Firestone Walker Brewing Co PNC Imperial Buckwheat Stout

What the brewers say

“A Firestone Walker classic returns with the 2021 vintage of PNC—an imperial buckwheat stout aged in bourbon, brandy, and tequila barrels.”

What our panel thought

“A boozy chocolate mess that keeps you coming back for more. Port character on the nose. Big barrel qualities reminiscent of rum. Slightly spicy and complex with some sherry notes that come out as it warms. Chocolate, bourbon, and tobacco in the taste. The complexity balances the alcohol bite. The refined aged character gives it smooth cohesion, and the more you partake, the more you want to keep drinking it.”

What our editors thought

“Honey sweetness with an herbal and roasty zip on the nose, along with a dose of wood and a peculiar bitter tropical note, lead to a broadly sweet but layered caramel sip. Light citrus-peel bitterness buffers the bold sweetness of the body, while a gentle spirited alcohol note gives it heft. Coffee roast emerges in the finish, drying it out and providing a fantastic rhythm.”