11 (XI) Anniversary Ale
Firestone Walker Brewing in Paso Robles, California, United States 🇺🇸
Strong Ale - American Series Out of Production|
Score
7.96
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11th Anniversary Ale.
A blend of imperial stout, imperial brown, porter and imperial red ales, all aged in new American oak, bourbon and brandy barrels.
As a finished beer- Eleven is far more structured and refined than any previous blend. We bottled this beer a full month before release to allow it to integrate fully. It is not a beer of broad strokes or exclamation points, but a beer of subtle nuances and secrets. It best enjoyed in a half filled brandy snifter or wine glass. Allow it to warm to 55F to fully enjoy the pleasing and complex aromas. We kept the carbonation very low to compliment Eleven’s smooth texture. If left in a cool dark place, I suspect that this beer will age well.
A blend of imperial stout, imperial brown, porter and imperial red ales, all aged in new American oak, bourbon and brandy barrels.
As a finished beer- Eleven is far more structured and refined than any previous blend. We bottled this beer a full month before release to allow it to integrate fully. It is not a beer of broad strokes or exclamation points, but a beer of subtle nuances and secrets. It best enjoyed in a half filled brandy snifter or wine glass. Allow it to warm to 55F to fully enjoy the pleasing and complex aromas. We kept the carbonation very low to compliment Eleven’s smooth texture. If left in a cool dark place, I suspect that this beer will age well.
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8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
24th March 2009
The stated aim of achieving a complex beer with no particular element dominating is thoroughly acheived in this marvelous beer! Very dark brown - just about translucent. Low carbonation. Immediate soft vanilla oak that is woodt but not dry. Soft brandy and subtle chocolate follow with a licorice that starts to bloom. Subtle cherry notes ride alongside. A little mellow coffee in there as well. This isn’t a WOW beer, instead it seduces with it’s subtle charms and complexities.
The stated aim of achieving a complex beer with no particular element dominating is thoroughly acheived in this marvelous beer! Very dark brown - just about translucent. Low carbonation. Immediate soft vanilla oak that is woodt but not dry. Soft brandy and subtle chocolate follow with a licorice that starts to bloom. Subtle cherry notes ride alongside. A little mellow coffee in there as well. This isn’t a WOW beer, instead it seduces with it’s subtle charms and complexities.
Tried
on 26 Jan 2011
at 13:37
8.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 8.5
Bottle. Pours black with beige head. Nose of chocolate, raisin, plum, vanilla and bourbon. Taste is ultra smooth velvety chocolate, raisin, vanilla, bourbon (without the burn) and assorted dark fruits. Full bodied. Delicious.
Tried
from Bottle
on 13 Dec 2010
at 12:56
8.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 9
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Thanks to Plovmand and Hallinghansen for sharing. Dark brown with a small off-white head. Really incredible complex oak aroma, on top of dried fruits, caramel and brown sugar. Well balanced flavour despite loads of oak, loads of sweetness and loads of alcohol.
Tried
on 23 Feb 2010
at 06:38
8.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 9
Medium cream head, fast gone, over deep dark-brown beer with ruby reflections. Vinous, brandy, fusels, raisins tempting the nasal cavities... Rich malty, alcohol, fusels and fruity esters’ flavours, with just a touch of hops and vanilla spiking. Superbly slick & viscous, molassesfeel, balanced, just the carbonation lagging. This is a truly great, well-balanced beer. And compared to the names present in todays tasting, that counts! Big thanks to CK!
Tried
on 04 Jul 2009
at 16:48
8.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 8.5
Bottled. A red-amber beer with a thin tan head. The aroma is sweet malty with strong notes of over-ripe fruits and medium notes of wood. The flavor is sweet with strong notes of alcohol and medium notes of malt, over ripe fruits and wood, as well as lighter notes of bourbon, and chocolate. Thanks Papsoe for sharing.
Tried
from Bottle
on 17 May 2009
at 04:53
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle @ jbrus. Dark brown color. Aroma of chocolat, hint of vanilla, liquor, oaky. Alcoholic taste, malty. Obvious barrel-aging again. Great stuff.
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Apr 2009
at 11:45
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle @ jbrus’s place. Malt, coffee, raisin, dried fruit, chocolate and a hint of oak in the aroma. Creamy flavor with milk chocolate, coffee. Just a touch of warming alcohol. Red berries. oak in the finish. Well balanced, tasty beer.
Tried
from Bottle
on 30 Mar 2009
at 13:44
8.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Bottle @ Toronado, SF. Pours a ruby amber almost black color with a small tan head. Has a slighlty roasted malty oaky vanilla aroma. Malty chocolate and licorice flavor with lots of oaky vanilla hints. Has a long malty licorice finish with oaky vanilla hints.
Tried
from Bottle
on 09 Mar 2009
at 06:07
7.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Deep chestnut brown pour with a thin, short-lived beige head. No lacing. Sweet and rich bourbon cover a light malty and cocoa filled aroma. I want to think there is more, but the bourbon is very prominent. Tastes more mellowed of the bourbon , a little malty and sweet. Chocolate and then a bit more bourbon sweetness. A little bit of faded hops. Very smooth and rich, but the bourbon barrel notes are more of a fixture than compliment. I wish I could have cellared this a bit longer... Oh well, how often does a team win a sixth Super Bowl anyway? Bottle was from Degarth, thanks to a great trader!
Tried
from Bottle
on 03 Feb 2009
at 20:10
8.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 8
Bottle from Beachwood BBQ. Shared with WeeHeavySD (+1) and m4rest88. Pours with a small, creamy, light brown head and a murky brown body. Good lacing left by the diminishing head. Aroma of bourbon, brown sugar, chocolate, alcohol burn, dark fruits and a ton of oak. Taste is buttery smooth bourbon, with chocolate, toffee, oak and a bit of ash. Mouthcoating and syrupy, light carbonation. Good beer!
Tried
from Bottle
on 29 Nov 2008
at 20:12