Helldorado
Firestone Walker Brewing in Paso Robles, California, United States 🇺🇸
Barley Wine - Barley Regular|
Score
7.72
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An Imperial Blonde Ale or Blonde Barley Wine; Helldorado has the lightest color of any of the beers in our barrel program but carries a great deal of interesting barrel character: vanilla, light char and amazing lavender-honey notes. Rich boozy honey liqueur character and loads of smooth sweet toasted malt to finish. The El Dorado hops dance in the background without playing a dominant role in the flavor profile. This beer gets better and better the longer it is in barrel.
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7.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
On tap at the ChurchKey. A rich mahogany body with a fluffy white head. Nice nose with dark fruit, malt, caramel, oak and a touch of citrus. A challenging BW considering it is the English variety. Taste profile includes caramel malt, citrus fruit and a touch of fruit rind and a touch of booze. Vanilla, oak , honey, berries and bourbon blend in nicely. Smooth mouth feel, medium body with medium carbonation. A slightly dry finish.
Tried
from Draft
on 23 Sep 2025
at 20:06
6.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 6
Texture 5
Overall 5.5
I forgot who shared this. Sam's tasting in Chapel Hill.
Aged hoppy nose, grassy, faint pineapple, sticky cream.
Prickly black pepper, marshmallow, straw, oily chips, veg, big boozy burn.
Thin, very acidic, a bit of a bother.
Past its prime.
Aged hoppy nose, grassy, faint pineapple, sticky cream.
Prickly black pepper, marshmallow, straw, oily chips, veg, big boozy burn.
Thin, very acidic, a bit of a bother.
Past its prime.
Tried
from Bottle
on 03 Aug 2025
at 00:10
6.6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 6
Bottle: Poured a orange copper with a white ring head. Aroma is boosty, perfumed, hops. Taste is alcohol, burns, almost hoppy.
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Aug 2025
at 00:11
7.9/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
My first chance to sample Helldorado on its own, not as part of a blend in the brewery's anniversary ales. A draft pour at Aces and Ales in LV last week. I've no idea on the age of the keg, the bar keeps a deep inventory of many desirable beers. Amber going to red in color, little or no head. I tasted syrup, grain, orange peel and malt. Okay but not a barley wine at the level I anticipated.
Tried
from Draft
on 27 Feb 2025
at 00:00
8.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8.5
Flavor 8.5
Texture 9
Overall 8.5
Bottle thnx to Sam ! 2016 vintage, drank 2025. Pours clear blonde, small white head. Scent immidiately shows oak, even from a distance. Concentrated maltyness, barleywine / TIPA (but without the hoppy intensity) very ripe fruits, caramel, whiff of bourbon ( vanilla, oak, bit booze). Off to a good start ! Taste is very smooth. Spirits and barrel greatly co-operates with the beer, rather than being a boozy cover . Maltyness is very present, with honey, bread, and some caramel. And yes , even a bit hoppy (still!) . Aged blonde, but in the very best way desireable. Alcohol is heavy, but balanced. As always, firestone and BA - it's a rare to top combination.
Tried
on 11 Feb 2025
at 23:02
7.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottled. Golden colour with a mediumsized white foamy head. Aroma is caramel, somebiscuits, toffee, coconut, mild raisins and alcohol too. Flavour is sweet malty sweetness, some alcool, coconut, vanilla, some dates, raisins and plum. A bit on the sweet side, but still nice, when sipping it.
Tried
from Bottle
on 04 Sep 2024
at 18:54
8.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 9
2017 bottle from Chalumeaux, drunk 6/6/24. Clear amber. White head sits at cover. Bourbon, oak, rich, fruity yeast and sweet malt. Oranges, biscuits, vanilla and rich bourbon. Not boozey. Soft, malty, juicy, oaky, honey-rich, lots of caramel. Seems like almost no oxidation somehow. Lingering mellow oak, bourbon, rich malt. This is 7 frickin years old!
Tried
from Bottle
on 07 Jun 2024
at 01:31
8.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 8.5
(Bottle, vintage 2017, 12.8%) Hazy amber colour with frothy, off-white head. Fruity, hoppy nose with notes of orange peel, apricots, resin, pine needles, oak wood and vanilla. Malty, hoppy taste with dried fruit, apricots, orange peel, vanilla, oak wood, toffee, resin, pine needles, honey and a boozy and warming finish with a balanced resiny bitterness. Full body, with a certain sweetness. Strong and warming, still in excellent balance. Great beer!
Tried
from Bottle
on 10 Dec 2023
at 19:36
7.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
12 ounce bottle. 2017 Vintage. Cloudy, orange gold color. Brief beige head leads to a small ring. Big boozy aroma hints at orange pith, vanilla and oak. First sip yields big oaky notes. Very little carbonation. Bittersweet malty flavor leans toward vanilla, bourbon, warming alcohol, Demerara sugar and orange peel. Dry, peppery finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 10 Oct 2023
at 03:47
8/10
Tried
on 18 Sep 2023
at 15:15