Parabola - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

PicoPapa

Connecticut

4.33/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle. Reserve Series 003, 2012 Vintage. Pours a rich black color with an inch of light brown head. Some lacing. Aromas of booze, vanilla, toffee, and light and sweet coffee. The taste is boozey vanilla up front followed by some toffee. Some hints of coffee, chocolate and sweetness. Alcohol burn finish. Thick, heavy mouthfeel. You can certainly taste the barrel aging. This is a great slow sipper with a bunch of flavor. Damn good and would like to try it with some age on it, but fresh is outstanding. I need to get more of this.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 03:54:44 | More by PicoPapa

NickThePyro

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-25-2013 00:12:53 | More by NickThePyro

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.98/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Re-review of the 2013 vintage. 22 oz bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Pours a very dark brown color; it isn't quite as pitch black as the 2012 version. There's more head than the previous vintage, though - a one finger khaki shade. It doesn't last a very long time, however a thin collar of lacing is left on the side of the glass.

S: There's a lot of dark chocolate at first, subtly augmented with a good bourbon character. Concentration will yield additional notes of brown sugar, hazelnut, currants, plums, vanilla, and coconut. I wish the aroma was more 'in-your-face', but I can't at all complain about the decent complexity and relative lack of harsh alcohol.

T: Pleasant dark chocolate and vanilla opens the palate, before it develops a currant-heavy midtaste. The back end is very heavy in charred oak, with some additional roasted malts (a welcome addition compared to last year), and piny hops. The big problem here is how obnoxiously boozy the finish is - especially taking its lack of notable alcohol aroma into consideration. However, much like Sucaba, the harshness seems to decrease the more this is imbibed. Even better, it shows good depth of flavor. At the end of the day, I enjoy it's decent bitterness and bourbon character too much to nitpick its flaws.

M: This seems to be a bit drier on the back of the palate compared to last year. It's just as sticky and viscous, though. The body itself is wonderfully creamy, with a medium texture befitting a barrel-aged RIS. Carbonation isn't terribly strong, and alcohol presence is assertive.

O: Let me start out by saying I'd be lying through my teeth if I said this wasn't a great BA RIS. It presents an excellent bourbon character and a depth others in the style lack. However, it's just too harsh to be world-class in my mind. Still, I'm really intrigued over aging my other bottle for a year to see how it develops.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 22:24:54 | More by ThisWangsChung

Mantooth

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%

05-24-2013 22:02:39 | More by Mantooth

BeerGuyEsquire

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -13%

05-24-2013 21:25:22 | More by BeerGuyEsquire

TheBoog013

California

5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-24-2013 21:22:00 | More by TheBoog013

SDStoneEnthusiast

California

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-24-2013 21:10:19 | More by SDStoneEnthusiast

Joenajera

California

5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-24-2013 18:16:19 | More by Joenajera

Hoozierdaddy

Illinois

5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-24-2013 05:28:35 | More by Hoozierdaddy

ATXboozer

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-23-2013 23:43:47 | More by ATXboozer

Michael_20P

California

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%

05-23-2013 23:06:04 | More by Michael_20P

visionaries

California

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-23-2013 15:19:34 | More by visionaries

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