#288: Firestone Walker » Double DBA 2013 (Imperial Special Bitter)

Firestone Walker » Double DBA 2013 (Imperial Special Bitter) | ABV: 12% | IBUs: 29
I picked this Double version of Firestone's flagship, DBA back in the fall of 2013. I'm a big fan of their Proprietor's Vintage Series series, as so far everything from that line has aged well for me and DDBA is no exception.

Double DBA starts off with huge, pluming aromas of candi sugar & booze. Notes of bourbon, caramel, and toffee bloom from the glass. There's a touch of spice in the way back as well. Appearance-wise, It's a deep amber color with a ring of white head.

Onto the palate, it's a playground of rich complexity. New flavors boundlessly surge in and out of the spotlight - a rush of whiskey, then pepper, hops, honey, even wild herbs gallops across the palate, finishing with a firm heat in the chest. Further through, soft sage notes start to appear. It's all wrapped up with a hardy, full mouthfeel that's slightly sticky, but still well carbonated.

This Double DBA, bottle aged for a year and a quarter, is a complex and bold ride from a big beer.

#150: Firestone Walker Brewing Co. » DBA (English Pale Ale)

Lunch time...

The Brewery: Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (Paso Robles, CA)
The Brew: DBA (English Pale Ale)
Availability: Draft and bottles (Year-Round)
ABV: 5.0% | 50 IBUs
Rating: 8.5/10
Location: Ithaca Coffee Company

The Story? After a long month of house issues and traveling, I hit a goal on Wednesday that was cause for some mild, mid-day celebration. I popped down to Ithaca Coffee Company, where I haven't been in far too long. Since I have a bottle of Firestone's Double DBA in wait, their flagship DBA would be a good next post and reasonable ABV for everything else I needed to finish that day.

This brew, Double Barrel Ale in longhand, is tribute to traditional English cask fermented ales, fermented in their Firestone Union oak barrel brewing system.

The Beer? On draft, DBA is completely transparent, amber with a cap of fluffy white head that retains a moderate lace. The nose is bright and full of caramel, biscuit, and soft hops.

As with most Firestone brews, this one goes down so smooth with a slightly silky mouthfeel. All of the flavors are mild, as with most traditional English pales - slight roasted notes, hints of vanilla and oak, soft hop oil and earthy presences.

Overall, a very subdued, beautiful pale - a session sipper, if you will. With every sip, I expected the finish to bitter, but instead, right at the threshold, it slips into a mild sweetness. Well played.