Parabola - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

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2,353 Ratings

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rAvg: 4.6
pDev: 8.7%
Reviews: 795
Hads: 1558

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Brewed by:
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

California, United States

Style | ABV
Russian Imperial Stout | 13.00% ABV

Availability: Rotating. bottle (687), on-tap (107), growler (1).

Notes:
Russian Imperial Oatmeal Stout aged for 8 months in circa 1990's Heaven Hill bourbon barrels.

2011
OG: 29.5p [plato]
IBU: 82 [high]
Cases: 3000 produced [LTD]
Aged: 12 mo [time in barrel]
Yeast: British Ale [house]
Color: 167SRM [midnight black]

View: Beers (48) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by Auror:

Auror

Massachusetts

4.75/5 rDev +3.3%

12-01-2011 16:27:50 | More by Auror

More User Reviews:

IrishKevin

Massachusetts

4.75/5 rDev +3.3%

05-20-2013 00:22:04 | More by IrishKevin

HawkIPA

Massachusetts

4.75/5 rDev +3.3%

05-19-2013 22:35:35 | More by HawkIPA

ShawnMH

Indiana

4.5/5 rDev -2.2%

05-19-2013 15:50:43 | More by ShawnMH

JellyJacket

Illinois

4.25/5 rDev -7.6%

05-19-2013 10:33:46 | More by JellyJacket

nick_asian

Nevada

4.5/5 rDev -2.2%

05-19-2013 06:54:38 | More by nick_asian

haknort

Illinois

4.5/5 rDev -2.2%

05-19-2013 03:27:52 | More by haknort

jakeox

Illinois

5/5 rDev +8.7%

05-19-2013 02:08:21 | More by jakeox

pkalix

California

4.59/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

poured black, no head, even with a vigorous shake just to see what it'd do... nothing really special about the look of it on the front, although it is obviously pouring a little syrup-y.
smells and tastes more like a bourbon than it does a beer. over-roasted coffee flavor and aroma, vanilla; yes, the fudge i get too. very sweet, very bitter.the alcohol is there, but is part of the overall taste and blends in with the flavors. the wood from the barrels is very strong. i appreciate what they've done but i dont much allow myself to be influenced by a brew which picks up a lot of its flavor from the storage vessel. there is a myriad of flavors but i feel they are over-shadowed by strong oak barrel presence.
2nd pour yields some alcohol presence. lots of oak. the malty quality of the brew seems to pick up more of the barrel residue.
it's still a 13% brew, so i suppose i ought to review it from that perspective. maybe i really wasnt looking for a sipper tonight. still a great brew. lots of effort here....

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 01:28:53 | More by pkalix

klythjohan

Massachusetts

5/5 rDev +8.7%

05-19-2013 00:19:21 | More by klythjohan

dwagner003

California

4.5/5 rDev -2.2%

05-18-2013 18:53:20 | More by dwagner003

eyeenjoybeer

Indiana

4.5/5 rDev -2.2%

05-18-2013 16:43:54 | More by eyeenjoybeer

Mikecap

Rhode Island

5/5 rDev +8.7%

05-18-2013 16:31:54 | More by Mikecap

Texsuds

Texas

4.25/5 rDev -7.6%

05-18-2013 15:35:23 | More by Texsuds

RobDB

New Jersey

4.75/5 rDev +3.3%

05-18-2013 11:19:27 | More by RobDB

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.5/5 rDev -2.2%

05-18-2013 06:08:18 | More by Deuane

Roose13

New Jersey

4.98/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bomber poured into a shaped pint glass. It's a 2013, no. 004.

A: Beautiful, thin black color. I poured it with minimal head, but about a half inch of thin head lingers throughout the entire enjoyment of this beer. Leaves a wall of bubbles

S: Sweet, dark chocolate; bourbon is also strong; coffee, vanilla and subtle cherry.

T: The bourbon is so strong in the taste, but not too strong if that makes any sense. Like, it's definitely there, but not over powering. The chocolate is also strong and sweet, dancing with the bourbon to make this a ridiculously tasty stout. A very rich beer. I get the vanilla and coffee lingering in the aftertaste as well.

M: Incredibly smooth, like liquid silk. It also lingers beautifully, leaving the entire mouth coated with all it's different flavors.

Overall: Seriously, this is one of the best effing beers I have ever had and may just be the best RIS I've ever enjoyed. I paid $15 for this and would easily drop $20 it's so freakin' good. Sipped it slow and made it last like a fine bourbon.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 03:36:37 | More by Roose13