Firestone
While In Paso Robles decided to take a brewery tour at Firestone Walker Brewing Company. In 2001 owners Adam Firestone and David Walker purchased the SLO Brewing Company in Paso Robles, California.
Firestone is truly Craft Beer and they ferment their ales in the Firestone Union oak barrel brewing system, which incorporates 65-gallon, medium and heavy toast American oak barrels.
Firestone Brewing Company (Photo by RSheridan)
Craft Beers
Tasting Room
Tasting Room is open 7 days a week from 12 pm to 7 pm and usually have about 14 beers on tap.
Firestone Brews Menu (Photo by RSheridan)
Firestone’s Solace (Photo by RSheridan)
I am a fan of the Solace at Firestone. The Solace is a Summertime Fusion Wheat Beer with hints of citrus – refreshing, aromatic, great tasting.
High Gravity Snifter of Parabola – Limited Release (Photo by RSheridan)
Let me tell you that you could stand a knife up in the Parabola – thick and creamy! Aromatic with bold bourbon and tobacco with flavors of dark chocolate and charred oak flavor – tasted like a chocolate liquer. We needed a chocolate souffle while tasting the Parabola.
The style of the Parabola is a Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout with 13% abv.
Brewery Tour
Tours of the brew house and cellar are complimentary and first come first serve on Saturdays and Sundays. Arrive 15 minutes before tour time to secure your spot and will need to wear flat, closed toe shoes for the tour.
Tour Hours
Saturday at 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, and 3:30pm
Sundays at 1:30pm and 3:30pm
Brew Deck (Photo by RSheridan)
In a nutshell the brewhouse converts dry malt into a fermentable liquid – a very complex process. Firestone does not pasteurized so cleaniness is important in producing quality craft beers.
Cellar (Photo by RSheridan)
The Cellar is about fermentation and refinement. The Cellar contains multiple stainless steel fermentaters in various sizes.
The Firestone Union is a unique process. Their DBA, Pale 31 & Walker’s Reserve are partially fermented in oak barrels. Basically a portion of the wort is racked to 1 of 42 American oak barrels in the Firestone Union. If I understand it correctly the Firestone Union is taken from the Burton Union sytem, staple in British beer making. Firestone may be the only brewery in the U.S. using this method. This method adds character and complexity to Firestone’s beers – handcrafted quality.
Firestone produces barrel aged limited release beers – “strong beers” due to a higher alcohol content and complexity. These beers spend a certain amount of time in oak barrels – these barrels add the flavors and complexities to the beers. This includes the Parabola as well as Barley Wine, Saucerful of Secrets, Bravo Brown, Velvet Merkin and Sticky Monkey. These beers may become part of the blend that is released each year, their Anniversary series. Our tour guide stated that some of the Paso Robles Winemarkers are invited in to help with the blending of the Anniversary series.
Keg Processing Area (Photo by RSheridan)
The brewery’s keg packaging process is pretty amazing – this baby can sanitize as well as capable of filling 70 kegs per hour – can you say Kegger man!
The Bottling Process (Photo by RSheridan)
The Bottling Process (Photo by RSheridan)
The Bottling Process (Photo by RSheridan)
The Bottling Process (Photo by RSheridan)
The Bottling Process (Photo by RSheridan)
I enjoyed learning about the bottling and packaging process. I started thinking about Laverne & Shirley while the tour guide was talking about this process. Since they do not pasteurize their beers the bottling and packaging process is important to the quality of their beers. Firestone has invested in the best equipment and procedures, especially sanitation and cleaning processes. The brewery uses a Krones bottling line – this baby can produce 300+ 12 oz. bottles per minute – do you hear beer heaven calling?
Firestone Brewery (Photo by RSheridan)
January 16th, 2013 at 7:18 AM
That’s quite the brewery tour. The only craft brewery I’ve ever toured, Schells in New Ulm, Minnesota, did not show much of the beer-making process at all. It really was a disappointment. But I still love Schells, although not dark beers. I could not have consumed that dark beer you had.
January 16th, 2013 at 9:21 AM
Audrey –
Thanks so much! I have toured Schells and have to agree disappointing. I drink the light beers, but love the porters and stouts now too:)
Happy Hump Day – Renee
January 16th, 2013 at 7:25 AM
It was really a nice surprise to check my email and see your tour of Firestone Walker – a brewery that I’ve always loved and wanted to know more about. Being the beer geek that I am, I always try to find ways to get my hands on their brews (not an easy task, considering that when I’m not traveling, I live on the other side of the country), and it is a happy day when I succeed. I’m also excited that you got to try the Parabola — my personal favorite of their line! Great post!
January 16th, 2013 at 9:23 AM
Glad you were surprised and a good surprise at that!!! Nothing wrong with being a beer geek – means you enjoy life, especially eats and drinks:) That Parabola needs some rich, dark chocolate with it – YUM!
Happy Hump Day – Cheers – Renee
January 16th, 2013 at 7:29 AM
I toured Coors when I first moved to Colorado. Now there are so many microbreweries here. I love it!
January 16th, 2013 at 9:26 AM
Susie –
I have got to check out Colorado one of these days – been in the Denver airport! Beautiful country to explore as well as explore the eats and drink too:) I will have to get with you to find the “hot spots”!
Happy Hump Day – Renee
January 16th, 2013 at 11:30 AM
Definitely let me know!
January 16th, 2013 at 11:40 AM
Susie –
Will do:)
Take Care – Renee
January 16th, 2013 at 8:45 AM
Oh, thanks for sharing! I’ve never been on a brewery tour. I’ve recently started getting into beer by having a monthly “Beer Club” with friends- it’s a great way to explore tastes! I kinda want to bring that Parabola to February’s meeting- it looks SO intense! Wonder where I can find it in NYC…
January 16th, 2013 at 9:29 AM
Glad you enjoyed the brewery tour:) Love the Beer Club with friends idea – drinking is better with friends – ha! You may want to check out a higher end liquor store and see if they can order brews that you cannot get in your area – the only thing they can say is no. You could also contact Firestone and inquire with them too – get right to the source! Good Luck – Sounds like FUN:)
Happy Hump Day – Renee
January 16th, 2013 at 10:02 AM
I’m not a huge fan of dark beers, but your detailed description of the brewing process made my mouth water. Cheers, and happy Wednesday!
Elisa
January 16th, 2013 at 11:40 AM
Elisa –
Glad to hear that – ha! Cheers!!!
Happy Hump Day:) – Renee
January 16th, 2013 at 11:48 AM
The Firestone Solace looks like my kind of beer!
January 16th, 2013 at 1:30 PM
Really Great Brew – YUM – love the name of it too – just calls to you – ha!
Have a Great One:) – Renee
January 16th, 2013 at 1:45 PM
It really does! Cheers!
January 16th, 2013 at 2:01 PM
🙂
January 16th, 2013 at 1:04 PM
Nice! My husband and I loved doing a tasting when we visited the brewery!
January 16th, 2013 at 1:31 PM
Alanna –
Thanks! Nothing better than tasting great brews and a tour is just an added BONUS:)
Have a Great One – Renee
January 16th, 2013 at 5:07 PM
I’ve done plenty of wine touring, but I think I need to start going on brewery tours! I love a great flavorful beer and would really enjoy that tour!! xx
January 17th, 2013 at 8:29 AM
Barbara –
Go for it – so much fun!
Happy Thursday:) – Renee
January 16th, 2013 at 7:41 PM
I never was in a brewery. Lots to see.
January 17th, 2013 at 8:30 AM
Garden –
It is amazing what all goes on in the beer making process!
Happy Thursday:) – Renee
January 17th, 2013 at 8:09 AM
I wish there was a way you could post an actual sample, froth and all, on your blog!
January 17th, 2013 at 8:31 AM
Ha! – I so wish – love it:)
Happy Thursday – Renee
January 17th, 2013 at 6:45 PM
A cold glass of that Solace sounds good to me. Maggie will have some cool water. 🙂 🙂
January 18th, 2013 at 8:34 AM
Ha! – coming right up:)
Happy Friday – Renee
January 18th, 2013 at 8:35 AM
Happy Friday back at ya! WOOF WOOF 🙂 🙂