Dark & Stormy (2018) - Firestone Walker Brewing Company

Beer Review

Dark & Stormy (2018) is an 11.1% abv Barleywine mashup of Helldorado and Velvet Merkin aged in rum barrels with a touch of lime and ginger. It's made by Firestone Walker Brewing Company at their Barrelworks facility in Buellton, California. Firestone Walker Brewing Company was founded by two brother-in-laws 25 years ago in a shed on a family vineyard in California. Since then they've perfected some delicious barrel aged beers and more. Dark & Stormy is an aged specialty beer released in 2018, resembling the classic Dark & Stormy rum cocktail drink.

Check out Dark & Stormy (2018) Reviews on Untappd: (Rated 3.83/5)
https://untappd.com/b/firestone-walker-brewing-company-dark-and-stormy-2018/2818294

See what else Firestone Walker Brewing Company has to offer:
https://www.firestonebeer.com/

The Bottle

Dark & Stormy (2018) is served in a 12 ounce glass bottle. It features a vintage-style label with some information on the front. There were only 1,000 cases produced of the Dark & Stormy (2018) by Firestone Walker Brewing Company.

The beer bottle was sold in single cases, as seen below. I figured it was a good time to bring this aged beer out, as the Bear seems to want a fight (both on the beer case and in the crypto markets)

Below is the backside of the Dark & Stormy (2018) case. It reads:

Our brewery began in 1996 when we delved into the rare art of fermenting beer in oak barrels. Ten years later, we took our barrel machinations to the next level by aging beers in vessels inherited from bourbon houses and other spirit producers. Ever since, the resulting beers have flown under the banner of the Proprietor's Vintage series, which has become one of the most extensive barrel-aging programs in the craft industry.

From the jungles of Jamaica to the barrel room at Firestone Walker Brewing Company comes Dark & Stormy - an exotic mashup of Helldorado and Velvet Merkin aged in Jamaican rum barrels with a touch of hand-zested lime and ginger. Like it's namesake cocktail, Dark & Stormy combines a rich sunset color with spicy rum goodness, Helldorado (blonde barleywine, 80&) sets the tone with it's signature honey-coconut character, while Velvet Merkin (oatmeal stout, 20%) rounds out the blend with a hint of rich roastiness. Enjoy this beer now, or cellar in a cool, dark place between 45°F and 55°F. Allow it to warm up in the glass when serving.

The Beer

The Dark & Stormy (2018) was a hazy light brown color when I poured it into a glass. I stored the bottle for a couple of years before deciding to finally open it. It still had a nice fuzz and carbonation. The flavor was definitely exotic and interesting. It was very strong at 11.1% alcohol content and tasted very much like rum from the aging process. Overall it was a nice heavy hitting and unique beer. I look forward to trying more beers from Firestone Walker Brewing Company in the future!