(Paso Robles, CA) Firestone Walker in the present day unveiled “XXVI”—the most recent version of its storied Anniversary Ale, blended as soon as once more with the assistance of native winemakers.
“We’re speaking a few ‘who’s who’ of Paso Robles winemakers,” mentioned Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “We’re lucky to name them our neighbors and mates, and so they by no means disappoint on the subject of our annual mixing session.”
The end result this yr is XXVI—a masterwork of taste and complexity, blended from six distinct ales aged in bourbon and brandy barrels, marking the brewery’s twenty sixth anniversary.
“This newest Anniversary Ale is simply tremendous scrumptious and refined,” Brynildson mentioned. “It’s pushed by two barrel-aged stouts, nevertheless it’s far more than that. It has this good balancing level with loads of spirits barrel character, and there’s an underlying freshness that elevates the mouthfeel.”
XXVI is rolling out now in restricted portions to all Firestone Walker markets, and is obtainable at every brewery location and on-line at FirestoneBeer.com for a restricted time.
An Annual Ceremony
Firestone Walker’s collaboration with native winemakers dates again to 2006, when Brynildson was tasked with creating the inaugural Anniversary Ale to mark the brewery’s 10th anniversary yr.
“It’s a tall order to mix all of those distinct beers right into a harmonious complete,” Brynildson mentioned. “That’s why we deliver within the winemakers—they’re training specialists within the artwork of mixing.”
This yr’s mixing session marked the 17th event of this annual summer time ceremony. As at all times, the winemakers broke into groups to create their very own candidate blends from quite a lot of barrel-aged parts. “We supplied up an ideal spectrum of beers to select from: a lightweight and a heavy stout, an imperial brown ale, a golden ale and two types of barley wines,” Brynildson mentioned.
Subsequent, the winemakers and brewers blind tasted all the candidate blends, then voted as a bunch to crown the winner that may turn into XXVI.
XXVI: The Remaining Mix
“It was good to have our basic Bravo brown ale again within the combine as a complement to our Parabola and Velvet Merkin stouts,” Brynildson mentioned. “Heavy Issues contributed a delicate dimension of brandy barrel character. Lastly, Helldorado and Wheat Wine added a splash of freshness to the beer.”
Parabola – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (32%)
Russian Imperial Stout
Velvet Merkin – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (32%)
Milk Stout
Bravo – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (24%)
Imperial Brown Ale
Heavy Issues – Aged in Brandy Barrels (6%)
Barley Wine Made in Collaboration with The Bruery
Helldorado – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (4%)
Blonde Barley Wine
Wheat Wine – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (2%)
Robust Golden Barley Wine Co-Fermented with White Wine Grape Juice
The Winemakers
Valia From and Emily Miller – Desparada Wines
Russell From – Herman Story Wines
Together with Danny Fullpint – Editor-in-Chief, TheFullpint.com
This workforce created the profitable mix that turned “XXVI”
Jordan Fiorentini and Kyle Gingras – Epoch Property Wines
Matt Trevisan and Ryan Merryweather – Linne Calodo
Sherman Thacher – Thacher Vineyard
Steve Martell – Kaleidos
Bastien Leduc – Seven Oxen
Scott Hawley – Torrin Wine
Phil LaMontagne – TH Property Wines
Pete Turrone and Cameron Silzer – Booker Wines
From exterior the wine world
Brad Clark – Non-public Press Brewing
Greg and Jarrett Koran – Brewmaster’s Collective Membership Members
Anthony and Patrick Patterson – Brewmaster’s Collective Membership Members
Household becoming a member of the enjoyable
Polly Walker
David Walker
Nick Firestone
