another sampling from the distributor. i really enjoyed this beer. i thought the hops were appropriate. i did not notice the residual sweetness that someone above mentioned.
+1
Firestone is one of my favorites, love Union Jack. Always felt that style wise it was somewhere between an American and English IPA. DBA is my favorite from them though, really love that beer. I go down to the brewery every couple months or so and they often have an unfiltered DBA that they only serve at the brewery. The Double DBA which they came out with last year is also fantastic.
Love the Union, Double AND Wookey Jacks. Great beer by FW. There is some sweetness to the UJ, but I think it’s balanced by the intense hopping and bittering. Double Jack is one of my favorite IIPAs.
Union Jack is my hands-down favorite American IPA.
That said - it is a pretty big disappointment when its not fresh. I can get it when I’m in St. Louis, and I’ve found a few stores who keep it cold and go through it fast. If its warm and >2 months old, I pass it by.
That explains why I didn’t like it. We recently started getting FW distributed out my way in the past few years, and I had heard a lot of good things about Union Jack, but it was pretty blah when I tried it. We have quite a few stores with a wide selection of craft beer around here, but the wide selection comes at the expense of freshness. I’d like to try it again if I was sure it was in top condition. Judging by the grain bill, it looks like my kind of IPA.
+1. The 1st time I tried it, I wasn’t impressed - it was ~ 2 months old IIRC. Took a trip out west later on and got it fresh and it blew me away. I think FW and Alpine make maybe the 2 best AIPAs.
Double Jack is my favorite imperial
“REMEMBER: Watch for bottled on dates located on the necks or bottom left corner of the label for each of our beers. Our beer is not pasteurized, so it is best when stored at 44F or below, out of light and within 120 days of the bottled on date…this ensures freshness and ultimately a great Firestone Walker beer!”
I just had a bottle of double jack night that I found in the beer fridge that I didn’t even realize I had. It’s been in my fridge for about three months and was bottled in December. I thought it was probably going to be overly sweet and oxidized but when I cracked it open I was pleasantly surprised. Really nice flavor with a good balance of bitterness and residual sweetness. I had no problem finishing the bomber. I’ll definitely buy another one.
The six-pack of Honkers I got two weeks ago was bottled on April 12. Pretty darned fresh.
Should I feel guilty for enjoying an Inbev product?