Parabola - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

Dope

Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Batch 002

A: Pours 5000 mile motor oil black. Small, dense medium brown head. Fades pretty slowly, leaving some traces of lacing on the glass.

S: Big and boozy aroma. Huge bourbon notes, lots of oaky vanilla with caramel, molasses and toffee. Hints of dark fruit like cherries, fig and raisin. Roasted malt notes poke through just a bit.

T: Thick and creamy roasted malt character right up front. Loads of roasty char, chocolate and a little coffee. Mixes almost instantly with surprisingly dulled (compared to the aroma anyway) bourbon notes. Burnt caramel, molasses, toffee, vanilla and oak. The bourbon and roasted malt balance with each other quite nicely. There are hints of dark fruit as the two flavors fade away into the aftertaste. As it warms, maybe a hint of black licorice and perhaps even leather?

M: Thick. Creamy. Like melted chocolate rolling over your tongue.

O: One hell of a barrel aged RIS. It smells bourbon-heavy but luckily it didn't taste overpowering. Just a touch boozy which suits the style nicely. Great balance between all the roasted malt flavors and the bourbon flavors. Melds better than almost all other similar beers (just short of a KBS-class beer).

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 03:31:41 | More by Dope

Moofmac25

Maryland

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-23-2013 03:11:54 | More by Moofmac25

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev -7.6%

05-23-2013 01:52:47 | More by mikeincharleston

Abrengle

Washington

5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-23-2013 01:22:56 | More by Abrengle

headyhopzhead

Indiana

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-23-2013 00:38:10 | More by headyhopzhead

GreesyFizeek

New York

5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-22-2013 23:18:14 | More by GreesyFizeek

randylangford

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-22-2013 22:03:49 | More by randylangford

velcrogrip

Florida

5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-22-2013 18:31:45 | More by velcrogrip

irv2424

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-22-2013 18:18:34 | More by irv2424

JoeDurp

Texas

5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-22-2013 13:25:08 | More by JoeDurp

BeerBucks

New York

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-22-2013 02:58:06 | More by BeerBucks

alysmith4

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%

05-22-2013 01:40:48 | More by alysmith4

gcamparone

Rhode Island

4.53/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

2012 vintage opened a year after release. Acquired in a trade .

A- pours a deep brown opaque body with a 2 finger mocha colored head that reduces to a brown ring.

S- soft yet pungent whiskey, dark fruits, french vanilla, chocolate, butterscotch, sugar cookie.

T- Sweet vanilla and caramel, whiskey upfront. Semisweet chocolate and roasted coffee is next, dark fruits an almost grassy citrus follow through. Nice toasty, burnt malt aftertaste.

M- smooth and silky, medium heavy body.

I really enjoyed this one - lives up to the hype and really impresses. Super complex and balanced, just the right amount of bourbon and a nice roasted flavor. Awesome

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 01:12:52 | More by gcamparone

jimilayne

New York

4.25/5  rDev -7.6%

05-22-2013 00:50:23 | More by jimilayne

Justinsosmart

California

5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-21-2013 22:08:40 | More by Justinsosmart

ackeeper

Illinois

5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-21-2013 21:00:57 | More by ackeeper

PlinyBeMiney

California

4.25/5  rDev -7.6%

05-21-2013 06:55:04 | More by PlinyBeMiney

CosmoHopHead

Kansas

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-21-2013 04:00:38 | More by CosmoHopHead

JandJMD

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%

05-21-2013 03:19:41 | More by JandJMD

gkozeny

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-21-2013 01:20:36 | More by gkozeny

JSBILK

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%

05-20-2013 20:00:35 | More by JSBILK

--Dom--

Missouri

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-20-2013 17:55:38 | More by --Dom--

jimmygord

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -18.5%

05-20-2013 16:29:58 | More by jimmygord

dar482

New York

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

I had this aged 2012 in keg at Brouwerij lane.

The beer comes in a pitch black with a khaki ring.

The aroma has big toffee and caramel sweetness with dark roasted notes. With some barrel wood notes. Deep rich dark raisin.

The flavor has a nuttiness with deep roasted malt. Very creamy. Vanilla. Coconut. Burnt caramel. Bitter darkest chocolate. Espresso. Definitely that oakiness from the barrels. There's a bit of that sticking sweetness. Finish lingers a bit, but not long. The beer lacks an alcohol bite. The aging must have really mellowed it out.

KBS is still my favorite barrel aged stout. However, this is one of my favorite still. Under Bourbon County Coffee, but above the regular version. So freaking smooth, wonderful barrel age character, just an amazing and delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

05-20-2013 05:28:22 | More by dar482

duobob

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%

05-20-2013 05:11:13 | More by duobob