Winter has finally arrived in Southern California and as the temperatures drop, I find myself seeking a heartier brew to take the chill off my bones. Ironically, I discovered the Fireman's Brew Brewnette over the summer at the Septemberfest Beer Festival held at Paramount Studios. I'll be honest, what originally caught my eye was not the creative nomenclature, but rather the shirtless guys wearing firefighter helmets and suspenders passing out free samples. Bingo!
David Johnson (pictured above) was exceptionally knowledgeable and excited about the Fireman's Brew, and explained that the company was started by two Los Angeles firefighters looking for something tasty to quench their thirst after battling extreme heat all day. The Fireman's Brewing Company offers three different types of "off-duty" drinks--a Blonde, a Brewnette, and a Redhead. I tasted and enjoyed all three, but the Brewnette's smooth taste yet surprisingly high alcohol percentage made it a standout favorite.
Fireman's Brew: Brewnette
The Fireman's Brew Brewnette is a German-style Dopplebock, a style of lager known for being dark and malty with a generally high percentage of alcohol.
Appearance: Rich, dark espresso color that pours clear and crisp with a decent amount of khaki-colored head that dissipated after a minute, but left a little lacing on the glass
Aroma: Inviting hints of cocoa, coffee and toasted malt
Taste: Smooth and nicely carbonated with a nutty flavor at the beginning, suggestion of caramel in the middle and a light, coffee finish
Alcohol: 10.8%
When I first tried the Brewnette, I couldn't believe it was nearly 11% alcohol. In fact, the taste is so sweet and smooth that you wouldn't know the alcohol percentage is so high without looking at the bottle. It is a bit dangerous in the sense that it is delicious enough to be a session beer, but proceed with caution. While the Brewnette could easily be enjoyed by itself, its strong flavor profile would pair nicely with BBQ or other hearty foods.
The Fireman's Brewing Company boasts big flavor along with a big heart. In addition to brewing tasty beers, they also like to give back. Every year, the Fireman's Brewing Company donates 5% of their profits to the National Firefighters Foundation, which provides economic relief to the families of fallen firefighters. So now you can feel good about quaffing down any Fireman's brew--and that's something to celebrate!
For more information check out their website at http://www.firemansbrew.com
