Firestone Walker just announced the release of an Imperial version of its flagship beer, Double Barrel Ale. Double DBA is essentially DBA brewed at double strength and matured for an extended period. Like DBA, Double DBA was partially fermented in new American oak barrels.
“We started our brewery by fermenting our flagship Double Barrel Ale (DBA) in oak barrels,” said co-proprietor David Walker. “Double DBA brings us full circle as our first release that is both fermented and aged in barrels. If there’s a beer that represents the soul of our brewery, this is it.”
After fermentation, the beer was racked and returned to the “union barrels” as well as bourbon barrels, where it aged for one year. “The result is a big and complex beer that still offers the balance and drinkability that are the hallmarks of DBA,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson.
Double DBA was bottled without filtration. The English caramel malts lend a rich toffee and crème brulée character that pairs well with the assertive medium toast of the American oak barrels.
Double DBA was released this past weekend at the brewery’s three hospitality venues—the Visitor Center at the brewery in Paso Robles, the Taproom restaurant in Paso Robles and the Taproom restaurant in Buelton. It will be released in 22-ounce bottles to select markets across the United States over the next two weeks.
For the Geeks:
Double DBA
- ABV: 12%
- IBU: 29 (medium)
- Color: 27L (dark ruby)
- Brewing: Partially fermented in American oak barrels; aged for 12 months in Firestone Union and bourbon barrels
- Malts: Premium Two-Row, Maris Otter Pale, Munich, Crystal, Chocolate
- Hops: Bittering—Magnum; Late Kettle—Styrian Golding, East Kent Golding; Dry Hops—East Kent Golding