Firestone Walker Brewing Company Expert Craft Beer Makers

Firestone Walker Brewing Company is a true expert in the craft beer world. They've been perfecting their craft since 1996, and it shows in their extensive portfolio of beers.

Their journey began in Paso Robles, California, where they started brewing beer in a small facility. This humble beginning laid the foundation for their future success.

With a passion for innovation and experimentation, Firestone Walker has developed a wide range of beer styles that cater to all tastes. From hoppy IPAs to rich stouts, they've got something for everyone.

Their commitment to quality and consistency has earned them a loyal following among beer enthusiasts.

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Firestone Walker Brewing Company's beer selection is a true reflection of their commitment to innovation and quality. They offer a wide range of beers, from hoppy pale ales to rich, complex stouts.

One of their standout beers is Velvet Merkin, a decadent oatmeal stout that's perfect for sipping on a cold winter night. It's a fan favorite and a staple in their lineup.

Their beers are brewed with the finest ingredients and a focus on traditional brewing methods, which results in a consistently high level of quality.

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Double Barrel Ale is a British-style pale ale that's been a staple since Firestone Walker's early days. It was actually the first beer brewed by the company in 1996.

This beer is unique because it's partially fermented in oak barrels, inspired by the traditional Burton Union method from 19th century Britain. It's a technique that adds a rich, complex flavor to the beer.

The Double Barrel Ale has been a hit with beer enthusiasts, and it's still widely available today. In fact, you can even find it on tap at the Hitching Post II restaurant in Buellton, California, which was the brewery's first tap account.

Mind Haze IPA is a top-seller for Firestone Walker, second only to 805. It's a hazy IPA with a unique twist, influenced by East Coast styles and Bavarian Hefeweizens.

Firestone Walker created Mind Haze after years of experimentation at their Propagator R&D brewhouse in Venice, California. They wanted to capture the soft tropical fruit flavors and aromas that East Coast hazy IPAs are known for.

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The beer is brewed with a blend of hops, including Cashmere, Mandarina, Azacca, Idaho 7, and El Dorado, which gives it a distinctive taste. If you're a fan of tropical fruit flavors, Mind Haze is definitely worth trying.

In 2021, Firestone Walker released Double Mind Haze, a double hazy IPA that's an extension of the original. If you're looking for a bolder version of Mind Haze, Double Mind Haze is the way to go.

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The Anniversary Ale is a special barrel-aged blend of beers made to commemorate Firestone Walker's founding in 1996.

Each year's Anniversary Ale is a unique blend created with the help of top local Paso Robles winemakers who come to the brewery for a blending session each summer.

The winemakers break into small groups and create their preferred blends from a variety of component beers, making for a truly collaborative effort.

The individual blends are then blind tasted and voted on by the entire group, with the winning blend becoming the basis for the next Anniversary Ale.

The blenders and the brewery always find new ways to make each year's Anniversary Ale stand out, whether it's letting a different beer take center stage or incorporating new styles that have never been in the blend before.

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Firestone Walker makes beer rosé, combining beer and wine in a unique way.

Rosalie is the name of this beer-wine hybrid, which is co-fermented with juice from local Paso Robles wine grapes.

The beer finishes at a refreshing 5 percent ABV, making it perfect for warm weather.

Brewmaster Matt Brynildson calls it “the rosé lover’s beer.”

Firestone Walker worked with Castoro Cellars winery to create Rosalie, using 200 tons of wine grapes.

The grapes included 100 tons of Chardonnay, as well as a mix of Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Muscat Canelli, and Orange Muscat.

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Sour Jim and Jeffers are key figures behind Barrelworks' wild side. They're a dynamic duo that has taken Firestone Walker's sour beer production to the next level.

Jeffers Richardson, the original brewmaster, returned to head up sour beer production in 2012, bringing his expertise to the table. He works closely with Jim "Sour Jim" Crooks, who started experimenting with wild ales in 2007.

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Firestone Walker Brewing Company uses a unique fermentation system that's a variation of the Burton Union system, which involves interconnected oaken barrels.

This system is a nod to traditional brewing methods, and it's a key factor in the company's ability to produce high-quality beers.

The company has a separate facility in Buellton, California, called Barrelworks, which was opened in 2012 specifically for wild ale production.

Firestone Walker Brewing Company offers a unique beer club experience. The Brewmaster's Collective, launched in 2021, features curated collections of specialty beers and club-exclusive beers from the brewery's Vintage and Barrelworks programs.

Membership includes a welcome pack, virtual tastings with the brewers, and other benefits. Each collection comes with members-only provisions such as glassware, merchandise, and food pairings.

The company also hosts the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest, a fundraiser for Paso Robles Pioneer Day. The fest features a lineup of top breweries from around the world, local restaurants, live music, and people's choice awards.

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The Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest is a highly anticipated event that brings together top brewers and beer enthusiasts from around the world.

The fest was first launched in 2012 by Brewmaster Matt Brynildson, who personally invites attending breweries to participate. This exclusive event is held at the Paso Robles Event Center in Paso Robles, California.

In 2017, Paste Magazine praised the fest for featuring beer lineups that are "almost impossible to get elsewhere." The fest includes local restaurants, live music, people's choice awards, and "Behind the Beer" sessions with brewers.

Tickets to the fest typically sell out within 10 minutes of going live, with 2,500 tickets being available each year. The fest is a fundraiser for Paso Robles Pioneer Day, a local nonprofit.

Here are some key details about the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest:

Firestone Walker's Brewmaster's Collective is a beer club that launched in 2021. It's a curated collection of specialty beers shipped to members throughout the year.

The club features beer from the brewery's Vintage and Barrelworks programs, including club-exclusive beers. Members also get glassware, merchandise, and food pairings with each collection.

Each collection comes with a welcome pack that sets the tone for the experience. Members also get to participate in virtual tastings with the brewers.

Membership to the Brewmaster's Collective includes a range of benefits beyond just the beer.

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Firestone Walker Brewing Company has a renowned brewmaster, Matt Brynildson, who has been named "Champion Brewmaster" four times at the World Beer Cup.

Brynildson's background in chemistry has given him a technical edge in brewing, allowing him to perfect his craft.

He's a six-time winner of the "Brewer of the Year" award at the Great American Beer Festival, a testament to his expertise.

Brynildson is known for his innovative approach to brewing, earning him the Russell Schehrer Award for Innovation in Craft Brewing.

He's also a respected educator and collaborator in the global beer community.

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Brynildson's love affair with hops began while working as a hop chemist at Kalamazoo Spice Extraction Company, where he started experimenting with different hop varieties.

He later attended the Siebel Institute of Brewing Technology to further hone his skills.

Brynildson's experience as a head brewer at Goose Island Beer Company in Chicago prepared him for his role as brewmaster at Firestone Walker.

He's been instrumental in creating some of Firestone Walker's most beloved IPAs, including Union Jack IPA and Easy Jack IPA.

Brynildson's expertise has led to the development of unique and complex beers, such as the Luponic Distortion series, which has been released in its 11th iteration.

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At Firestone Walker Brewing Company, you can enjoy a wide range of food and beverage options.

Their menu features a variety of delicious options, including food and beverage services.

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