Beer News – Firestone Walker Happenings
As the release of Firestone Walker XII approaches, TheFullPint.com reached out to the Paso Robles, CA based brewers to find out what is going on with their main brand, Firestone Walker, as well as the Nectar Ales label, and the award winning Mission Street label.
Firestone Walker XII
XII is scheduled to be released on Saturday, November 8th at noon at the Firestone Walker Brewery in Paso Robles. It will be available the following weeks throughout California in limited amounts to select accounts.
According to Firestone Walker, this has not been fully blended yet, and has not been bottled yet because of that. Might the release date be pushed back? This release is slated for 600 cases, 200 + being shipped to the Buellton Tap Room. Either way, it should be impressive. While we don’t have the entire 12 or so ales in the blend, we do know that it contains Saucer Full of Secrets and Velvet Merkins. The 22oz bottle will be retailing for $19.99 + tax.
Future Firestone Bottles
There are rumblings in Paso Robles about releasing 22oz seasonals, similar to how Full Sail releases their Brewmaster’s Reserve line. While this is still in the brain storming phase, some great candidates for this lineup would be Oaktoberfest Lager, and Velvet Merkins (Oatmeal Stout).
Nectar Ales Restructuring
Get it while you can! Nectar Ales will be discontinuing their Pale Nectar. Craziness I know, especially after winning Gold at the GABF for American Strong Pale Ale. The stuff is beautiful, but Firestone feels it is their slowest seller, and would be better using their efforts towards their more popular selling beers. Red Nectar and IPA Nectar will be receiving a branding face lift, and will be marketed more heavily in months to come. The green headed step-child of the Humbolt brewing acquistion, Humboldt Hemp Ale, might finally get to join its brothers under the Nectar Ales label. Whether it will be completely renamed or not, remains to be seen.
Mission Street Brewing
One of the sleepers at this years Great American Beer Festival, was Mission Street Pale Ale. Mission Street Brewing is a private label made by Firestone Walker for Trader Joes grocery store. After this brew got the nod from the judges at the GABF, thefullpint.com went out and sampled this inexpensive beer. Thumbs up all the way! With that said, Mission Street will be adding to their Pale Ale and Blond Lager with an IPA. This IPA will be different from Union Jack, Nectar IPA, and the inhouse favorite Firestone IPA. We will definitely keep an eye out for it.
