Firestone Walker Double Jack
Firestone Walker’s Double Jack is one of those Double/Imperial IPAs that you have once and immediately want again, perhaps even declaring undying devotion to its hoppy goodness. It’s a big beer, weighing in at 9.5% ABV, that’s crafted not to just deliver a ton of hops, but also as one of the more balanced samples of this style.
Premium Two-Row, Munich, Simpson’s Light Crystal malts provide a solid backbone for the beer, imparting a lightly toasted bread and sweetness to its overall characteristic. The hops —a combination of Warrior, Columbus, Cascade, Centennial, Amarillo and Simcoe added throughout the brewing process — are not overly dominant, instead delivering juicy citrus fruits and an earthy pine note that sits wonderfully with the malts.
Love the glow to this beer.
Appearance
This IPA certainly looks good in a glass. It’s golden amber color seems to glow as the off-white head hung around for a good long while with excellent retention.
Aroma
Not to get all high brow on anyone, but there is a symphony of hops in the nose: grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple and pine, as well as a hint of malt. It almost smells too good to drink. Almost.
Taste
Oh, wow. There’s a brief moment of sweet, caramel malts before loads of tropical fruits and piny hops fully envelop the tongue. Grapefruit, orange peel and tangerines join together with an earthy piny character that all fade torturously (yet gloriously) slow into a mildly bitter finish that lingers on the palate. I was expecting much more of a hop bite in the end, but it’s only present in a moderate level, making the beer super smooth and dangerously easy drinking. The higher alcohol content is hidden well, but doesn present itself more in the finish as the beer warms.
Overall
I was going to be a truly selfish bastard and not share some of the Double Jack with the wife, but in the end, it’s just too good of a beer not to share. It’s deceptive in its drinkable nature. The lack of a strong bitterness in the finish makes for a smooth beer that is chock full of citrus hops. I thoroughly enjoyed this brew.
Rating: 4.5/5