As soon as once more, Beer Santa was beneficiant to Drinkhacker HQ in 2024, delivering the most recent Firestone Walker Anniversary Ale and a brand new lineup from the brewery’s Brewmaster’s Collective which we’re slowly making our means by way of. This ain’t Miller Mild, people. Considerate beer consuming takes time!
We’re kicking off our considerably belated Firestone Walker protection with a have a look at their twenty eighth Anniversary Ale. You learn that proper. Firestone Walker has been pushing the boundaries of beer making for practically three many years now, and 2024 was certainly one of their most bold but with the launch of their first non-alcoholic providing and a number of other experiments with fruit and better gravity. What sort of beer do you make to have a good time such a busy 12 months? An enormous one.
As earlier than, Firestone Walker’s brewers left the mixing of this particular launch within the succesful arms of their winemaker mates who arrived at a mixture of seven totally different beers (the most important quantity but on this mix, to my data). The bottom, a full 65% of the ultimate make-up, is a mixture of Firestone favorites Stickee Monkee quad and Bravo imperial brown. The remaining 35% is comprised of two stouts, PaRyebola racked into “tremendous moist” rye whiskey barrels, Double DBA, and the final of their bourbon barrel-aged collaboration with Weldworks dubbed ParabaNoche. High dressings of Helldorado blonde barleywine and Velvet Merkin oatmeal stout spherical out this elaborate brew. Let’s test it out.
The beer pours not fairly as intensely darkish as another anniversary ales. It’s extra an amber brown, like maple syrup, with a modest milk chocolate-tinged head. Whereas the colour could also be a bit lighter than regular, the aroma is each bit a Firestone barrel-aged bruiser with huge notes of espresso, chewy caramel, and darkish chocolate pudding. Because it opens, Luxardo cherries and sugary figs arrive whereas a definite cookie butter be aware supplants a number of the caramel and low, giving the aroma an air of decadent chocolate cream pie. The palate is, as soon as once more, masterfully constructed. For all these barrel-aged beers within the mix, most seeing numerous whiskey affect, this doesn’t come throughout overly boozy or sticky candy but nonetheless showcases loads of whiskey barrel affect. Early flavors of vanilla fudge, malt balls, and barley sugar give approach to toffee and gently bitter espresso grounds. The midpalate sees delicate pie spice and darkish chocolate fudge earlier than a silky end of crème caramel, graham cracker, and toasted coconut. It’s one other standout celebratory mix from the parents at Firestone Walker.
12.7% abv.
A / $13
Firestone Walker XXVIII Anniversary Ale
$13
