Firestone Walker Introduces the Cocktail-Inspired Gold Rider • thefullpint.com

(Paso Robles, CA) – Firestone Walker’s Barrel-Aged Vintage Series launches its next cocktail-inspired beer with Gold Rider, a sidecar-inspired high-concept hybrid beer.

“My love for the Sidecar cocktail is very much in line with my appreciation for cognacs,” said Eric Ponce, Barrel Program Manager. “This is a beer I’ve wanted to make for a long time, and I finally have the perfect kegs to make it.”

Gold Rider is now available in limited release 12 ounce bottles in all Firestone Walker markets. It is also available at Firestone Walker stores and online at Firestone Beer, and is part of the new ‘Spirited Fruits’ collection available exclusively to Brewmaster’s Collective beer club members.

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The Gold Rider story began when Ponce and his team brewed a basic beer with an infusion of Central Coast white wine juice. After fermentation, they aged the beer in 500 liter French XXO cognac barrels for two years, with a separate portion matured in barrels of orange bitters.

Finally, they incorporated a splash of freshly squeezed lemon juice to enhance the experience with lemony acidity. The result is a barrel-aged beer whose ingredients and flavors accurately reflect the experience of enjoying a classic Sidecar. Aromas of lemon, vanilla and caramel mingle with flavors of hazelnut and honey along a lively and vibrant palate.

The Cognac barrels, all 14 to 20 years old, imparted an upscale character that ultimately defines the Gold Rider tasting experience. “These ‘extra extra old’ barrels come from one of the great French cognac houses,” Ponce said. “You get that refined Cognac character that can only come from casks like these.”

The traditional Sidecar is made with Cognac, orange liqueur and lemon juice. The origins of the cocktail are unknown, but it is believed to have been invented in London or Paris towards the end of World War I. It was named after the passenger sidecar motorcycle accessory that was popular at that time.

For Ponce, his affection for the Sidecar is personal. “This beer is inspired by my grandmother,” he says. “She always had a bottle of cheap brandy and only sipped it on Sunday evenings, always straight. As I got older, I took a liking to Armagnac and Cognac and the cocktails made from them. I persuaded her to give them a taste. Today, my grandmother still takes her pure brandy, but now she also lets me make her a Sidecar when I visit.

Gold Rider arrives as the latest version of Firestone Walker’s Vintage program. This program began in 2005 with the creation of the brewery’s first barrel aged blend of anniversary beer. The resulting beers have since flown under the banner of the Vintage Series, which has become one of the craft industry’s most extensive spirits barrel aging programs.

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Founded by brothers-in-law Adam Firestone and David Walker in 1996, Firestone Walker Brewing Company is a California beer company with three innovative brewing facilities. Firestone Walker’s main brewery in Paso Robles produces a diverse portfolio ranging from iconic lagers to barrel-aged ales. The Barrelworks facility in Buellton makes quirky wild beers, while the Propagator pilot brewery in Venice specializes in R&D beers and limited local offerings. Firestone Walker is also the brewery behind 805, one of the fastest growing beers in the country. Firestone Walker was recently named “Best American Brewery of the Decade” by Paste Magazine.