Firestone Walker Brewing Company DBA (Double Barrel Ale)
What the brewers say
“DBA opens with a biscuity toasted malt aroma and a hint of oak and vanilla. Pale malts create a smooth malty middle with ribbons of caramel, English toffee, and toasted oak. A tribute to English pales traditionally fermented in cask.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Spicy hops aroma is very herbal and almost medicinal, with some dark cherry esters. Nice sweet caramel and toffee malt aroma. Hops aroma is subdued, floral and earthy.”
Flavor: “The hops character in this beer is earthy, woody, a bit spicy, and floral, with mild bitterness—more than the nose would suggest. Notes of caramel and toffee come through well with a light body. Some tart notes in mid-palate. Hops flavors clash with the fruity yeast esters, though as it warms these work better together. Bitterness is a little low for the style, allowing the malt to linger a little too long.”
Overall: “Nice example of the style. A decent English pale ale, but hops choices don’t quite harmonize with the malt complexity and yeast esters. A smooth round malt backbone anchors the flavor profile. Plenty of hops to keep things interesting—perhaps more than would usually be found in England—this is an American take on a British style.”
