Firestone 16 - Anniversary Ale - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

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BA SCORE
96
world-class
-
522 Ratings

rAvg: 4.34
pDev: 10.37%
Reviews: 116
Hads: 406

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Brewed by:
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

California, United States

Style | ABV
American Strong Ale | 13.00% ABV

Availability: Limited (brewed once). bottle (101), on-tap (14), growler (1).

Notes:
No notes at this time.

View: Beers (48) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by DonDirkA:

DonDirkA

Arizona

4.4/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Nose: Vanilla, coconut, dark chocolate, booze, bourbon, oak, hints of cherry, caramel, figs, dark fruit, raisin, coffee, a hint of almond, brandy, brown sugar, burnt marshmallow, sticky molasses. You can definitely smell the barleywines (Stickee Monkee and Helldorado) and the DDBA. While there are definitely a lot of notes in there from the stouts as well. And the barrels come though amazingly (of course).

Taste: Heavy oak, strong booze, coffee, dark chocolate, tequila, vanilla, caramel, dark cherry, coconut, bourbon, caramel, raisin and a bit of brown sugar with a little hint of nuttiness. There are subtle hints of hoppiness. The tequila barrel flavors and alcohol are really powerful here. A little bit too much so. I really hope I can pick up another one and put it away for a year or so to see if those factors chill out. I think I prefer XV to this year's batch and I wish I had some more of those bad boys to sip on. This is great. but the tequila is just a bit overwhelming.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 01:55:11 | More by DonDirkA

More User Reviews:

beergorrilla

Michigan

4.5/5 rDev +3.7%

05-23-2013 05:27:06 | More by beergorrilla

Abrengle

Washington

5/5 rDev +15.2%

05-23-2013 01:16:57 | More by Abrengle

Zaphog

Michigan

4.25/5 rDev -2.1%

05-23-2013 01:04:34 | More by Zaphog

ackeeper

Illinois

4.75/5 rDev +9.4%

05-21-2013 21:00:39 | More by ackeeper

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4.75/5 rDev +9.4%

05-20-2013 04:06:07 | More by Kmat10

Dope

Massachusetts

4.25/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Bottled March 10/05/12.

A: Very dark brown pour with a large, fluffy medium brown head. Head fades at a moderate pace. Decent fluffy splotchy lacing. Good retention.

S: Lots of barrel notes. Tequila? Hmph. Some toasted coconut from the bourbon barrels as well. Lots of caramel and fig with some roasted malt just barely poking through. Maybe hints of brown sugar?

T: Definitely some tequila barrel in there. Surprisingly strong, I figured it would be mild given that it's a small part of the blend. I guess tequila isn't exactly subtle in general, however. Again with the toasted coconut and caramel. Lots of it. Sweet brown sugar, fig and maybe even marshmallow in there too. Mild chocolate and a little char. Finish is oaky with hints of tequila and toasted coconut. Lingering spirits in the aftertaste.

M: Not nearly as heavy as you'd expect 13% to be. Barrel flavors seem to cut down on the thickness. Nice.

O: Another unique anniversary beer from FW. Tequila is definitely an interesting note, not too overpowering but there's plenty of it there. Despite this being over 50% stout it doesn't have huge stout notes. It's more like a big sweet barrel-aged english barleywine with a little roasted malt characteristic in it. Not my favorite anniversary blend but still quite good.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 03:43:43 | More by Dope

taveerin

California

3.75/5 rDev -13.6%

05-19-2013 23:30:34 | More by taveerin

Kreko7

California

4.75/5 rDev +9.4%

05-19-2013 15:53:20 | More by Kreko7

DIPAFAN

New Jersey

4.5/5 rDev +3.7%

05-19-2013 00:02:36 | More by DIPAFAN

bbadger

Texas

4.75/5 rDev +9.4%

05-18-2013 06:49:17 | More by bbadger

coryking

Missouri

4.25/5 rDev -2.1%

05-17-2013 21:34:40 | More by coryking

FreshHawk

Illinois

4.25/5 rDev -2.1%

05-17-2013 13:13:27 | More by FreshHawk

dan027

Pennsylvania

5/5 rDev +15.2%

05-17-2013 02:33:38 | More by dan027

BradStokley

Maryland

4/5 rDev -7.8%

05-16-2013 19:40:44 | More by BradStokley

standardcherry

Massachusetts

4.61/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle

A: Very dark brown/almost pitch black with a thin white head.
S: Starts of very roasty with some coffee aroma and dark chocolate. Followed by vanilla, bourbon, oak and dark fruits.
T: Not as much coffee as the nose, but there is still some roastiness in there. Tastes a lot like dark fruits (plum) mixed with chocolate and vanilla. Tastes more chocolately than the nose would suggest, almost like a chocolate doughnut. Bourbon and oak blend in very well at the end of this.
M: Medium/thick bodied with light carbonation. Works well with the style.
O: Firestone Walker does not disappoint. This beer is extremely well blended to showcase all of the elements. Dangerously drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 05:50:08 | More by standardcherry