Firestone Walker Barrel Works Feral One Release March 8, 2014

Buellton, CA – The wild things are about to bust out of Barrelworks as Firestone Walker Brewing Company is set to release the Feral One—an untamed yet artful blend that represents the brewery’s first-ever bottled wild yeast offering.

The Feral One will be unveiled at a release party on March 8 at Barrelworks, Firestone Walker’s dedicated wild (a.k.a. sour) yeast facility in Buellton in Santa Barbara County.

“The Feral One celebrates this wild, unruly and rustic journey that has carried us through our first official year of operation,” said Barrelworks Director Jeffers Richardson. “For the first time, you can take a bottle home from Barrelworks to stick in your cellar or savor with friends.”

The Feral One is a blend of Sour Opal, SLOAmbic, Agrestic and Lil’ Mikkel, all aged for an extended period in American and French oak barrels. Only 500 cases of 375ml bottles were produced.

The Feral One will be released exclusively at Barrelworks during the March 8 release party, and will then be available only at Barrelworks and at Firestone Walker’s brewery in Paso Robles for a limited time starting on March 9.

Established in 2013, the 7,000-square-foot Barrelworks houses all of Firestone Walker’s barrel-aged wild yeast beers. Barrelworks features a tasting room and self-guided tours that delve into the history, purpose and methods of making wild yeast beers and other barrel-aged beers.

The Feral One – Blended by Barrelmeister Jeffers Richardson and Master Blender Jim Crooks

• Lil’ Mikkel (40%) bretted saison aged for 18 months in American oak barrels
• Sour Opal (30%) American sour aged for 32 months in French and American oak barrels
• Agrestic (16%) American wild red aged for 19 months in American oak barrels
• SLOAmbic (14%) fruited sour aged for 32 months in French and American oak barrels
• ABV: 6.7% / 500 cases produced (375ml bottles)

The Feral One Tasting Notes

An earthy, funky nose gives way to citrus, tropical guava and berry fruit notes. A hint of oak wood lavender and vanilla lurk in the background. The tongue is greeted with an assertive and mouth-watering acidity, chewy tannins, mature oak and firm carbonation.

Release Party on March 8 @ Firestone Walker’s Barrelworks

Get wild and wooly as we unveil the Feral One from noon to 2 p.m. at Barrelworks. A minimum purchase of three Feral One bottles ($13.99 each) gets you in the door. This is not a ticketed event, but space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Event highlights include tastings of the Feral One and eight other unique, rare or one-off beers; feral bites while they last; banter with the barrelmeisters; and likely Lion & Bear sightings. See: http://www.firestonebeer.com/events/feral-one-open-house.php

Firestone Walker’s Barrelworks is a story of beer, barrels and unintended consequences, of renegade brewers, and of a pet project turning into a wild beast: www.firestonebeer.com/barrelworks