Mike Loves Beer

Name – Double Jack
Country – United States
Type – American Double IPA

Everyone has a favorite brewery that they can’t regularly get.  And I don’t know about everyone else but mine seems to change quite regularly.  Whether it’s Odell or Green Flash or New Belgium or Goose Island I love all those breweries but can’t get them here in Florida.  But my newest obsession is Firestone Walker out of California.

While this may be my first beer of theirs I review on here it is not my first rodeo with them.  I’ve had a number of their brews and have been very satisfied to blown away by them.  Today’s review is of one I have had before but recently got a bottle in a trade with Dave at the Drunken Polack.  It’s Double Jack, their Double IPA.

I pour the brew into my nonic pint glass and it arrives a very clear golden color with a frothy off white head sitting on top.  It leaves a good amount of lacing as it subsides too.

The nose is super fresh smelling.  Lots of resiny and citrus hop aromas.  Tons of grapefruit and tangerine.  Slight grassy note in there as well.

The taste is a lot of the same.  The hops just jump out at you.  Citrus and resin once again.  A slight bready malt character lends some backing to this hoppy attack.  And an alcohol bite comes through in the finish as it warms up.

Let’s just throw this out there.  Double Jack is a world class Double IPA.  I put this up there with some of my all time favorite DIPAs in Maharaja, Hercules and Lenny’s RIPA.  Yes the hop assault is big but the malts balance it out to where it is still hop forward but not making you believe you will be picking the teeth out of your mouth.

Rumors have been going on saying Firestone Walker is coming to Florida within the next couple years.  All I can say is hope these rumors end up true.  Being able to enjoy the fine beer that these folks produce would make any beer geeks day.

Grade - A

Name – Stone/21st Amendment/Firestone Walker El Camino (Un)Real Black Ale
Country – United States
Type – American Strong Ale

Appearance – Poured pretty much jet black with a small light brown head that was gone pretty quickly.

Smell – A little roasted malts and quite earthy hops.  There is a smell I can’t quit place.

Taste – It has a hop presence up front but then gets quite complex.  You have roasted malts with a bit of smokiness to it.  Then there is an almost soy sauce like taste to me.  And it finishes with a bit more hops and this spice taste that I can’t place.  Maybe it’s the fennel used in it but I have no clue what that smells or tastes like.

Another of my mail ordered beers from the west coast.  I really decided to have this last night after reading Mike’s review at Thank Heaven for Beer yesterday.  This is a very complex beer from three big California brewers.  I definitely can’t think of anything I’ve ever had like it before.  I was quite enjoyable as I sipped it while watching Parenthood on demand.  Great combo there.  I probably won’t buy another at $5 was a bit much for a 12 oz bottle especially one that I had to have shipped here as it isn’t available in these parts.  But if you can easily get a hold of one or just want to order it then I do say to do it.

Overall Grade – B+