20 (XX) Anniversary Ale
Firestone Walker Brewing in Paso Robles, California, United States 🇺🇸
Strong Ale - American Series Out of Production|
Score
8.18
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As a finished blend, XX is a beautifully textured and complex brew, with layers that unfold as the beer opens up. At first there is a burst of brandy soaked cherries, then chocolate cake combined with distinct boozy new American oak notes. The flavor develops full of molasses rich brown sugar and fruitcake with a touch of caramel and cinnamon spice. Overall the beer is silky smooth, incredibly balanced and finishes with a touch of kirsch filled truffle – a perfect blend of everything we love about our vintage barrel program! This beer is unfiltered and unfined, so there will be a small amount of sediment in the bottom of the bottle. XX 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 the true complexity of this blend is revealed, so take your time. If you wait to open your bottle later, store it in a cool, dark place. I suspect, like our other Anniversary offerings, that this beer will age well and change favorably for years to come.
Final blend:
Parabola 40%
Stickee Monkee 20%
Velvet Merkin 17.5%
Bravo 12.5%
Helldorado 10%
Final blend:
Parabola 40%
Stickee Monkee 20%
Velvet Merkin 17.5%
Bravo 12.5%
Helldorado 10%
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7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
I really like the paper insert in the box. Tons of collaborators on this, even Ken Weaver. For being 8 years old, it pours with a thin head that lasts. Bright pale brown. The aroma has a fair bit of fruitiness and toffee that I associate with Stickee Monkee, and a bit of toastiness as well. On the palate, a lot of alcohol, bourbony with a brandy accent that drops some tannins. The sugars up front seem to quickly fade away.
Tried
on 22 Jun 2024
at 04:12
7.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle split at the 2nd CBJ tasting, thanks to Kenny 31/08/23. Light black with a tan head. Nose is dried fruit esters, figs, toffee, dark malts, spice, booze tunes. Taste comprises raisins, spice, fruit cake mix, chocolate, good barrel angle. Full bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close with a balanced kiss of alcohol. Decent.
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Sep 2023
at 15:42
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Growler shared in London. Cheers to Kenny! Pours deep brown with a foamy, beige head. Medium sweet flavour, lots of semi-dark mats, dried berries, toffee, earth, booze, raisins. Full bodied with fine carbonation. Warming finish, more rich stewed fruits. Tasty.
Tried
from Growler
on 31 Aug 2023
at 18:12
8/10
Tried
on 31 Aug 2023
at 17:53
7.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 8
Bottle pour at Carmine Street. Pours dark brown. Red grape, biscuit, toffee, milk chocolate, bourbon, walnut, dry biscuit. Medium body. Good.
Tried
from Bottle
on 27 Aug 2023
at 00:51
8.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
30th July 2023
Almost clear deep amber brown beer, small tan head. Palate feels a little thicker than XIX but still has a good fine minerally crispness. Nice fresh chocolate malts, a decent creamy sweetness as well. Delightful malt base. Smooth rich bourbon dominates, smooth is very much the operative word here. No sharp edges. Rich fruity bourbon on the back end. Some brandy richness as well, but very much second fiddle to the bourbon. Finishes slightly boozy with great fruit cake vibe, with a lesser element of cherry fruit cake. Mild alcohol spice on the end. Another sublime FW Anniversary blend, but another Bourbon fest.
Almost clear deep amber brown beer, small tan head. Palate feels a little thicker than XIX but still has a good fine minerally crispness. Nice fresh chocolate malts, a decent creamy sweetness as well. Delightful malt base. Smooth rich bourbon dominates, smooth is very much the operative word here. No sharp edges. Rich fruity bourbon on the back end. Some brandy richness as well, but very much second fiddle to the bourbon. Finishes slightly boozy with great fruit cake vibe, with a lesser element of cherry fruit cake. Mild alcohol spice on the end. Another sublime FW Anniversary blend, but another Bourbon fest.
Tried
on 30 Jul 2023
at 23:25
8.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 9
Overall 9
Rating# 5000. From another IP trade with Richiesd in 2017. Pours a clear dark brown colour and a brownish head that disappears immediately. Aroma's of bourbon, brown sugar, wood, booze. Retronasal it's sweet, bourbon, oak/wood, vanilla, burnt sugar, light red fruit. Flavour is sweet, burnt sugar, boozy. Alcohol feel is not too sharp though. Medium bodied. Long finish. Another great bottle from FW!
Tried
from Bottle
on 12 Apr 2020
at 12:00
7.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Refrigerated brown bomber poured into a glass. Dark brown with medium beige head. Aroma is oak, medium body, medium lively carbonation, and little lacing. Taste is oak, liquor, and roasted malt.
Tried
on 23 Mar 2020
at 01:15
8.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 8.5
Bottle from my cellar. Ebony pour, small soft ring of beige head. Sweet roasty aroma. Taste is sweet, milky, chocolate with an afterglow. Incredibly smooth.
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Jan 2020
at 03:00
6.9/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
22oz bottle pours a very dark brown, thin off white head. Nose has caramel brown sugar, marzipan. Flavors of butterscotch, booze, toffee chews. Full bodied, boozy finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 11 Jun 2019
at 16:41