Firestone Walker 29th XXIX Anniversary Ale 2025
12.3% ABV | 12oz single bottle, boxed | Blended barrel-aged ale | 2025 release — Firestone Walker's 29th (XXIX) Anniversary Ale is the 2025 edition of craft beer's most celebrated annual blend: each late summer, the brewery invites local winemakers to a blending competition, and the winning blend — crowned with the famous "cardboard crown" — becomes the Anniversary Ale.
The 2025 blend draws from the brewery's vast vintage barrel cellar (1,500+ barrels, one of the most extensive programs in craft beer): Parabola (32%) — the bourbon-barrel imperial stout — Velvet Merkin (20%), Frau Gruber Stout Blend (15%), Helldorado blonde barleywine (15%), DDBA (10%), Stickee Monkee Central Coast quad (5%), and Bravo imperial brown ale (3%). Expect chocolate-covered cherry, crème brûlée, oak, cocoa, vanilla, caramel candy, sweet cherry, marshmallow, graham cracker, tobacco, and molasses, in a deep black-walnut pour with wine-like legs. Drink now or cellar for years — available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
Tasting notes
Per blend coverage: chocolate-covered cherry, crème brûlée, oak, cocoa, vanilla, caramel candy, sweet cherry, marshmallow, graham cracker, tobacco, and molasses; deep black-walnut color with wine-like legs.
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- The 2025 blend — 29 years of Firestone Walker (founded 1996, Paso Robles/Buellton, CA)
- Seven-component barrel blend — Parabola, Velvet Merkin, Helldorado, DDBA, Stickee Monkee, Bravo + Frau Gruber stout blend
- 12.3% ABV — built to cellar for years or drink tonight
- Boxed 12oz single bottle — a gift-ready annual tradition
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Cellar temperature (50–55°F) in a snifter or tulip glass. Let it breathe a few minutes after opening — the high ABV and barrel character open beautifully as it warms slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How is the Anniversary Ale made?
Each year Firestone Walker hosts a blending competition with local winemakers; the winning blend becomes the Anniversary Ale. The 2025 (29th) edition blends seven barrel-aged components from the brewery's vintage cellar.
Can I age it?
Yes — at 12.3% ABV with heavy barrel character, the Anniversary Ale is built to cellar. Store upright in a cool, dark place for years.
What does "XXIX" mean?
XXIX is 29 in Roman numerals — the 2025 release marks Firestone Walker's 29th anniversary (founded 1996).