Firestone Walker Brewing
Firestone Walker Stickee Monkee 2015: The Best Yet
Firestone Walker Stickee Monkee 2015 releases on May 23rd.
Firestone Stickee Monkee is a Belgian-style quadrupel, aged over a year in Woodford Reserve, Elijah Craig, and Four Roses bourbon barrels. The brewery calls is a “Central Coast Quad” thanks to the California twist this classic-style strong ale undergoes before bottling.
“Some folks have questioned the moniker ‘Central Coast Quad’ that we assigned to Stickee Monkee, but we stand by it,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “We brew this beer true to the Quadrupel style right up until we rack it to barrels for our own local California Central Coast twist.”
2015 marks just the second time that Firestone Walker has been bottled. Firestone Walker’s Matt Bryndilson personally believes that people will go “apeshit” to taste the 2015 Stickee, after tasting how well this edition came out.
Style: Quadrupel (w/ Candi Sugar. Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 22oz Bottles. 3,500 cases. Select U.S. Markets
Release: 5/23/15
?? ABV
Firestone Walker Easy Jack Launches in Cans
Firestone Walker Easy Jack appeared for the first time in 2014. The brewery sought to create a session IPA with a flavor complexity created by a rare selection of newer hop varieties. Unfortunately, the hops ran out by mid-summer, and Easy Jack was a memory.
Firestone Walker Easy Jack has now been re-launched as a year round beer in 12oz cans.
The Hop Focus:
Mandarina Bavaria – Hallertau, Germany
“Mandarina is the defining hop of Easy Jack. It’s real orangy, zesty, like a fresh orange off the tree, which I’ve never smelled in any hop before.”
Hull Melon – Hallertau, Germany
“I call this the rhythm guitar. It has this melony, ripe tropical fruit characteristic that complements the citrus of the Mandarina.”
Southern Hemisphere Hops
“These hops are equally elusive as our prized Mandarina and Melon. We have begged, borrowed and traded…Yes, we literally traded 8 Wired Brewery in New Zealand an equal amount of Centennial and Amarillo hops for some fresh Nelson hops. The transaction was more complicated than any hop purchase I have ever made.”
Blend of U.S. Hops
“Mosaic provides a tropical vibe with herbal and pine notes, while Citra and Amarillo add complexity and dimension.”
Firestone Walker Easy Jack cans are now available, and shipping to the brewery’s markets around the United States.
Style: IPA
Hops: Mandaria Bavaria, Hull Melon, Southern Hemisphere, Mosaic, Citra, Amarillo
Availability: 12oz Cans. Year Round.
Can Release: March, 2015
4.5% ABV
Firestone Walker Parabola 2015 Releases March 21st
Firestone Walker Parabola 2015 makes a seasonal return to the brewery’s lineup on March 21st, 2015.
Parabola is a Russian imperial Stout, aged in bourbon barrels. Firestone Walker laments, this is one of the brewery’s most sought after offerings, and a major component of the brewery’s Anniversary blends.
One of our most aggressive and sought-after offerings. Bold bourbon, tobacco and espresso aromas and a hint of American oak greet the nose. Rich, chewy roasted malts, charred oak and bourbon-like vanilla fill the palate and create a seamless finish. A remarkably complex brew that offers a transcendental drinking experience – enjoy with good company.
Firestone Walker Parabola will be available in 22oz bottles in limited quantities across the brewery’s distribution footprint.
Style: Russian Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 22oz Bottles. Limited Release.
Return: 3/21/15
12.5% ABV
Firestone Walker Lil Opal Returns To Barrelworks Soon
Firestone Walker Lil Opal will be next up for re-release this year. The brewery releases Feral One again on Valentines Day 2015, with Lil Opal to follow shortly after. The barrel saison is aged in Viognier barrels.
Lil Opal was originally created nine years ago when master blender, then quality control manager, Jim “Sour Jim” Crooks peeled away from his regular brewery duties and began aging wild yeast (a.k.a. sour) beers in Viognier barrels acquired from local wineries. This illicit brett’d saison and Barrelworks progenitor returns in early 2015 with its second limited bottling. Maturation in barrels refines Lil’ Opal’s spicy and fruity yeast notes, and refreshes the palate with a soft, light acidity.
Firestone Walker will announce Lil Opal return date soon.
Style: Saison (Barrel Aged. Wine Barrels.)
Availability: 12.7oz Bottles, Corked & Caged.
2015 Return: TBA
5.9% ABV
Read more: Firestone Walker Barrelworks Series
Firestone Walker Feral One, Batch Two on Valentine’s Day
Firestone Walker Feral One, Batch Two releases on February 14th, 2015, in honor of the Barrelworks second anniversary.
Feral One, Batch Two is a 43% blend of Agrestic (American wild ale red), 43% Vintage Solae Wild Wheat Ale, and 14% Lil’ Opal (barrel aged saison).
Feral One is an annual blend of our best efforts, from hand-selected well-aged barrels, chosen by the Masterblender and Barrelmeister. An earthy funky nose gives way to complex ester notes of dried apricots, strawberry, guava and slight orange zest. Toasted mature oak, lavender, vanilla and cinnamon lurk in the background. A mouth-watering acidity and soft tannins are punctuated by a firm carbonation.
Firestone Walker Feral One, Batch Two will be available at a special Valentine’s Day/Anniversary party. Tickets start at $104 dollars via Eventbrite Tickets
Style: American Wild Ale
Availability: 375ml bottles, Draft. Extremely limited
Release: 2/14/15
6.7% ABV
Firestone Walker Readies First Cans
Firestone Walker (Paso Robles, CA) will release their first full production release of cans in February, 2015. The brewery has canned 805, as its own brand last year. This release marks the first Firestone Walker beers in aluminum.
The brewery is kicking off the can lineup with Easy Jack IPA, Union Jack IPA, and Pivo Pils.
“We could have rushed into canning a few years ago, but we wanted the timing to be right,” said brewery co-proprietor David Walker. “The market for canned craft beer is now hitting its stride, and canning technology has come a long way in a short period. Also, cans are a perfect fit for life here on the Central Coast. All of these factors converged to finally reach a tipping point for us.”
At full speed, Firestone Walker’s German-built KHS canning line is capable of producing and filing 400 cans per minute.
12oz Firestone Walker cans will start making their way into distribution at the end of February, and early March, 2015.
Style: Various
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. 12oz Cans (new)
Release: Late February, 2015
Firestone Sucaba Revealed to Be Blended with Secret Beer
Firestone Walker Brewing (Paso Robles, CA) will release Sucaba, the brewery’s barrel aged barleywine again on January 17th, 2015. You knew it once as Abacus, but they can’t say that anymore. (It’s legal crap. Last time we will bring it up. Everyone has moved on.)
Interestingly, Firestone Walker’s Matt Brynildson reveals something about Sucaba that has been a bit of a secret. It is actually a blend of two beers. The base beer indeed Sucaba, but a second strong beer, a 10% beer, is blended to give the final concoction the chocolate-y, dark cherry notes.
“We’ve never talked about it, but §ucaba is actually a blend of two separate beers,” Brynildson said.
Firestone Walker Sucaba is part of the brewery’s Proprietor’s Reserve Series, available in 22oz bombers. ERP: $16.99
Style: Barleywine (Barrel Aged. Bourbon)
Hops: Magnum (bittering), East Kent and Styrian Golding (late kettle)
Malts: Pale Ale Malt, Maris Otter, Munich, Dark & Light Crystal, Chocolate
Availability: 22oz bombers, Individually Boxed. 3500 cases produced.
Arrival: 1/17/15
13% ABV, 42 IBUs
Post updated with 2015 details. Image via Firestone Walker.
