DBA Named Best British Pale Ale
Men’s Journal Best Beers of 2026
Some beers age into legends. DBA is one of them.
Thirty years after Firestone Walker first filled a union of American oak barrels with an English-inspired pale ale, Men’s Journal has named DBA the Best British Pale Ale on its list of the 50 Best Beers of 2026, landing at number 30 overall. The honor caps a milestone year for us at Firestone Walker, while we celebrate three decades on our pursuit of the perfect beer.
The Process
DBA, short for Double Barrel Ale, was the very first beer to come out of Firestone Walker back in 1996, and it’s been a flagship ever since. What makes it different is how it’s made. Modeled after the traditional Burton Union systems in England, DBA goes through primary fermentation in a wooden barrel with our house ale yeast. Unlike the English style union our barrels are meant to impart flavor. We use medium and medium plus toasted American oak. It’s a labor-intensive, old-world technique that few breweries bother with today, but it’s the reason DBA tastes like nothing else on the shelf.
The result is a 5.0% ABV pale ale with a rounded, toffee-and-caramel character that Men’s Journal’s tasters singled out from hundreds of beers reviewed for this year’s list. As the magazine put it, there might be no finer pairing with fish and chips – high praise for a beer that’s always walked the line between English tradition and California craft.
Still Standing
Being recognized among the 50 best beers in the world is a great reminder of something our brewers have believed since day one: the barrel-fermentation process is worth the extra effort. It’s slower, it’s more hands-on, and it’s a big part of what’s kept DBA on tap lists and in refrigerators since the very beginning of Firestone Walker.
It’s especially fitting that this recognition arrives in our 30th anniversary year. DBA helped put Firestone Walker on the map and three decades later, it’s still winning over new drinkers one pint at a time.
Try DBA
Whether you’ve been drinking DBA since the ’90s or you’re just discovering it because of this list, now’s a great time to pour one. Find DBA here, or visit us in Paso Robles, Buellton, or Venice to try it fresh from the source… ideally with a basket of fish and chips.
Cheers to 30 years, and onto the next.
