No Reserve In Praising Walker

July 7, 2011

Beer O’ The Week: Firestone Walker’s Reserve Porter

Wamp’s Wisdom

(PHOTO: J.T. WAMPLER) Walker's Reserve porter from Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

Walker’s Reserve Porter is a 5.9 percent alcohol offering from Firestone Walker in Paso Robles, Calif. This brewery uses 65 gallon oak barrels to ferment their small-batch ales.
This porter pours black with a creamy head. Aroma is of roasted malts with a faint trace of chocolate. The flavor is quite tasty with chocolate, caramel and toffee all mingling. The finish is clean with a slight sweetness lingering on the palette. There is virtually no hop presence.
This beer is not yet available in Arkansas. Our review bottles were purchased just across the border in Missouri.
Pair with a hearty soup or stew.

Rating: 4 caps

Rico’s Reaction

Despite the lack of hops — and my status as a hop head fiend is notorious among those who know — Firestone Walker’s Reserve Porter is a powerfully tasty beer.
It has that certain kind of sweetness to it without being sugary, much like Rogue Dead Guy Ale, a quality I greatly admire.
Splitting an oversized bottle of Walker’s Reserve with Wamp for the tasting was a great pleasure, particularly since I got to follow
it with some of Wamp’s home-brewed wee heavy style beer, which was headier but every bit as good, if not better.
It’s a darn shame Firestone Walker’s offerings aren’t available in Arkansas yet.
The brewery has at least a couple of excellent offerings that would be nice to purchase conveniently on occasion. However, there’s no shame in making a run for the Missouri border to snag a few bottles from Macadoodle’s once in a while, no matter how some Benton County people or state senators may feel about it.