Pours mahogany-tinged black into a snifter. Off-white head with little retention recedes to hug rim. Deep caramel, bourbon and oak aromas. Thick with nutty maple and oak upfront turning to dark chocolate, honey and resin in the lasting burn finish.

22oz bottle from the State Wine store, thanks for the tip Doug
Appearance: Pours a clear deep mahogany with a medium sized beige head and good lacing
Aroma: Sweet toffee, candy, vanilla, woody and bourbon
Taste: Toasted malts, caramel, vanilla, woody, bourbon and dried ripe fruit
A great sipper! It is great from the first taste to the last. Hook up the IV, I could live off this. I need to pick up a few more.

Draft. Rich amber-brown beer with a tan head. Burnt brown sugar aroma with light citrus and darker malts. Grapefruit and toffee flavor with brown sugar and vanilla. Medium-plus bodied. Toffee and brown sugar lingers with grapefruit and creme brulee.

Rating 5700. Bottle. By the pour I can tell you that it is not 13 by the color, a deep mahogany brown hue with orange to amber highlights (one of the lighter beers in the series). A somewhat significant, light tan head that lasts in some form throughout (not bad for a 12.5% beer). Aromas are warm, caramel, bready, woody, oak, flan, plenty of hops (which feels a touch odd, but I thought 14 was pretty hoppy fresh). A nice spicy note. Vanillin everywhere as well as a more refined cooking vanilla note (madagascar-esque). Light char, brandy notes as well. Brown sugar, coconut and a bit more alcohol as it warms. Flavors are rich, boozy, caramel, lighter chocolates, baked bread, cinnamon rolls with icing. Molasses and brown sugar. Still plenty bitter with hops and tannin. Intensely rich melanoidin and some raw oakiness (spicyness, vanilin). Vanilla custard. Cola, some candiness/brown sugar. With all the alcohol and tannin/bitterness, the intense caramelized malt flavors actually end up balancing quite well. Creamy, smooth, luscious, and full. Warming (very), but never harsh. Massive duration of flavors. Overall: complex, decadent, imposing and elegant. In a word: excellent (as is to be expected from a Firestone-Walker Anniversary Blend).

22oz bottle split with the Madison crew. Cherry stained-glass amber-brown. Thin but steady oily head. Very complex, lots of dark fruit. Sugary, a big mix of Strong Ale flavors. Raisin, prune, light cherry, oak, you name it. Despite the massive array of flavors, it still comes together pretty well. Lots of depth, quite a nice beer.

Small draft sample at the Release Party. I will update and rerate when I open a full bottle to enjoy. Nose is toffee, raisin pie, a bretty funkiness, light alcohol, and a yeasty presencee. Clear brown with a medium beige head. Flavor is light hoppy bitterness,light funky brett, a bit of alcohol warmth, toffee, and a pruney fruitiness. Excellent short at a funky ASA. 8/4/89/4/17 4.2 Bomber at Enniskillen’s at a FW 10-15 Vertical Tasting. Nose is big vanilla up front, toffee, oak, and raisins. Lots of barleywine notes, I don’t pick up anything from the Parabola. Hazy brown with a mediumbeige head. Flavor is vanilla, golden raisins, light sweetness, a bit of bitterness; I like this much better than at the release.