Walker's Reserve - Porter - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A great drinker. Black with a flagship of a head, leaving some lace behind. Roasted aroma. Creamy mouthfeel, with a good roast and chocolate, and hops not forgotten, Goldings and Cascade.Nutty. Solid.The only acidic part only with the sediment at the bottle's end.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2012 00:10:08 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.33/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Opaque mahogany with cherry tobacco trim, topped by a large, tight-bubbled, stubborn head of golden beige. Even though it's disappointing initially, by bomber's end there's a fair amount of thick lace in blurred rings. Firestone Walker calls Reserve a robust porter and describes it as "somewhere between porter and stout". If the appearance is any indication, that's right on the money.

Bittersweet chocolate dominates the nose, with freshly roasted coffee beans running a close second. There aren't many other aromas (hops for instance), but then this is one of those dark beers that doesn't need much else. The uncluttered, straightforward beauty of roasted barley is all that is required.

As goes the nose, so goes the flavor. Walker's Reserve is closer to a porter than it is to a stout, although it's my kind of porter... the best kind of porter... the big, bold, richly flavored kind of porter. The beer is well-malted, with gobs of dark caramel, dark chocolate and black coffee roastiness. For that we can thank the murder's row of malts: crystal, chocolate and black patent, among others. There's also wee bit of vanilla, although I can't say that I taste whatever might have been imparted by oak aging.

Sweet and bitter fight to a draw, with my taste buds being the only clear winner. Unlike the aroma (nope, still not there) I can appreciate the grapefruit zestiness of Cascade hops on the palate. They contribute behind the scenes, but that contribution is, I believe, still essential in adding some measure of complexity to the flavor profile. They become even bolder on the finish. As is usually the case, they outlast the malt.

There isn't a thing wrong with the mouthfeel. It may not be as robust as my idea of a robust porter, but it's much more full than your garden-variety porter. While it stops short of chewy, it's smooth, supple and a delight in the mouth. As a result, drinkability is increased in a beer that was already flush with it.

Walker's Reserve is identified as the flagship beer of Firestone Walker Brewing Company. And a fine flagship it is. It has no weaknesses and is a well-crafted, delicious American porter. Even though I haven't quite drained the last ounce yet, I'm already wishing I had another bottle waiting in the wings.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2005 15:49:24 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this one as part of a recent BIF and was excited to finally give it a try. Served chilled and poured into a pint glass, this one was consumed on 02/19/2009.

Nice and very dark pour here with a rich dark brown color that no light could penetrate. This was a monster looking porter I have to say with a menacing two inches of foam on the top of it that cascaded down the sides. The aroma was of light vanilla, lots of oak and woody notes, and hints of molasses and caramel. As it warmed some nice roasted notes start coming off of it. The flavor was as rich as the aroma with lots of sweet malts, hints of roasted notes and a nice bit of caramel and molasses. Light vanilla, not as much as I would have hoped for peaking through. A nice full bodied porter, nothing here was really overwhelming. This was about as solid as a big porter you are going to come across. I would have no issue with trying this one again any day.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2009 00:14:34 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

3.63/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The pour is a dark brown color with a creamy off-white head.

S: Quite roasty with a bit of char to it. There are some sweet caramel and bread notes as well.

T: More roast with some char, molasses, and toffee. A decent breadiness and sweetness to it.

M: Medium body and carbonation. Nothing really out of the ordinary.

D: I'm not exactly what sure makes this "reserve", but it's not a bad beer. Easy enough to drink, but not really worth the price.

Serving type: on-tap

06-30-2010 07:01:53 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a chestnut brown with a nice tan head.

S: Dark malt with a bit of chocolate and coffee notes.

T: Some coffee flavors with some dark malts creating roasted flavors.

M: Quite dry; medium-bodied.

D: A good porter, but not particularly drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2009 15:32:37 | More by Thorpe429

brentk56

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a dark chocolate color with ruby highlights; the tan head pancakes the liquid and leaves many clumps of foam behind

Smell: Chocolate, oak and coffee

Taste: Lots of surprises here; starts out with the anticipated chocolate flavor and adds some oaky complexity but by mid-palate, the hops jump to the fore, adding a pithy balance; a touch more vanilla and oak builds in the aftertaste but they are dominated by the hops

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation; somewhat aqueous

Overall: In a sense, this is the father of the black IPA, with the major difference being the amount of chocolate in the malt bill; in any event, I don't think the flavors work together particularly well so the beer just doesn't match up to some of the others in its category

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2011 06:01:51 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

3.38/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours an almost opaque dark brown with a 1 inch tan head that becomes a film on the top of the beer. Random streaks of lacing form on the glass on the drink down. Smells kind of weak overall. Some roasted malt, graham crackers, and only a hint of any coffee/chocolate aromas. Taste is of roasted malt, bitter cocoa powder, slight coffee grounds, and a citrus zest hop finish. There is a very mild bitterness on the palate after each sip. This is a light bodied beer with a crisp level of carbonation. Kind of watery for what it is. Overall, this is a decent porter but lacks many of the classic smells and tastes commonly found in the style. This is a beer I would like to try on tap to see how it differs from a different serving style.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2011 01:33:36 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a pitch-black color porter with a large dark brown foamy head with good retention and some light lacing. Aroma of sublime creamy black chocolate with light lactose notes and light dry roasted malt with floral coffee notes. Taste is a rich mix of creamy black chocolate with light residual sugar coming through as lactose notes with a dry floral finish with some coffee notes and zero astringency. Body is quite full with good creamy texture and good carbonation. Easily drinkable with good amount fo complexity.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 21:15:29 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.22/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A very classy and bold Porter that hits all the style characteristics squarely on the head and in assertive fashion. Exquisitely balance and very smooth- this beer is a winner!

The dark brown beer shows near-brilliant clarity and with a glossy sheen. A firm tan head caps the beer and carries stubborn retention and leaving rings of lace with each sip.

Firm toffee and burnt molasses flavor carry early malty sweet taste with complements of bittersweet cocoa, bold roast coffees, oily walnuts, heavy toast, and light woody taste. Balanced hops only contribute to the woody, grassy taste with a mild citrusy counterpart.

Firmly malted, the beer starts and finishes very creamy and lush. But early malty sweetness fades nicely into a toasty-dry finish and light spicy hop bite.

Delicious and drinkable, this classy Porter belongs in the conversation with Founders Porter and Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 18:17:15 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a reoasted chesnut brown with a nicely formed tannish colored one finger head that held nicely thru the duration,seems a bit lighter in color than most of the style.Roasted nut,earthy hops,and bitter chocolate in the nose,not much sweetness with a nice mix of roast and somewhat raw earthiness.Mild molasses-like sweetness and big earthy hops upfront on the palate,a finish of bitter chocolate and more raw earthy hops.This is an American hopped up porter,I liked it it's solid.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 20:52:35 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Walker's Reserve delivers an almost opaque black/brown body with just minimal highlights of ruby at the base, and dark mahogany along the upper lip of the glass. Its beautiful, huge, creamy, and yellow-accented tan head holds well and leaves some nice lacing about the glass. The nose delivers a combination of dark chocolate; roasted barley; mildly floral, leafy and grassy hops; and wood that's both welcoming and engaging. Across the palate it's mildly zesty carbonation awakens the tastebuds before it warms to become almost silky smooth. The flavor is bold, with an back and forth tussle between solid roastiness and dark, bitterweet chocolate. Throughout, notes of milk chocolate; toffee; creamy coffee; and leafy hops also work their way in before the finish, which is bone-dry, solidly bitter, and loaded with oaky-dryness and a splash of vanilla. Interesting!

This beer is oddly both more than I expected, and less than I expected. But in the end it redeems itself as an interesting and charming porter that's both easy to drink, yet powerful in its flavor and strength (5.9% abv). It's well balanced and surprisingly engaging. Worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2005 22:24:31 | More by NeroFiddled

drabmuh

Maryland

3.15/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Overall a pretty boring thin porter.

Beer is brown / dark and mostly clear with a thin tan head of small bubbles, some lacing, moderate to low carbonation.

Beer smells like a diluted coffee.

Beer is thin and a little ashy on the finish, moderate to light in bitterness, the forward is a little watery and plain. Not too impressed guys but I suppose there is nothing wrong with the beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2011 17:43:00 | More by drabmuh

zeff80

Missouri

3.98/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out an opaque, jet-black color with a small, tan head of bubbly foam. It had nice retention but left very little lacing.

S - Strong chocolate notes dominate the aroma with toffee and caramel malt.

T - Good chocolatey flavor with toffee and caramel added more sweetness. There was just enough bitter hop bite to balance things out.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry finish.

D - This is a pretty tasty ale. A nice robust porter.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2011 00:54:04 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

3.85/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is very dark brown (near black) in color and poured with a finger high tan head. The head died down, leaving only a ring of bubbles on the surface around the edge of the glass.
S: There are aromas of roasted malts in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and has flavors of roasted malts and molasses along with hints of chocolate.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate with a high amount of carbonation.
O: The beer is very easy to drink for the style because it’s lighter bodied compared to other porters.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 22:44:08 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.7/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours with a frothy, initially three-finger thick, lightly browned, tan colored head that sits atop a brilliantly clear, almost black colored beer that has brown and amber hues to it. The aroma is nice and roasty with definite coffee aromatics. Dusty cocoa powder, toasted grain husks, browned soda crackers, a burnt acidity that is almost wine like at times (though I can't really put my finger on why). Burnt berry aromatics seem noticeable in front of the burnt acid notes. The aroma of this beer is quite roast driven; coffee-like aromatics and touches of chocolate really form the bulk of the aromatic compounds here.

Light and almost creamy feeling as it first hits my tongue. I actually think I can taste the barrel influence, which I was not really expecting. It is quite subtle, but the wood seems to add a touch of spiciness, some tannic structure to the body and some oak-character especially towards the finish. Lightly sweet up front, the malt sugars are quite complex and roasted though; touches of caramel, some accentuating chocolate notes and a fruitiness are what is noticeable. The fruitiness also seems to be driven by some of the roast derived acidity, which is also apparent here. Spicy oak notes almost give this something akin to a hotness that one would see in a distilled, barrel aged spirit. The creamy body accentuates notes of dark chocolate, which become more apparent as the beer warms up a bit.

This is a tasty beer; the oak definitely adds an interesting even significant component, albeit a fairly subtle one. I like how quaffable this brew is, it is light enough, but has a soft, creaminess to it that is just nice.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2007 05:05:44 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.38/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

My night of porters continues with yet another beer acquired via trade from IntriqKen, so a big “Thank you” goes out to him. I told him I was on a porter kick and he certainly delivered. Poured from a 22oz. bottle into a mug glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark brown color with a reddish hue, creates a dense, foamy, tan head that fades slowly and leaves a very thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of chocolate, coffee, dark fruit and some hops.

T: The flavor of smoky malt, coffee, dark fruit and chocolate all come out at once when you sip it. There’s a faint hops background to provide an excellent balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Very smooth and crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: This one is really tasty, goes down easy with a good kick, a little bit filling. It’s the perfect sipper and a very enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2006 06:06:17 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This poured out as a deep brown color with a really nice looking tan colored head on top. The lacing was very light but it did cling to the glass fairly well. The smell of the beer was toasted and burnt almost, there was a little bit of earth in there too. The taste of the beer gave off a well balanced flavor of roasted malts with a dry bitter finish. The mouthfeel of this pretty good too, it had a slightly creamy texture to it with a decent carbonation in there. Overall this brew is quite nice on just about every level. It's a solid porter for sure, this is probably worth trying if you haven't had it already.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 08:08:35 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.88/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Props to my buddy Eric for hauling this from Cali!

Pours a chestnut tinged mahogany with a finger of tan head. Good lacing & average head retention

S: Cocoa & a bit of coffee

T: Cocoa & coffee up front, plus some dryness. Roasted grain & some mocha as this warms. Finishes dry with a bit of leafy hops & apricot fruittyness blending with roasty grain

MF: Medium bodied, pretty smooth with moderate carbonation

Drinks easy enough, a solid porter

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2008 04:43:18 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

2.85/5  rDev -26.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

22 oz. bomber, from BevMo Huntington,

A: Pours a very dark brown, with a full tan head, medium retention, looks like a good porter should in a pint glass.

S: Light roasted malts, chocolate.

T: Flavour consists mostly of roasted malts, coffee and dark chocolate, typical porter flavours, on the light side though. Hints of licorice, molasses, and wood notes evident as well.

M: Really fizzy, for a beer labeled as a Robust Porter, it needs to be robust.

D: Not one of Firestone's best, there are much better American versions on the market, average drinkability at best.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2008 22:28:27 | More by Halcyondays

emerge077

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Transfers placidly into a hefty mug, tawny glints of mahogany at it's edges, black in the center. Sticky khaki liddage. Frothy lacing all around. The head eventually breaks up in the center, leaving a khaki coastline around the edges. A second pour rekindles the foam, and forms a convex dome that rises above the lip of the glass momentarily.

Very dry, roasty toasted malt aroma. A classical porter, nothing really jumps out at you.

Dry roasted malt, clean and roasty, with little aftertaste at all. Thankfully not sweet or cloying, a big boy porter. Flavor is a little bit mellow, seems to focus on the black patent malt, roastiness in a vacuum. Some molasses and honey essence. Dry with very little residual bitterness, just a touch.

Very drinkable, a west coast challenger to local midwest favorite Edmund Fitzgerald...

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2011 04:11:44 | More by emerge077

Gavage

New Jersey

4.15/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: dark brown in color with a 1" tan colored head.

Smell: mild chocolate and a hint of coffee are pleasant on the nose.

Taste: mild roasted malt tone with nice dark chocolate, a hint of coffee, and some earthy qualities arrive late. Bitterness is mild overall.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Lightly crisp to start, smooth and a bit creamy late. Aftertaste is short lived.

Drinkability: this beer was very easy to drink. It's well balanced and enjoyable. Nice sessionable porter.

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2011 20:14:23 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to seldomthirsty!

Pours dark brown with a brown head that thins to a swirl and bubbly ring. Some spots of lacing stick. Subsequent pours leave more lacing.

The taste is of chocolate, some earthy (wood/anise), oak and roasted coffee beans. Robust.

The taste is of chocolate, roasted coffee and hint of vanilla sweetness. There is an earthy undertone in the balanced finish.

It hits full-bodied. Solid porter body. It has mild to medium carbonation. Some warmth shows. Slightly astringent.

Oak plays well, giving an oak touch without dominating a solid porter. Very nice!

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2009 00:06:46 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

22oz bottle, thanks to doktorzee for packing this back from Cali for yours truly.

This beer pours a clear, dark reddish brown hue, with two ample fingers of densely foamy, chunky beige head, which leaves some nice loosely honeycombed lace around the glass as it evenly subsides.

It smells rather underwhelmingly of lightly roasted caramel malt, a bit of sweet biscuit, bittersweet cocoa, fleshy drupe fruit, and leafy, somewhat minty hops. The taste is mild caramel and toffee malt, medium baker's chocolate, a hollow musty dark fruitiness, and herbal, earthy hops.

The carbonation is quite understated, and very soft, the body a decent middleweight, decidedly smooth, and a fair bit creamy to boot. It finishes well off-dry, the subdued caramel and steady chocolate notes carrying this one through.

An interesting American-style porter - tasty, but weirdly too laid back, as the herbal hops don't really measure up, and the malt, while suitably beguiling, just seems a little too vanilla, for lack of a better metaphor. Agreeable enough, I suppose, but it needs more kick, and not necessarily in the ABV. Glad I got to try it, at any rate.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 01:11:40 | More by biboergosum

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Well, it's interesting. I have to give it take. Oddly, the aroma reminds me of almost exactly same smell I get from Rogue's Chocolate Stout, which is neither that chocolate-y or roasted. It is a clean, almost plastic-like cocoa essence.

The flavor is another story. The oak aging makes for a very smooth drink with mellow, subtle flavors. There's definite roasted and chocolate malts somewhere in there, but no one flavor really dominates. It ends, however, on long bitter (this is good) note that melts into the oak flavor - which can only be described in my mind as "woody."

Overall, this beer is fun to drink because it gets you thinking about whats really going on. Worth trying if you come across it.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2007 08:39:31 | More by tempest

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to swnicholson in Black Booty '09 for this bomber.

A: The porter is a dark red color that sits like blackness in my glass. Only bright focused spots of crimson are evident when the glass is held to light. Little in the way of foam.

S: The nose has cocoa powder up front, followed by chocolate and mild coffee. An overall sense of chocolate permeates the aroma.

T: The first sip is incredibly rich, layered with decadent chocolate and a lactic smoothness. Coffee follows with a java richness that leaves a full taste on the palate. A mild musty flavor lingers in the background, like the residual flavors from an old-time blended porter. Hoppy bitterness livens up the dark body but doesn't overpower.

M: The mouthfeel upfront is rich and lush, a pleasant surprise. Mid- to late in the sip, hops and a stale beer flavor come through, making this taste like a real porter.

D: The porter is nice, a flavorful ale that I can slowly sip on.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2009 01:42:07 | More by akorsak