Firestone Walker Double DBA

Brewed by Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Style: Barley Wine
Paso Robles, California USA

Serve in Snifter

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Poured into my Figueroa Mountain pint glass for a bit of poetic irony. The beer pours a mildly hazy copper-amber with a light taupe head. The head gives off an orange hue. The head, like all FW brews, subsides nearly immediately. Vibrant notes of coconut, honey, caramel, and bourbon comprise the aroma. The mouthfeel is so soft, creamy, and full that it takes on a life of its own. There’s just enough scrubbiness on the top to balance. The mouthfeel is so complimentary to the gestalt of the beer. The flavor, while easily describable, does not lend itself to words for adequate appraisal of how good it really is. A flawlessly engineered combination of bourbon oak, caramel, and honey causes one to be thankful to have had the good fortune to experience it. It finishes with the most perfectly smooth coconut and butter, and, finally, just a hint of alcohol warmth. This may be the best beer I’ve ever had.

One of the best beers I've ever had. Definitely a sipper. So many flavors but caramel is the big offering. A tad syrupy and sweet, but in a good way and very complex. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Smell of good ol bourbon, taste is overwhelming. The barrel age takes the stage, is it a barleywine or scoth ale? I’d rate it as an awesome scotchale. Might be wrong but tasty as hell.

Pours deep garnet with ample head that quickly recedes. The aroma is bourbon barrel, caramelized brown sugar, and rich toffee malts. There is a chewy mouthfeel that coats the tongue and finishes with a silky smootheness. Taste is oak, bourbon, vanilla, figs, and a touch of booze. Simply outstanding.

Nice and smooth strong ale that has all the tastes malt lovers go for. Hops are well balanced and not the main flavor. Very high Abv but does not have a overpowering alcohol flavor or smell. Reminds me of the good darker Belgium ales. Since it is a limited release it is pricey but worth the experience. Great beer for fall or winter.

bomber thanks to Ratman197. pours a deep ruby/orange with a small off white head. the bourbon / vanilla / oak notes hit you in the face with some caramel malts lingering. med to full body - filled with layers of deep fruits, caramel malts, light oak, vanilla and bourbon. smooth and rich finish which finishes sweet, but not too sweet. a light citrus bitterness is followed by the sweet notes of the barrel and the malts while the citrus hop flavors balance things out. a light alcohol warming rounds things out. excellent beer Matt B.

Appearance is golden amber, extremely nice. Taste is heavenly: molasses, caramel, butterscotch, vanilla, oak. Supremely balanced and absolutely sublime. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Pours a dark, hazy brown with a small tan head. Decent amount of lacing and carbonation. Bourbon barrel qualities are all over the aroma. Strong notes of vanilla and coconut. Definite hints of dark fruits (prunes) with caramel and brown sugar in the background. WOW! The taste is very sweet, once again picking up caramel and brown sugar. This time being backed up by a slight burning sensation from the alcohol. Finishes up sweet with a hint of dark fruits. This is so damn complex. Amazing stuff!!!

22 oz. bottle from Total Wine in Chesapeake, VA. Murky brown pour with a frothy beige head. Aroma of toffee and citrus that seems like it will be equally assertive in both the malt and hop profile. The flavor does not dissapoint with notable toffee, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, and whiskey barrell on one end of the spectrum and on the other orange peel, pine, and grapefruit rind. The blend is far better than I anticipated given my ho-hum feelings about DBA but this is an entirely different animal. It’s no wonder Firestone is amongst my top 5 American breweries. Very nicely done.

Draft at Jerry’s. Caramel-amber with fair (but barrel-aged), creamy, beige head / Winey, sweet nose of oak, caramel, citrus, and pine / Full body, sweet and chewy, with excellent hop balance and bitter, slightly hot, finish / Flavors of fresh caramel, orange, cinnamon, pine, oak, and licorice / Should age.