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(Courtesy Firestone Walker Brewing)
Firestone Walker Brewing is located in a rich winemaking region of California. And their winemaking friends played a big part in the blending that went into this year’s anniversary ale.
“We’re talking about a ‘who’s who’ of Paso Robles winemakers,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “We’re fortunate to call them our neighbors and friends, and they never disappoint when it comes to our annual blending session.”
The result this year is XXVII —a masterwork of flavor and complexity, blended from five distinct ales aged in bourbon barrels, marking the brewery’s 27th anniversary.
Firestone Walker’s collaboration with local winemakers dates back to 2006, when Brynildson was tasked with creating the inaugural Anniversary Ale to mark the brewery’s 10th anniversary year.
“It’s a tall order to blend all of these distinct beers into a harmonious whole,” Brynildson said. “That’s why we bring in the winemakers—they are practicing experts in the art of blending.”
This year’s blending session marked the 18th occasion of this annual summer rite. As always, the winemakers broke into teams to create their own candidate blends from a variety of barrel-aged components.
Next, the winemakers and brewers blind tasted all of the candidate blends, then voted as a group to crown the winner that would become XXVII.
This year’s XXVII Anniversary Ale consists of a blend of the following…
DDBA Batch 10k – Aged in Wheated Bourbon Barrels (33%) Imperial Special Bitter
Dividing Time – Aged in Wheated and Rye Bourbon Barrels (29%)
Munich Wine Made in Collaboration with Private Press
Bravo – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (13%) Imperial Brown Ale
Rip This Joint – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (13%) Imperial Stout Made in Collaboration with Side Project
Velvet Merkin – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (12%) Milk Stout
“This beer was created with experience, passion and collaboration, sparing no expense to celebrate our brewery’s 27thanniversary,” Brynildson added.“This may be our most eclectic Anniversary Ale to date—a testament to the blending skills of our winemaker friends.”
Firestone XXVII Anniversary Ale is rolling out now in limited quantities to all Firestone Walker markets, and is also available at all of its brewery locations as well as at its online store for a limited time.
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(All image credits: Firestone Walker Brewing)
