Firestone Walker Brewing PNC (2013)

PNC (2013)

 

Firestone Walker Brewing in Paso Robles, California, United States 🇺🇸

  Stout - Imperial Special Out of Production
Score
7.89
ABV: 13.7% IBU: 50 Ticks: 28
This bold and deliciously complex beer is in Imperial Buckwheat Stout aged in Tequila barrels for 13 months. Only a collection of pioneering, well seasoned, extensively traveled and passionate pub owners could come up with such a notion. A massive grain bill consisting of Pale, Munich and toasted Canadian buckwheat was blended with pearled drum-kilned barley from Chile, a generous amount of Wisconsin roasted wheat and a slug of British Crystal malts. a couple lumps of Mexican Turbinado sugar were added for good measure while we loaded the kettle with Styrian Golding hops. This carefully calculated collision of flavors, concocted over copious amounts of Orval well into the night, was laid down in fresh Tequila barrels wrangled over our southern border by the beautiful and gracious Meg Gill. We simply called the beer PNC in honor of its collaborative creators – the gothic symphony of flavors will speak for themselves. The week that PNC rolled into Paso was one to remember, but more importantly the PNC's role in the craft beer revolution should never be forgotten. Cheers to the PNC!

*Note*: this original version was only aged in tequila barrels, whereas the 2021 version was aged in tequila, bourbon, and brandy barrels.
 

Sign up to add a tick or review

Join Us


     Show


7.6/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Bomber shared by solidfunk at the DC Summer Saison & Sour Tasting, 7/12/14. Pours a dark brown color with a thin head that quickly fades. Aroma of roast, chocolate, buckwheat, bourbon, vanilla, agave in the finish. The taste is bourbon, tequila, chocolate, roast, vanilla, mild boozy finish. Medium bodied, slightly hot. Solid beer.
Tried on 22 Aug 2014 at 19:41

8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 9 Flavor 9 Texture 6 Overall 8
Bottle. Dark maroon color. Nice herbal aroma with cocoa and coffee. Taste is burnt espresso and chocolate.
Tried from Bottle on 21 Aug 2014 at 12:48

6.5/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 7
The tequila barrel cancels out the buckwheat elements to make this a war of gimmicks. I taste tequila and some light roast but not an epic stout. Way overhyped and overpriced. Bottle taken out from monks cafe in Philadelphia.
Tried from Can on 12 Jul 2014 at 16:50

8.1/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8.5
Bottle at CapFlu’s Blomster Bash
Dark color, close to black. The aroma is chocolatey, a hint of tequila. Full bodied; rich chocolate flavor with a good alcohol punch; hint of barrel, tobacco, liquorice.
Excellent.
Tried from Bottle on 02 Jul 2014 at 17:27

7.5/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 6 Overall 8
Bottle - Sweet chocolate with a nice sugary note. Jet black with almost no head. Nice chocolate syrupy notes, light barrel notes and a sweetness that I assume is from the agave. I don’t get the tequila, which would have been nice.
Tried from Bottle on 28 Jun 2014 at 20:27

7.5/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7
Bottle split at the Jack is back tasting, big thanks to our host with the most - Deeblo, 06/03/14. Black with a moderate tan covering. Nose is roasty, dark berry fruits, dark toffee fudge, rich chocolate, booze, suggestion of coconut, chocolate maltesers. Taste comprises tequila licks amidst the chocolate vein that pumps throughout, the booze is a little harsh however, Bounty Bar (red wrapper with cardboard insert), light spice. Full bodied, fine carbonation, warming alcohol in the finish. Decent enough impy but a little too hot and harsh on the alcohol front to be a great for me.
Tried from Bottle on 24 Mar 2014 at 12:47

7.4/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
6th March 2014
Jack is back tasting at Bruce’s. Thanks to our ever gracious host for this one. Opaque dark brown beer, tidy tan head. Smooth softish palate with fine carbonation. Rich smooth dark malt, smooth dark chocolate. Little brandy like spirit. A repressed tang that could be the tequila. Finishes smooth with mild spice.
Tried on 07 Mar 2014 at 12:44

8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
Bottle shared in London - big thanks to Bruce. Pours black-brown with a foamy, beige head. The aroma has burnt wood, vanilla, dark cherries, chocolate cake. Big sweet flavor with decent alcohol punch, bittersweet cocoa, more burnt wood, vanilla pods. Full bodied with fine carbonation. Warm to hot finish with lots of scorched wood, dark cocoa, earth, burnt caramel, dates. Rich, hefty.
Tried from Bottle on 06 Mar 2014 at 11:02

7.1/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7.5
Bottle thanks to Bruce. It pours near black with a tiny tan head. The nose is rich, roast, cocoa, varnish, sweet agave, candied fruits, vanilla, toffee and toasted coconut. The taste is rich, oily, toast, treacle, coffee syrup, dark chocolate, some bitterness, light astringency, oak and warming alcohol towards the finish. Full body, fine carbonation and oily mouth-feel. Quite heavy and not overly drinkable. Decent.
Tried from Bottle on 06 Mar 2014 at 10:57

8.2/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 10 Overall 9
Bomber shared by Marcus at the 10K event at Capitol Beer. Pretty black with a slight tan head. Plummy aroma. Flavors of plum, chocolate, treacle and many others - and bourbon! Coffee. Delicious.
Tried on 09 Feb 2014 at 12:44