Category Archives: 4 – Good (buy)

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Stout - Russian Imperial, USA

Firestone Walker Parabola

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Brewery: Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 14.5%
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Other Notes: 69 IBUs. Malts – Crisp Maris Otter Pale, Munich, Cara-hell, Carafa, Dark & Light Crystal, Chocolate, Oats and Roasted Barley. Hops – (Bittering) Zeus and (Late Kettle) Hallertau

Brewer Description: (from 2017 vintage box) The 2017 Parabola comes with a twist, as you may have noticed that this label bears the mark of “Kansas City, Missouri” in addition to our hometown of Paso Robles, California. Indeed, this iteration was brewed, barrel-aged and bottled by our friends at Boulevard Brewing under my close supervision. The recipe, ingredients, barrel selection and duration of aging were all the same as previous vintages of Parabola, but perhaps this vintage’s unique provenance will somehow reveal itself in the glass to you. So what is the story behind this one-time collaboration? Last year, we unexpectedly exceeded our brewing capacity in Paso Robles, and so rather than deny you a Parabola in 2017, we turned to our trusted friends for help while we worked on expanding our own brewhouse. As anticipated, they did Parabola proud. May you enjoy this rare occasion!

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.3
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: On tap at Firestone Walker The Propagator, Venice. A 6 oz pour into a Firestone Walker tulip glass.
Appearance: It was a black to dark dark brown in colour with a one finger creamy tanned head that had good retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Sweet bourbon barrels, nutty chocolate, vanilla, banana cake, pretty much like dessert.
Taste: Like the aroma, there was bitter dark chocolate, cherry, vanilla, banana, nutty, sweet bourbon, oak and booze.
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with low carbonation.
Overall: A little bit too boozy and on the sweet side, but this doesn’t put me off, and it was still very nice. Great for late night sipping.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Farmhouse Saison, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., USA

Firestone Walker Lil’ Opal

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Brewery: Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 6.1%
Style: Belgian Saison

Brewer Description: (from website) Our first 2013 blend from masterblender Jim Crooks! Lil’ Opal is a cunning blend of two-year-old American oak and eight-month-old French oak saisons. Both go through a secondary fermentation and maturation in barrels. This traditional Belgian farmhouse saison has notes of citrus and tropical fruit, a smooth mouthfeel, and tangy crisp finish. Round this all out with a little earthy funk and we have one refreshingly complex offering.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.33
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: On tap at Firestone Walker The Propagator, Venice. A 3oz taster pour into a mini snifter.
Appearance: A mostly clear golden colour with a two finger white head that had good retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Tart, tangy, citrus orange, tropical peach and apricot.
Taste: Taste is similar to the aroma with tart, tangy, citrus and tropical fruit and a hint of funk.
Mouthfeel: Crisp, light bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Refreshing and crisp. Very easy to drink.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Holy Mountain Brewing Company, USA, Wild Ale

Holy Mountain Phosphene

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Brewery: Holy Mountain Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 5.5%
Style: American Wild Ale
Other Notes: Batch 2, 2017. Ale aged in oak barrels on apricots

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Phosphene was fermented in oak barrels using one of our captured native wild cultures. It was then transferred into oak puncheons and aged on apricots for a number of months. Refermented in the bottle with brettanomyces.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.24
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A 750ml bottle at Holy Mountain Brewing, Batch 2, 2017 vintage. Poured into a mini snifter.
Appearance: A cloudy golden orange colour with a thin white head that dissipates quickly and leaves sparse to no lacing.
Aroma: Apricot, peach, canned peach juice and light tartness.
Taste: Tart, sour peach and apricot, with hints of oak.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: A nice and refreshing tart sour ale with nice peach and apricot fruitiness.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Holy Mountain Brewing Company, USA, Wild Ale

Holy Mountain Corpse Reviver

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Brewery: Holy Mountain Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 5.4%
Style: American Wild Ale
Other Notes: Sour ale aged on meyer lemon zest

Brewer Description: (from menu) Corpse Reviver was fermented entirely in oak and then transferred into 3rd use bourbon barrels on top of a large amount of meyer lemon zest and juice, where it aged for 3 months, keg conditioned with brett.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.27
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: On tap at Holy Mountain Brewing, Seattle. A 9oz pour into a mini snifter.
Appearance: A clear golden colour with a half finger white head, while leaving some lacing.
Aroma: Meyer lemon zest and citrus juice with subtle hints of bourbon, almost like a refreshing long island ice tea.
Taste: Lightly sour, lemon zest and juice.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with moderate to low carbonation.
Overall: Very nice and refreshing. Would love a bottle to age a year or two.

4 - Good (buy), American Double IPA, Beer Reviews, Cloudburst Brewing, USA

Cloudburst Plays Well With Others

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Brewery: Cloudburst Brewing
Country: USA
ABV: 8.7%
Style: American Double IPA
Other Notes: 71 IBUs. “Sharing was caring”

Brewer Description: (from menu) Oh El Dorado. We love you for all that you are – soft and subdued, stonefruity, and herbaceous. A true role player, a supporting actor, a helping hop. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. Well, this is your time to step up! We teamed you up with some all stars – Citra & Mosaic – plus a similarly complementary hop in Loral. But this DIPA is about YOU, El Dorado. Shine bright like a diamond!

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.02
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: On tap at Cloudburst Brewing, Seattle. A 16oz pour into a pint glass.
Appearance: A lightly hazy golden orange colour, with a one finger white head that had pretty good retention, and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Melon, passion fruit and citrusy orange with maybe hints of mango.
Taste: Bitter, cantaloupe, melon, orange rind and orange juice.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Good aroma and taste. Well worth a try.