Parabola - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

jdense

Oregon

4.55/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

PIB 7.17.2010, bottled version, late arrival at the festival.

Minimal head and dissipation, resulting in a very thin layer of head around the edge of the glass. Dark dark brown body no visible carbonation due to hue. The nose is pretty winy due to barrel aging with a lot of bittersweet chocolate aromas. Taste is huge hit of chocolate upfront, with oaky and winy notes, and significant hop bitterness on back end but kept in balance by significant malt bill, caramel, and the pervasive chocolate with a wee bit of coffee present. Mouthfeel is medium full, just a bit sticky, and a surprisingly dry finish given the chocolate notes. Pretty boozy effects drinkability, a sipper to be sure, this could certainly benefit from some cellaring. This is one very tasty beer, worthy of the buzz it has generated, wish I'd had grabbed a bottle at By the Bottle in Vancouver WA, as I am sure this is harder than hell to come by now.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2010 17:55:14 | More by jdense

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

Mersh

Connecticut

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

06-17-2013 00:19:13 | More by Mersh

Dhamma73

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

06-16-2013 20:30:59 | More by Dhamma73

Rocklobsterbrew

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -7.6%

06-16-2013 18:20:02 | More by Rocklobsterbrew

ummswimmin

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +8.7%

06-16-2013 17:20:11 | More by ummswimmin

beerinNV

Nevada

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%

06-16-2013 15:31:39 | More by beerinNV

errantnight

California

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

06-16-2013 07:15:42 | More by errantnight

Amerikon

California

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

06-16-2013 05:08:12 | More by Amerikon

dt_gbpackersfan

Missouri

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

06-16-2013 02:41:40 | More by dt_gbpackersfan

Bung

North Carolina

4.44/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2012. Received in trade a few months back. A nicely viscous appearing black pour, just a ring of light tan bubbles. Some dirty oil brown tones.

Aroma, chocolates, vanilla, barrel. Roast malt, a faint anise. Nicely potent.

Taste, Big and tasty. Roast malt, molasses, vanilla, brown sugar. A myriad of chocolates. Some peaty whisky barrel. Some faint hop resin still endures along with the anise.

Coats very well, but carbonation is just a tad prickly to me. Could be a little thicker. Keeps it drinking pretty well though. A very under control warming. Certainly on par with KBS, Event Horizon and Bourbon County are still my favorites for various reasons, though this comes close.

Decided to crack this in honor of laying my first pet to rest. RIP my little friend.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 02:02:26 | More by Bung

anson42

California

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

06-16-2013 01:14:45 | More by anson42

craftbrew502

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev -7.6%

06-15-2013 03:00:22 | More by craftbrew502