Firestone Walker Leo vs Ursus: Wookus

The Stats
Style: Black IPA
ABV: 8.2%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 3.93/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.19/5
- RateBeer: 3.88/5

"Once thought to be extinct, the Wookey family comes roaring back with its wooliest progeny yet: an imperial black rye IPA that is wickedly hoppy, righteously spicy and fearsome in flavor. While exhibiting DNA from its Wookey Jack ancestry, Wookus offers next-generation attitude with amplified hop aromatics and a bit of rebellious dankness. The result is a beer that blends the familiar with the ferocious.  Right out of Firestone Walker mythology and into your glass—behold the beast that we call Wookus."

Looks black in appearance, but when you shine a light through it, it is actually the darkest shade of ruby red. The pour produced over three fingers of frothy, almond-colored head.

A roasted malt and black licorice presence are immediately noticeable on the aroma. Equal contribution from some fruity hops with orange peel add balance as does a little bit of pine.

The first thing I pick up is an abundance of rye and just a general spice cabinet of flavors. This Black IPA is staying grounded in the Black more than the IPA aspect. Dark malts and coffee grounds create a thud of bitterness, but the bitter bite is also attributed to some dank hop flavors. Additionally, there's a multi-grain bread malt taste which adds rustic qualities and keeps things relatively dry. The back end produces some citrus, but goes back to more roasty notes on the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is full and has moments of creaminess. Some of those licorice and roasty notes stick around after each sip and the abv is well-hidden.

The resurgence of this Firestone Walker Black IPA was a nice trip down memory lane for me. A really good Black IPA is hard to come by, so the fact that this is doing a comeback tour is a treat. This Black IPA leans on roast more than hops, but that's they way I like my Black IPAs. That being said, hoppy characteristics are still to be had and their bitterness compliments the darker, bitter notes from the darker side.

Rating
8.6/10

Firestone Walker 21 (XXI) Anniversary Ale

The Stats
Style: American Strong Ale
ABV: 11.8%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.34/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.32/5
- RateBeer: 4.01/5

"Since founding our brewery in 1996, we have specialized in the rare art of brewing beer in oak barrels. In the fall of 2006, we released a limited edition oak-aged strong ale called 10 to commemorate our 10^th anniversary. The experience was greater than any one of us could have ever imagined. We now present XXI, our 12th release in what has become an annual Anniversary Ale. At 21 years old, our brewery is finally drinking age!"

THE FINAL BLEND

42% of final blend
Velvet Merkin (8.5% ABV) Aged in Bourbon barrels
Traditional Oatmeal Stout

18% of final blend
Parabola (13.1% ABV) Aged in New Oak and Bourbon Barrels
Russian Imperial Oatmeal Stout

17% of final blend
Stickee Monkee (12.5% ABV) Aged in Bourbon and Brandy Barrels
Central Coast Quad

14% of final blend
Bravo (13.5% ABV) Aged in Bourbon Barrels
Imperial Brown Ale          

9% of final blend
Helldorado (13.5% ABV) Aged in Rum Barrels
Blonde Barley Wine

It looks black in the picture, but it is just an intensely dark ruby red with brown edges and less than a finger of tan head.

Dark fruits and rum hit me first on the aroma. This has plenty of vinous notes to go around too. Sweet bourbon, char, and tobacco hold their own in this fight as does some cherry and roasted malts. The warmer it gets, the more milk chocolate and dark chocolate come out.

Much like the aroma, dark fruits are first and foremost. Raisins, plums, figs etc are coming out of the Stickee Monkee and there's some noticeable molasses and brown sugar to boot. More vinous notes from the aroma with red grape and black cherries adding some sweetness. Faint touches of dark chocolate appear on the transition and make for a nice cherry cordial. Some slight black licorice, but nothing too overpowering. The barrel characters are surprisingly subtle, but spice from the rum and plenty of sticky bourbon is to be had. This is really a solid dark fruit bomb.

Mouthfeel has plenty of thickness and it leaves a sticky aftertaste with each sip. The body is soft and smooth. Alcohol is a refined flavor, but no burning or even warming whatsoever. You can't tell this is 11.8%.

Firestone XXI was a complex blended beer, but I wouldn't rank it at the top of all of the other anniversary ales. The final blend was predominantly stout, but I mostly picked up the Quad qualities here. It still made for a tasty brew. It's another solid edition to the lineup.

Rating
8.9/10

Firestone Walker Helldorado (2017 Vintage)

The Stats
Style: American Barleywine
ABV: 12.8%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.17/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.26/5
- RateBeer: 3.85/5

"Part of the adventure of aging beer in retired spirits barrels is the synergistic interaction of different malt flavors with the oak and spirit flavors from the barrel. Darker beers like stouts and darker barley wines have typically been the favored candidates for barrel-aging, due to their deeper caramel and roasted flavors. Helldorado breaks that mold with a deep golden color from being brewed solely with English and American pale malts. The bready, honeyed flavors of pale malts pull out rich wildflower honey, vanilla and coconut notes from the oak, creating an overall flavor evocative of bourbon-glazed graham crackers that stands as singularly unique in our Vintage lineup. Helldorado may be lighter in color but it is a full-bodied and densely concentrated sipper at 12.8% ABV."

Pours out a dark honey color with a half a finger of white head.

Now, I have actually had this beer before...

VOICE IN MY HEAD: Stop bragging.

...and I remember it being very hot out of the gate both in terms of aroma and taste. Well, here we are with the 2017 vintage and it is familiar territory. Ok, it's not stinging the nostrils, but a lot of booze is prevalent on the aroma. It's almost like bourbon-soaked honey or even a buttery Chardonnay with a big oak and citrus influence.

The taste doesn't have nearly as much booze (actually, hardly any), but it is unexpectedly sweet. Lots of toffee and caramel notes run wild like Hulkamnia while still retaining a lot of bourbon and honey from the aroma. Are Wheatwines just blonde Barleywines? Because I am calling this a Wheatwine since it meets the criteria, so if someone wants educate me then please let me know. I have no idea why, but I'm picking up coffee and even some chocolate. Maybe it's the char from the barrel, but I am caught off guard in a good way. The barrel continues to show its influence with a hefty dose of vanilla and even some toasted coconut. The back end continues with the bourbon and even adds some dark fruits. It's very complex.

Mouthfeel is pretty syrupy, but the carbonation shuffles it along nicely. Again, hardly any booze and no burning sensations. It tends to be a bit sticky on the palate, but so is life.

Helldorado was a significantly better experience than my last interaction. The taste was a bouquet of barrel character that had no clear end to its complexity. It shockingly worked as a dessert beer while still flexing it's big barleywine muscles. What a pleasant surprise.

Rating
9.3/10

The Top 10 Beers of 2017

Once again I find myself looking back at my last 365 days and I am in awe of some of the great beverages I have had the privilege to enjoy. This will mark my 4th installment of my Top 10 Beers list and it has been fun to go back and select only a choice 10 beers that I consider the best of 2017.

I am never satisfied with the number of reviews I do as I always wish to do more, but this was a pretty solid year for me and as with all of my Top 10's, some great beers had to be left off the list. As with every year, I adhere to some ground rules...

• The beer had to be reviewed on the blog in 2017. If I had it at a bar, a bottle share, fest, etc, then it doesn't qualify.
• No re-reviews...they had their chance!
• Multiple beers from one brewery are allowed. Frankly, if the brewery makes that many good beers (in my opinion) then I'm not going to fault them for it.

In addition to the 10 best, I also want to toss in some other categories  just to make things a bit more fun. As always, thank you for the continued support of the blog, but let's get to the fun stuff!

Most Disappointing Beers of 2017

While I understand that I am in no way, shape, or form allowed the right to expect a brewery to satisfy my needs, I will still say that we are all guilty of having lofty expectations which are inevitably shot down in glorious fashion. We've all been there: You read about the beer, you buy it, you drink it, and you are left slightly empty inside. Hey, it happens, we're all human, This is not to say the beer still isn't good in it's own right, but these are a few that just didn't quite scratch the itch I had.

Stone/Abnormal/Paul Bischeri & Patrick Martinez Neapolitan Dynamite

I have a hit and miss relationship with Stone. Some of their beers leave me wanting more while others have gotten the highest of praise from me. In this case with their ice cream inspired stout, I was a jigsaw puzzle with a missing piece that was eaten by Curious George. Only this time, there was no Man in the Yellow Hat to take me to the hospital.

VOICE IN MY HEAD: What?

I applaud the fluffy milk chocolate taste, but all other Neapolitan flavors were either too subtle or too artificial. I thought it was a solid effort, but it did not execute as well as it could have.

Barreled Souls Bourbon Barrel Aged Stay Puft

I want to preface this with my full endorsement for Barreled Souls Brewing out of Saco, ME. It is one of my go-to stops when I am up in The Pine Tree State and I have enjoyed all of their offerings. Stay Puft is an Imperial Stout brewed with marshmallow and graham crackers, which sounds amazing. Throw it in a bourbon barrel? Hell yes! The result? Meh.

At the time of the review, I theorized that the barrel had killed off the flavors of the base stout as I barely got any marshmallow or graham crackers. Some alcohol was left from the bourbon, but the flavors just weren't there.

I can now personally say that after a visit to Barreled Souls last month for their Stay Puft beers and variants, I am patting myself on the back after having the base beer as it was an AMAZING beer without the barrel aging. So, while I hate being right (pfff, no I don't), it turns out my instincts were correct about the BA version.

Worst Beers of 2017

As I disclaim each year, I don't purposely seek out bad beers nor do I try and purposely be cynical in a review. I'm also not putting breweries on blast or trying to be mean for the sake of being mean. If I highlight the good, I'm going to highlight the bad. It's my opinion and mine alone. So, let's read some hate!

Other Half & The Veil Coir Boiz

 Both Other Half and The Veil have made some tasty beers, but this collaboration was a disaster.

I've found coconut to work best in porters and stouts, but not so much in IPA's. Coir Boiz was not an exception to the rule as this was not only an affirmation of my beliefs, but just a bad-tasting beer.

The coconut was overly sweet, metallic, and tasted like sun tan lotion. The creamy mouthfeel and moments of citra juice couldn't resuscitate this IPA from certain death.


Peak Organic Ripe

One of the last beers I reviewed in 2017 turned out to be the worst beer of 2017. While it pains me to dub this the worst beer of the year from a brewery that I love, the numbers simply do not lie.

A double IPA with no genuine hop flavor, but did have plenty of vegetable juice, seltzer water, and burnt popcorn to go around. I really hope this was just a bad can or bad batch because this beer is not indicative of what this brewery is capable of doing.

The Best Comeback of 2017: Other Half Brewing

If you have read my Top 10 of 2015 and 2016 lists, then you saw Other Half Brewing make multiple appearances in my "Disappointing" category. I have found their offerings to range from mediocre to ok at best, but never really got the hype. The year 2017 finally opened my eyes to Other Half as I reviewed eight of their beers (their own and collaborations). With the exception of their aforementioned Coir Boiz, OH really seemed to nail it as I rated five of their beers a 9.0 or higher.

Check out the links below to my 2017 OH reviews and I hope they keep churning out some great stuff in 2018. If you live in the area, go check them out, and if you don't, then work out a trade for these guys.

Twice Baked Potato
Fully Loaded Baked Potato
Two Hundred Thousand Trillion
DDH Double Mosaic Dream
DDH Mylar Bags
DDH Double Mosaic Daydream

Honorable Mentions

When compiling the best of the best, some worthy beers are unfortunately left behind. Here are a few that JUST missed making the Top 10.

Monkish Foggier Window

Citra, Nelson, and Galaxy hops blended beautifully as this Double IPA shined with the white wine and grapefruit from the Nelson and the juice/dank bomb from the Galaxy.

Monkish beers are very hard to come by, so I am glad to have been able to try a few this year. The price is getting steep to acquire these, but hopefully I can bring you some more Monkish reviews in 2018 because they are churning out some of the absolute best IPA's on the planet.



Firestone Walker Bravo

The craft beer world has exploded in the past decade and hundreds of new breweries are opening every year. It's easy to forget that Firestone Walker's barrel aged beers were held in the highest regard. It's a testament to the brewery that they still produce some of the best BA beers you will ever taste and Bravo was another home run.

It's a barrel-aged Brown Ale, but it didn't taste like anything standard for the style. I didn't care since the final product tasted so good anyways. Loads of sweet, sticky bourbon, dark fruits, and plenty of barrel character made Bravo worthy of high praise and proved why this was always part of their anniversary beers.

Other Half Double Dry Hopped Double Mosaic Dream

Other Half really impressed me in 2017 and
DDH Double Mosaic Dream was arguably the highlight.

It was a complex DIPA with juicy hops, but also dankness, and lots of spicy, herbaceous qualities. To top it off, I even got some Saison barnyard funk out of this. This one fired on all cylinders and was an example of OH killing it last year.





Shakesbeer The Tempest

A small contract brewing operation out of Hingham, MA, Shakebeer only has two beers to their name, but hot damn if the one I had wasn't a panty dropper.

A lot of IPA's I had in 2017 did not match the complexity that The Tempest had as it provided juicy mangoes, oranges, black pepper, mint, tree sap, and dankness all in one can. It one was of my favorites and definitely one of the biggest surprises of last year.




AAAAAANNNNNDDDDD Drumroll please.........

We have reached the time where I unveil the absolute best of the best of 2017. I hope you have enjoyed reading about them as much as I have had drinking them. As always, I want to thank everyone who follows the Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages and chooses to like and comment on each post. I truly do appreciate all feedback I receive and am humbled by all contributions by all readers. Here is to another great year of beer in 2018. Cheers!

The Top 10 Beers of 2017

10. Barrel House Z & Vitamin Sea House Call

Cream Ales usually aren't my thing, but even I can't deny how great this collaboration was. Carton's Regular Coffee was once my favorite Cream Ale, but House Call officially took the title in 2017.

A rum barrel aged ale with raisins and vanilla imparted big marshmallow and whipped cream dessert flavors with some quad-like dark fruits all while masking the 9%+ abv and actually making for a highly drinkable experience.

BHZ is a unique operation worth visiting and hopefully you can also check out Vitamin Sea later in 2018.

9. New Holland Dragon's Milk

I get it. I am immersed deep enough in today's scene to know which breweries and beers are the most sought after and what it will cost you to acquire such rare brews. The problem with obsessing over small batch beers that are harder to find than Waldo in a field of candy canes is that you will miss out on greatness right in front of your face.

Dragon's Milk nails all of the requirements of a big, bourbon barrel aged stout and is just as good as any hard-to-get, special release from a smaller operation, but the great thing is that it is sitting on your local shelf right now and nobody cares.

Cherry, vanilla, roasted malts, sweet bourbon, dark fruits, and the list goes on. This beer might be one of the more unappreciated stouts I have ever come across.

8. Trillium and Prairie TRILLBOMB!

You might require a shot of insulin to go along with this imperial stout, but those willing to ride out the sugar overdose will find an incredible stout at the end of the rainbow.

The thick feel and chocolate overload made for a mouthful of brownie batter on each sip with a heaping dose of vanilla and coffee to go along with it.

This was basically a Trillium coffee stout being given the Prairie Bomb treatment, but hey, it was clearly a match made in heaven.


7. Baxter Wicked Dark

Flavored and barrel aged stouts get most of the attention, but when a standard, unflavored stout comes along and knocks your socks off, then you know you have something special.

An abundance of dark chocolate, coffee, cherries, and black licorice flooded the mouth at every turn and produced a stout packed with intense flavor and a thick, unforgiving mouthfeel that coated everything in sight.

Baxter's Wicked Dark outdid many BA stouts I had this year and that alone is worth a hearty pat on the back.

6. Angry Chair Woke

Hey, speaking of flavored stouts (great segue). Maple is now the new big thing when it comes to stouts and Angry Chair Woke is a superb example of how it is done right.

Maple syrup, coffee, vanilla, marshmallow, lactose sugar, and everything else that is part of a balanced breakfast made me wish it was socially acceptable to throw back a 10% stout each morning.

Angry Chair has a lot of hype, and with beers like this, it is easy to see why.


5. Austin Street Anniversary DIPA

On a trip to Maine I stopped by good ole Industrial Way to hit up all of the breweries. Almost as an afterthought, I stopped into Austin St and was immediately enamored with their 2nd Anniversary Double IPA. When I opened my growler at home and sipped on this sweet, sweet nectar, I fell in love all over again.

Mounds of pure hop juice, delicious bitterness, and a bounty of tropical fruits hit all the right notes and made for one of the most complex and delicious Double IPA's I had in 2017. Up until this beer, Austin Street was merely ok in my book, but this converted me to a believer.

4. Trillium Double Dry Hopped Stillings Street

Part of one of my "Versus" series, DDH Stillings absolutely obliterated it's non-DDH kid sister in aroma, taste, body, and anything else you can possibly think of.

A Nelson nuke if I've ever seen one, DDH Stillings brought forth an overwhelming amount of white wine, grapefruit, and orange sherbet. Not to be forgotten, the palate was also flooded with an appetizing bitterness that made for a complex, and nearly perfectly balanced IPA.



3. Exhibit "A" Swordfish

Here's another from the files of "I went to the brewery the day after the anniversary party". My initial experience with Swordfish was lukewarm at best when I had my sample at the brewery. Still, I took a growler home and let it sit for two weeks. The result? Just a pure whiskey orgasm.

Vanilla, toffee, caramel, and an uncanny amount of coconut from the barrels were only some, SOME of the flavors that came off of this intense Barleywine. The whiskey had no alcohol burn and it was just pure taste from the spirit and some hefty rye spice. This is one that NEEDS to be brought back.

*EDIT*: I have been informed that this is in fact on draft right now. SO GO GET IT!!!!!

2. New England Brewing Imperial Stout Trooper

Coming in just before closing time, IST was one of my last reviews of the year, but that only made me kick myself for sitting on this one for so long.

It's an unflavored stout, but the taste offers up so much more than just standard stout qualities of roasted malts as this was a dessert beer for the ages with tons of chocolate, coffee, and vanilla. The flavors and body were so fluffy and comfortable on the tongue it made you never want to stop drinking despite the 9.5% abv. Again, this is an unflavored stout.

Get your hands on this beer you must.

1. Dogfish Head Oak-Aged Vanilla World Wide Stout

In today's world, the latest stout from the most trendy brewery will bring people in droves to a 10 A.M. release with people lining up at 4 A.M. two days before with their three beer mules in tow just hoping to get their hands on their one bottle allocation to trade away immediately. So, why do we do this when perfectly similar, or even better options are available on your local shelf? Who can explain our behavior these days? That being said, if you are looking for a mind-blowing, automatic, systematic, hydromatic Imperial Stout, then Dogfish Head's take on their classic World Wide Stout is one you simply cannot miss.

The standard WWS was a bit too hot for my liking despite still producing rich stout qualities. This version however left me nearly speechless and was an easy choice for the best beer of 2017.

A complex aroma and taste of chocolate, coffee, tobacco, char, massive amounts of vanilla, smoke, and smooth, refined alcohol made it more complex than any beer I had last year. It's a 15% stout great for dessert, or just for sipping on for hours during the colder nights. Dogfish Head has been an innovator for years with their high abv beers, and now they have given me the best beer of 2017.

I'll see you in 2018. Cheers!

Hop in the Delorean, time circuits on, rev it up to 88mph, and relive the past "Best of" lists...

Top 10 Beers of 2014
Top 10 Beers of 2015
Top 10 Beers of 2016

Firestone Walker Bravo (2017 Vintage)

The Stats
Style: American Brown Ale
ABV: 13.2%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.3/5
- RateBeer: 3.86/5

"We proudly present the 2017 Vintage of Bravo, our Imperial Brown Ale aged in retired American oak bourbon barrels. Although Bravo was the first strong ale brewed for our Anniversary Ale blending program over ten years ago, it has yet to see its own bottled release, until now. Balancing rich toasty and chocolate malt flavors with a gentle balance of noble hops, Bravo is brewed to showcase barrel flavors with massive bourbon barrel notes that morph as the beer warms in the glass."

Pours a beautiful mahogany red with a dirty, murky body and a finger of almond-colored head.

They didn't half-ass the barrel aging on this one as the bourbon is plentiful and sticky sweet. There's a small nutty flavor with oak along with a Barleywine-esque toffee and caramel.

The first impression on the taste is just like the aroma: Big bourbon. The oak barrel lends some subtle char, but nothing too extreme or tobacco-like. Some quad-like dark fruits show up with plums and raisins coming to mind and those toffee and caramel flavors aren't too far behind. I'm actually picking up a decent hop presence here as well as bitterness pulls a Scruff McGruff and takes a bite out of me. I got a tiny bit of nuttiness on the nose, but there none on the taste and there's not a lot I find in common with a typical Brown Ale, but hey, since this is better than your typical Brown Ale, I'm not going to bitch and moan.

Mouthfeel is full and heavy, but not syrupy or sludgy. It has decent carbonation which helps move the body along. I wouldn't guess this was over 13% and there is no alcohol to be found aside from a small, boozy warming sensation on each sip.

Bravo has long been a component to the Firestone Walker Anniversary Ales and I'm glad FW has given it it's own time to shine. While not a Brown Ale in your typical sense, this barrel aged monster packs in tons of flavor while not being tough to drink. Combining characteristics of both English and American Barleywines with a pleasant hop bitterness, this one has earned it's spot in the series.

Rating
9.2/10

Firestone Walker Abacus

The Stats
Style: English Barleywine
ABV: 13%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.46/5
- RateBeer: 4.09/5

Happy 2nd Anniversary to ThrewRedButter!!!!! As always, thank you to those who have stuck it out since Dale's Pale Ale.

So...wow...two years. I try to make it a point to break out something special from the collection for landmark occasions. If I do say so myself, I think I chose a nice one.

Firestone Walker's Proprietor's Series has an aura of greatness. This series of barrel-aged beers are among the best in their respective style. Originally released in 2011, Abacus (now called Sucaba due to legal reasons) is an English Barleywine aged in multiple bourbon barrels. Only the 2011 batch saw the Abacus name on the label, but its been five years, so I think it is time we put this baby to good use.

"Confoundingly unpronounceable yet eminently drinkable—welcome to §ucaba, an epic barrel-­aged English barley wine whose original name was undone by a two­‐bit legal challenge. Big, boozy bourbon and American oak aromas combine with soft chocolate malty undertones. Complex malt flavors are framed in oak with hints of dark chocolate, vanilla, tobacco, coconut and just a touch of dark cherry. §ucaba is built to last and can age for years to come (we recommend counting the years with an abacus)."

Pours ruby red in the glass and the pour produced absolutely no head.

The aroma is still boozy after five years, but is a refined booziness and not a stinging, alcoholic mess. After that is a lot of sweet, sticky bourbon, sweeter malts, caramel, toffee, butterscotch, and oak.

I had some concerns going into this that maybe some oxidation may have reared its ugly head after half a decade, but I am elated at the fact there is no infection in my bottle and everything tastes sublime.

A nice rush of malts hit me first which change on a dime to the heavy bourbon presence which has lasted through all of the years. The barrel is also lending a lot of oak and char to this with almost a smokey quality. The aforementioned notes of caramel and butterscotch are here at an unrelenting pace with those malts constantly adding to each flavor. Deep in the back are some cherries and some minor bits of alcohol. I keep getting this other sugary flavor that I can't put my finger on, but the closest thing I can compare it to would be honey or even a marzipan flavor.

In terms of mouthfeel, the body is thick with a syrupy presence, but without being too thick or syrupy (if that makes sense). The malt presence makes for a somewhat drying experience, but it is by no means a desert in my mouth, The malts (again with these things) are everywhere and they are they are last thing to linger on the tongue on each sip. The bourbon and those smokey char qualities also stick around. Speaking of sticky (if I had a nickel), I am smacking my lips with each sip of the glass. Again there is some minor booziness, but overall you can't taste the 13% and you don't really get a warming sensation.

Abacus has the same great flavors and aromas as any variation of Firestone Walker's Sucaba. Does the five years of aging really turn the beer into another beast? I would personally say not really, but that in no way, shape, or form takes away the fact that this is a superb barrel-aged English Barleywine. Incredibly sweet, soaked in bourbon, and retaining all of the oak characters from the barrel, this is just another shining example of Firestone Walker's barrel-aging program. In year's past, this was a component in the FW Anniversary Ales, but this is world class on its own and one of the best English Barelywines I've ever had.

Rating
9.0/10

Here's to two more (hopefully more) years of excellent beer.

I'm on Instagram now!

Firestone Walker 19th Anniversary Ale

The Stats
Style: American Strong Ale
ABV: 13.8%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.43/5
- RateBeer: 4.03/5

If you've read my previous Firestone Walker reviews, then you know what this series is about (See: 14, 16, and 18). Teams of winemakers compete to create the best mixture of Firestone beers and the winner becomes the anniversary ale. The 19th anniversary blend is as follows...

Parabola - 13% abv
Russian Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels (33.33% of final blend)
Stickee Monkee - 12.3% abv
"Central Coast Quad" aged in bourbon and brandy barrels (33.33% of final blend)
Bravo - 12.9% abv
Imperial Brown Ale aged in bourbon and brandy barrels (16.66% of final blend)
Velvet Merkin - 8.5% abv
Barrel Aged Oatmeal Stout aged in bourbon barrels (16.66%of final blend)

Immediately you'll notice that the number of beers in the final blend is significantly lowers than previous anniversary ales. The final product is 49.99% stout, which I love, but I am interested to see if using only the four beers can still produce the same complexity as previous batches.

Pours dark brown out of the bottle, but sits almost pitch black in the glass with just glimmers of that dark brown on the edges. An aggressive pour still yielded just a finger of khaki-colored head.

When inhaling normally, the aroma is bursting with charred oak, dark chocolate, and cherries. When you take a deep whiff, massive quad-like plums, raisins, dates, and brown sugar are smacking me in the face. Like hermaphroditic porn, it is the best of both worlds. 

The best thing I can compare the taste to is a chocolate-covered cherry (which I've never received as a gift...hint...hint). The influence of the Parabola is strong as this has an overall presence of a Russian Imperial Stout. The spirits that are soaking all the flavors are sweet, so the brandy barrels no doubt have the biggest impact. I've let the beer warm up to room temperature and the Stickee Monkee is just shining so bright. Plums for days, raisins, some red grape juice and a multitude of vinous notes make for some incredibly sweet flavors which go well with the brandy and the sweet, sticky bourbon barrels. There's a slight splash of alcohol which I actually don't mind in the case of such a big, complex beer.

Mouthfeel has a rich, thick body which is helped by the Parabola, but the Velvet Merkin has made for such a velvety smooth ride on my tongue. The finish has noticeable warmth from the alcohol with even a minuscule sting, but it's not a deterrent as a beer this big actually handles rather well.

When ranking FW19 among the other anniversary ales I've had, I cannot put it at the top of the list, but that doesn't mean it was not another stellar entry into the series. I was skeptical going in as this blend utilized only four Firestone Walker beers, but the result was (as usual) a rich and complex concoction worthy of being in the Anniversary series. It's easy to say "If you love Parabola and Stickee Monkee then you'll love this beer", but it's only until you actually mix them together that you find out how well they can live happily ever after.

Rating
9.1/10

Firestone Walker 14th Anniversary Ale

The Stats
Style: American Strong Ale
ABV: 12.5%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.33/5
- RateBeer: 4.02.5

Continuing with my line of Firestone Anniversary Ale reviews, we now come to FW14. As I've mentioned in the past, the FW Anniversary Ales combine multiple FW beers and age them in various barrels. The FW14 final blend is as follows...

• 31% Double DBA: Doulbe Strength English Pale Ale aged in Firestone Union barrels
• 29% Stickee Monkee: English Barleywine aged in bourbon abd brandy barrels
•  27% Parabola: Russian Imperial Oatmeal Stout aged in bourbon barrels
• 7 % Velvet Merkin: Oatmeal Stout aged in bourbon barrels
• 3% Good Foot: American Barleywine aged in bourbon barrels
• 3& Black Xantus: coffee Infused Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels

Pours pitch black with just a touch of dark brown on the edges. I got less than a finger of khaki-colored head.

The bourbon is still present and sweet on the nose after all these years. Then there's some nice cherry, oak, and coffee.

A noticeable fluffy milk chocolate (think 3 Musketeers bar) is the first flavor that comes to me. The bourbon again is sweet without being cloying or sticky. Other than that a lack of flavors is what is sticking out most. That and this odd black licorice and metallic taste? It quite possibly means oxidation has reared its ugly head which would account for the Sherry-like taste to this, but it doesn't make things intolerable. Some subtle roasted malts and a dull hoppy bite finish things off.

I will say this is still velvety smooth, but has a noticeable lack of carbonation. Some of the licorice lingers for a while on each sip, but no alcohol is to be found in this big beast of a beer.

I've reviewed a few other Anniversary Ales and the freshest one was far and away the best. I think it goes to show (in my opinion) that these Firestone Anniversary Ales aren't the best for aging and should be consumed fresh since the flavors will fade greatly the longer you sit on them.

Rating
7.7/10

Top 10 Beers of 2015

2015 marked the 2nd year of this blog and my first full 365 day commitment to it. I reviewed over 130 beers this time around and hopefully that number will be even higher for next year.

Instead of just doing a standard Top 10 best beers (don't worry we are still doing that), I want to add a couple of other categories and even toss in some honorable mentions. I do have some ground rules for the lists...

• The beer had to be reviewed on the blog in 2015. If I had it at a bar, a bottle share, fest, etc, then it doesn't qualify.
• No re-reviews. I think I only re-reviewed one beer that I had in 2014, but still, a re-review of a beer that has already been featured on here cannot make the list
• Multiple beers from one brewery are allowed. Frankly, if the brewery makes that many good beers (in my opinion) then I'm not going to fault them for it. Is this foreshadowing? Maybe...

Other than that, is there anything else I'd like to say? Sure!

Plans for 2016

Ideally I'd like to get more reviews out. I will confess that I do get lazy sometimes and choose not to review a beer and just drink it instead. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I know if I want more content then I have to make more of an effort to review more of what I drink. I think a goal of 200 reviews is reachable if I stick with it.

Additionally, I want to do more than just reviews. Not that I don't like doing them all the time, but I want to diversify my content. I visit breweries regularly and it makes sense to do a write-up on them with photos. I also did one "Versus" review this year where I compare and contrast two different beers and I want to make sure to get more of those in too.

Now let's get to it!

Biggest Disappointments of 2015

When you think of a disappointment in the beer world it more often than not has to do with the failure to live up to the hype. I think that's what happened in this small list. Granted, I didn't build any of these items up in my own mind as the be-all/end-all of existence, but when you hear about a beer's reputation you expect something good.

3. Lawson's Finest Liquids/Tree House Shhhhhhh...!

This was the 2nd collaboration between these two breweries with the 1st being an awesome DIPA called YAHHHRRRGGG! which I waited over seven hours in line for with a buddy. Yes we are that stupid. At the end of the day it was what you'd expect from two of the biggest hop powerhouses in New England: a super juice and hop explosion. When word got around that these two were going for it again, I thought the result would be similar. While it was by no means a bad beer, it still left me wondering how they didn't catch lightning in a bottle twice.

The taste was surprisingly more tree sap resin and hop oils as opposed to big citrus juices both breweries are known for packing into their beers. It was at best a satisfying beer, but not the world-class effort each brewery has put forward both on their own and together.

2. Other Half Brewing

Other beer reviewers and Beer Tubers (YouTube Reviewers) have blazed a trail before me and often times I use their reviews as suggestions for what to seek out. I had never heard of Other Half Brewing out of New york until this year and some of the aforementioned beer reviewers were going apeshit over their hoppy beers. Since they are not available in my area I had to work out some trades to get them in my belly. I reviewed multiple OH beers (and one of their collaborations which may or may not be seen later in this post) and found that almost all of them failed to blow wind up my dress.

The overall impression I got from their IPA's was a resinous, garlic/onion taste that I associate more with the West Coast rather than something from the East. Maybe that is the style New York/New Jersey IPA's have taken on, but for me they don't drink as easy. While my sample size was relatively small (and maybe OH's many other hoppy beers are better), I was not impressed with what I was able to have.

1. The Founders Backstage Series

At what point do you just give up on a series? When Founders started their (formerly) highly acclaimed Backstage Series of unique beers back in 2011, they produced one of the highest-rated beers in the history of mankind: Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout. Since then the series has put out a lot of pretty good to very good beers with a lot of "meh" thrown in. Last year one of the better ones I've ever had made my Best of List for 2014, but when it came to 2015, the series crapped out and frankly I don't think I care about it anymore.

There were three releases in 2015: Blushing Monk, ReDankulous, and Project Pam. Blushing Monk was actually a re-release of the first ever Backstage Series beer, but it was just a glass of raspberry juice. Re-Dankulous was a sticky malt bomb with no hop flavor, but most disappointing was Project Pam. This was supposed to be maple syrup and bourbon explosion over a base Imperial Black IPA. All it gave me was a sweet, thick, schnapps taste that left me crying myself to sleep. These releases used to be immediate "must haves", but now if I see them at my local stores, I will tread more lightly.

The Worst Beer of 2015

 I don't make it a point to seek out what are regarded as "bad beers". My thought process when I go into a store isn't to review something I'm sure I won't like in order to just give a low rating. Maybe I will review some of the more notorious macro beers (Bud, Miller, Coors, etc) in 2016, but for now I have to go with what I did review last year. Going through my reviews I didn't rate enough beers low enough to compile an entire "Worst of" list, so I decided to highlight just one, which got my lowest rating in 2015.

Miami Brewing Vice IPA

On a stupid side note, the photo for this beer has the best lighting of any photo I took in 2015. I have been unable to re-create the magic and its ironic the worst beer got the best photo. Ok, stupid rant over.

When I traded for some Funky Buddha beers last year this was thrown in as an extra. Miami Brewing was something I had never heard of and if I never have another beer from them again I won't complain. Vice IPA was possibly an infected can, but from what I read in other reviews, this is how the beer is supposed to taste. A chewy mouthfeel with odd flavors of stale Heath Bar, green beans, and V8, this was bordering on undrinkable, but I think the 12oz serving made it possible to finish. Any bigger and it might have gone down the drain.

There were some other beers I had that were flavored with fruits or poorly barrel-aged that almost were put in this spot, but Vice IPA was a standard IPA that was bad on its own. I only drank it because it was free of charge, but if you see it in a store or at a bar, do not spend your hard-earned money on it.

The Top 10 Beers of 2015

Before we get to the main course, here are some of the honorable mentions that just missed making the top 10.

Honorable Mentions

 

Cigar City Good Gourd

Pumpkin Ales get a bad rap among beer enthusiasts and I admit that 99% taste the same. Once in a while one comes along and blows your hair back. Enter Good Gourd by Cigar City - an imperial pumpkin ale with spices.

The genuine pumpkin taste combined with big cinnamon and vanilla will have you thinking of liquid pumpkin pie, but without the overly sugary sweetness that plague a lot of other examples of the style. I've also had the rum barrel-aged version of this beer, but the base beer wins out because the flavors shine brightly without the overpowering barrel character. Throw in easy drinkability and this pumpkin ale is at the top of the heap.

Trillium/Other Half Green Street

Previously I mentioned my underwhelming experiences with Other Half Brewing, but I guess they just needed Trillium to help them out.

Out of all the Trillium beers I had this year, this one stuck out due to it's incredibly sweeter demeanor as compared to other hoppy Trillium offerings. Lots of bubblegum taste with some lime and that notorious Trillium orange sherbet flavor had my mouth watering with each sip.

Collaborations are very hit-or-miss, but this one was stellar in all aspects.


Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout (2015 Vintage)

When the smoke cleared from Black Friday and I had all of my Bourbon County reviews done, there was one that stood out from the pack.

The base BCBS is amazing enough, but the addition of that coffee helped replace the base beer's smokey char and tobacco with rich espresso, chocolate, and coffee. It's almost like bourbon-soaked, chocolate-covered coffee beans and yes, it is as good as it sounds.

Hopefully I can also find some next year because I am officially hooked on this beer.


Now for the main event. You're here to see the best of the best and I will not hold out any longer. Thank you for your continued support of the blog and here's to a stellar 2016. Don't forget to like the Facebook page, follow me on Twitter (@threwredbutter) & Untappd (threwredbutter), and share with friends. Cheers!

10. Foundation Epiphany

What the hell is a "Maine IPA"? When I first read that on the can of Foundation Epiphany, I didn't know what to expect. The hop lineup had me excited with promises of Cascade, Citra, Columbus, Ella, and Mosaic and the result was the best IPA I had from Maine in 2015.

An explosion of orange and pineapple hit the tongue first and creates a juicy, refreshing feeling on the first half. That is until the back end which switches to an earthy bite with some pine. The mouthfeel is never dry and it drinks like a single IPA rather than an Imperial. It's so juice-forward that at times you forget that you are drinking beer. Maine may be the "Pine Tree State", but thanks to Epipany, it should be the "Orange Tree State".

9. Trillium Artaic

I've had so many Trillium IPA's that it's hard to keep track. From their stellar "Street" IPA's to their one-off Imperials, it is hard to find one that isn't good, so when one manages to distance itself from the pack, then that is an accomplishment.

Artiac is a DIPA brewed exclusively with Mosaic hops with an addition of raw wildflower honey. A near sensory overload, Artaic provided juicy pineapple, black pepper, cedar, and sugary honey to form one of the more unique flavor profiles I have experienced in a DIPA. To me 2015 saw an explosion of breweries using Mosaic hops, but Trillium (not surprisingly) seemed to utilize its potential best.

8. Firestone Walker 18th Anniversary Ale

The universally acclaimed Anniversary Ales from Firestone Walker blend together multiple FW beers which are aged in numerous spirit barrels. I've had the chance to try every Anniversary Ale since FW 14, but this year marked my first official review of one of these bad boys and frankly I wasn't surprised when it received one of my highest scores.

Despite having Parabola as its biggest component, the dark fruits and other Quad and Doppelbock qualities stood out most, but I wasn't complaining. The big punch of milk chocolate, coffee, and roasted malts also came through loud and clear as did the juicy hops of the Double Jack and Wookey Jack. Taking the best parts of Imperial Stouts, Quads, Barleywines, and then barrel-aging them made for an orgasmic experience. I can't wait to crack open my 19th Anniversary!

7. Avery Fortuna

It's not that I am opposed to the Wild Ale style, it's just that I prefer others in favor. Avery has a reputation for these massive, barrel-aged beers which can come off as too hot right out of the gate. When I heard they were making a tequila-aged beer, I was apprehensive to say the least. But since the beer was given to me for free as a gift, I knew there was no harm in trying. After having it, it was something I definitely would have spent my own money on.

The equivalent of a tequila shot with full salt lick and lime wedge, Fortuna was one of the best sour ales I've ever had. High quality, top-shelf tequila never at any point had an alcohol taste or burn and it matched perfectly with the lime zest and Gose-esque saltiness. Amazingly the sourness of the bacteria and the salt did not make the beer hard to drink nor did it make my mouth dry up as this was surprisingly refreshing for the style and the ingredients used. This was tequila aging done right.

6. Tree House In Perpetuity

Much like Trillium, I have had the chance to try a lot of Tree House IPA's and at this point I expect a great beer. I luckily one day had the time to drive to the brewery on a weekday to get this one-off IPA and man was I one lucky duck.

Supposedly brewed with both Nelson and Citra hops, I (for the most part) only picked up on the Nelson's dominating flavors, but the result was so good I didn't care at all. Overpowering (in a good way) white grape and white wine made for a Nelson Nuke, but a small amount of citrus was detectable as was a Trillium-esque orange creme taste. If you get hard for Nelson hops then this is where you want to be. Very reminiscent of Alpine Nelson, I really hope they decide to brew this one again.

5. Night Shift Darkling

Before rolling out my Bourbon County reviews, I dubbed this beer the "Bourbon County Killer". Now that I had a chance to give a full review of BCBS, and had the chance to compare the two, I must say that my opinion hasn't changed one bit.

Darkling had all the usual flavors you expect from BA stouts with the sweet bourbon, oak, char, and dark chocolate, but it also added in vanilla and even some caramel and quad-like dark fruits. What set it apart from others was that mouthfeel. It was the thickest imperial stout I've ever had and almost had a barium-like thickness that slowly moved over the tongue and covered everything in its path like The Blob. Night Shift has become known for their hoppy beers lately, but their barrel-aging program seems to be on point as well.

4. The Bruery Grey Monday

I received this in a trade and felt like a kid on Christmas morning when I opened the box. I knew this was going to be amazing even before I opened it as the sheer smell of the beer resonated from just the outside of the bottle. I could have held it to my face and smelled it all day and I would have been perfectly satisfied.

I've had Black Tuesday and Chocolate Rain from The Bruery and they made their mark as big-ass Imperial Stouts. While they were big and flavorful, they did tend to lean on alcohol taste and booziness to help move the sweeter aspects along. Grey Monday was the first Black Tuesday variant I had that didn't weigh me down and was light on the booze and heat.

This variant is made with hazelnuts and they added a nutty taste which accented the base beer's chocolate. The hazelnuts and chocolate made for liquid, bourbon-soaked Nutella and the additional coffee and vanilla turned this into a superb dessert beer. I was surprised at how drinkable an 18.0% beer was, but those hazelnuts neutralized the overly sweet/sugary flavors and masked the alcohol beautifully.

3. Toppling Goliath King Sue 

Toppling Goliath IPA's have much hype surrounding them. In my experience I have found them be ok for the most part, but not load-blowing by any means. Most recently I found their all-Mosaic DIPA to be a major letdown, but when it comes Citra-hopped DIPAs, then I think King Sue might be at the head of its class.

A pure Juice Nuke if I've ever had one, King Sue's aroma of orange and citrus was bursting from the bottle before I even poured into the glass. When I did, the aroma filled the room like an air freshener, but the taste told the whole story. If Hi-C was a beer, then it would be King Sue. The Citra hops are unrelenting from start to finish and there is never even a moment where the beer transitions to anything bitter, grassy, herbal etc. It's a flood of Citra at every turn and is just plain refreshing. It's hard to believe that it's even beer, but King Sue has earned its royal moniker with an elite DIPA.

2. New England Brewing Fuzzy Baby Ducks

I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate my birthday than with a beer like this. It was worth the effort to do the in-person trade down in Rhode Island because this Citra bomb has all of the Citra flavor as King Sue, but FBD is a single IPA and not a DIPA which makes it even more impressive.

I'd compare it to the aforementioned King Sue, but also Tree House Julius and Hill Farmstead Susan with its onslaught of orange, mango, and fresh-squeezed hop juice. The subtle addition of hop flavors gave it a little more complexity than any IPA on this list. In a blind test I'd swear this was a Citra DIPA considering the sheer amount of flavor, but when a Single IPA crams in this much flavor, then the result is a one-of-a-kind IPA that can't be missed.

1. Bottle Logic Fundamental Observation

One of the final beers I reviewed in 2015 was not only the best, but it was my only perfect score for the year.

Probably the best use of vanilla beans I've seen in a stout, Fundamental Observation was a melted s'more in a glass, but soaked in delicious bourbon. Massive chocolate and creamy marshmallow made me feel like I was having a hot fudge sundae, but covered in the contents of the four bourbon barrels the beer was aged in. The mouthfeel was also thick like hot fudge and the kicker was that there was no alcohol taste to be found out of that 14.0% abv. Very rarely will an Imperial Stout this big be this drinkable and dessert-like, but that is why it earned the perfect 10/10.

Firestone Walker 16th Anniversary Ale

The Stats
Style: American Strong Ale
ABV: 13.00%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.29/5
- RateBeer: 4.05/5

Oh, these Firestone Anniversary beers will never get old. I have previously reviewed Firestone 18 which was one of the best beers I had this year, but I have been doing some cellar clearing lately and figured I'd have this just for the hell of it. For those who don't know, the Firestone Anniversary beers are a mind-bottling concoction that blends together multiple Firestone Walker beers in numerous spirit barrels. Teams of winemakers and brewers get together to make their best recipe and the winning formula is chosen to be the Anniversary beer. Firestone 16 is made up of the following...

The Final Blend (% of final blend)

• Velvet Merkin: Oatmeal Stout - Aged in bourbon barrels - 23% 
• Stickee Monkee: English Barleywine - Aged in bourbon and brandy barrels - 22.5%
• Double Double Barrel Ale: Double Strength English Pale Ale - Aged in Firestone Union Barrels - 20.3%
• Parabola: Russian Imperial Oatmeal Stout - Aged in bourbon barrels - 10.8%
• PNC: American Strong Buckwheat Stout - Aged in tequila barrels - 8.1%
• Helldorado: Blonde Barleywine - Aged in bourbon and brandy barrels - 5.4%
• Bravo: Imperial Brown Ale - Aged in bourbon and brandy barrels - 5.4%
• Wookey Jack: Black Rye India Pale Ale - Aged in stainless steel - 4.5%

Poured dark brown out of the bottle, but was pitch black in the glass with hints of that brown on the edges when held up to the light. An aggressive pour still only yielded a half a finger of khaki-colored head.

Quad characteristics hit me first on the aroma: plums, cherries, raisins, and some brown sugar too. Oak from the barrels is also prominent as is sweet bourbon. Rounding things out are subtle milk chocolate, roasted malts, and just a splash of tequila.

Like the aroma, the Quad elements shine the brightest. Figs, dates, and raisins remind me of a well-made Belgian Quadrupel. The bourbon is slightly mellowed out and not as sweet or up front as the aroma would lead you to believe, but it still here. A sticky molasses component bordering on maple is also fighting for attention as is milk chocolate, caramel, toffee, and a hint of vanilla. I must say that I can easily pick out all of these flavors, but I can't help but feel that they don't "pop" as much as they would have if this was fresh and not aged.

Like a lot of great stouts, this has a thick, viscous mouthfeel that coats everything in sight. For such a massive, complex beer at 13.00% abv, the alcohol is non-existent. I don't even get warming in my chest and that in itself is an accomplishment. Some residual stickiness is left in the beer's wake, but lingering dark fruits and sweet bourbon are just delicious.

Firestone 16 has a multitude of flavors that can make your head spin. The stout components are not as strong as the dark fruits of the Stickee Monkee or even the caramel and toffee of the Double DBA. I'm not putting it down for those reasons, but I'm just saying that a beer that is 41.90% imperial stout/oatmeal stout/buckwheat stout needs to have more a stout kick. Nevertheless, this continues the tradition of these massive Firestone anniversary beers with tons of barrel character and enough flavors to last you a lifetime...that is until the next anniversary beer.

Rating
9.2/10