Firestone Walker Bravo

Brewed by Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Style: American Strong Ale
Paso Robles, California USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

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Toffee coated figs with a nougat center. Mild spice and toasted bred on the palate with soft oak and hops. Mild white pepper mixed with oaky vanilla and spice finish.

Its hard to believe this is a brown ale. The only thing similar I have had is Hakusekikan Brown Ale, which is equally as nice IMO. Dark brown color, molassess, brown sugar, truffles, caramel, brandy and milk chocolate come off the nose. The mouth reminded me of a top notch espresso with ample caramel syrup and frangelico, dusted with cinammon. Slight oaky character that doesn’t add or distract. Cinammon chocolately finish. Amazing. Age has helped this beer. Alcohol is not noticable at all.

Name: Barrel Aged Brown Ale
Date: 12/01/2006
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewfest, Strong Ale Fest

muddy brown, scant beige head, sweet bourbonand chocolate aroma, flavor is all hot alcoholic bourbon with barely a hint of choclolate, nice sweetness,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 2.9/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

Suprizingly light for an 11% (I don’t believe it). Brown color. Nice head that lasts.

UPDATED: JAN 25, 2011 Unwittingly poured a sample of this knowing only that it was oak aged and a brown ale. I guess the oak aging should have alerted me to the fact that this was probably going to be a high alcohol beer! But geez did I get a shock! This is one heavy malty beer. Deep bronze colour, very viscous. Thick mouthfeel, butter, vanilla, caramel, malt, brown sugar, oak, oak and more oak. A very overpowering palate, definately needs to be served at warmer temperature, possibly has too much carbonation for something so heavy. A very interesting beer but I feel the oak is over done. I imagine it would age well.

On tap at the 10th Annual San Diego Strong Ale Festival: Pours a transparent dark copper with a nice, frothy, wispy-lacing tan head. Aroma of caramel bourbon and a touch of buttered popcorn and vanilla. Body starts sweet and with a good amount of dark caramel and toasty bourbon oak toward a slightly warming, nicely-balanced finish.

Triple Rock Gravity Firkin Fest. Deep amber/ brown color with an ivory head. Chocolate and bourbon aromas. BIG chocolate flavors- like a candy bar in a glass. Somewhat lactic and hot. Tons of bourbon. Lingering chocolate/ musty finish. A nice Barley Wine.

10th Annual SD Strong Ale Fest: Poured a slightly hazed dark chestnut color with a small tan head. Decent aroma of vanilla, mild bourbon and toasted malt. The flavor had bourobon as well, along with vanilla, toasted malt, butterscotch (but not in the diacetyl way) and some browned fruits. Semi-dry finish. Mild bitterness. Very nice.

on tap at the SD strong ale fest 06. lots of carmel, brown sugar, molasses, alongside some vanilla, carmel ,and some wood and nuts. decently mellow. probably my fave of the fest

Tasted on tap at the 2006 Pizza Port Strong Ale Fest. This brown ale pours a medium brown color. Small sized white foamy head. Aroma is brown sugar, caramel and bourbon. A medium to full bodied brown ale. Malts are caramel, brown sugar, molasses and vanilla. Lots of bourbon flavors. Some wood. Some of the brown ale character, but the malts are somewhat overwhelmed by the barrel flavors. A very interesting beer, a nice meld of malts and wood and barrel aging. Hides the alcohol well. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is sweet.