Parabola - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

Rainier

California

5/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2013 Vintage on tap.
I would just say, this year's vintage is hands down so much better than last years. Last year's had too much coconuts, but this year's had the perfect amount. I really don't know what else to say as this is hands down the best RIS I have ever had. Not sure if huna, KBS, dark lord is going to be better.

Appearance: Hella dark but nice. Hella alcohol lacing. Hella everything(good thing) Nice head too.
Smell: This is the best part of the beer. Hella chocolate. Perfect amounts of coconut. Hella good bourbon smell. Hella great smelling beer
Taste: Heaven. All I can say
Moutfeel: Syrupy, but not too much. Had good amount of carbonation but not too much.
Overall: Holy crap this beer was effing delicious..

tl;dr - Hella good.

I had a sample snifter of this during a tour.

Serving type: on-tap

04-13-2013 23:28:57 | More by Rainier

joeseppy

Illinois

4.41/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

My snifter resembles a jet black oyster pearl.

Aromas of dark cocoa, whisky, coffee and candied molasses.

Taste is exactly like it smells. Smoky, sweet coffee, cocoa, hint of licorice. Slight bitterness and a warming alcohol sensation.

Bold and tasty. Well crafted and balanced brew. Got this on a rare FSW tap takeover. A treat to experience-wish it were here on a regular basis.

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2013 04:33:09 | More by joeseppy

pepsican

Iowa

3.6/5  rDev -21.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

tap at dld 08. Black, tan head. Aroma is buttered popcorn. Flavor is black jelly bean, bourbon, mollases, coffee, diacytal, a bit of hops round it out. Strong boozy finish, little carbonation

Serving type: on-tap

01-08-2013 20:24:53 | More by pepsican

RyanLigeia

Massachusetts

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

On tap at McLaddens Irish Public House in Hampden, MA on 9/29/12.

Pitch black, completely opaque. No head which is expected with a 12.5% abv but there are a few small carb bubbles floating around the edges on top.

Smells heavily of bourbon, dark roasted coffee beans and some rich milk chocolate underneath. Just a hint of oak as well.

Taste is similar to smell but the coffee shines through a little more. Bourbon is still the most prominent but the oak flavor is much more noticeable here. A lot of booze in the finish, very warming. Also VERY sweet. Almost too sweet.

Mouthfeel is smooth, heavy, LOTS of alcohol warmth as it goes down. Low carbonation.

Overall this is a great stout! A little too sugary and the bourbon is kind of overpowering but those are my only complaints.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2012 19:26:17 | More by RyanLigeia

mfavoino

Washington

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

Enjoyed on tap at the Parkway Tavern in Tacoma, WA.

Appearance: Super rich brown, almost black color with a rim of espresso head.

Smell: Distinctly bourbon barrel character, vanilla, chocolate, and roasted malts are all prominent. Intense scent that had a lot going on. All the aromas were easily distinguishable.

Taste: Initially sweet with chocolate and some brown sugar flavor. Roasted malts really come out with a wood flavor, and the bourbon is definitely noticeable, although not overwhelming. Vanilla and some tobacco too.

Mouthfeel: Medium mouthfeel, pretty strong alcohol flavor, and light carbonation.

Overall: FW kills it again. This is the first time I've been able to try Parabola, and it has so much flavor that I was analyzing every sip. Can't wait to try the bottle I have after it gets a bit more age on it.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2012 04:27:36 | More by mfavoino

TheRealBigC

Nevada

5/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Of all the beers I've ever tried, this one might have officially taken the crown as my favorite beer.

Served on tap at 775 Gastropub.

Deep brown body, thick mocha head with solid retention for an imperial.

Rich aromas of coffee, cocoa, tobacco and more. One of those beers where you want to get a huge sniff in before a sip, and you want all the sips you can get. All of that fragrance translates into the flavor and it's as robust as any imperial stout you'll ever have.

It's clearly a strong beer, but the strength of the flavor works in tandem with the strength of the alcohol like cognac. Every sip is enjoyable, the alcohol is never overwhelming, but it makes its presence well known on the palate and in your body. Take it nice and slow. It's a perfect beer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2012 22:17:49 | More by TheRealBigC

Prospero

Colorado

4.48/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had the 2012 version on-tap and 2011 from a bottle tasted in 3/12 after some age, this review is for the on-tap as I found it more enjoyable.

Appearance is midnight black. If light passed through it, I didn't see it. Great 1-2 finger dark tan head that shows off it's barrel-aging.

The aroma is strong of oak, bourbon, some vanilla and nice roasted coffee. It just smells rich and complex.

The taste follows the aroma nicely as it tastes as rich as it smells. Lots of roasted coffee and chocolate flavors mixed with the oaky vanilla complexity that makes this a great savoring beer. I feel like I need a cigar to pair with this beer. Some bitterness, but not overwhelming, I feel like some age could smooth it out some. Some bourbon, but blended well with the malt bill.

In terms of mouthfell it's a rich, robust, full bodied beer. Medium to low carbonation, but still retains a smooth feel. It may be like motor oil to some, but delicious for me!

Have 3 bottles of 2012 I'm looking forward to aging to see if it balances out even more.

Serving type: on-tap

06-28-2012 17:47:05 | More by Prospero

BucannonXC5

California

4.43/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a draft into a snifter at San Diego Brewing Company in San Diego, Calif., on June 15. About a finger of head when I got it. Color was black with tints of purple in it. Brown, coffee and caramel lacing. Good retention.

Smelled chocolate, caramel, chocolate milk and some light coffee malts. Also some dark fruit, maybe plum? Great smell.

Tasted a big dose of alcohol right away, mainly bourbon. That gave way to caramel, toffee, chocolate and light coffee.

Full body. Average carbonation. Creamy texture. Smooth finish. The feel was the best part of this beer by far. I wish I could have given this a 5.5. Just phenomenal. I kept craving another taste when I put the glass down.

I’ve been wanting to try this beer for awhile and it didn’t disappoint. Just a marvelous beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2012 04:20:53 | More by BucannonXC5

BuffaloTapHugger

New York

4.45/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

10 oz. pour served in a snifter

A: Midnight black in color with a fast dissipating caramel head and lacing put on hold for another day.

S: Robust in nature: coffee bean, dark chocolate bar, smokey wood

T: The star. Deep notions arise in the beginning with the kick of the robustness of the mentioned flavors above. As it warms it comes more complex in nature and can mess with your mind. Intriguing without coy.

M: Medium body, sticky, abv noticeable with heat senses, low carbonation, but present.

O: Completely stoked to be finally able to try this beer, and to have it on tap form makes the experience that much more pleasurable. World Class all the way. Next for me is finding a bottle...I recommend the same for you

Serving type: on-tap

06-10-2012 06:21:13 | More by BuffaloTapHugger

haazer

Pennsylvania

4.65/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Khyber Pass Pub for PBW.

A - Completely back, fully opaque brew. Light brown rim due to the pour into a snifter.

S - Milky chocolate malts. Rye bourbon and vanilla candy sweetness. There's a bitter cream smell in here also.

T - this beer provides so many complex flavors. Begins with vanilla, rye and a bourbon barrel heat from what this was aged in. The barrel and wood quality hits first, but the base beer finishes. A chocolate truffle leads its way into a wonderful Colombian coffee roast. A heavy flavor of toffee ends this incredible beast. There's even a bit of maple syrup in here, just incredible.

M - Full bodies stout with mid level carbonation. Smooth drinking, and somewhat refreshing for a stout actually.

O - Sit back and savor this beast. I enjoyed every last sip of this. Utterly delicious. The base beer must be great, to barrel age it excess, but also necessary. One of my favorites from PBW, and one of my favorite stouts period.

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2012 01:30:20 | More by haazer

macktbone

California

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

Served at the Graduate in Davis Ca... Thanks to them for putting this out there for the masses to take part in.

A- dark black with a cherry hue along the rim. No carbonation at all for this 12.5% beast.

S- bourbon, walnut, tobacco, cherries and molasses .

T- brighter than expected with a lovely hot affect similar to carbonation but directly from the backbone of hard core bourbon barrel. Nice anise aftertaste representing the imperial stout well. Tons of leather and molasses flavor.

M- perfect for the style!

D- great flavor and limited release are worth the price. Don't miss an opportunity regardless of the sacrifice. Highly drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

05-27-2012 04:13:35 | More by macktbone

TheEarl

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I had this in a snifter at Brouwer’s “Back in Black” Stout Festival on May 11, 2012. I believe it was from a keg of the 2011 that Brouwer's had been saving.

Appearance: Jet black with a mid-brown head and fairly big bubbles.

Smell: Huge dark chocolate, vanilla, oak/wood, and bourbon notes with a general, but not unpleasant, whiff of vaporizing alcohol.

Taste: Sweetness is the most overt taste but, once I got accustomed to it, plum, coffee, raisin, chocolate, vanilla, and bread crust flavors come through.

Mouthfeel: Heavy, sticky, and somewhat alcohol tingly.

Overall: Parabola is probably my favorite stout of the moment. It manages to be the perfect balance of sweet and complex without being overwhelming. After having my first pour, I went out and purchased two bottles.

Serving type: on-tap

05-18-2012 02:45:14 | More by TheEarl

SDDanC

California

4.3/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Toronado SD - 5/5/12

Poured into a flute :/, jet black with half finger of creamy cocoa head. After the first sip, lacing is already showing. Nose is lots of toffee, butterscotch, bourbon and wood is hidden in the back. Taste is creamy milk chocolate, toffee/caramel, very subtle bourbon, bitter bite near the end. Mouthfeel is creamy, low carbonation, and relatively thick, IMO a great example of the style. Overall this exceptionally decadent, worth the $. Might actually get some bottles.

Serving type: on-tap

05-05-2012 19:56:05 | More by SDDanC

DocJitsu

California

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very dark brown, with a brown-tan, quickly attenuating head. Aromas of sorghum, coconut, chocolate, and tobacco. The mouthfeel is creamy and viscous, with some scrubbing on the back of the tongue at the finish. Milk chocolate, coconut, and unflavored leaf tobacco are prevalent and alternating flavors. There is even that mild pang in the back of the jaw that occassionally occurs with dry leaf, unflavored chewing tobacco. Notes of sorghum and bourbon as well. This is my favorite FW brew. It's a phenomenal concoction.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2012 23:44:45 | More by DocJitsu

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.48/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours an opaque dark-chocolate brown with a decent tan head. Rich, rather sweet aroma has notes of sweet chocolate, caramel and molasses. Mouth filling flavor has semi-sweet chocolate, caramel and molasses tones plus hints of honey and fresh-cut wood. Smooth, fizzy texture has plenty of body.

Serving type: on-tap

03-30-2012 20:31:53 | More by Cyberkedi

Holland

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: dark black, small brown head, some lacing, ruby highlights

S: sweet bourbon, vanilla, caramel, toasted malt and sugar

T: oak and bourbon blend well with the hefty malt, and the taste allows a bit more of the roasted malt to come through, but there isn't a hint of smoke (just the way I like it). Slight alcohol flavor when it warms, but it's covered well.

M: heavy bodied, but not thick, and medium carbonation.

O: very well done beer overall - pretty sure I just had the 2011, though it was not specified. Worth it for an $8 pour of this at Eulogy.

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2012 18:45:14 | More by Holland

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

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

On tap at TJ's today.

The beer pours a blackish brown color with good head retention and minimal lacing. In short, this looks like a beer that had seen considerable barrel aging (which I gather it has). On the nose, I get dark chocolate and bourbon, but not much more than that (surprisingly). On the palate, however, this beer is just killer, with considerable dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla, licorice and light dry citrus... and a ton of bourbon (yum!). Although the beer is fairly sweet, there is enough dry bitterness to counter the sweetnees, making for one rich, over the top, flavorful RIS. Mouthfeel is long, rich and fairly sweet, with considerable licorice and dark chocolate in the finish.

Just delicious, and a beer that I suspect will only get better with age. Impressive.

Serving type: on-tap

12-03-2011 22:39:38 | More by johnmichaelsen

hippityhops85

Pennsylvania

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

On tap at Capones in Norristown, PA. Review from notes.

Poured into a miniature snifter. Pours a deep, dark black with ruby highlights around the glass. A deep, coffee/mocha head rests on top of the brew. Really awesome looking.

The nose on this thing is INSANE. Gobs and gobs of vanilla play on the bourbon notes in a ridiculously great way. Holy wow.

The taste is absolutely excellent with the dark chocolate playing nicely off of the bourbon and vanilla flavors. Tobacco, and other leathery notes are in there as well. Extremely complex and incredibly enjoyable.

The mouthfeel compliments the beer to a T while being thick and viscous but with enough carbonation to keep the beer from being overwhelming.

A homerun by Firestone Walker. Just wow. One of the best BA stouts I've ever had and probably ever will have.

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2011 15:49:14 | More by hippityhops85

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appears a turbid opaque onyx with russet toned edges. A small, foamy tan head slowly fades. Scattered streaks of pacing are left around the glass.
Smell is of dark bakers chocolate, vanilla beans, sugary rum, bourbon, and intense caramel. Sheesh! I could smell this all afternoon.
Taste is of the aromas with a fine sipping version of caramel, vanilla, and cocoa. Obvious bourbon influence on amwell done imperial stout. Hells yeahs!
Mouthfeel is a tad boozy, as expected, full bodied, chewy, with a resonating sugar cookie and chocolate chip finish.

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2011 23:25:37 | More by weeare138

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Capone's Black Friday event, this beer poured out as a very dark black color with a thin tan head on top. The smell of the beer was roasted and sweet, some aromas of wood and sweet bourbon on the nose. The taste of the beer is just stunning... I really couldn't believe how nice this tasted. The sweet bourbon flavors come out perfectly in this brew. The mouthfeel of this beer was thick and oily just like it should be. Overall this brew is special. It's very very good!

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2011 08:02:49 | More by Knapp85

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a pitch black color with a very thin caramel colored thin lacing ring.

S - Coffee, have, dark roasted toffee, light vanilla. Dark roasted malt.

T - Dark roasted chocolate, vanilla, roasted cocoa, vanilla, bourbon that's perfectly blended from front to finish. Wow!

M - Thick, syrupy, heavy body, viscous, sticky, lip smacking sticky.

O - This beer is pretty darn good, being my first time trying this.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2011 06:38:29 | More by jzeilinger

BrewtifulMind

California

4.72/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at The Bottle Room, Whittier. 9 oz pour

This is just about as black as black can get. No light gets through this one. Has a minimal brown head, if you can even call it that. Its more of a thin blanket that recedes to the sides of the glass. It leaves minimal, spotted lacing down the glass. The aroma on this one is amazing. A very strong vanilla presence, chocolate, espresso, dark fruits, and a nice touch of bourbon booziness. It smells sweeter and sweeter as it warms up as well. On to the taste test. Just as the nose described, really heavy tones of vanilla, bitter chocolate, coffee, oak, and booze. The boozy taste is by no means in the way. Its the perfect complement to the rich sweetness. Taste is just phenomenal and very complex, all of the flavors just seem to meld with each other perfectly. It has a very rich, thick, and creamy mouthfeel. Just phenomenal. I was very excited to try this, and very glad to say that this exceeds its hype. Being someone that is fairly new to BA Imperial Stouts, they are quickly becoming my new favorite style. Cheers.

Serving type: on-tap

11-05-2011 01:05:56 | More by BrewtifulMind

patm1986

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Notes from Hulmeville Inn Beer Geek BBQ July 2011

black as night. motor oily. no head on this baby, just thick, syrupy, viscous. it looks fatty actually.

smells like bourbon and a little rummy, some vanilla, coffee, milk chocolate, some lactic acidity, smoky, oaky, boozy. there's a sense of conflation in the complete aroma that is interesting.

the first sip is BOOMING: vanilla, coffee, wood, caramel, chocolate, oat, burnt wood, booze burn. the first gulp is leveling, however, subsequent sips are underwhelming in comparison. the flavors are good, but they're vigor seems to fade into the aforementioned conflation.

it's thick and rich and oily. it has a great deal of viscosity and creaminess on the front of the palate, but heading out, it finishes with a bitter, dry burn.

it's solid. a straight "good" across the board. the first impressions were impressive, but it didn't sustain its initiated characteristics enough to warrant an elite standing. i enjoyed it, but i'm definitely coming back to see if i'm just being picky and snooty from the hype.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2011 16:46:19 | More by patm1986

MsRif

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at Teresa's Next Door on 10/24/11.

Poured into a tulip glass and appeared almost pitch black with a chocolate brown head. Head receded almost completely and lacing was minimal as I drank this brew.

Aroma was not very strong. Mostly got a sense of chocolate and vanilla. As I tasted it, the chocolate became even more pronounced, particularly in the finish. A very complex, multidimensional beer with several distinct stages of flavor. Vanilla came out more along with bourbon and a bit of smokey flavor in the front of this beer. Very balanced. I did not let this beer come up in temperature enough as I drank it too fast (it was just too good!)...next time I will let it come up a bit more because I would like to see how that would affect the balance/complexity of flavor.

This brew is pretty heavy with nice carbonation. There was a bit of an alcohol burn with it, but it wasn't overwhelming. This was my first time imbibing in this particular beer and I enjoyed it very much. It was smooth...very drinkable for 12.5%!

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2011 23:58:14 | More by MsRif

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

First had: on tap at Teresa's, Wayne, PA

Tremendous stout! Served on tap and poured into a tulip glass, this beer was a rich opaque black with a lovely chocolate brown head, nearly a finger of it, which receded a bit during the session and left just a bit of soapy lacing behind. Luscious aroma of rich bittersweet chocolate, with notes of bitter coffee and a touch of vanilla and bourbon. All these qualities followed through in an excellent way on the palate, with the smooth, rich chocolate taking the foreground, both in the front and the finish, with a good balance of coffee bitterness mid-palate. Alcohol warmth definitely present, but barely boozy at all in the taste. Woody with subtle oak tones, and just a hint of dark fruits: cherries and figs. Full-bodied, rich, and quite the amazing drink overall.

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2011 23:57:40 | More by Rifugium