Parabola - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

chilly460

Virginia

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

A: Deep black with mahogany tones at the edges. Head is impressive, thick cap of espresso brown, tightly bubbled. Good retention.

S: Distinct bourbon up front, shifts gear to richer vanilla. Moves from the sweet side to dark chocolate, and roasty malts kick in. Very pungent, want to just sit and soak it in.

T: Quite sweet up front, vanilla is prominent, and sweeter rich molasses type flavor. The roastiness kicks in, like a perfect medium roast. Bourbon is muted for sure, but there. Leather or tobacco creeps in at times as well.

M: Light carbonation, medium to heavy body, nice.

O: Love the "vanilla" or butterscotch flavor that I get in F-W beers, didn't expect here but I got it. Not the "biggest" RIS I've had, but flavors are perfectly proportioned and blended.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2012 19:40:25 | More by chilly460

Beaver13

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bottle, 2012 version. Pours dark brown black with a small light brown head that quickly diminishes to a thin film that leaves a little lacing.

The aroma is grainy dark chocolate malts with some lactose and dark fruits and some sharp alcohol.

The flavor is sweet grainy chocolate malts, dark fruits with some roast and quite a bit of vinous alcohol in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with low carbonation.

Overall, it reminds me of Old Viscosity. I remember this being better than this sample. It's in your face and not really well balanced. Too sweet and treacly at times, and the alcohol is too sharp for me. It's still a good beer though.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 05:39:02 | More by Beaver13

tut2528

Illinois

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

Batch 3

A: pour is lightly viscous, deep brown in color. Almost no head formation on this pour and minimal lacing. Little carbonation.

S: big sweet bourbon soaked raisins and other dark fruits are profound and there is an awesome touch of vanilla. A nice solid malt backbone holds this one together. Not all that complex, but extremely well balanced.

T: wow, this one is sweet delicious bomb. I pick up on the sweet brown sugar, alcohol soaked raisins, big bourbon and massive vanilla. Alcohol is more noticeable than in the nose, but I think it sits perfectly with all the other sweetening flavors. There is a very faint chocolate note and a mild hint of hops, thus increasing the complexity.

M: Full bodied, light burn of alcohol on the lips, and the light carbonation is perfect for this brew.

O: I find this one absolutely awesome. Everything is so well balanced in this one, but be warned that this is a sweet sugary bomb. The only knock on it may be the heat on this one. I find it appropriate for the massive sweetness in this brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 05:13:56 | More by tut2528

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

SawDog505

New Hampshire

4.93/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

My 300th review. Poured into a 16 oz snifter, vintage 2012. Pours a slick pitch black, with a two inch dark tan head, that leaves wonderful scattered lace. Smell is vanilla, chocolate, expresso, bourbon, and some molasses extraordinary. Taste is lots of vanilla and expresso up front, with some smoke and bourbon towards the finish, really huge flavors and every sip is as intense as the first. Body is medium large, perfect amount of life for the style, dry as you would expect from the style, and very drinkable for a big beer, that should be savored sip after sip. I have 4 more of these and am so happy about it. This is one of the finest BA Imperial Stouts on the planet. Firestone does it once again!

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 01:05:04 | More by SawDog505

cfrances33

Illinois

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

2012 vintage on tap at High Street Grill in NJ and Varga Bar in Philly. Served in a snifter both occasions. Reviewed from 6/30/12 (High Street Grill) notes.

Pour: Pitch black with a finger of tan sticky head. Dissipates quickly.

Smell: Bittersweet chocolate and tons of bourbon and vanilla. Some booze, but not much.

Taste: Wow. Chocolate and vanilla with a sweet bourbon warming. The bourbon is blended into the flavors of the beer perfectly. Some mocha espresso at the end, but not a ton.

Mouthfeel: Literally like silk going down. Little bit of warmth from the bourbon, but I actually like its presence because it reminds me that this 12.5% monster isn't playing around, and it supplements the flavors more than any other BB stout I've ever had. Presents a slight cloying at the end of the glass in the back of my throat that drives this down.

Overall: I love this beer. Probably my favorite BB stout, next to Black Note. Buy this no matter what if you have the money in your wallet. If not, go sell some scrap and come back before someone else buys it.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 21:42:57 | More by cfrances33

ixodus

New Jersey

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

A: Pours deep brown with lighter hues, small tan head that drops down to a slight foam ring. Moderate lacing is left behind.

S: Oak, Vanilla, Chocolate, Tobacco, Molasses, Toasted Coconut, Burnt/Roasted Malts, Figs, Plums, and mild alcohol esters. The aroma is complex and intoxicating. They need to make a parabola candle.

T: Sweet upfront and mildly bitter through the end. Rich dark chocolate and dark fruit, followed up with vanilla, wood, bourbon, and heavy roasted malts. Has some slight tobacco and leather characters in the background. Alcohol is present but in a way it actually complements the beer.

M: Heavy bodied, soft carbonation, smooth and creamy.

O: Overall a phenomenal beer and drinking so well fresh. I've had two out of the 6 I've purchased so far. Every time I go to the store I end up picking up another bottle and will continue to do so until the supply diminishes. I look forward to this beer every year and it did not disappoint. I'd recommend this beer to any RIS fan.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 00:43:54 | More by ixodus

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

MattSweatshirt

Texas

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

2012 bottle poured into a snifter.

The beer pours black. Small mocha colored head filled with lots of bubbles.

Dark fruits popped out first, coconut, tobacco, vanilla, wood, roast, bourbon and alcohol.

Big dark fruit presence, licorice, dark chocolate, bitter, bit of sweetness , tobacco, roast, bourbon and alcohol in the finish.

Smooth and full bodied with some alcohol heat.

There is so much going on with the flavors and aromas it is mind boggling. I enjoyed it highly yet it was a little too hot and bitter to totally blow me away.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2012 05:42:47 | More by MattSweatshirt

BWHD

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Firestone Walker Parabola

Poured into a large, generic brandy snifter.

A: Pours a deep, chestnut brown. This brew is super dark brown and opaque at its heart, with a bit of chestnut brown peering through at its edges when held up to light. Some slight red and orange streaks appear as it is swirled. Slightly lighter in appearance and viscosity than I anticipated. An appetizing, creamy, and burnt-khaki colored head pours half a finger thick and recedes into a delicious looking ring around the glass that floats on top. Tiny and intricate lacing with decent retention for the style; better than anticipated for such a high ABV.

S: Delicious bourbon barrel wood and booziness hits first, followed by dark fruit. Classic barrel aged FW aroma (similar to the §ucaba). I love it! Nose then gives way to hints of a brown sugar sweetness. Inviting and intoxicating aroma.

T: Boozy dark fruit and creaminess. This brew has a bitterness, but it’s a hoppy one as opposed to a dark chocolate like some beers in this style possess. The taste of the brown sugar from the nose is there, but not as intense as the aroma would suggest. There is some detectable alcohol, especially in the finish as the beer warms, but the flavor ultimately belies this brew’s 12.5% ABV; it is pretty well balanced. My only qualm is with a noticeable acidity that cloys ever so slightly, leading to a slightly dry finish.

M: Medium bodied with decent carbonation; more carbonation than I expected from such an imposing beer. I expected a thicker, more viscous mouthfeel out of this one. Quite honestly, I think this is the only area where this beer could use improvement.

O: Absolutely solid. One of the best smelling beers I have come across so far. One whiff and you want to take a sip – and only a sip – because it is impressive looking and it smells like a bourbon bomb; you know it might knock you on your ass. It is delightfully drinkable without being overly sweet, or too decadent. Wonderful balance. I only wish it was ever so slightly thicker.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2012 04:10:17 | More by BWHD

Blargimus

Colorado

4.63/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bottle poured into snifter. 2012 edition.

Pours a very VERY dark brown. A bit of head forms, but dissipates quickly. Not as viscous-looking as I was expecting.

The nose is pure bourbon at first, followed by coconut and coffee. Very sweet and very enticing.

After the smell, I was expecting a bourbon bomb, but it's much less prevalent in the taste. All the smells are represented, but they're joined by caramel and roasted barley. The bottle says 82 IBU, but there's not much apparent bitterness, probably because of the intense sweetness. Divine.

Mouthfeel isn't particularly viscous, but it does coat the tongue very nicely. Certainly not a dry beer. All the tastes stick around long after the sip.

Three words: believe the hype.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 03:13:19 | More by Blargimus

PicoPapa

Connecticut

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

22oz bottle. Reserve Series 003, 2012 Vintage. Pours a rich black color with an inch of light brown head. Some lacing. Aromas of booze, vanilla, toffee, and light and sweet coffee. The taste is boozey vanilla up front followed by some toffee. Some hints of coffee, chocolate and sweetness. Alcohol burn finish. Thick, heavy mouthfeel. You can certainly taste the barrel aging. This is a great slow sipper with a bunch of flavor. Damn good and would like to try it with some age on it, but fresh is outstanding. I need to get more of this.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 03:54:44 | More by PicoPapa

baseball1976

Arizona

2.28/5  rDev -50.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 4 | overall: 1.5

Serving type was a 22oz bottle that I purchased 3 months ago, and was looking forward to breaking into it!

The appearance was great! Just what I love... jet black with a tan head. The anticipation was building!

Smell. typical hard american stout. Roasted malty goodness!

Taste... I should have known it was going to be bad when the two people that I let try it did not like it. But I went for a try anyway. All I tasted was warm butter mixed with vanilla. Not what I was expecting at all. Not sure which barrel this was aged in...probably a wine one, but it was not pleasing at all. Maybe I caught a bad bottle?

Mouthfeel was fine. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Overall, not worth the price on this one.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 18:28:07 | More by baseball1976

nkeckhar

New York

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

2011 Vintage

A: Pitch black, very little head..marked consistency

S: Vanilla, bourbon, roasty, chocolate

T: Taste change distinctly throughout the tasting. I got a sweetness with vanilla and coffee to start with little to no alcohol then after warming I got more of the barrel and alcohol. It kept a great balance throughout

M: Thick body - really great

O: I think the mouthfeel and the balance set this one apart for me...definitely worth the $15-$17 price tag.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 17:05:44 | More by nkeckhar

vic21234

Illinois

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

2012 Vintage bomber poured into a snifter. Allowed to sit at room temperature from the fridge for about twenty minutes before serving.

A- Pours pitch black with about a half finger's worth of a khaki colored head that quickly fades. Lots of sticky lacing along the sides of the glass.

S- Lots going on in the smell. I get notes of coffee, chocolate, vanilla and maybe some dark fruits. The presence of alcohol is also on the backend of the smell.

T- Tastes much like the smell. Up front I seem to get some vanilla and coffee notes more than anything. The woody-oak flavor is apparent from the barrels. This drinks rather hot in my opinion. Not a bad thing, as I taste some bourbon-type notes in there which I like.

M- Heavy, little to no carbonation. Drinks hotter as the beer warms. Real nice sipper or dessert beer.

This is my first time I've had the pleasure of getting my hands on Parabola. I was able to snag 2 bottles. The other bottle will sit in my basement for a year to see how this one does with some age. While many people say this one doesn't feel like 12.5% ABV, I think it does (which is fine with me.) Overall this was a a great beer and I'm glad I got to try it finally.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2012 02:02:22 | More by vic21234

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

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

Bottle from Rutager, 650ml into a tulip. Bottled March 14, 2012. Killer!

Black body, with a bubbly light brown head. Mild retention. Nose of oak, whiskey, chocolate and molasses. Sweet and completely balanced. Taste has more oak, vanilla, whiskey, lightly roasted malts, sweet molasses and chocolate. Quite thick in feel, no alcohol and super smooth. Not super complex, but an extremely well crafted BA'd stout.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 15:40:43 | More by liamt07

homebrewhawk

Kansas

3.83/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2012 vintage. 22oz. bottle served in a snifter. Poured a deep brown/black with a thin tan head. Chocolate, vanilla and a little alcohol in the aroma. Full bodied and rich. More chocolate and roasted barley in the flavor. I found this to be a little hot. Really long dry malty finish. I expected more barrel, but it was nicely balanced. Would have benefited from some age.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 00:57:47 | More by homebrewhawk

bum732

Maryland

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

S: Rich cake batter, chocolate with an undercurrent of oak and bourbon, bready and yeasty.

L: Thick black with a creamy tan head that dissipates slightly. Good lacing.

T: Very rich, bready malt with a prominent chocolate note. Medium low bitterness with some bourbon oak following closely. Some roastiness follows with slight alcohol burn. Finishes slightly dry.

M: Creamy body, alcohol slightly detectable.

Just an awesome beer, Firestone has this ability to balance every single component in a beer, this is no exception. One of the best bourbon oaked aged beers i've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 01:16:13 | More by bum732

Rinkor16

California

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

Batch 3 opened on 7/3/712 with a buddy.

A: Pitch black with a little head around the rim. Very little lacing.

S: Roasty malt. Chocolate and vanilla. No bourbon surprisingly...

T: Tons of chocolate, coffee, vanilla and roasted malt. Then a slight alcohol finish. A little bourbon in the background. Much less than I thought there would be. I expected a lot more bourbon... I'm not disappointed though.

M: Smooth. I think it's a little low on carbonation.

O: This is a great stout. I'm glad they produce a lot of it, it's very good. Definitely not my favorite stout, but it's up there for sure!

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 06:05:22 | More by Rinkor16

beergod1

Ohio

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

Pours a dark brown color with a small tan head. Faint spotty lacing. Aroma is lightly roasted malt and bourbon. Flavor is roasted malt, chocolate, vanilla, and oak/bourbon. Very nice. Alcohol is noticeable, but it is 13%. Finish is fairly smooth with no unpleasant lingering aftertaste. Medium to full body. A very good beer. But a sipper.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 00:17:57 | More by beergod1

thebornotaku

California

4.78/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2012 Vintage poured in to a Widmer tulip glass.

A - Pours dark, impenetrable black with a small, chocolate-colored head. Minimal lacing.

S - Oddly enough, in addition to the normal range of aromas (chocolate, caramel, toffee, etc), I pick off the aroma of soy sauce.

T - The nose carries forward in to the taste, big time. Bourbon, vanilla, caramel, chocolate, coffee are all very prevalent. Minor notes of cherry, oak, and a tiny bit of alcohol. It certainly doesn't lead on that it's 12.5%. Amazingly complex and smooth, not excessively sweet but definitely a dessert beer.

M - Smooth and creamy without being oily. It's not excessively creamy which is nice. Low, but present carbonation aids the beer without being overbearing. A slight warming sensation as it goes down hints at the alcohol content.

O - Very complex and very refined. And this one hasn't even been aged! This beer is fantastic as-is and doesn't need to wait to be enjoyed. I do plan on saving a bottle for another year or two and seeing how it pans out. Overall this beer is a phenomenal barrel-aged offering from the kings of barrel-aged beers. Firestone definitely hit the nail on the head with this one.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2012 05:26:24 | More by thebornotaku

B33R501

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Wow. Complex and delicious, huge beer, enjoyed this lazy hot and humid Sunday morning.

Midnight black, small chocolate head, low but enough carbonation to keep the beer flowing and drinkable. Aroma of chocolate, wood, lots of alcohol, very refined. The empty bottle aroma gets better, lots of butterscotch and vanilla.

Taste opens with big chocolate and very dark roast coffee that leads to very sweet dark cherry, lots of oak, wood. Barrel soaked rum, notes of brandy and red wine. The spirits effect of the barrel aging make this a most delicious treat, really doesn't try to hide the fact that this is loaded with alcohol, and I like that.

Another fantastic barrel aged beer. Easily makes the best of list, but it is getting hard to rank them all.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 14:22:28 | More by B33R501

sleuthdog

Illinois

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

2012 Vintage poured into tulip

Appearence: Pours a dark brown to almost black in color with about a one finger size head. The head is of a light brown color that dissapates quickly to leave some real nice lacing behind.

Smell: The smell is of a rather simple bourbon and vanilla with a slight alcohol. I do pick up on some possible chocolate and a sweetness like molasses with some faint roasted character. It is a pretty sweet smelling beer.

Taste: Upon initial taste I get the bourbon and vanilla followed by some of the sweetness and some faint chocolate. On the swallow I do notice a light hop character that really seems to tone down the sweetness and prevents this from being overly sweet. I must mention that the alcohol is fairly well hidden but at the same time noticeable. I do get some very, very slight alcohol burn but in no way unpleasant. A rather simple tasting beer but one that for that reason is easily enjoyed!

Mouthfeel: This beer is surprisingly smooth. I was expecting this to be "hot" and not as creamy as it is. The carbonation is pleasing and the body very enjoyable too. It's silky smooth in my mouth and not too viscous but like I said befor very creamy and smooth. Excellent feel!

Overall: Just a very enjoyable experience with this one. Not overy complicated but a rather straight forward beer that is a sipping pleasure. I'm interested what some time would do to this but it is so good fresh I don't know if time would do this one good.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 01:46:15 | More by sleuthdog

Onenote81

North Carolina

4.28/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Vintage 2012. Thanks to ferillo for sending me this bottle!

Poured into a chalice. This beer pours a tinge lighter than black. An inch worth of mocha head rests atop. Light lace left behind. The nose is sweet with vanilla, maple, gingerbread, chocolate, oak. The bourbon isn't as strong in the nose as I'd expected.

Moderate mouthfeel, with decent carbonation presence. Slight oily feel on the back end, but drinks nicely. Chocolate, coffee, vanilla. Again, the bourbon is underplayed, but its subtlety is what I like about this. Rounds out a nice roasted brew, giving a welcome sweet balance. I usually like to split my bombers with someone, but this one was a treat to drink on my own. Loved it.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 18:25:30 | More by Onenote81

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