Firestone Walker 14

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Another beer that doesn't have the beery qualities I am looking for, again too much emphasis put on barrel aging. An excellent looking beer, but the aroma and the flavour suffer with the reliance on barrel aging skills rather than making a good beer.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Sampled on 9/2/2012 during an FW 11-15 vertical. This American Strong Ale pours a dark brown color from a 22oz bottle. Small to no head. The aroma is caramel, fruity and sweet, touch of wood, alcohol and chocolate. Medium bodied American Strong Ale. The malts are carmel, fruity and sweet. The hops are herbal and earthy. Some alcohol. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet. An interesting tasting. The group consensus was that the was not a whole lot of difference between the 11, 12 and 14, but that the 13 was thin and tasted so different from the others we wondered if they changed the recipe.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 9

Holy sh%t! That's incredible. I too am really glad FW started barel aging. I think they are well ahead of the game at it. This is the most delicious barrel-aged beer I've ever had. A little bourbon-esque, quite sweet, really complex, and a touch of menthol, which adds a refreshing taste to it. Little notice of the abv, but a little breathy and quite breathtaking. Not cheap, but a great one off anniversary beer. Can't wait for the next one! !

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 9

Instantly it smells like a speyside scotch, black, slightly tanned/olive head. Smells something like dried leaves, also salt. Hops are there and lightly citrus but really masked by the obvious oak and leather. Taste is way better than it smells--in that it smells overwhelming almost, but in the mouth it smooths out and is really full, round and enjoyable. Smoothness has a coconut texture to it. More leather and roasted barley too. Mollasses and burnt brown sugar. Touch of a bourbon inspired hot vanilla. After letting it sit for a while it becomes more explosive in flavour, almost like a breath mint: There is a surprising refreshing quality here and surprisingly good head retention. Very impressed, everything I thought it would be.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Very interesting beer with lots going on. Nice dark color with a touch of ruby when held to the light. Aromas of malt, caramel, vanilla, oak and alcohol. Lots of whiskey flavor with creamed butter, vanilla and a touch of oak. Very full mouthfeel and easy to drink. It was a good beer for sure and one I'm glad I tried but for the price tag I think I'll skip this one next time.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Strong ale via an Imperial Stout dueling with a Barleywine. Plenty of good stuff happening here. Roasted, chocolate notes coupled with bran cereal, berries and coconut. Solid wood and vanilla backdrop create some much welcomed depth to this elixir.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

love these specials from FW.. . pours a deep black/brown .. . wood, tar, coffee, whiskey, tobacco- all just swirl in the mouth .. infinitely complex and enjoyable.. i can't write more to do i justice..
What's it like being stabbed?

It was the single most painful experience of my life

What's the second most painful?

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Pours opaque obsidian. Light, short lasting head. Bourbon is in the front, with rich dark fruit and vanilla with light notes of oak. Dark chocolate and moalsses are very present, along with tobbaco and tar. Mouthfeel is rich and decadent. Think rich cheesecake. Finish is richly complex. Tar, tobbaco, dark chocolate, vanilla, burbon, and oak. I want to say there is fig in there. A truly amazing brew. One fro Firestone and Walker!!! Slainte!!!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

WOW! Pours deep dark black, no head. This is essentially hops and coffee along with a wee bit of whiskey. Really nice combo, very enjoyable especially on a cold winters day.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

man, i'm glad FW started their barrel program. i've only had the last two, but the sheer depth of the 13, and now the 14, is just amazing. a blend of about a half dozen barreled beers, bourbon takes front and center, but does not dominate. there's also brandy, and these over bases of barelywine, double pales, and big stouts, expertly blended. add oak, a touch of mexican coffee, hops...you get one damn good beer. not quite as good imho as the 13 for two reasons. 1-13 was fanfreakintastic! 2-this one, while smooth, was a little bozzier. we had it fresh, but we had the 13 fresh too. anyway, awesome beer that may be too damn expensive to get again. 2012-this beer is holding up soooo well against newer releases I gotta up it to 4.5.