Topic Archives: Firestone Walker Barrelworks Series

Posted in Firestone Walker Brewing, New Beers
Posted in Coming Soon, Firestone Walker Brewing

Firestone Walker Lil Opal Returns To Barrelworks Soon

Firestone Walker Lil Opal

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

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Don't Miss This, Firestone Walker Brewing

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

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Firestone Walker Brewing

Firestone Walker El Gourdo Coming to Barrelworks

Firestone Walker’s Barrelworks will release El Gourdo in November, 2013. The beer got its start last year, when a local pumpkin patch ask the brewery to take in orphaned Cinderella pumpkins.

The pumpkins were fire roasted with bay leaf and walnuts, in an oven fueled by brandy and white oak staves. 500 pounds of the roasted pumpkins were added to the base beer blend to ferment and oak age for nearly a year.

…The resulting beer is subtle yet firm. Roasting releases naturally sweet spicy pumpkin, brown sugar, and nutty flavors and aromas, which mingle nicely with an earthy funk, toasted oak and assertive acidity.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Pumpkin, Walnuts, Bay Leaf. Oak Aged)
Availability: 375ml Bottles, Draft. Limited
Arrival: November, 2014

5.8% ABV, 5 IBUs

The blending components below…

012 Lil Mikkel                 Saison                                 66%        24 months                             French & American Oak

2013 Agrestic Ale              American Wild Red         33%        12 months                              French & American Oak

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Firestone Walker Brewing, Headlines

From the Barrelworks: Firestone Walker Agrestic

Firestone Walker Agrestic

Firestone Walker (Paso Robles, CA) will release a new wild ale from their Barrelworks on September 20th, Agrestic Red Wild Ale.

Agrestic is a spin on Firestone’s DBA British Pale Ale. It was racked (transferred to oak barrels on racks) with a blend of wild and sour bacteria and yeast.

The final blend that you’ll taste as Firestone Walker Agrestic are specially chosen lots of wild ale, ranging from eight to 24 months in French (87%) and American (13%) oak barrels.

Toasted oak and lemon pith swirl on the nose and palate, followed by harmonious notes of vanilla, coconut, Earl Grey tea and spice. The finish is crisp, with mouthwatering acidity and chewy tannins.

Firestone Walker Agrestic will release in 12.7oz bottles at both the Barrelworks and brewery in California.

Style: American Wild Ale (Oak Aged)
Availability: 12.7oz Bottles
Arrival: September 20th, 2014

6.6% ABV

 

agrestic |əˈgrestik| adjective chiefly literary of or relating to the country; rural; rustic.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Firestone Walker Brewing, New Beers