Tag Archives: ba

4 - Good (buy), American Strong Ale, Beer Reviews, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., USA

Firestone Walker 25 (XXV Anniversary Ale)

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Brewery: Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 11.5%
Style: Strong Ale – American
Other Notes: 2021 vintage. 25th Anniversary. Special Reserve Barrel-Aged Blend

Brewer Description: (from sheet notes in box) Final blend was:
41% Parabola (14% ABV) Aged in Bourbon Barrels
10% Stickee Monkee (12.3% ABV) Aged in Bourbon Barrels
28% Tequila Barrel Merkin (7% ABV) Aged in Tequila Barrels
13% Brandy Barrel Barley Wine (13.8% ABV) Aged in Brandy Barrels
8% Whiskey Barrel Wheat Wine (11.7% ABV) Aged in Bourbon Barrels

(from box) In the fall of 2006, Brewmaster Matt Brynildson asked a handful of his winemaker friends for their input on blending a diverse stash of barrel-aged strong ales. Together, they came up with “10” – a trailblazing beer commemorating our 10th anniversary. And so began an annual autumn rite that now continues into our 25th year. This year was different, however. When our brewers convened with their winemaker friends on July 15, 2021, it marked a return to in-person blending after conducting it all remotely the previous year. The significance of this moment was not lost on anyone, and it was made all the more special by the occasion of our 25th anniversary. The beer you are holding in your hands – 25 – was created on that day. It is a work of talent and togetherness that we are now privileged to share with you. Thank you for being a part of our journey as we conclude this milestone year for Firestone Walker.

My rating: 4+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.49
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.4

Intro: A boxed 355ml bottle, 2021 vintage, 25th anniversary, bottled on 14th September 2021. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: A clear dark cola brown in colour with a thin tanned head that had pretty good retention but left only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Light roast, chocolate fudge, oak, caramel, bourbon, tequila, dried dark fruit, and notes of vanilla.
Taste: Light roast, chocolate, oak, a touch sweet, dried dark fruit, raisin, dates, caramel, toffee, vanilla, bourbon, and tequila.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: An enjoyable sipper with balanced and complex aromas and flavours.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Denmark, Insight Cellars, Wild Ale

Insight Cellars Maturation: Bocoy

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Brewery: Insight Cellars
Country: Denmark
ABV: 7.2%
Style: Wild Ale
Other Notes: Danish Wild Ale aged in a very old oloroso barrel. 2021 vintage. 1471 btls

Brewer Description: (from bottle) For our Maturation series, we select beers aged in a single type of barrel to showcase how different casks affect the final character of a beer. We aged our Danish Wild Ale in a large, very old Oloroso Sherry Bocoy cask made of chestnut wood for two years, and blended this with a smaller amount of two-year-old Danish Wild Ale aged in a traditional oak Oloroso barrel. The Oloroso casks enhanced the beer with flavors of toasted walnuts, caramelized fruit and spices.

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

Intro: A 750ml corked and caged bottle, 2021 vintage, bottled on 15th June 2023. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A nice lightly hazy golden orange colour, with a one finger white head that had good retention and left some nice lacing.
Aroma: Light funk, dusty, wood shavings, lemon, and sherry notes.
Taste: Grapefruit, lime zest, sherry, wood, with a lasting citrus peel bitter finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate to soft carbonation.
Overall: Enjoyable, nice balanced aroma and flavours.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Denmark, Insight Cellars, Wild Ale

Insight Cellars Alma Del Arrumbador

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Brewery: Insight Cellars
Country: Denmark
ABV: 7.3%
Style: Wild Ale
Other Notes: Danish Wild Ale aged in sherry barrels. 2021 vintage. 2550 btls

Brewer Description: (from bottle) This is our tribute to the hardworking “arrumbadores” whose labor and skill kept Spain’s historical Sherry bodegas running for centuries. We aged our Danish Wild Ale in Oloroso, Pedro Ximenez and Palo Cortado casks for two years before crafting the final blend. The combination of these Sherry barrels makes for the perfect balance of sweet and dry, and imparts a rich and complex melange of toasted nut, dried fruit and spice flavors to our Danish Wild Ale.

My rating: 4-
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.07
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 750ml caged and corked bottle, 2021 vintage, bottled on 17th May 2023. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A lightly hazy golden orange colour, with a one finger white head that had good retention, and left some nice lacing.
Aroma: Funky, sherry, citrus zest, grapefruit notes, and a touch of oak.
Taste: Sherry, funky, grapefruit, notes of dried dark fruit, caramel, a touch nutty, and light spicy bits.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied, with soft carbonation.
Overall: Nice funky and sherry notes but would have preferred a touch more carbonation.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Brasserie Ammonite, France, Wild Ale

Ammonite Vinifera XI – Gewurztraminer

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Brewery: Brasserie Ammonite
Country: France
ABV: 6.2%
Style: Wild Ale
Other Notes: 2021 vintage

Brewer Description: (from Untappd) Spontaneous fermented beer aged 1 year in pinot noir cask transferred in “Vinification intégrale” cask. Maceration of 7 months with “Gewurztraminer” grapes from Henri Klee Domaine. Concentration 300g/L.

My rating: 3+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.93
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 750ml corked and capped bottle, 2021 vintage, poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A nice lightly hazy golden straw orange colour with a half finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Tart, vinous, white wine grapes, yellow stone fruit, apricot seed, funk, oak, lime, and citrus zest.
Taste: Lightly sour, herbal, green vines, vinous, white wine grapes, grapefruit, lime, with a touch of funk and wood.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with moderate to soft carbonation.
Overall: It took some time for me to enjoy this, but it grew on me with each sip. I think it was the herbal element that caught me out a bit.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Oskar Blues Brewery, Stout - Imperial, USA

Oskar Blues BA21 Vol.5

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Brewery: Oskar Blues Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 13.3%
Style: Stout – Imperial
Other Notes: 2021 Barrel Aged Series

Brewer Description: (from can) Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon barrels with coffee beans and vanilla.

My rating: 4+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.44
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.3

Intro: A 12 fl. oz. can, 2021 barrel aged series, canned on 21st January 2021. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour, with a near one finger tan brown head that had pretty good retention and left some nice lacing.
Aroma: Roasty, fresh crushed coffee beans, chocolate, vanilla, toffee, bourbon, with dried dark fruit notes, and a touch of nuts.
Taste: Bittersweet, roasty, espresso, dark chocolate, caramel, bourbon, and vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, full bodied, with soft carbonation.
Overall: A really enjoyable sipper with good balanced aroma and flavours. As good as BBA Ten Fidy.