18 (XVIII) Anniversary Ale
Firestone Walker Brewing in Paso Robles, California, United States 🇺🇸
Strong Ale - American Series Out of Production|
Score
8.19
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A dark and complex brew full of malt and barrel derived flavors, with Parabola leading the brew into the rich darkness. XVIII 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, rich dark chocolate, toasted oak and dark fruit character is revealed, so take your time.
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8.3/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 9
Bottle shared with friends. Big thanx to whoever took the big effort to type out the commercial description. Great info source ! Pours dark, nearly black, but still in the brown zone. No real head. Smell is intense, bourbon, bit boozy, Taste is full, tad creamy, bourbon, sweet, roasty, intense oak and bourbon notes. Very complex. medium thick body. Medium carbo. Very well made. lovely beer indeed.
Tried
from Bottle
on 10 Dec 2017
at 18:13
8.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
22oz bottle pours out dark brown almost black topped with a tan ring of a head. Nose is huge sweet malts toffee caramel vanilla bourbon barrel notes wow. Taste is more of the big sweet malts marshmallow vanilla bourbon barrel wow. This bad boy has aged amazing.
Tried
from Bottle
on 13 Jul 2017
at 21:27
8.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 9
(On tap @ CBC 2016 Yellow Session, Copenhagen) Pours nearly black with a fine cream coloured head. Nose has lots of bourbon, rich toffee, oak, vanilla extract, brewed coffee, a lot of malt complexity. On the tongue, very sweet but with a fair amount of roast to it as well, conveying the substantial stout component of the blend. There’s a reasonable amount of bitterness, toasted and burnt grain, caramel, yet more layers of vanilla and oak. In the finish, some booze, toasted bordering on burnt, a bit of an espresso like feel though it’s not coffee heavy. Bone dry aftertaste despite the rich body, and still some lingering booze. Fairly thick full body with soft carbonation. it’s good stuff, though best consumed in smaller volumes. Pretty lush but also a beast.
Tried
from Draft
on 07 May 2017
at 17:33
8.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 9
(Tap) hazy, bright orange brown colour with a small brown head; rich aroma of dried fruit, stewed fruit, vanilla; rich, balanced flavour with a long, light bitter finish
Tried
from Draft
on 01 Feb 2017
at 18:42
8.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Courtesy of Brian
Dark brown color with medium sized head. The barrel is evident in the aroma, then the malt, and some alcohol. Sweet malt flavor, strong fudge, chocolate, strong bourbon barrel flavor, and strong booze.
Not elegant, but very enjoyable.
Dark brown color with medium sized head. The barrel is evident in the aroma, then the malt, and some alcohol. Sweet malt flavor, strong fudge, chocolate, strong bourbon barrel flavor, and strong booze.
Not elegant, but very enjoyable.
Tried
on 20 Oct 2016
at 18:37
9/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 9
Tasting at Alex’s. 650ml bottle (thx, Brian!). Ppurs an opaque reddish brown with a beige head. Aroma is dark fruits, bourbon barrel, vinous, some nuts. Taste is very complex with the same notes. Wow! Excellent!
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Oct 2016
at 00:19
8.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 8.5
Black colour, beige head. Sweet aroma, caramel, raisins, malts, fruity notes, vanilla. Sweet malty flavour, dried fruits, caramel, raisins and apricot. Sweet finish, malts, sticky sweet fruits.
(from 65cL bottle @ RBBSG IV, the Hot and Sweaty Edition, Gent 2015. Thanks for sharing, Benzai!)
(from 65cL bottle @ RBBSG IV, the Hot and Sweaty Edition, Gent 2015. Thanks for sharing, Benzai!)
Tried
from Bottle
on 12 Oct 2016
at 18:42
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 9
Bottle thanks to Rick. Pours a very dark brown with medium beige head that lasts. The aroma is roast, chocolate, wood, vanilla, bourbon. Thick body, chewy, caramel, roast, vanilla, wood, bourbon, nice sweetness, very good.
Tried
from Bottle
on 24 Sep 2016
at 22:00
9/10
Tried
on 16 Sep 2016
at 23:58
9.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 10
Flavor 10
Texture 10
Overall 9.5
On tap at CBC 2016, yellow session. Pours dark brown, beige head. Roasted malts, chocolate, vanilla, cocoa, wood, bourbon. Sweet with some bitterness. Complex. Full bodied. Incredibly smooth, velvet, silky - really impressed considering the abv. Unexpected for me. Exquisite.
Tried
from Draft
on 07 Sep 2016
at 14:07