Many moons ago I was lucky enough to find a new beer just hitting the Pennsylvania beer market.coming from a west coast brewery that I had barely heard about let alone had a chance to taste. The beer was called Union Jack IPA and not only was it my first every beer from today’s brewery, but also the first British-style IPA I had experienced (both good things).
Of course I’m talking about one of my favorite breweries, Firestone Walker in Paso Robles, CA and this afternoon I’m even more excited to get a chance to sample some of their new and rare beers. I should mention up front that I’ve received some amazing sampling packs from breweries, but this box from Firestone Walker has to be one of the best (complete with amazing packaging and even two boxes of cookies to enjoy with the beers). Today we’ll be getting an early taste of their 27th Anniversary Ale, and also some selections from the Brewmaster’s Collective 2023 like Between Two Grahams, Balaton Bones, Apple Jack Flash and Rip This Joint (Side Project collaboration).
If you’re not familiar, the Brewmaster’s Collective is a club curated by our pal Matt Brynildson and it provides members with a chance to sample some of FW’s rarest and most unique beers. Today we’re sampling the Brewmaster’s Collective October 2023 Fall Classic Collection, and as you’ll see by the end of this review, you’ll definitely want to join the collective.
I’m also extremely excited to get an early taste (just announced yesterday) of the 2023 27th Anniversary Beer XXVII coming from Firestone Walker and the team of local winemakers who created the blend. Naturally I can’t wait to try them all, so off we go…
Firestone Walker 2023 27th Anniversary Ale XXVII
Brewery Description:
Our collaboration with local winemakers dates back to 2006, when Matt was tasked with creating the inaugural Anniversary Ale to mark Firestone Walker’s 10th anniversary year. Ever since, the Anniversary Ale blending session has become an annual summer rite at the brewery.
“I’m not aware of any other beer that is blended like this, from so many distinct components,” Brewmaster Matt says. “That’s why we bring in the winemakers—they are, by nature, practicing experts in the art of blending.”
This latest Anniversary Ale is driven by two barrel-aged stouts, but it’s much more than that. It has this perfect balancing point with a lot of spirits barrel character, and there’s an underlying freshness that elevates the mouthfeel. The result is an impossibly complex blend loaded with bourbon-accented flavors of milk chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and butterscotch.
FINAL BLEND:
Parabola – Russian Imperial Stout – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (32%)
Velvet Merkin – Milk Stout – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (32%)
Bravo – Imperial Brown Ale – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (24%)
Heavy Things – Barley Wine Made in Collaboration with The Bruery – Aged in Brandy Barrels (6%)
Helldorado – Blonde Barley Wine – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (4%)
Wheat Wine -Strong Golden Barley Wine Co-Fermented with White Wine Grape Juice – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (2%)
ABV: 12.5%
IBU: 25
Style: Blended Ale
Packaging: 12oz bottles
Appearance: Deep brown mahogany
Aroma: Dark chocolate, cinnamon, coffee and oak
Mouthfeel: Rich and full bodied
Taste: Chocolate, coffee, vanilla, oak and Bourbon
Overall: Firestone Walker 2023 27th Anniversary Ale XXVII is impossible to describe in one paragraph. This blend of component beers imparts some of the most amazing complexity I’ve tasted in a beer. The chocolate, coffee, vanilla and Bourbon flavors are just the start, and then and from there it gets better and better. The depth and complexity are impossible to describe and this is a beer you simply need to taste for yourself!
Firestone Walker Between Two Grahams
Brewery Description:
The base of this beer is a blend of Parabola and Velvet Merkin, two iconic imperial stouts aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon Barrels. Inspired by memories of childhood campfire treats, we then recirculated this blend through copious amounts of cocoa nibs, vanilla beans, and cinnamon sticks. The result is both balanced and stunning - we know you'll want s'more.
ABV: 11.5%
IBU: 14.5
Style: Imperial Stout
Packaging: 12oz bottles
Appearance: Dark Brown
Aroma: Coffee, marshmallow and rich chocolate
Mouthfeel: Rich and satisfying
Taste: Coffee, dark chocolate, Bourbon and acidic cinnamon
Overall: Firestone Walker Between Two Grahams starts with a blend of two of my favorite imperial stouts, Parabola and Velvet Merkin…and from there it only gets better. The beer is then aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels to get to the final brew. Overall this beer screams S’mores, but with some interesting cinnamon and coffee notes at the end. This beer is what real S’mores should taste like.
Firestone Walker Barrelworks Balaton Bones
Brewery Description:
A reimagination of Krieky Bones, Barrelworks’ classic Flanders‑style Kriek beer. We used a lighter oak-aged saison base beer to showcase the delicate Balaton cherry and added over 3 pounds per gallon of fresh fruit from Central Lake, Michigan.
ABV: 6.3%
IBU: 7
Style: Wild Saison Ale
Packaging: 12oz bottles
Appearance: Ruby red
Aroma: Cherry, berries and oak
Mouthfeel: Medium and mildly sour
Taste: Bright cherries, raspberries and tropical fruits
Overall: Firestone Walker Balaton Bones also starts with one of my favorite FW beers, Krieky Bones. I love cherry beers that thread the line between sweet and sour and this one does that perfectly. Add in 36-months of aging in French oak and 3-pounds per gallon of Balaton cherries and the beer has already become one of my favorite Kriek beers.
Firestone Walker Rip This Joint
Brewery Description:
Brewed with our friends at Side Project Brewing, this massive stout is stuffed with a variety of specialty malts and was aged in Henry McKenna bourbon barrels for 18 months. This one challenged our brewhouse and its capabilities to the max; this is about as big as it gets. Simultaneously viscous & smooth, this collaboration is not to be missed.
ABV: 13.9%
IBU: 35
Style: Imperial Stout
Packaging: 12oz bottles
Appearance: Deep mahogany black
Aroma: Bourbon, coffee, and milk chocolate
Mouthfeel: Full-bodied
Taste: Milk chocolate, coffee, Bourbon, Bourbon and Bourbon
Overall: Firestone Walker Rip This Joint is a collaboration with Side Project Brewing and I’m happy to say it’s a really good Bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout. The beer is aged for 18-months inf Henry McKenna Bourbon barrels and according to FW, the beer challenged their brewhouse capabilities with the amount of specialty malts on board. The resulting beer is worth the work and it is a simple but amazing Bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout that I know you will love.
Firestone Walker Apple Jack Flash
Brewery Description:
We sourced freshly pressed apple juice from Gizdich Ranch in Northern California and combined it with English Barleywine before fermentation. We then matured the beer in AppleJack barrels for 12 months. The finished beer has aromas of apple cider, caramel and cinnamon that combine with burnt sugar flavors, creme brulee and a balanced sweetness.
ABV: 12%
IBU: 19
Style: English Barleywine
Packaging: 12oz bottles
Appearance: Amber orange
Aroma: Apples, cinnamon and stone fruit
Mouthfeel: Full-bodied
Taste: Fresh apples, stone fruits, caramel and cinnamon
Overall: Firestone Walker Apple Jack Flash is a really unique offering that starts with an English Barleywine and from there it adds freshly-pressed apple juice from Gizdich Ranch (Northern California). If that’s not enough fun, the beer is then aged in Apple Jack barrels for 12-months. The flavors lead with apple and from there the complexity kicks in revealing apricots, cinnamon and sweet caramel. Overall I’d say if you could bottle a caramel apple as a beer, then this is it. The beer is complex and drinkable and while it leans sweet, it has great balance and I found it really unique and enjoyable.
Firestone Walker 27th Anniversary Ale XXVII, Between Two Grahams, Balaton Bones, Apple Jack Flash and Rip This Joint are available now in 12oz and 12.7oz bottles, however keep in mind that several of these are available only to Brewmaster’s Collective member (so JOIN NOW!) Each of these beers are amazing in their own way and I promise you, it will be difficult to pick a favorite. Get out there and try these beers for yourself, and when you’re done thanking me, be sure to let us know what YOU think. zzubreebym
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