For my trip in July, i'll be visiting Firestone Walker. What would you guys recommend I get? Seasonal (summer obviously) or regular lineup.
Generally the Tasting Room/Visitor Center attached to the brewery has multiple beers including some their limited release beers available for growler fills. I always take home some UDBA since it's growler only. Grab some Parabola if it's top of July or DDBA if its middle to the end of July.
Double Jack, Wookie Jack, Union Jack and Sucaba are all very good. I haven't had Parabola but I hear its very good.
Well seasonal or regular is the question or which is best? Can't really go wrong with seasonal OR all year. But Sucaba and Parabola take the cake id say.
Sorry is there a point to this hahaha . . . drink them all, they're great; surely one of the most reliable brewers out there.
I am not too familiar with their regular offerings, when I was in Cali last August, I was able to pick up both Parabola and DDBA. Parabola is a top 5 barrel aged stout in my book, and the DDBA while not quite on that level, was easily worth the $15 I paid for it. If you can find Sucaba lingering, definitely snag that one. The anniversary beers I've tried have been pretty good, but maybe not worth the $20 or more they fetch.
I've been blown away by Double Jack both times I have had it. Also, Wookey Jack is an incredibly refreshing beer. Wish I have had the chance to try Union Jack, but it is hard to find at all fresh where I am.
My wife just had an amazing time there. She was out there for business and unfortunately I was home. She was poured pretty much everything. Sucaba, DDBA, roofus?, Parabola, etc etc. She was kind enough and brought back some to the east coast for me. She had a great time and people were friendly to her. She said the beer is so much better there fresh then back in NY... Maybe someday I will get out there.
Go to the Buellton Tap Room. Barrelworks just opened and are pouring basically everything rare and its amazing. The regular bar has all the regular lineup, which is also fantastic. I live 15 minutes from the place and am very familiar with all their beers, and recommend setting a few hours aside for this. They serve pretty good food too, so halfway you can grab a bite, and then finish the second half of your tasting. They started doing sours, and they are available in the Barrelworks room as well. The Paso Robles location does not have these available. Go to the Buellton location. Cheers!
Union Jack might be the most well balanced IPA's across the states. They are really putting out some good beers.
Yes, the Pivo Pils is phenomenal. One of the best I've tried brewed west of the Mississippi. I would recommend also the Porter, the Double Barrel, and the Union Jack. Obviously the big limited releases are all nice, but the beauty of Firestone is how excellent and consitent their regular offerings are.
I love Velvet Merlin, Solace, Double Jack and the Reserve Porter. Not big on the Pale 31, Union Jack or DBA. Those are the only 7 FW beers I've tried to date. The rest refuse to go out with me.
EVERY SINGLE ONE. Great brewery with no bad beers in their line up. Might be my favorite brewery. FSW anniversary beers if they're around (Might be as I picked up FSW XIV and XVI just this week), DDBA, Wookey Jack, Parabola, Sucaba, etc...
Everybody's mentioned all the high abv. and barrel aged beers, standard BeerAdvocate mentality. Grab yourself a pitcher of Pale 31 and enjoy it, one of the best Pale Ale's out there.
Dunno what's available when, but Sucaba and Double DBA are both AMAZING English barleywines with 1-1.5 years on 'em...I'd say DBA, as it sounds amazing, but don't get it here yet in MO...the only FW beer I was underwhelmed by was the Porter, and their Double Jack was just 'good' IMO...
I agree. We were there a few weeks ago (buellton). The Rufus w/Brett is amazing, the DDBA Barrell#66 (DDBA aged 4 years in white oak barrells) is phenomenal. Actually.....don't go there.....so there will be more for me.
Agree completely. I've been to the tasting room. It's worth setting aside some quality time so that you can enjoy their library in an unrushed session. One of my top 5 breweries. They will pour you some things that will blow your socks off! And they are as low key as can be. Make the trip!
Was there last September on a VIP tour they blew me away it was awesome!!!! Here's a pic of them making some Parabola!!! All I have to say is that they treated us like kings!!! The next day was a little rough!!! Lol
If you like barley wine you'll love the Anniversary Ale and the Sucaba. Aside from that Double Jack is a superb DIPA.
