Parabola - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

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BA SCORE
100
world-class
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2,587 Ratings

THE BROS
95
world-class
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rAvg: 4.6
pDev: 8.48%
Reviews: 815
Hads: 1772

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Brewed by:
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

California, United States

Style | ABV
Russian Imperial Stout | 13.00% ABV

Availability: Rotating. bottle (703), on-tap (111), 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 (50) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by elgiacomo:

elgiacomo

Georgia

4.68/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Review #500!

’10 Vintage. Served at cellar temperature. A million thank you’s to the incredibly generous Ryan for this wonderful treat!

Pours thick black with a one finger brown head that leaves some spots of lacing and holds a small creamy cap all the way to the bottom of the glass. Very inviting.

The incredibly potent aroma features strong bourbon notes, deep dark roasted malts, premium dark chocolate, coffee beans & espresso, vanilla & oak, a touch of smoke and some alcohol. Like many top-tier bourbon barrel aged stouts, this is a great "sniffer" as I get just as much enjoyment from the aroma as I do the flavor. Wonderful.

Flavor is like bourbon-soaked chocolate-covered raisins, bourbon, dark chocolate, vanilla, oak, premium coffee/espresso, some caramel, rich roasted malts, dark fruits, some molasses and anise, minimal hops, moderate alcohol but not bad at all for a 13% brew...well hidden for its size. Fairly sweet, one to sip and savor...a dessert in a glass! Super-tasty.

Mouthfeel is THICK and sticky, just the way I like it. I’ll put it this way...Ten FIDY is too thin for my tastes and Parabola is one of the heavier Imperial Stouts I’ve encountered. Soft carbonation. I’d score it a 6 if I could!

My goodness what a brew! I’m a sucker for bourbon barrel aged imperial stouts and this is top shelf stuff right here...right up there with KBS and BCBS. Saying this is amazing makes me feel like I’m selling it short...adjectives just cannot do it justice. Can’t thank Ryan enough for this one...wow!

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2011 23:42:43 | More by elgiacomo

More User Reviews:

alex021224

Michigan

4.75/5 rDev +3.3%

06-19-2013 01:29:03 | More by alex021224

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.63/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

On-tap 6/18/2013 at Track 84 in Warwick, RI, served in a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep black color, with a short beige head that fades slowly and leaves a very thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is very robust containing roasted malts, chocolate, dark fruit and bourbon.

T: The taste starts out with sweet flavors of chocolate, bourbon and some dark fruit. Then a very hearty roasted malt character comes in. The hops presence is very mild but complementary but brings a very good balance. The after-taste is full of dark chocolate bitter-sweetness.

M: Crisp and very smooth, heavy body, light-to-medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: Very tasty, goes down dangerously easy, slightly filling, deceptively strong kick, excellent representation of style, this is a very good big stout to drink for as long as you can handle it.

Serving type: on-tap

06-19-2013 01:24:13 | More by TheManiacalOne

jealmanzar

New York

4.5/5 rDev -2.2%

06-19-2013 00:25:51 | More by jealmanzar

Tyrus

California

4.5/5 rDev -2.2%

06-18-2013 23:08:03 | More by Tyrus

shamrock071521

Michigan

5/5 rDev +8.7%

06-18-2013 20:09:58 | More by shamrock071521

Jacob007

New Hampshire

4.75/5 rDev +3.3%

06-18-2013 16:28:53 | More by Jacob007

RyV

California

4.5/5 rDev -2.2%

06-18-2013 05:59:25 | More by RyV

Beer21

Florida

4.75/5 rDev +3.3%

06-18-2013 03:02:33 | More by Beer21

leansean88

New York

4.25/5 rDev -7.6%

06-18-2013 02:15:42 | More by leansean88

Jpirkle2715

California

5/5 rDev +8.7%

06-18-2013 01:51:31 | More by Jpirkle2715

tommyguz

Pennsylvania

4.5/5 rDev -2.2%

06-18-2013 00:59:34 | More by tommyguz

virinow

New York

4.75/5 rDev +3.3%

06-18-2013 00:52:42 | More by virinow

sfr26

New Jersey

4.75/5 rDev +3.3%

06-17-2013 20:47:44 | More by sfr26

Dyelawn

Maine

4.5/5 rDev -2.2%

06-17-2013 20:09:55 | More by Dyelawn

Buttermilk

Illinois

4.25/5 rDev -7.6%

06-17-2013 17:19:07 | More by Buttermilk

Busker

Connecticut

5/5 rDev +8.7%

06-17-2013 15:42:18 | More by Busker

arfenhouse

California

4.59/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2013 bottle. Chilled for 15 mins in refrigerator, slightly below room temp.

A: Black with light tan head. Decent retention and lacing.

S: Baker's chocolate, prunes, and whiskey/oak heat. Light vanilla.

T: First comes a bittersweet chocolate/coffee/roasted grain mix. Quickly followed with some whiskey heat and a veritable oak. Aftertaste has some prune, grass, vanilla, and more roasted malt bitterness.

M: Full bodied with a medium and fine carbonation. Slight smoothness.

O: Great BA stout.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 04:20:27 | More by arfenhouse