Parabola - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

largadeer

California

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

From a 22 oz bottle into a tulip. Parabola is an opaque obsidian color, viscous but well carbonated, topped by an inch of head that slowly recedes to a crown.

The aroma is wonderfully nuanced, roasted malt at balance with notes of dark bittersweet chocolate, spicy black licorice, mellow spirits and fruity red wine. Alcohol is noticeable, but just barely.

Bold flavors of dark chocolate, rich molasses, sweet whiskey and black licorice hit the taste buds first. There's a slight fruity, vinous quality to it as well, enhanced by a light tannic astringency. Barrel aging makes its presence known without overwhelming the complexities of the base beer, which has not always been the case in past iterations of this beer; this is clearly the most balanced batch of Parabola yet out of those I've tried. It has a hefty, chewy texture with a firm lingering roasted bitterness that clings to the tongue after a few sips and doesn't let go. Sweetness is reserved, at a perfect balance with the bitterness and tannins. The more I drink this, the more impressed I am. I've tried several batches of this beer over the years, some aged entirely in bourbon barrels, others in rye whiskey barrels, some a blend of different components. This one really nails it; the balance, nuance and delicacy make it my favorite batch yet. Thankfully, it's the one we finally got in bottles.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2010 04:40:41 | More by largadeer

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.83/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours jet black with a small chocolate brown to tan head. In the aroma, mellow but nice bourbon notes. In the taste, chocolate like roast with a bourbon end, and vanilla and oak presence all the way through. A boozy bite and medium bodied mouthfeel, with a dry oaky vanilla and bourbon like aftertaste. Big bourbon presence, with a nice stout underneath it all.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 20:13:31 | More by OWSLEY069

gford217

Georgia

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

Big thanks to rhertan for sharing this one.

Pours pitch black out of the bottle with light mahogany around the edges. There is a small creamy tan head that recedes quickly to a thin collar and leaves no lacing but some sticky legs along the sides.

The aroma is fantastic dark chocolate, coffee, lots of dark fruits including raisins and plums. There is also some tobacco, spicy oak and vanilla beans.

The taste is wonderful as well. There is plenty of dark chocolate and tobacco. Also lots of dark fruits, vanilla and caramel. The finish leaves a slight alcohol burn though nothing to indicate the 13% abv.

Super smooth mouthfeel, full bodied with soft carbonation. Spicy oak and tobacco in the finish.

Decadent, complex, outstanding. There's so much going on in this one and it all comes together in one fairly drinkable package.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2010 03:12:00 | More by gford217

jrallen34

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tasting with Agent Zero...I drank this from a 750ml bottle into my Rochefort glass...The beer pours jet oil black with a light tan head. Rises about two fingers but falls pretty quickly, light lacing...The aroma is nice medium strength, dominated by lots of really nice coffee not strong just yummy roastiness with a sweet cream finish....The first sip is lots of coffee nice like the aroma. As this warms it really starts to bring out the bourbon which is sweet and warming. Light coffee on the front, sweet in the middle, light bitter coffee finish. Not 50 ibu's...The feel is nice, coats the palate nicely, very warm finsih. Pretty easy drinker.

Overall, this is ok. Drink it quickly because as you drink it, its worse. It becomes flatter, less flavor and more alcoholic.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2010 22:14:53 | More by jrallen34

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

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

I had this on tap at DLD.
A - Pitch, piano black w/ a light tan collar of about 1/4 inch, the lace is moderate.

S - Plum, coffee, toasted marshmallow, currant and dark cherry aromas. There is subtle smoke, french roast, vanilla and bullion in the background.

M - Rich, viscous almost w/ roasted boozy, but not hot feel. There is roasted grain and char in the texture w/ subtle spice and molassess tinge the Stout is relatively mildly carbonated.

T - A mince meat, raisin and deep currant flavor w/ peppery hop spice and a coffee extract taste. The flavor has elements of warm extra dark toffee and rich blackstrap tinges.

D - Dark berry, boozy and magnificent. The finish is dry and it is easy to drink for its hugeness. A blessing to my taste buds - it tells the story well this Parabola is a testament to Firestone Walker-Kudos!

Serving type: on-tap

05-06-2008 15:14:05 | More by Slatetank

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

Bitterbill

Wyoming

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

650ml bottle, No1 so 2010, with black wrap that has a tag to pull on...cool idea and it works nicely. I also like the amount of info on the label re the beer.

A light hiss when I popped the cap, this straight from the fridge bottle and a slow pour still brought a good inch of tan foam. The lacing department worked overtime as there's ton of it.

Still being cold, the smell is somewhat subdued. I'll come back to it later.

The taste will, no doubt, also improve during warm up but...man...there's a ton of flavour here already. It's roasty, has some coffee and dark chocolate bitterness, a hint or 2 of a fruity sweetness, vanilla kicking in now, and a very tasty bourbon/barrel influence that kicks some major arse.

I'd say, for the abv, uncle Al it isn't too noticeable tastewise other than the obvious flavour you get from a barrel aged brew but after the swallow, it gives me a very warm and fuzzy feeling. I think I like this stuff. ;^)

The mouthfeel is close to full with a perfect(lightish) amount of carbonation.

Drinkability? No back to backs for me ever with a brew in this abv range but the bottle in front of me is killer for one session. Marvelous.

Back to the smell, it *has* warmed up some and I do get notes of chocolate and vanilla and what barrel aging brings to the table but no way does the smell, imho, do the taste justice. This is one of the best barrel aged Stouts I have tried. Full marks to Firestone!

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2010 22:15:04 | More by Bitterbill

beertunes

Washington

3.48/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I know that this is a highly rated and sought after beer, but for me, it just didn't meet the hype. It was the expected black, but had no head. The aroma was subdued to the point of blandness. Some grainy malt, a whisper of roast and a solid alcohol scent.

The flavors weren't any bolder or more well-defined. The body was decent although much thinner than typical, which did help with drinkability. Overall, a good but not great beer. A relative disappointment from FW, a brewery I think very highly of.

Serving type: on-tap

06-04-2011 21:07:55 | More by beertunes

TurdFurgison

Ohio

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

Trade with MrMiles about 4 months ago, but now that it's getting cold outside it feels proper to try it. A 13% bomber, this had to be shared with my wife. Strong stuff.

It pours a dark brown-black color with a thin tan head, about 1cm or less. The aroma is just about perfect, rich and complex, with all sorts of delicious bourbon throughout. Vanilla, toffee, roasted malts, bourbon and alcohol, everything is there in an inviting package.

It tastes just as I'd hoped strong and worth of attention. There's so much going on that it's best to sip this beer, plus it gives the feeling of high ABV with each sip. Brown sugar or molasses, robust roast, licorice, everything's in there. Thick and a little burning, you taste each sip for a long time. Excellent, maybe even a little overpowering.

This is absolutely worth its hype, a very good bourbon stout, I would be very happy to have it again.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2010 23:08:30 | More by TurdFurgison

DefenCorps

Oregon

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

Chris sent me a couple of these. Thanks, dogg!

Pouring jet black, this beer glugs from the bottle with an oily consistency. A dense, dark brown head, iridescent and long-lived is present, leaving little lace. The nose is just excellent. Right off the bat, I get decadent chocolate brownies, but as it breathes, the malt complexity really shines. Molasses , roast, grainy bitterness are all present, along with a little licorice. The barrel character is delicious. Toasted coconut, bourbon, vanilla are present in wonderful harmony, working well with the base stout. Sweetness is discernible with some caramel and toffee, but there's a mild charred malt bitterness to balance it out.

My oh my! What a wonderful beverage! The dark chocolate and coffee fudge character again open up the palate with the bourbon, coconut and vanilla following. Caramel sweetness, a little toffee and molasses are also present. Alcohol is wonderfully hidden, I would not guess this was 13%. However, the light spiciness that the alcohol brings pairs very well with the heavily caramelized sugars, reminding me in some ways of pumpernickel bread. The finish is long lasting, with a blend of dark chocolate, bourbon and coconut. Very, very well-balanced, this is truly wonderful stuff. Maybe some dark fruit too? The mouthfeel is incredible, with a big body that never gets tiring, moderate carbonation which, surprisingly, works. A decadent finish, I do get a little char as well. Exceptional stuff, this is going to be a fun two hours with this beer. And two hours later, I could still go fore more of this. Wonderful stuff.

In some ways, it reminds me of the FiftyFifty Imperial Eclipse Stout that was aged in Elijah Craig barrels. Paired with rum and amaretto truffles from RMCF, this is truly wondrous. The nuttiness of the amaretto works harmoniously with the coconut character from the barrel, making this one of the better pairings I've conceived.

**Edit 28 Nov 2011**
I'm drinking my last batch of batch 2. The only other time I drank this batch was earlier this summer on a very drunken night.
At cellar temperature, I'm astounded by how hoppy this beer is. There's a lot of English hop character here, with a fairly high bitterness and leafy character noticeable. In addition, this batch has a lot more licorice character than I remember the first batch having, with a mild anise-like spiciness. Dark honey, a moderate bourbon character with vanilla and toasted coconut. The stout base is pretty nice too, with unsweetened baker's chocolate, molasses and licorice. The palate has all of the flavors the nose would suggest in a nice balance. Hoppy bitterness is strong on the finish, melding with the coconut and vanilla as well as some grainy bitterness. Moderately sweet as well, this has some dark caramel and candy sweetness on the mid-palate. A little less fudge-like and with more licorice and anise than I remember the first bottled batch having, this is an excellent stout. I want to drop my scores a hair, but I can't find a fair way of doing that, so my scores will stand for now.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2010 01:30:04 | More by DefenCorps

twiggamortis420

Texas

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

22 oz bottle of the 2011 vintage courtesy of RWNewhouse, thanks a ton Ryan for this one! Pours very black, no highlights. Small tan head, even with an aggressive pour. Modest lacing.

Nose is lots of chocolaty bourbon with some secondary aromas of vanilla and raspberries. Smells soft and beautiful, I cant wait to indulge in this one.

Powerful bourbon-wood-vanilla combo with a balanced sweetness and drying finsh from lots of alcohol and a fair amount of leafy hops. The barrel treatment is very evident and the alcohol is pretty well integrated. Gets better as it warms, I'd be hard pressed to have to choose between this and BCBS. Its not as rich, sweet or boozy and the mouthfeel is thinner. But it is less hot and more integrated out of the gate. Whereas I can see BCBS aging well for at least 5 years, with Parabola I am not sure if any time in the cellar would be beneficial. Tasty as shit though, I like it quite a bit.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2012 02:47:00 | More by twiggamortis420

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.63/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle split and poured into a Sierra Nevada tulip. O.G. 30 P, 13% ABV, 80 IBU, British Ale House yeast, 1000 cases produced, 167 SRM, no date.

Thanks to the ever-generous Beerwolf77 who gets his jollies off reading these little quips I write about him when he shares his epic stash. There's a reason you're my #1 ninja Todd!

A - Did it actually get darker in the room when we poured this? It's totally black. No light comes through at all. Inky oil with a dark tan head. Lower retention isn't surprising from the alcohol. Not a whole lot of lace. Still epic looking.

S - Smooth, supple bourbon and notes of oak with a drop of vanilla kick the nose off right. A little molasses and roasted malts follow up. The alcohol is penetrating my nostrils the more I smell it though. So awesome.

T - Smooth, rich, and very coffee forward with fantastic notes of vanilla and oak. Bourbon is there but not overly powerful. Not a whole lot of raging alcohol either. Chocolate and cocoa come through in the back end. Perfection in flavor.

M - Strong, full-bodied, and rich, it's smooth and slightly boozy. Very warm on the finish and a little bit dry. Mouthfeel is near perfection.

D - So good, this is one of the best beers out there for the style I'd wager. Fantastic flavor and mouthfeel. Still highly drinkable despite the slightly noticeable, but well-balanced alcohol. Delish! Thanks Todd!

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2010 22:45:16 | More by BeerFMAndy

francisweizen

Australia

4.85/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On-Tap at Toronado. Snifter glass. Dark black with a bloody red brown head of foam and excellent espresso khaki lacing. Aromas of dark chocolate, oak, whiskey, roasted malts, and green hops. Taste is syrupy sweet and than bitter with a lovely roast/hop combo and just the right sugary sweetness of chocolate coffee and bitter espresso at the end. Mouthfeel is chewy, thick, viscous, and warm on the finish. Drinkability is very good as well. A killer in the RIS or ADIS style categories. I can't wait for the FW12 and I am blessed that I have had this at least ten different times in the city over the past two years. FW has become one of the best breweries in all of NorCal. Bless Em'

Serving type: on-tap

09-05-2008 21:43:29 | More by francisweizen

smakawhat

Maryland

4.4/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Vintage 2011, poured into a large snifter.

A nice solid simple light brown, creamy head given to dark walnut black body. Nice whisps on the top of the drink with a good sheen. Some small leg action that's about it. Not much more I could say but it looks very impressive.

Bouquet is a one trick pony. But it is a good one, it is a giant creamy vanilla bomb... that's it, there is no sense of heat from the high mentioned abv at all.

Taste is once again vanilla dominant. It's everywhere, it's creamy as all get out. However it masks much of the flavor profiles of chocolate, coffee, that one would expect. I also strangely got a sensation of orange fruit on this a bit which was interesting. The beer is so big as well on its feel, but there is not even a hint of boozy alcohol what so ever, it's like a giant chocolate milk shake.

Overall stupidly addictive, but not my favorite I think. Still quite an exceptional product I must say. I wish the nose was more varied.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2011 19:55:34 | More by smakawhat

FosterJM

California

4.15/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

304th review on BA
bottle to NB Globe

Split with GuruDel

App- Almost black with a one finger quick receding head.

Smell- Just like a big Double Stout with some malts, chocolates and suprisingly some faint hops.

Taste- A lot more hoppy than I would have thought. It was quite good, but drinking after the BCBVS was a bad idea. The flavors of Parabola just don't compare. Nice chocolatey taste with subtle malt and more hops for a stout than normal.

Mouth- Big Medium Bodied with a medium carb level. Rich chocolate and some hops.

Drink- Overall, a really great stout. Would suggest to someone to trade/find someone who has one.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2011 05:12:06 | More by FosterJM

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.8/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Extreme Beer Fest 2/15/08: I thought this was a very complex beer. Initial taste was of a stout, with notes of smoke, roast, bitterness. Then the bourbon started to kick in, followed by a sweet chocolate finish. I thought the bourbon complemented this beer very well.
8/3/8/4/16 (3.9/5)

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2008 21:37:13 | More by LilBeerDoctor

dgilks

Australia

4.3/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pitch black with a dark tan head. Good head retention.

Somewhat sweet aroma with plenty of coffee. Nice liquorice and bourbon oak. THe wood character is nicely integrated.

Plenty of sweetness again with a nice, earthy wood character. The coffee and cocoa add nice complexity. The balance is nice and a hint of fruit adds a touch of complexity. Very nice.

Medium-full body with moderately-high carbonation. A little over-carbonated for my tastes.

Parabola is a pretty classic BA stout. There is lots of sugar, coffee and bourbon with a nice oakiness too. Really good and delightful despite some minor flaws.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2012 10:05:05 | More by dgilks

StonedTrippin

Colorado

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

this is a near perfect beer, and defnitely the best firestone brew ive had, including the anniversary blend. pours jet black, dense and mean, with a one inch mocha colored head that fades out after a few minutes. smells is incredible. tons of wood, vanilla, bourbon notes, wine tannons, fresh pipe tobacco, chocolatey malt. i could smell this beer for ages. the flavor is lovely, very rich. notes of oak, milk chocolate, burned sugar, and that pipe tobacco marry perfectly in the mouth for a long complex drinking experience. not sure ive had any stout this good. mouthfeel is right on. velvety smooth with all that body, mellow carbonation from the barrel time. overall this may be one of the best stouts out there, its absolutely fantastic, and worth every penny of the 15 bucks it cost. you must must try this

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 20:37:50 | More by StonedTrippin

AgentZero

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Black with a nice one and a half finger fine head that dissipated nicely leavin behind a small ring. A little bit of chunk lines left behind during the consumption. Nice looking.

S - Sweet, there is some subtle coffee and wood. Sweet cocoa and creamy milk smell, some dark char and burnt malt smell.

T - This is a very complex and nice tasting brew. Finishes with a nice and quit bitter roasty taste. Some subtle coffee. The bourbon comes out more as the beer warms up. This beer has a very creamy, milky chocolate taste which is quite nice. Becomes much less bitter and more sweet as it warms up.

M - Full bodied, very creamy, mild carbonation. All works well.

D - Super drinkable for a 13%, was shocked to see that it was that much.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2010 22:04:47 | More by AgentZero

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.45/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

650ml bottle poured into tulip 9/5/12 a big thank you to Rutager for the bottle 2011 vintage

A shes black right out of the bottle with just a little cola at the edge, two fingers of dense mocha foam quickly falls to a thin film and only leaves a couple little spots of lace

S dark bakers chocolate, vanilla, smokey woody notes, boozy bourbon, dark chocolate covered fruit, raisins, a little licorice and molasses, this one covers a large spectrum of dark roasts. Only some booze keeps this one from perfection

T even more boozy woody bourbon notes with just a little sweet black coffee, slightly more dark fruity notes then I could smell. A little tobacco on the finish but it still has everything from the nose in one form or another, amazing complexity, one year isn't enough age for the 12.5% however but its a minor complaint

M stuck in your teeth thick with just enough carbonation too give it some life, leaves my mouth with a slight tingle and a lingering strong aftertaste, just a little sticky on the lips and the booze hits my chest before my throat somehow

O I'd bet another couple years would help this one hit perfection in nearly every area, my only complaint is it's still a little boozy but considering how strong this one is I should expect it, wonderful beer that everyone should seek out

I can't thank Rutager enough for this one its just great. I tried to age this one but it was taunting me from its little box telling me I didn't have another to gauge the aging progress so I should crack it, so I did.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 06:03:30 | More by wordemupg

champ103

Texas

4.53/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A big thanks to wolffman17 for sharing this with me and several other BA's.

A: Pours opaque black. No light gets through at all. A small tan head forms, but recedes in a minute. Light lace. Head and lacing are to be expected for the ABV, but this looks menacing.
S: An excellent aroma of toasted malt, sweet toffee, dark chocolate. Light vanilla and oak. Light dark fruits of figs, plums, and raisins. Very soft, but nuanced.
T: A great toasted malt flavor. Big dark chocolate, vanilla, and slightly woody flavors. Soft doughy and brownie like. Light dark fruits that follow the nose. Just excellent.
M/D: A full body that is low on the carbonation. Though not under carbonated at all. Soft, creamy, smooth, and velvety. So easy and smooth to drink. The alcohol is almost non existent.

For such a huge beer, this is incredibly nuanced and subtle. I can't get enough of this. All around excellent, and highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2010 02:37:06 | More by champ103

GClarkage

California

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

11/15/08- Had on tap in samplers at the Barrel Aged festival at the Bistro in Hayward, CA.

Presentation- Via the tap into small taster glasses.

Appearance- Pitch black in color. Drity white slight creamy head. Left behind sticky patches of lace.

Smell- Rich in roasted caramel, bittersweet chocolate and mild coffee notes. Light fusel alcohol notes.

Taste- A mixture of everything. Mild bitter hops, medium dark chocolate with a nice dash of sweetness, slight grain flavor noted...vanilla oaky barrel taste, nice bourbon barrel base. Coffee is there, but toward the back because of all the other flavors. Even some booze soaked dates.

Mouthfeel- Thick, viscous, creamy, but with all that a higher rate of carbonation.

Drinkability- I could easliy buy this if it came out in bottles. A 12oz bottle would be sufficient.

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2008 20:06:15 | More by GClarkage

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.78/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2011 bottle into a La Chouffe tulip. Gigantic thanks to Hopstoopid120 for bringing this long-anticipated want by NEBCO while I was canning up some homebrew.

A: Pretty f-ing black, with a finger of creamy light-brown foam. Good retention, spotty lace. Very attractive, especially for being an enormous 13%.

S: Gigantic chocolate, with more than a hint of chocolate-covered cherry. The wine barrels really add some serious complexity, but this is all about the rich, sweet, chocolatey malt. Significant, but acceptable booze.

T: Mmmm. Chocolate, vanilla, molasses, cherry, wine, tannins, and more chocoate. Huge, sweet, lightly boozy finish. Truly spectacular in its sheer decadence.

M: Creamy, full, and well-carbonated. Insanely good.

O: Holy crap, that's a beer. I can't imagine drinking a whole bottle, what with the intense sweetness and alcohol, but I'll be damned if I wouldn't like to have a small snifter of this with dessert every single night. I love eating chocolate and drinking a robust red wine, and this beer was like that but amplified and melded into pure liquid nirvana.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2011 12:53:30 | More by woosterbill

drpimento

Wisconsin

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

Let this bottle warm some out of the fridge. Poured with a tan, smallish head and a little lace. Color is an opaque brown black. Aroma is mild, malt, roast, wine, yeast, dates, figs. Flavor's like nose, bittersweet up front, enough carbonic tang to balance. Finish is boozy and the alcohol is striking. killer brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 04:33:16 | More by drpimento

Mebuzzard

Colorado

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

Ok, had this on draught the other day, now time for the bottle.

Fancy cardboard 'case'. Nice looking bottle, love the label.
Pours black, dark ruby tints around the rim. Nice off-brown, dense head. Love it. Solid, rich, smooth

aroma differs from the tap version a bit. This one has more of a chocolaty foundation. The leather, baked caramel, vanilla and wood are in there, but not as prominent. It's a smooth chocolate, not too sweet. Black plums and anise.

yeah, taste is more chocolaty, too. It's complex, but not as much as tap version I think. The carbonation doesn't life the flavors up and around. Still, the black strap leather, plum, raisin, coffee, vanilla, and caramel.

Feel is drier than tap, and it was fairly dry. Some tannin and velvet-ness at once. The chocolate gives way to a prune-like finish. Still smooth and darn tasty

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2011 00:25:46 | More by Mebuzzard