Firestone 15 - Anniversary Ale - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

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BA SCORE
96
world-class
-
784 Ratings

rAvg: 4.35
pDev: 12.41%
Reviews: 276
Hads: 508

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Brewed by:
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

California, United States

Style | ABV
American Strong Ale | 12.50% ABV

Availability: Limited (brewed once). bottle (227), on-tap (48), growler (1).

Notes:
This beer is retired; no longer brewed.

18% Helldorado (11.7% ABV) Blonde Barley Wine.
17% Sticky Monkey (12.5% ABV) English Barley Wine.
17% Bravo (13.5% ABV) Imperial Brown Ale.
13% Double Double Barrel Ale (11.5% ABV) Double Strength English Pale Ale.
11% Good Foot (14.3 ABV) American Barley Wine.
10% Velvet Merkin (8.6% ABV) Traditional Oatmeal Stout.
9% Parabola (13% ABV) Russian Imperial Oatmeal Stout.
5% Double Jack (9.5% ABV) Double India Pale Ale.

View: Beers (48) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by chilly460:

chilly460

Virginia

4.7/5 rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Poured a deep orange/crimson, cloudy and low carbonation showing in the pour. Finger's worth of light tan head doesn't stick around for long, minimal whisps of lacing left behind.

S - Wow, incredible aroma booms out of the glass. Sweet honey and deep rich toffee pervade the first inhale. This is backed up by plenty of the barrels, plenty of vanilla and rich oak in there as well. The booziness isn't matching the bourbon I expected, it's a sweeter brandy type aroma. Some rich butterscotch in there as well, separate from the toffee picked up earlier.

T - This blend comes across as a beautifully crafted BA barleywine to me. Immense flavor throughout this beer. Immediate hit is the rich caramel and toffee flavors. The second layer adds complexity, when the barrel hits and you get a very intense vanilla flavor that is well integrated and "pure" tasting. Here's where it gets good, the beer holds up and hits with it's boozy character, a nice brandy/bourbon mashup with chocolate roast character. I can't say I picked up a distinct hop presence, but it somehow manages to finish clean with all this "sweetness" and is just an incredible tasting beer.

M - Nice and velvety smooth, carbonation felt spot on. Again, sweet beer but didn't get syrupy.

O - Just a sweet nectar of a beer. Huge aroma and flavor profile, many layers of flavors integrate perfectly for me. Absolutely loved this one and pissed I didn't grab one off the shelves when it was readily available.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 16:06:22 | More by chilly460

More User Reviews:

ackeeper

Illinois

4.75/5 rDev +9.2%

05-21-2013 21:02:29 | More by ackeeper

rand

California

4.33/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

From 22 oz bottle to snifter

A: Mahogany in color, the brew forms a small coffee-tan head. A few dots of residue speck the glass, but the majority of lacing cascades down the glass under the weight of the brew.

S: Complex nose with notes of chocolate, vanilla, anise, booze. There's a lot going on here, even hoppy citrus notes pop through the rich, chocolaty malt-base. Plenty of alcohol volatiles deliver the rich bouquet.

T: Malt-forward on the palate, the rich caramelly sweetness anchors the flavor profile. Notes of chocolate and anise are distinct, and touch against oak and clove. Ripe fruit rolls in mid-sip, plums, cherries, maybe a touch of banana. The booze isn't masked, but along with a hoppy punch works to dry the palate. Finishes long and sweet.

M: Rich and viscous, chewy. Could use a touch more carbonation to scrub the sugary aspects, but given the booze and hop bite it's not a big complaint.

Another delicious barrel-aged blend from Firestone. I wouldn't be surprised if this came back in a similar form under a different name.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 04:14:34 | More by rand

Zbeetleman

California

4.75/5 rDev +9.2%

05-15-2013 02:30:09 | More by Zbeetleman

Absolut

California

4.75/5 rDev +9.2%

05-14-2013 17:52:28 | More by Absolut

Kendo

New York

4.45/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured from the bomber into my favorite Piraat tulip/snifter-type glass. Body is dark brown with a small khaki-colored head on top.

S: A lot going on in the nose - dark fruits, raisiny port, alcohol, caramel, toffee and brown bread. Wood also noted, along with a touch of vanilla extract.

T: Wow - a lot going on taste-wise too: big sweet malt foundation - i.e., caramel, brown sugar and butterscotch. Also dark dried fruits again - figs and raisins come to mind. Vanilla, wood, toasted coconut and a hint of bourbon are there in the middle and then, surprisingly (given that this beer is about 18 months old, I think) some solid citrusy hops. Alcohol is noted as a drying force in the aftertaste and also as heat in the belly. But it doesn't detract from the taste or take away from its drinkability - I know I should be sipping this slowly, but it tastes so good that I keep coming back for the next sip far more quickly than I should. Lingering taste of coffee in the aftertaste is noted after a few sips. Interesting all around.

M: Body is full in heft; carbonation is pretty modest, though it doesn't feel slick or syrupy. Well, maybe slightly syrupy - but not enough so to take away from the overall experience.

O: I'm impressed. Curious as to what it tasted like when fresh, but right now at about 18 months since bottling, it's quite tasty.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 00:37:59 | More by Kendo

twenty5

Pennsylvania

4.5/5 rDev +3.4%

05-10-2013 18:58:32 | More by twenty5

jkane101

New Jersey

4.25/5 rDev -2.3%

05-10-2013 01:23:32 | More by jkane101

BMart

Pennsylvania

4.25/5 rDev -2.3%

05-08-2013 19:01:07 | More by BMart

dfhhead25

Pennsylvania

4/5 rDev -8%

05-07-2013 03:34:05 | More by dfhhead25

sweemzander

Illinois

4.5/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

22oz. bottle poured into a snifter.

(A)- Pours a murky dark mahogany brown color that produced a subtle tan head.

(S)- A nice and rich chocolate covered caramel meets a raisin-rich oaky bourbon note.

(T)- A really nice combination of chocolate covered caramel meets raisin soaked oak and subtle vanilla from the barrels. Ever so slight bits of cinnamon and leather as it began to open up and warm.

(M)- A super nice smooth carbonation level and a nice balance with the time on it aging at this point. Rich but quite nicely balanced and smooth. The 12.5% ABV is so well hidden.

(O)- I really like the stage this is at right now. Very smooth but rich and showing the barrel very well. I think this might easily be my favorite version of their anniversary beer, even though the 11 aged so fantastically. If you have a few of the 15, crack one now because it is showing really well now.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 17:23:42 | More by sweemzander