The Firestone Walker Bremaster’s Collective features a different grouping of unique FW beers delivered to your door each quarter and these beers include bottles of barrel-aged and wild ales as well as collaboration beers and several Propagator R&D canned releases. In addition, membership in the Collective also includes preferred member pricing, member-only events, on-site perks, Library Cellar access and some of the best and most unique beers available from Firestone Walker. Today I’ll be sampling six different 12oz bottles and of course I can’t wait to try them all, so off we go…
Firestone Walker ParabaNoche
Brewery Description:
We burned the midnight oil collaborating with our friends at Weldwerks Brewing Co to create one of the biggest beers we’ve ever brewed. A massive stout stuffed with specialty malts, it radiates flavors of dark chocolate, caramel, and roasted coffee with a sweet and smooth body. After maturing for 18 months in special Parker’s Heritage Whiskey barrels - a selection of hand-picked barrels by the distiller - ribbons of vanilla, oak and whiskey character round out a perfect late-night treat.
Specs:
- Style – Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout Aged in Whiskey Barrels
- Maturation - 18 Months in Parker's Heritage Whiskey Barrels
ABV: 13.1%
Style: Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout brewed in collaboration with WeldWerks
Packaging: 12oz bottles
Appearance: Ink Black
Aroma: Coffee & Whiskey
Mouthfeel: Rich and satisfying
Taste: Bitter dark chocolate, Whiskey, espresso and molasses
Overall: Firestone Walker Parabanoche has all family resemblance of Parabola but with a really exciting coffee and espresso kick. The mix of sweet, roasty, and bitter flavors really works well and overall I simply loved the blend of chocolate, coffee and Whisky. I’m only one beer in and I already have a new favorite FW beer.
Firestone Walker Darker Ray
Brewery Description:
In celebration of our inaugural "Brewmaster’s Reserve Exclusive" Dark Ray, we proudly introduce Darker Ray, a heightened, more robust, and deeper iteration of the 2021 offering. Crafted with close to 200 pounds of coconut, 125 pounds of cocoa nibs, and 20 pounds of Madagascar Vanilla, this Barrel-Aged Stout delivers a burst of flavors with every indulgent sip. Evoking memories of chocolate coconut cookies and velvety vanilla bean ice cream, this beer doesn't just whisper, but boldly proclaims itself as the ultimate dessert experience. Allow it to warm up in the glass when serving.
Specs:
- Style - Barrel-Aged Stout with Vanilla Beans, Cocoa Nibs & Coconut
ABV: 12%
Style: Barrel-Aged Stout
Packaging: 12oz bottles
Appearance: Deep Black
Aroma: Chocolate, coconut and vanilla
Mouthfeel: Rich and smooth
Taste: Sweet chocolate, mild coconut and sweet vanilla
Overall: Firestone Walker Darker Ray really has a lot going on, and while the initial sips leaned me into the S’mores zone, as the beer warms, the complexity of flavors changes. I found some really appealing cocoa and vanilla flavors with a complex backing of roasted coconut. Overall the combination of flavors and barrel aging make for a really enjoyable dark beer.
Firestone Walker Bendy Foldies
Brewery Description:
Cost was not a consideration when crafting this one. After a year of maturation in barrels, Double DBA liquid was re-racked into freshly emptied 30-year Heaven Hill bourbon casks and then piled on freshly scraped vanilla beans and toasted pistachios to accentuate its luxuriousness. In homage to the Lion’s preferred beer and base of this beast, we named this one after David Walker’s playful colloquialism for $100 dollar bills. The whimsical nickname reflects the creativity and inspiration that went into crafting the beer, infusing it with a delightful charm and personality. It highlights the dedication and attention to detail that were poured into every aspect of its creation, ensuring that no expense was spared in delivering a truly exceptional product. Don’t pass by Bendy Foldies; it's better than a hundred-dollar bill.
Specs:
- Style: Double Oaked Ale with Red Foxy Vanilla Beans & Toasted Pistachios
ABV: 14%
Style: Double Oaked Ale
Packaging: 12oz bottles
Appearance: Deep Brown/Burgundy
Aroma: Whisky, caramel & vanilla
Mouthfeel: Medium
Taste: Sweet vanilla, mild boozy Whiskey and late nuttiness
Overall: Firestone Walker Bendy Foldies is clearly a budget-less beer with ingredients like Red Foxy vanilla and toasted pistachio. I found the combination of flavors confusing, but in a good way. I read the bottle and I immediately started looking for pistachio flavors instead of simply enjoying the beer. As Bendy warmed, the vanilla and Whisky flavors move to the front and the pistachio arrives to the party late and in a very subtle way. Overall the combination of flavors made this beer really drinkable and slightly addictive (I love pistachios).
Firestone Walker Mellow Mind Control
Brewery Description:
Get ready for Mellow Mind Control, our wild collaboration with the masters of innovation at Omnipollo. Aged in 12-year Elijah Craig and 10-year Henry McKenna barrels, this beer delivers layers of deep chocolate and roasted malt. True to Omnipollo’s bold and never-quiet style, we amped it up with toasted coconut and aged the beer with Madagascar vanilla in the barrel, creating an intense, velvety brew that’s anything but ordinary. With Omnipollo’s flair for pushing flavor boundaries, every sip is a smooth, indulgent ride perfect for kicking back and letting your mind wander.
Specs:
- Style – Double Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout with Vanilla Beans, Coconut & Graham Cracker
- Maturation - 18 months in Elijah Craig & Henry McKenna Barrels
ABV: 13.5%
Style: Double barrel-aged imperial stout brewed in collaboration with Omnipollo
Packaging: 12oz bottles
Appearance: Deep clear brown
Aroma: Chocolate, vanilla and Bourbon
Mouthfeel: Rich
Taste: Chocolate, vanilla, coconut and boozy Bourbon
Overall: Firestone Walker Mellow Mind Control tastes a lot like chocolate, but with each sip, the coconut and graham crackers sneak in, punctuated by the late vanilla flavors. I was looking for a dessert that this beer reminded me of, but they all fell short. Overall, this beer has a lot of complex but traditional imperial stout flavors and I have to say, this beer has one of the best deliveries of vanilla flavor that I’ve ever had.
Firestone Walker 2024 Collective Choice
Brewery Description:
2023 Club Members were given full reign on this beer. Given a list of potential adjuncts from Matt and his team, they were given the opportunity to vote and rank their favorite choices. Driven by those responses, we start off the 2024 year with "Collective Choice", a blend of two barrel-aged beers with these member-voted adjuncts added.
Specs:
- No. Cases: 300
- Style – Blended Ale with Amburana & Coffee, Aged in Bourbon Barrels & Chocolate Bitters Barrels
- Maturation - Aged in Bourbon Barrels & Chocolate Bitters Barrels
ABV: 12.4%
Style: Blended Ale
Packaging: 12oz bottles
Appearance: Deep black
Aroma: Coffee, Bourbon and intense chocolate
Mouthfeel: Rich & Satisfying
Taste: Chocolate, coffee, Bourbon and earthy with chocolate, chocolate and chocolate
Overall: Firestone Walker 2024 Collective Choice is the latest version of a returning collective classic from FW..and it wasn’t a typo to repeat “chocolate” three times above. The Bourbon barrel-aging lends some great flavors and complexities, but the Chocolate Bitters barrels are the star of the show. I really liked the intense chocolate and the Amburana and coffee flavors that come in with later sips. Overall, if you love chocolate in your beer, then this is the one for you (and for me).
Firestone Walker Maltose Falcons
Brewery Description:
The self-proclaimed "dedicated loony bunch" of beer drinkers and brewers, always on the hunt for the next exceptional brew, certainly have reason to rejoice with this offering. In commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of America's oldest homebrew club, Maltose Falcons makes a triumphant return after a decade-long hiatus, showcasing its bold character in spectacular fashion. This rendition of our Barrel-Aged Brownywine was meticulously crafted with generous amounts of brown sugar, honey, and Simpson’s Chocolate malt, then aged for 12 months in both Rye and Bourbon barrels. The result is an explosion of sumptuously sweet flavors that evoke memories of stroopwafel, cookie dough, and luxurious chocolate ganache. Save room for dessert with this new take on a beloved fan favorite.
Specs:
- Style –Barrel-Aged Brownywine Ale
- Maturation - 12 months
ABV: 10%
Style: Brownywine Imperial Brown Barleywine Ale brewed in collaboration with the Maltose Falcons Homebrew club to celebrate their 50th Anniversary
Packaging: 12oz bottles
Appearance: Deep mahogany black
Aroma: Bourbon, vanilla, caramel and dry chocolate
Mouthfeel: Full-Bodied
Taste: Bourbon, dark fruits, sweet vanilla, caramel and late dry chocolate
Overall: Firestone Walker Maltose Falcons has all the markings of a homebrew and I mean a really great homebrew. The blend of flavors and the beer’s complexity make this a great beer to sip slowly as it warms. I really enjoyed the balance of this beer with the sneaky boozy finish that reminds you of what style you’re drinking. Overall the beer has just the right amount of brown ale flavor and just enough barleywine flavor to make for a great beer that just happens to be celebrating the 50th anniversary of America’s oldest homebrew club, the Maltose Falcons.
The Firestone Walker 2024 Brewmaster’s Collective beers are available now in 12oz bottles and 16oz cans, and I can’t say how excited I am to see what FW has coming in the Collective for 2025…and while you’re waiting for those beers, be sure to get out and try the 2024 collection I highlighted above….and when you do taste them, be sure to let us know what YOU think. zzubreebym
As a bonus, I was luck enough to get my hands on some 2024 Wookey Jack! This returning winter classic remains a black rye IPA and of course it remains as one of my favorite FW beers. This three-time gold medalist at GABF has a lot to offer and IPA lover, a black IPA lover and even a rye-based beer lover so of course I can’t wait to sample one again….so off we go again…
Firestone Walker 2024 Wookey Jack
Brewery Description:
Big toasty malted rye flavors in Wookey Jack offer complex textures with a refined bitter finish, creating a defiantly different experience for dark beer and IPA fans alike. A three-time gold medal winner at the Great American Beer Festival, this beer is gnarly on the outside, yet refined on the inside.
ABV: 8.3%
IBU: 70
Style: Black Rye IPA
Packaging: 12oz cans
Appearance: Deep mahogany black
Aroma: Resinous hops, roasty malt and earthy
Mouthfeel: Medium
Taste: Roasted malt, rye, mild chocolate and piney hops
Overall: Firestone Walker Wookey Jack is a classic but in a really unique way. The resinous hops and rye grains lead the way, but the complexity of the beer also manages to deliver mild chocolate, pine, soft citrus and a roasty finish. There are fewer and fewer black IPA’s and even less that use this much rye in the malt bill, so overall, this beer definitely deserves to return and it definitely has “tasty” written all over it. If you’ve never had Wookey Jack, get out there and taste one!
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