Parabola - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

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rAvg: 4.6
pDev: 8.7%
Reviews: 797
Hads: 1575

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Brewed by:
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

California, United States

Style | ABV
Russian Imperial Stout | 13.00% ABV

Availability: Rotating. bottle (688), on-tap (108), 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 dirtylou:

dirtylou

Washington

4.38/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

interested in some of these 24oz/651ml bottles people are talking about - mine is the standard 22oz/650ml!

2012 vintage

appearance: served in an oversized snifter, ebony body, aggressive pour yields a 1/2" mocha head, some nice lace

smell: very big and rich - bourbon, dark chocolate, chocolate cake

taste: This is a massive stout, and the 2012 vintage is drinking MUCH better than the 2011 bottle I consumed a few weeks ago. Dense chocolate cake, dark chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, coconut. The barrel aging delivers a lot of booze and vanilla, but very little wood - would have liked to see that in more balance.

mouthfeel: full bodied, rich, decadent, bourbon heat lingers

overall: epic stuff, obviously

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 22:30:25 | More by dirtylou

More User Reviews:

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