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Firestone Walker 12

 (RETIRED)
Score
10099
OVERALLStyle

bottled
available

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unknown

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RATINGS: 261   WEIGHTED AVG: 4.03   SEASONAL: Special   EST. CALORIES: 360   ABV: 12%
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COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
The Barrels The individual lots were aged in oak barrels, most of which were hand selected from premium Kentucky spirits producers by Tom Griffin, who is extremely passionate and knowledgeable about bourbon barrels and beer. Each barrel lends its own unique influence to the final blend. Tom continues to hand deliver some real treats to us, including some 20+ year old Rip Van Winkle Barrels! Barrels freshly dumped from the distilleries and hand delivered by Tom Griffin: Rip Van Winkle Bourbon Old Fitzgerald Bourbon / Old Fitzgerald Wheat Whiskey Heaven Hill Bourbon / Heaven Hill Brandy / Heaven Hill Rye Barrels purchased directly from American Coopers toasted to Firestone Walker’s specifications: New American Oak produced by World Cooperage / medium and medium plus toast Retired Firestone Union Oak produced by World Cooperage, and Barrel Associates (water bent staves) The Aging Cellar – The Components Following are descriptions of key components with their original code names: Final Blend % Parabola ྭ% ABV) - Aged in New American oak, bourbon and rye barrels ࿌%) -Russian Imperial Oatmeal Stout (brewed02-09-06 and 01-18-08) OG=28P FG=7.5P IBU=80 Color=Black / Hopped with Simcoe, Bravo, Styrian Golding and East Kent Golding Opal ྫ% ABV) – Aged in rye barrels ྼ%) -Wheat Wine (brewed 2-25-08) OG=22.4P FG=6.2P IBU=45 Color=17 / Brewed with torrified and malted wheat, lightly hopped with Saaz Rufus ྫ% ABV) – Aged in rye and bourbon barrels ྲ%) -Continental Imperial Amber Ale (brewed 8-17-07) OG=22.5 FG=4.5 IBU=40 Color=15 / Brewed with Belgian Dark Candi Syrup / Hopped with Styrian Goldings and Saaz Saucerful of Secrets ƙ% ABV) – Aged in Brandy Barrels ƙ%) -Belgian Strong Ale (brewed 10-30-07) OG=23.4 FG=6.1 IBU 25 Color=39 / Brewed with Belgian Dark Candi sugar and everything else but the kitchen sink Union Jack IPA Ɨ% ABV) - Aged in stainless steel Ƒ%) -American Style IPA (brewed 10-28-08) OG=17 FG=3.5 IBU=75 Color=12 / Brewed with massive amounts of hops and a very kind attitude The Finished Piece- As a finished beer, XII is in some ways more aggressive than any previous blend, but it maintains a great deal of depth and complexity. Everyone seems to get something different when they taste this beer- mocha, tobacco, toasted almonds, olallieberries... I leave the interpretation to you. It is best enjoyed in a half filled brandy snifter or wine glass. Allow it to warm to 55F to fully enjoy the pleasing and complex aromas. If left in a cool dark place, I suspect that this beer will age well. Only time will tell. If you find something you like- please contact us and let us know your thoughts. I truly hope you enjoy our third oak-aged blend. This crazy beer journey continues!


4.5
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 18/20
wagman (6) - - NOV 23, 2011 does not count
UPDATED: NOV 29, 2011 Had during a 10-15 vertical on 11/20/11. This was my favorite from the tasting. Dark brown with no head. Aroma was great. Sweet coffee, vanilla, bourbon, and alcohol. Very smooth taste with hints of coffee. You can taste the alcohol on the back of your tongue which I found enjoyable. Great beer.

3.3
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
cpetrone84 (719) - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA - NOV 22, 2011
Pours a black liquid with hints of red on the edges and a slightly bubly tan colored head. The nose has hints of peat, notes of caramel, some dried fruits, light dark malts and an almost vinous quality. Dark fruits are brighter in the flavor, plums and figs, hints of ash and notes of roasted malts, light chocolate and bourbon with a bitter aspect with a thin finish. Medium body, light carb and slightly oxidized.

4.4
   AROMA 9/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 18/20
ksurkin (1021) - Norfolk, Virginia, USA - AUG 8, 2011
22oz gold foiled bottle courtesy of jbeatty. thanks, james! pours a deep, dark, cola-brown with shades of russet on the edges and a smooth, khaki head that leaves sharp rings of oily lace. aroma is simply fantastic with rich, brandied dark fruit notes of prune, fig, black cherry, and plum backed by decadent toffee, vanilla, and belgian chocolate with smooth notes of oaked bourbon and tobacco popping as it warms. flavor is absolutely wonderful as well, the aging has done wonders for the balance, with rich, sweet toffee, chocolate macadamia nut cookies, and vanilla up front backed by toasted coconut, charred oak, and spicy bourbon with dark fruit notes of black cherry, plum, and figs ahead of the slightly smokey, spirited finish. palate is medium bodied with smooth carbonation but avoids being syrupy and closes with a touch of boozy warmth. overall, another masterful blend from FW.

4.4
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 18/20
craftycarl21 (1701) - Washington, Washington DC, USA - JUL 30, 2011
Bottle at Ebenezer’s. Black pour with a tan head. Nose of fantastic prune, plum, vanilla, milk chocolate, and wood. The flavor has HUGE caramel, mocha and fig. Awesome. Hot but smooth. Amazing.

4.3
   AROMA 9/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 18/20
pushkinwow (866) - Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA - JUL 29, 2011
Bottle from SD Toronado. Dark, brown, sediment, , tan brown head. Vanilla, prunes, oak, coffee, tobacco, bourbon, touch of smoke. Very smooth, somewhat creamy, hint of alcohol, mild sweetness that grows along with a bitterness that balances everything out. Finish is slightly bitter, still has a bit of bourbon bite but its good. I haven’t had this fresh so can’t say for sure but I think this might benefit from another year in the cellar - regardless if stored properly its delicious. Try this if you can.

4.2
   AROMA 9/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 17/20
jethrodium (281) - Berkeley, California, USA - JUN 21, 2011
22 oz bottle generously shared by colonelforbin. Thanks Mike. Pours a dark caramel brown with close to no head and leaves very little lacing on the glass. The aroma is big bourbon and vanilla with some grape, some roasted notes, cherries, plum, and a little bit of alcohol. Taste is relatively sweet with bourbon, vanilla, roastiness, light cherry, and some chocolate. A light bitterness on the finish. Medium body. Low carbonation. Great beer.

4.3
   AROMA 9/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 17/20
beernbourbon (997) - St. Louis, Missouri, USA - JUN 5, 2011
Bottle from a trade a long time ago. Pour is dark brown with a thin tan head. Aroma has notes of coconut, vanilla, faint wood, and a light brown-sugar sweetness. Flavor is also loaded with caramel malt, light vanilla, coconut, and a lightly woody and coffee finish. This is soo smooth. Hopefully this is where the 14 will end up someday.

4.4
   AROMA 9/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 18/20
jckp64 (345) - St Louis, Missouri, USA - MAY 2, 2011
Bottle shared by beernbourbon. Thanks Vince! Pours Dark brown with a light tan head. Aroma is bourbon, oak, vanilla and caramel. Has a great smooth bourbon flavor with hints of oak. Overall a really complex and good beer.

4.3
   AROMA 9/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 17/20
phaleslu (3544) - Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - MAY 2, 2011
22 oz. bottle shared by either beernbourbon or jckp64 the night before Dark Lord Day- thanks Vince and/or John! Pours a deep, dark brown color with some lighter, brighter highlights on the sides and a small tan head. Great bourbon barrel aroma, with notes of vanilla, caramel, oak, bourbon, raisins, and toasted sugar; any hops that may have been in the blend have fallen out over the years but this still smells awesome. The flavor has such a smooth bourbon barrel character, starting sweet and showing some surprising spice late. Medium-bodied, with a smooth and malty mouthfeel and low carbonation. Really nice, complex beer that my notes can’t even begin to describe.

3.9
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 17/20
Damico (1402) - Royersford, Pennsylvania, USA - APR 15, 2011
There is a sweet malty syrup aroma in the nose. It pours chestnut brown with a small head. The flavor is a mixed of malty syrup flavors and oak barrels, but there is definitely prevalent boozy notes this second time around.


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