Review: Firestone Walker 17th Anniversary Ale

Firestone Walker 17th Anniversary Ale
13.3% ABV

Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Paso Robles, CA
22 oz btl

Served in Dogfish Head signature glass
No date on bottle (2013 edition of this annual ale)
Reviewed on 2/15/14

This strong ale pours a dark brownish-reddish color with a decent ivory-colored head that dissipates quickly. Good lacing.

Smell consists of malt, hops, dark fruit including raisin and cherry, vanilla, some bourbon, some tobacco, some wood.

Taste consists of cherry, vanilla, bourbon, malt, raisin, caramel, some hops, touch of chocolate, woodiness.

Mouthfeel is fairly smooth on the palate with some bitterness on the back end.

Overall, this is a tasty, smooth strong ale that masks its high ABV quite well. Cherry, vanilla, and bourbon flavors hit the palate immediately. Caramel, wood, and chocolate flavors provide pleasant accents. This one goes in various directions--strong ale, barleywine, and even stout. I'm a broken record on this--this is another high quality product from Firestone Walker.

My score: 96

Review: Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre

Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre
8.0% ABV
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE
12 oz bottle
Served in St. Bernardus chalice
Date on bottle: Bottled on 11/9/12
Reviewed on 2/1/13

This strong ale pours a deep amber color with a thin white head that dissipates quickly.  Decent lacing.  Mild evident carbonation.

Smell consist of malt, biscuit, hops, sugar, slight caramel, mild chocolate, notes of dark fruits.

Taste has malt, biscuit, raisin, mild hops, sugar, caramel, some cherry, slight cough syrup.

Mouthfeel is earthy, somewhat syrupy, sugariness coating the tongue. 

Overall, this is a nice tasting ale with a unique profile of flavors.   Malty sugariness and dark fruits are prevalent here.  This one is a bit difficult to categorize, which is okay.  It's listed as a Belgian strong dark ale, but it's also reminiscent of a winter warmer type ale, as well as a brown ale.  Typical for Dogfish Head, it's a bit all over the map at times but in a good way.


My score: 90

Review: Lagunitas Wilco Tango Foxtrot

Lagunitas Wilco Tango Foxtrot
7.85% ABV

The Lagunitas Brewing Co., Petaluma, CA

22 oz btl
Served in Dogfish Head Signature Glass
No date on bottle

Reviewed on 5/23/13 


 

This strong ale pours a dark brown color with a slight amber tint.  Good off-white head that has decent retention.  Good lacing.

Smell consists of malt, dark fruit, caramel, hops, cherry, raisin, sugar, some floral.

Taste consists of malt, cherry, dark fruit, caramel, hops, sugar, some alcohol, some floral.

Mouthfeel is earthy and textured on the palate.  Bitter throughout with some dryness.

Overall, flavorful strong ale with a decent malty profile of flavors and solid bitterness.  Dark fruit flavors are fairly prevalent and come together well with maltiness.  Some hops and caramel also come through.  An interesting beer that is available at a nice price. 

My score: 90