'm just saying). This was a good beer for these hot Paso Robles summers. I'll miss it.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2010 22:28:21 | More by pugpresley

barleywinefiend

Washington

2.63/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I found a sixer of this in Lompoc and thought I would try it. I figure the shelf expired but what the heck. Poured a clear crisp gold color with a nice foamy head. Nose is round and quite malty. Taste of malt melds quickly with a bitterness that lingers strongly through a mild floral hop finish. Decent for Firestone and still gets a C.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2009 04:01:08 | More by barleywinefiend

GoreStorm

California

2.5/5  rDev -27.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - not good. little head to speak of and what is there fades rapidly. the color is like a green tea color almost, greenish yellow.

S - grassy and hoppy, nothing to write home about.

T - grassy and hoppy as well, not much of a malt profile.

M - crisp and clean, allright.

D - if you're into these sort of flavors i suppose it's drinkable, i wouldn't be hasty to drink it on my own but if it's around, whatever.

notes - i see why firestone is discontinuing this.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2008 17:51:22 | More by GoreStorm

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.55/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Acquired via trade from Solomon420, so a big "Thank you" goes out to him. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pilsener glass.

A: The beer is a light gold color, with a short white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of light malts, lager yeast and a touch of hops.

T: The taste is bready and sweet, with flavors of German malts and lager yeast. The hops presence is mild, but provides a little bit of balance. Like most good beers in this style, its taste is straight-forward and basic. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Smooth and crisp, light-to-medium body, medium-to-heavy carbonation, finish is clean.

D: Kind of tasty, goes down easily, not filling at all, mild kick, good representation of style, this is nice lighter beer that you can pound down for a long time, however, I would normally prefer something a more flavorful, if I'm going to drink a beer for a whole evening.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2007 02:33:53 | More by TheManiacalOne

Floydster

California

2.93/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle from Bristol Farms in Manhattan Beach

Pours with a golden brownish yellow color with a quarter inch white head into my Firestone pint glass

Smells like a normal lager, but has a distinctive carmel aftertaste

Not very dirnkable for how light of a beer it is

Taste does not last long

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2007 00:32:12 | More by Floydster

Rootdog316

Virginia

3.38/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a slightly hazed golden color with a small off-white head white head. The aroma had a fruity malt character. The flavor had a clean caramel taste. Seemed a little yeasty. Had a corny taste and overly sweet. A somewhat decent beer none the less.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2007 06:47:19 | More by Rootdog316

chadlebald

California

3.25/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Light straw color, with a medium amount of head that retains a slight layer with some lacing.

Not getting too much aroma; a bit of citrusy hops and crystal malt; wondering if my nose is broken (?).

Flavor is well balanced with a fairly long hop finish (albeit lightly). Has a pretty full mouthfeel; thicker than I would have expected. More carbonation than I would have expected too.

Bottom line: it's good, but not great.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2007 05:34:34 | More by chadlebald

Duster72

Indiana

3.83/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Compliments of IntriqKen. Pours a straw color with smallish head and little retention. Aroma is mild with some pale malts, soft hops and yeasts. Taste is subtle with nice malts and some very mild hops to rinse it down. Very clean beer. Excellent session candidate and immensely drinkable. Not a head-turner, but excellent example of style.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2007 11:05:20 | More by Duster72

IntriqKen

California

3.75/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a crystal clear, bright golden yellow with a full finger white head that if full of large bubbles. Steady stream of large bubbles rising in the glass from the bottom
Aroma is clean pale malt and lager yeasts....very clean and light.
Clean all malt flavor that melts to a lightly citric hops and biscuit-like breadiness as you swallow leaving a nice clean aftertaste.
This lager would definately make a wonderful summer cooler and easy transition brew for the BMC crowd.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2006 19:57:21 | More by IntriqKen

ReDave

California

3.55/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very light yellow amber.

white thick head that lingers for awhile. Surprising lacing [at least to me]

Light slightly fruity malt aroma.

Crisp light malty flavor with some hop element.

Could be a session beer, but probably better on a hot sunny summer day, not a cool autumn evening.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2006 02:40:51 | More by ReDave

jeffjfindley

California

4.33/5  rDev +25.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Appearance: Golden yellow color. Pours with a decent head which dissolves into some respectable lacing.

Smell: Grassy, and plenty malty. This is an especially clean-smelling beer.

Taste: The weather is finally starting to cool off. I'll review it again next summer, and it'll probably get a 5. I first tried this at the brew pub in Buellton, and fell totally in love with it. Just a damn good lager. Tastes like late summer. Really crisp and grassy with a fine malty character. Not complex at all, just balanced and good.

Mouthfeel: Satisfying all around. Has that firestone oakiness going on... Great dry finish.

Drinkability: Oh, hell yes. I don't think a more quaffable beverage exists.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2006 03:42:14 | More by jeffjfindley

DogFood11

California

3.88/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pils glass it forms a nice, rising white head that leaves quite a bit of lace all things considered. Golden to yellow in color with lots of fast paced carbonation.

Soft malts are up front becoming sweet towards the end. Malts have a touch of toastiness to them and just enough to be a compliment to the overall offering. Where this beer makes its money is the hop profile. Rather interesting in that its fairly zippy about 3/4 of the way through and then gives way to the sweet malts then zap back in along with some drying to become quite crisp.

Notes: Pleasant offering that is subtle in all aspects but forms together to make an interesting enough sessioner. At 4.2% this is a brew that has a place in my home. Sunday Football brew will make an appearance a few times this year. Oh, one last thing, this brew had that ever so fresh taste to it as well, Firestone seems to have a nice distribution engine as all their offerings I've tried have been fairly new. It helps to live in the same state its brewed granted but thats not always the case.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2006 00:26:57 | More by DogFood11

tonistruth

Nevada

4.3/5  rDev +25%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- golden straw color, perfectly clear. good retent on a 1" white head which settles to a tiny white ring. Plenty of lace on glass.

S- crisp, malty, sweet, and floral hop aromas

T- clean malt sweetness balanced very nicely with floral hop flavor, crisp, sweet pear-like finish

M- great carbonation, nice body, smooth and light, bit sticky in finish/aftertaste

D- session brew written all over it yet can still enjoyed just for the hell of it. Great all around for, looking forward to this one again.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2006 21:48:34 | More by tonistruth

Flamebuster

California

2.9/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I first thought I had tasted this brew last weekend at the Firestone picnic. Now I know it must have been the Double Barrel Ale or perhaps the Special Reserve. They had the tap said lager but now that I have tasted the real lager it is clear the one on Saturday was marked incorrectly.

The lager tonight poured straw yellow with a small white head. The nose was faint but you did pick up a little hops. The first taste was slightly thin with some hops but without any malt at all. Finish was dry without any lingering taste.

This was sort of like a Heineken or another European pilsner.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2006 01:50:51 | More by Flamebuster

SethB2

California

3/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

Firsestone Lager pours a golden color, a little darker than american micros, but not much. Not much head either and very little lacing. Smell is of a little bit of malt and a *very* slight hop bite. Taste is actually fairly decent. A grainy maltiness starts things off, and it finishes with a dry hoppiness to it, though neither of the flavors are all that defined. Mouthfeel is pretty smooth and drinkabilty wouldn't be a problem either. It's an easy drinker, for sure. Not a lot going on, but for a quencher, it isn't terrible.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2006 03:58:51 | More by SethB2

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.88/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bright gold with a suggestion of orange. Lively bubbles hurry up to a beautiful, cream colored head whose surface contains all manner of landscape features. The foam is tacky enough to leave behind small chunks of lace, but glass coverage could be a bit better. Firestone Lager doesn't look like a Munich dunkel lager. It looks more like the 'German Style Pilsner' that the brewery claims it is.

It doesn't smell like either one of those styles. The aroma isn't toasted Munich malty enough, nor is it noble hopped pilsy enough (Czech Saaz are the sole variety in use). It's a bit of a tweener then. Lightly sweet, 'golden' malt and gently spicy hops rule the nose.

Never mind that I'm finding it hard to nail down the style, I like this beer. Does Munich malt, in and of itself, make a beer a Munich dunkel, even if it possesses very few characteristics of that style? And... do noble hops and pils malt make a beer a pilsener, despite it being much more malty than hoppy? I'd say the brewery has more of a case with the latter designation than BA has with the former one.

There's plenty of sweet, almost honeyish, lightly cookie-like, untoasted malt to go around. The Saaz hops lie low for the most part, adding a light spiciness to the proceedings. As is usually the case, malt dominates the beginning and middle, while hops come on with more force on the finish.

The medium-bodied mouthfeel maintains a pleasing lagery smoothness from beginning to end. A modest amount of mouthcoating keeps it from being considered clean. Carbonation is on the low end and works well in the grand scheme of things.

I've always been impressed with Firestone Walker Brewing Co. beer in terms of presentation. From the bottles to the information packed labels to the beautiful bottle caps, they always look great before the crown is cracked. The beer itself is more variable, although almost always good. Firestone Lager is capable, balanced and eminently drinkable. Sometimes that's enough.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2006 12:52:03 | More by BuckeyeNation

Bcant

Michigan

3.23/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This is a slightly hazy golden lager, with decent carbonation but poor head retention. The aroma is doughy; smells are close to raw or undercooked pizza crust. There are also some notes of honey. Flavor is not very complex. The subtitle of the grainy aroma is lost, revealing straight-forward larger malt flavors. Grainy mouthful transoms to an oily palate with some very thin floral hops and a dry finish.

Note: there is nothing wrong with this larger it is just not very interesting. Not a bad choice for a summer BBQ or tailgate.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2006 04:33:56 | More by Bcant

beersarang

California

2.93/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours the typical golden lager color, but not brilliant in any way. Actually more of a straw color with a head that is first impressive, but quickly fades into a thin collar. Nonexistant lacing.

Mild grassy aroma.

Flavor, somewhat earthy, Where are the malts? Hop bitterness comes in strong, not too balanced in any way.

Carbonation is too high, mouthfeel wasn't particularly enjoyable.

I didn't finish the bottle, I don't really respect this beer much, out of balance and not so drinkable. Tastes something like "Budweiser Premium" would if it existed.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2005 06:29:37 | More by beersarang

Mark

California

3.73/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I have had more lagers in the last two weeks than in two years! This one poured a lightish gold, head retention was not the greatest but there was nice lacing any way. Malty aroma with a hint of grassiness. Taste profile was tilted towards sweet malt, light hops balanced it out. There was a little something in the finish that I didn't quite like. I don't know how to explain it, it just was. Still it was not bad, excellent mouthfeel, very rounded and full, yet refreshing and drinkable. One could do much worse when visiting lagerdom.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2004 21:26:23 | More by Mark

Zorro

California

4.38/5  rDev +27.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a good looking clear gold lager.

Smell is sweet and notably malty. Firestone's signature French oak barrel brewing gives this a vanilla scent.

Taste is sweet at the start with a wine like fruity flavor that is finished by a medium bitter hop flavor. Vanilla and woodiness from the oak shows up in the flavor. This is better than the Pilsner Urquell that we get here. I live 20 miles from the brewery so ultra freshness is probably a factor.

Mouthfeel is very thick for a Lager.

Super drinkable brew and not a high test brew at 4.2% I don't think this brewery can make a bad beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-18-2004 03:21:40 | More by Zorro

surfmeister

California

3/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I found this beer so average, that I'm not going to go into too much detail. Yellow, fizzy head which disappeared within minutes, pleasant smell, balanced but faint taste profile, thin mouthfeel, drinkability similar to any macro.
A Bud-like micro. No reason to pay a cent more for this brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2003 18:48:56 | More by surfmeister

Gusler

Arizona

3/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The archetypical lager gold color on the pour with a modest sized head that is frothy in texture also bright white in color, with the residual lace a fine sheet to cover the glass. The quintessential malt nose, crisp and clean, start is lightly sweet, top is light to moderate in feel. Finish is mildly acidic with the hops sparse in their spiciness, very dry, as with most of their beers, a bit too thin-waisted for me to give them much of a score.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2003 23:45:02 | More by Gusler

beerguy101

California

3.25/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Medium gold color, slightly cloudy. Small white foamy head. Aroma is grainy and a little sweetish. A hoppy and malty lager. Good flavor. Rounded mouthfeel, Slightly citrusy. Finish is crisp. Aftertaste is slightly bitter. Kind of a typical lager, would be a good lawn mover beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2003 04:07:18 | More by beerguy101

beernut7

Massachusetts

3.23/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This clean brew pours a clear crisp gold color with a nice foamy head. The aroma is round and quite malty. The initial flavor of malt melds quickly with a bitterness that lingers strongly through a mild floral hop finish. This lager is clean, crisp and quite drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2003 20:34:37 | More by beernut7