Firestone Walker Helldorado 2017
What the brewers say
“A deep golden color from being brewed solely with English and American pale malts. The bready, honeyed flavors of pale malts pull out rich wildflower honey, vanilla, and coconut notes from the oak, creating an overall flavor evocative of bourbon-glazed graham crackers.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “A bit of whiskey booze followed by rich vanilla, white chocolate, raisin, and less caramel than one might think and more crème brûlée.”
Flavor: “Really mellow layers of raisin and fruity character that actually work really well together. Alcohol astringency is mildly distracting, but is rounded by deep vanilla. This has a nice body with a slight coating of the mouth, some hop bitterness, and it finishes with a milky chocolate body.”
Overall: “Despite the shock of the color, the beer drinks very much like barleywine—rich malt and barrel character defy expectations harbored by the light color. A complex chili and chocolate flavor with an underlining smokiness creates an interesting taste on the palate, too. A unique and interesting riff on the style.”
