Firestone Walker 15 - Anniversary Ale | Beer Geek Nation Beer Reviews Episode 262

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Firestone 15 - Anniversary Ale
Firestone Walker
12.5% ABV
Beer Geek Nation Rating: A
Beer Advocate Rating: A
Rate beer Rating: 100/100

18% Helldorado (11.7% ABV) Blonde Barley Wine.
17% Sticky Monkey (12.5% ABV) English Barley Wine.
17% Bravo (13.5% ABV) Imperial Brown Ale.
13% Double Double Barrel Ale (11.5% ABV) Double Strength English Pale Ale.
11% Good Foot (14.3 ABV) American Barley Wine.
10% Velvet Merkin (8.6% ABV) Traditional Oatmeal Stout.
9% Parabola (13% ABV) Russian Imperial Oatmeal Stout.
5% Double Jack (9.5% ABV) Double India Pale Ale.

As a finished beer, XV is alive with amazing complexity and yet it is quite possibly the most integrated and seamless blend yet. Looking at a blend of 8 beers on paper at first looks chaotic and potentially disjointed; however, a closer look reveals and interesting theme: 76% Barley Wine style beers, 19% Stout and 5% Imperial IPA. XV introduces our new blonde barley wine Helldorado with flavors of lavender honey liqueur. The well established DDBA delivers its signature American toasted oak, English caramel toffee and light leather nuances. 2010 vintage Sticky Monkey folds in brown sugar, maple, cinnamon, ginger and ripe figs. Parabola brings the familiar flavors of roasted dark coco, and chocolate covered cherries. Velvet Merkin carries silky milk chocolate, toasted coconut and creamy textures. Good Foot and Bravo add assertive barley wine warmth and lush barrel derived vanilla bean notes. The game changer this year is the addition of Double Jack to the blend. At just 5% its massive dry hop character brings citrus zest, tangerine and mango aromas making this a completely new beer. The beer is unfiltered and unfined, so there will be a small amount of sediment in the bottom of the bottle. XV is best enjoyed poured carefully into a half-filled brandy snifter or wine glass. Allow it to warm to 55F to fully enjoy the pleasing and complex aromas. As the beer sits and breathes in the glass, a richer, orange zested, chocolate dusted, vanilla custard character is reveled, so take your time. If you wait to open your bottle later, store it in a cool dark place. I suspect that this beer will age well and change favorably for years to come. It was an absolute pleasure in the making and I truly hope you enjoy our Sixth oak-aged blend! Our journey continues and it's just as fun and exciting now as it was back in 1996.

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[BrokenGalaxy]

Finally got around to drinking this a couple days ago. It was good, but as far as other barrel-aged beers from them that I've had, I liked Abacus and Parabola much, much better. A liquor store by me got a bunch of cases of this, so I bought another bottle to age.

[BeerGeekNation]

@BrokenGalaxy I totally agree with you, Abacus, Parabola and 14 are all epic drinking beers that were ready right out of the bottle. This one needs a lot of time on it to mellow down

[pyrobotnik]

im gonna crack mine open in a few minutes looking forward to it

[BeerGeekNation]

@pyrobotnik Nice! Its a bit hot this year but still an awesome beer!

[neoyorke]

Great review! When are you cracking open that darkness? I'm gonna have mine on the 25th, Cheers

[BeerGeekNation]

@neoyorke Ill be cracking open Darkness very soon I promise!

[busaking1340]

@BeerGeekNation 2011 Parabola was way hot as well. I LOVED this beer.

My girlfriend went from ST Creme Bru le, then I let her try this on New Years and she was hooked! Her favorite beer now! I was glad she liked it, but, hope she doesn't think she's gonna be drinking all of my stash, lol!

[Hugomarink]

I had this last week and loved it. I kept tasting vanilla and peanuts! So good! A great beer now and a beer that should age well too.

[BeerGeekNation]

@Rhong187 Im thinking at least a year

[Rhong187]

Hey Chris how long would you suggest letting this sit for?