12 (XII) Anniversary Ale
Firestone Walker Brewing in Paso Robles, California, United States 🇺🇸
Strong Ale - American Series Out of Production|
Score
7.89
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XII was our third foray, in 2008, into barrel aging. Five components, four matured in spirits barrels and one not, were used in the blending of this beer: Parabola, Opal, Rufus, Saucerful of Secrets, and Union Jack. Cooperage used in its maturation included Rip Van Winkle, Heaven Hill Bourbon, Heaven Hill Brandy, Heaven Hill Rye, Old Fitzgerald wheat whiskey, and retired Firestone Union American medium toasted oak barrels. Aggressive and complex.
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7.3/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 9
Flavor 8
Texture 4
Overall 7
Shared by RadarSocks at my cabin in NH. Enjoyed at room temp in a Hill Farmstead glass.
A - Poured dark brown. No head at all. Black in the glass with some red hues.
S - Wow. I can smell the bourbon from 2 feet away. Always a good sign. This is a very hot and boozy beer. Tons of bourbon and whisky on the nose. Lots of smokey oak and some hints of vanilla.
T - Fantastic. BIG huge dark fruits up front. Lots of figs, some black cherries and some dried prunes. In the middle, dominant oak and some cocoa as well. It’s this weird Oak/Coffee/Chocolate mix that really blends well in the middle. The finish is hard to point out. Charred and smoky notes from the barrels, vanilla from the barrels and this semi-sweet barley wine esque finish.
M - 10% carbonation, heavy body. It coats your tongue but no tingling that I was expecting. Very much a mouth filler and heavy and boozy and hot and oh so delicious.
O - I enjoyed this beer tremendously. It’s for sure a sipper and one that I was expecting to have fallen off by now. Still drinking great. Enjoyable.
A - Poured dark brown. No head at all. Black in the glass with some red hues.
S - Wow. I can smell the bourbon from 2 feet away. Always a good sign. This is a very hot and boozy beer. Tons of bourbon and whisky on the nose. Lots of smokey oak and some hints of vanilla.
T - Fantastic. BIG huge dark fruits up front. Lots of figs, some black cherries and some dried prunes. In the middle, dominant oak and some cocoa as well. It’s this weird Oak/Coffee/Chocolate mix that really blends well in the middle. The finish is hard to point out. Charred and smoky notes from the barrels, vanilla from the barrels and this semi-sweet barley wine esque finish.
M - 10% carbonation, heavy body. It coats your tongue but no tingling that I was expecting. Very much a mouth filler and heavy and boozy and hot and oh so delicious.
O - I enjoyed this beer tremendously. It’s for sure a sipper and one that I was expecting to have fallen off by now. Still drinking great. Enjoyable.
Tried
from Can
on 12 Aug 2012
at 18:41
8.3/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle - celebratory of Devils winning ECF. Pours dark walnut brown with tan head. Nose/taste of walnuts, dark toffee, charred caramel, molasses, vanilla, oak, dark fruits and raisin. Complex. Slight alcohol in finish. Medium body.
Tried
from Bottle
on 25 May 2012
at 21:02
10/10
Tried
on 10 Jan 2012
at 23:50
8.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 8.5
22oz bottle pours a hazy, deep brown with a thin, spitty, off white head. Nose is nice, brown sugar, oxidized, light leather, vanilla, toasted wood, coconut. Flavor is leather, caramel, cookie dough, malty, sweet, light mint, oranges, toasted bread, toasted coconut. The barrel is there, but it’s mellowed and rounded out. Medium bodied, super smooth finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Apr 2011
at 18:26
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
enjoyed the weekend of RBWG 2011pours dark brown with a medium tan head. Aroma is strong bourbon and toffee. Flavor s toffee and thin notes of smoke and peat. Ends relatively sweet with lots of wood and bourbon. Really neat beer.
Tried
on 27 Mar 2011
at 15:59
7.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Bottle shared by Smokepot23 at RBWG 2011, thanks
Appearance: Black with a nice tan head and some spotty lacing
Aroma: Roasted malts, woody and vanilla
Taste: Roasted malts, oak and vanilla
Nice
Appearance: Black with a nice tan head and some spotty lacing
Aroma: Roasted malts, woody and vanilla
Taste: Roasted malts, oak and vanilla
Nice
Tried
from Bottle
on 12 Mar 2011
at 09:27
7.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Dark ruby - chestnut colour with a small off-white head. Aroma of bready malt, prunes and oak. Sweet malty flavour with a roasty note, lots of oak and a bit of alcohol
Tried
on 13 Sep 2010
at 09:24
7.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bomber split. Wish I had known more of the back-story on this one. Dark stained-glass red-black color. Super sweet chocolate licorice. Mellow carbonation. I didn’t really get so much depth, still quite a nice beer. Alcohol and hop heat. Bourbon and oak tones.
Tried
on 16 Aug 2010
at 00:01
7.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Bottle shared by stefanje at the RBSG Grand Tasting. Thanks Stefan! Pours a dark brown color appearing black in the glass. Thin head. Aroma of chocolate, bourbon, minty hops, vanilla and a nutty note. The taste is huge chocolate notes, minty hops, vanilla, toffee, bourbon and faint coffee. Medium-full bodied. Quite nice.
Tried
from Bottle
on 25 Jul 2010
at 17:56
7.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
6th June 2010. RBESG 10 Grand Tasting at the Brasserie 4:20 Warehouse. Cloudy dark brown beer. Rich toffee nose. Dry smooth palate. Rich oak and chocolate. Subtle vanilla and coffee. Tiny bit of spice and brandy. Third time of tasting and this has improved a lot over the year and a bit since it was released.
Tried
on 20 Jun 2010
at 04:36