Firestone Walker Brewing Company Pale 31 (365 Day 141)

By scot in 365 Days of American Craft Beer, Beer on Thursday, April 21st, 2011

Firestone Walker Pale 31

More California American craft beer for number 141. Pale 31 by Firestone Walker Brewing Company comes by way of the same transaction that landed the other recent California beers.

I would like to say thank you to the other party in my transaction as all the hoppy beers I have had from the transaction, to this point, have been fresh. I know I have ranted about this before, but if you are going to trade make sure that you get fresh beer, especially hoppy beer. Don’t be a tool and look like a fool because you don’t know how to select fresh beer. If are not sure, ask someone working at the beer store. Most of us beer geeks know at least one “guy” at one “store” and, if it is a somewhat decent person, they will tell you the truth about the beer. Back on target…

I hope this doesn’t come across negative: out of the beers I have tasted from Firestone Walker, this is probably my least favorite, even though I still rated it a 7.9. That rating means the beer is above average. I have had the beer on several occasions, so it isn’t like I believe it to be like the plague. It just goes to show the quality of beer that comes of Firestone.

Lots of citrus hops in this biscuit and caramel malt laden beer. The citrus was a combination of orange and grapefruit for me. I think the biscuit malt that comes through threw me a bit as I wasn’t expecting it, maybe that’s why I didn’t rate it as high. I was expecting a more clean malt profile. Still another quality beer from another quality west coast brewery. Enjoy!

Aroma: 8, Taste: 7, Look: 9, Drinkability: 8, Overall: 7.9

Useless Fact: Every night, wasps bite into the stem of a plant, lock their mandibles into position, stretch out at right angles to the stem, and, with legs dangling, fall asleep.