Parabola - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

jokemon

Illinois

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

I had this beer at Dukes Alehouse in crystal lake IL. I shared it with some friends as the beer is rare and expensive.

Pours a deep black like all other RIS of this style. You probably couldn't shine a spotlight through it. There was also minimal head in the pour, but there was some decent carbonation.

Smell is chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate.

Taste is also of ... surprise chocolate! I was a little worried it would be a chocolate bomb but it was actually balanced pretty nicely.

Overall this is a fantastic beer, on par with bourbon county stout .

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 22:58:53 | More by jokemon

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

larryi86

Delaware

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

22 oz bottle, 2012, poured into a tulip

A- Black with a three finger mocha head.

S- Dark chocolate, oak, roasted malts, some coffee, some licorice.

T- Dark chocolate, coffee, bourbon, charred oak, some tobacco, very rich.

M- Creamy, medium to full body, a kick of heat in the finish, but not too much heat.

O- A solid barrel aged worth the price. Bourbon is not overpowering. Hopefully next year it doesn't take so look to make it to Maryland.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 00:00:58 | More by larryi86

Tilley4

Tennessee

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

Big thanks toscreamforme for sending this brew my way...

My wife surprised me Saturday night with a surprise birthday party and I decided to splurge a little. I've been holding on to this for a special occasion and I'd say a surprise 40th birthday party fits the bill.

This glugged out beautifully into my CBS snifter... thick and black with a slow creamy mocha head... coats the glass with each swirl... perhaps a little ruby going on as well? Excellent looking...

First whiff sends a shot of bourbon and chocolate up my nose as the barrel makes itself evident early and often. Rich aromas of dark roasted coffee present as well as a slight anise aspect and perhaps something along the lines of raisins... very interesting ans unusual...

The sheer density and creaminess of this beer makes it a sipper almost immediately... Loaded with flavors of chocolate, coffee, bourbon, and a healthy dose of licorice, this thing packs a punch as the flavors ride a thin ribbon of booze that carries it along very nicely. A delight to enjoy with friends by the bonfire on a chilly late September evening for sure...

A very well done brew by FW here...

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 15:10:39 | More by Tilley4

Titans77

Maryland

4.9/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2012 Bottle, No ageing.

Appearance - Pitch black pour with a finger of khaki head that dissipated pretty quickly. Some alcohol legs present with light carbonation shown ringing around at the top of the glass. B-e-a-utiful brew!

Smell - Dark, dank fruits with dark chocolate notes right upfront. Some alcohol notes present themselves along with slight coffee and licorice in the backdrop. Very appealing to nose.

Taste - WOW. It tastes just like it smells, but on another level. Dark fruits and dark chocolate are BIG. Coffee, licorice and even a slight tobacco taste in the background. The fact that no alcohol taste is present at 13% is just insane. What every Russian Imperial Stout wants to be, but only Parabola is.

Mouthfeel - Coats the mouth with a thick blanket of the best taste any Russian Imperial Stout can produce. Full bodied, very, very light carbonation, and a smooth finish that is just unrivaled. Very slight alcohol warm as it travels down the throat, which is still alarming at 13%. If they didn't give the numbers, and I wasn't feeling the effects after 22oz, I would estimate it to be an 8% abv brew. Quite the feat.

Overall - My current favorite beer. Period. World class doesn't even begin to describe it! The one Russian Imperial Stout that I haven't had, but was informed that it rivals it, and might even be better than it, is Cigar City's Marshal Zhukov RIS. Might have to give it a shot sometime. Until then, Parabola is as good as it get in the Stout category. If you can get it, buy two. One to drink fresh, one to age. My favorite stout, my favorite beer.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 19:03:51 | More by Titans77

PancakeMcWaffles

Germany

4.88/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: Dark hazy brown, brown head, head disappears fast, almost no lacing, leaves an oily film in the glass;

S: Strong malts, a lot of vanilla and bourbon aromas, chocolatey roasty aromas, a little bit of alcohol;

T: Starts sweet and malty, has a coffee flavour, hints of caramel, strong vanilla , only very little bourbon , chocolate, not much of a hop flavour, strong alcohol yet very well packaged , the "alcohol burn" in the finish is really smooth;

M: Really thick and creamy mouthfeel, quite low carbonation, very appealing;

O: Very nice RIS, very drinkable for the high alcohol, nice flavour composition, not too much bourbon, a very well balanced Barrel Aged RIS.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 18:37:20 | More by PancakeMcWaffles

beerhan

Ohio

4.73/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

2012 Vintage-22oz bomber to myself.
I am finally getting around to reviewing this and will preface by stating that I think this may be the best vintage yet for Parabola.

A-Jet black, thin light brown lacing that remains after a one finger head lingers for a minute. I would not expect anything less.

S-Dark chocolate, figs and grain. Not a very aromatic beer in my opinion.

T-Lots of bourbon up front but not overpowering. Very mellow woody notes followed by an intense dark chocolate, cocoa, and caramel onslaught.

M-Very smooth and without a burn. Oily and sticky with a syrupy feel that hides the alcohol.

O-Truly one of the best big stouts out there. A little more vicious and less balanced than others but delivers a high abv punch that is hidden rather well. The carbonation was dead on this year whereas last year I found it to be a bit high.

My one complaint, I have to say this about a lot of bigger beers in large format bottles, it would be nice if they took the route of making this in smaller bottles. It is a fantastic beer but I can't always find someone to share the bottle with especially during the week. It is a heavenly elixir but a big beer so be ready for it.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 03:27:40 | More by beerhan

match1112

Illinois

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

a: pitch black, thin brown head quickly fades to nothing, no lacing left behind just an oily appearance on the inside of the glass.

s: bourbon, chocolate, vanilla, figs (or other dark fruit, can't really tell), a little maple syrup and tobacco.

t: like drinking a glass of really good bourbon while enjoying a slice of thick rich chocolate cake and a very vanilla forward cigar.

m: thick, oily, alochol burn, sweet and dry.

o: simply the best bourbon r.i.s. out there.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 16:21:26 | More by match1112

groovejackson

Arizona

3.3/5  rDev -28.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - What you would expect....complete black...looks good!

Smell - Not overpowering....some currents...some toffee.

Taste - The first and lasting impression is twizzlers. You could think of it as wine but It's a bit medicinal...not in a good way. Alcohol is nicely hidden. I do taste some vanilla and wood as well.

Mouthfeel - nice and smooth....luxurious.

Overal - I was so excited about this one but I have to say I'm disappointed. The synthetic fruit is overpowering and I think it is just not my cup of tea. I really prefer a more cocoa and coffee profile in my Imperial Stouts. I'm glad I tried it but I don't think I'll be getting it again.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 07:42:10 | More by groovejackson

bamadog

Kentucky

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

I've been sitting on this one for just over 2 years, and I'm really excited to crack it. Review is from notes taken on 9/15/2012 and poured from the bottle (2010 batch) to a snifter.

Appearance: Pours exactly as I would hope and expect - it looks thick, viscous, a little goopy; body is of course nearly black and it starts with a short 1/4 finger, dark brown head that fades quickly to nothing than a fairly thin circle at the surface along with a thin, wispy skim; thick and opaque, there's no chance light is sneaking through this one; can't get a read on any kind of carbonation, so the thin head is my only tell so far...;

Smell: Again, pretty much exactly what I would hope for and expect - plenty of big, rich, sweet syrupy malts; some vanilla and some sweet cherry; touch of earthy roastiness, but really more on the sweeter side of the stout world; no sense of alcohol in the nose, so that's a little scary since it's a 13% beer... it must be well masked.

Taste: Wow. This is a fantastic beer. Easily a top 5 stout for me. Lots of the sweet chocolates up front, but I'm surprised by a strong presence of bitter, roast espresso grounds blending in with it; the bitterness overpowers a bit and it hides the vanilla, largely, which is a bit of a shame, but it's early in the beer and it might make more of an appearance later; definite presence of alcohol in the mouth, especially at the back of it -- really, I would have to say it's a bit like a jamocha shake from Arby's with bourbon in it. Pretty excellent.

Mouthfeel: Body is heavy, thick, viscous and a little syrupy; carbonation struggles through the heavy body, but it is there, keeping it soft, smooth and almost velvety; a thick, sticky coating is left all over the palate and the teeth are left with a gritty film as well; belly is left quite warm from the alcohol. I love a beer that makes its presence known.

Overall: This beer has just about everything going for it -- looks good, smells better, tastes great, thick and chewy body... what else could you want? This is a great beer for dessert, wouldn't want to drink too much on a full stomach though. The alcohol and weight will indeed slow you down a bit.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 01:07:01 | More by bamadog

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

thatruth

Washington

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

24oz bottle poured into a Ninkaski pint glass. Pours a liquorice black into glass. Absolutely opaque color underlines a dark mocha head. The head pours fat but dissipates quickly with cappuccino tan slippery lacing.

Smells strong of alcohol, the 12.5% is more than obvious here. Robust cherries and figs with overtones of purple grapes. Hints of liquorice are present, as well.

Taste is damn nutty and malty. Chocolate and a mellow fruit, slight liquorice type flavor is all that really comes to mind.

Initially flat on the tongue, the taste rounds out on the back of the throat. Alcohol reverberates throughout the mouth while a cream-like feel touches off the finish.

I've been waiting to open this bottle for a year now. I had planned on keeping it longer, but I've never been one for patience. Opening it when I moved a month ago was the idea, to christen the new house, and although that never came to fruition, temptation proved too volatile tonight. An $18 bottle I bought from Seattle last summer that I've seen for $15 here in Bellingham, needless to say I've had better. You're buying for nomenclature and exclusivity here. While it is a tasty brew, I've had twice as good beers for half the price. Unless you're buying for a wedding or dinner party, or just to impress a lady, stick with something else to fulfill your exotic craft or review-based needs.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 03:34:04 | More by thatruth

fiver29

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle shared by Eric. I've had this a couple times. Pours thick reddish muddy color with thin head. Aroma is wood, booze, sweet caramel, sherry, vanilla, and a touch of brown sugar. Heavy mouthfeel. Flavor follow the nose exactly. Has the booze and vanilla upfront, the caramel in the middle and finishes with a touch of sherry. A great beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 15:30:18 | More by fiver29

tarheels86

California

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

651mL 2011 ed. Pours a clear mahogany with a gigantic, sheen, coffee brown head. Very nice retention; little lace. Nose is obviously bourbon barrel but soft and well integrated: coffee, baker’s chocolate, present bourbon "heat" and alcohol but not overpowering, As it opens up the nose gains some rich "meat" and "fat". Very nice. Taste up front is very silky with evident oats, spicy cedar, evident wood, very bitter dark chocolate, spicy bourbon. Gets a little ashy and very bitter on the palate. 6/11/2011 8/4/7/4/15=3.8

651mL 2011 ed. Having this beer for the fourth or fifth time. Parabola is really growing on me and having this alongside other Imperial Stouts, you can really appreciate Parabola’s immensely silky palate, rich marshmallow and s’mores character. Lots of coffee cake and dessert richness/softness. What a beautiful beer. Upping the score. 9/15/2011 8/4/8/5/16=4.1

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 19:02:22 | More by tarheels86

ElSid

California

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

The Beers of California

#7

Freshness Date: None

Reserve Series No. 003

A: Poured into a snifter. This brew is pitch black with a khaki head which fades to a faint rim.

S: Bourbon alcohol with complimenting aromoas of tobacco, chocolate, espresso, oak and dark fruits.

T: The flavors at first match the nose: tobacco, chocolate, oak and espresso. Then comes raisins, plums, cherry, vanilla, marshmallows, and smoke. All these complex elements are brought together by dark bread and smooth oat creaminess. Moderate warming bourbonesque alcohol and leafy bitterness throughout.

M: Moderate chewy mouthfeel with light carbonation. Creamy smoothness and good warming alcohol.

O: Stumbled upon this gem at the local BevMo. Aged 12 months in oak barrels, this beautiful brew is the product of patient and knowledgeable hands. A complex, flavorful imperial stout that is both a joy and a honor to imbibe.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 03:51:33 | More by ElSid

juliusseizure

New York

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

2012 bottle, in Breckenridge Vanilla Porter Goblet at room temperature

A: dark, opaque, no light passing through, quarter inch head

S: chocolate, coconut, bourbon with hints of alcohol you would expect with a 12.5% ABV beer

T: chocolate, molasses, figs, dry fruits, strong bourbon

M: thin, velvety, smooth, coats the mouth

O: A wonderful sipping imperial stout with strong bourbon notes, prominent coconut profile, subtle chocolate taste and barely any alcohol flavor for the ABV

LookIng forward to see how this one ages

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 04:54:42 | More by juliusseizure

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

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

Firestone Walker Parabola Barrel aged Imperial Stout 2011.
Russian Imperial Stout. Reserve Series No. 002. OG 29.5 P, IBU 82, Cases 3000, 12 months aged in barrel, British ale yeast, 167 srm. Alc. 12.5% ABV.

Solid black, under a rich brown, cocoa head. Looks fantastic, that is to say, magnificent, or, so to speak, amazing.

Aroma: dense as can be. Molasses, chocolate, espresso, dark rum, …and let us not forget alcohol. Thick, rich, huge, …massive, really.

Taste: vast, voluminous, enormous, …thick, rich, malty, dark chocolate, coffee, dark fruit. high alcohol, but just shy of what we call "hot". Dense and dangerous. Viscous and vicious. We could keep this up all day, I suppose. I can crack open the thesaurus and round up the usual suspects. In short, it's as big and overblown as the best of them.

So huge, I couldn't finish it. Chose to drink it after a night of drinking other beers, and didn't have the capacity for taking the whole bomber down, after those initial notes. I capped the remains and finished it off last night, no worse the wear. Well, a little worse. Didn't hurt it that much though.

A magnificent achievement in the style, worthy of speaking of in the same breath as the previous champions.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 08:56:09 | More by feloniousmonk

snatch210

North Carolina

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

2012 vintage, poured into a duvel glass.

a: pours pitch-black, with a tan head & a lovely bit of lace that disappears almost entirely.

s: heavy oak notes, which makes quite a bit of sense. vanilla. chocolate. licorice.

t: very sweet up front. the vanilla is intensely prominent, as are the chocolate and the oak. the back end is more roast-y, with a bit of hop bite -- which, combined w/ the bourbon undertones, almost gives it the kick of a rye whiskey. this is a very good thing.

m: buttery, oaky, creamy, about what you'd expect.

o: complex. lot going on here. wish i'd gotten a second one to let it mellow out, because (personal preference here, and i know i'm drinking a 12.5% RIS) it'd likely be even nicer, but quite good as is.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 02:24:21 | More by snatch210

GameFreac

Georgia

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

2012 vintage shared with a friend who got it for me in Virginia a few months back. Thanks Mark.

Appearance: Pours a Midnight black like you'd expect from a huge RIS.

Smell: Smells of Barbecue smoke, vanilla, bourbon, coconut, slight chocolate, and slight alcohol.

Taste - Taste mirrors the nose with charred chocolate and more smokey bourbon - delicious. You get a little bit of alcohol but it's not overpowering at all and works.

Mouthfeel: Thick mouthfeel like you'd expect.

Overall: One of the best beers I've ever had. Kind of reminds me of Yazoo Sue, without the cherry flavors, but I haven't had many barrel aged beers so I don't really know what to compare it to.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 22:44:16 | More by GameFreac

Uncle_Jimmy

California

3.98/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A- Poured aggressively into a brandy glass from a bottle. Thin Tan head that disappears quickly. Unlike Lt. Dan, this beers got Legs!

S-a little alcohol, bread molasses and toffee. Despite the appearance no coffee smell.

T- dark chocolate, toffee, carmel, Vanilla with an alcoholic maybe rummy bite and some bitterness on the back end. I can understand why some people lay this one down for a while. I also see why they use it for a blend at firestone. It would be great if that burn mellowed.

M-as if you stuffed a satin sheet in you mouth. smooth lingering viscous the alcohol is apparent.

O- well I used my 2nd wedding anniversary to give this beer a try. I had been told if i had two bottles to try one now and to cellar the other. Like my marriage this beer has unlimited potential for improvement, is smooth and mellow (Ha with alcoholic undertones), takes two committed persons to enjoy, and Is versatile enough to blend well with others. But, I think ultimately its will reach its full potential over time!

I don't know how they serve it but I know I cant drink a whole bottle myself. I wouldn't necessarily order another, That doesn't mean i didn't enjoy it. But I have been enjoying the double DBA a little more!

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 04:51:35 | More by Uncle_Jimmy

PeterIngemi

Massachusetts

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

Poured from a 22oz bottle of the 2012 vintage, into a duvel glass.

A: Pours a dark dark black that is only slightly deep brown when held to the light along the very tip top... About half a finger of coffe colored head that dissapates quickly and leavs some lIght spots of lacing.

S: deep dark chocolate, oak, delicious toasty vanilla, burbon, caramel, toffee, the aroma here is ridiculous, I could smell this all day...

T: much like the nose, except even more delicious, oak, dark chocoalate and loads of barrel and burbon character. Serious toasty vanilla notes, along with dark cherry and toffe, the oatmeal comes into play as the brew warms mingling wonderfully with the oak.... So well blended an well rounded... Delicious.

M; nice heavy full mouthfeel, creamy with a nice carbonation for the style... Nice and dry

O: wow... One of my favorites from these guys and one Of my favorite barrel aged releases period.... This is an awesome barrel aged stout... Hard to beat this one.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 05:29:08 | More by PeterIngemi

ediaz

Florida

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

Bottle into Snifter vintage 2012. Thanks to DovaliHops for the bottle from a recent trade.

A: pours brown from bottle and appears midnight black in the glass. Medium density head 1-finger of light cream color. Head dissipates to a thin ring hugging the border of beer and glass with small spots of lacing.

S: malt, milk chocolate, bourbon, wood, vanilla.

T: smooth milk chocolate, whiskey, sweet cherries, vanilla, oak

M: thick with a smooth and oily texture, mild carbonation. For the style, it's exactly what I want.

O: what a big beer. I secured this on the back end of working on a trade and it is fantastic. I will actively seek this out again soon and would recommend it highly.

Note: I would have given both the taste and overall a 4.75

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2012 04:10:55 | More by ediaz

jlenik

New Jersey

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

22oz bomber (2012) poured into DFH snifter

a: almost a fingers worth of medium tan head. faded quickly.

s: bourbon first and foremost, followed by dark chocolate bitterness and lots of malty biscuity sweetness.

t: lots of bourbon, lots of alcohol, lots of vanilla and tons of oak. there's a good bit of sweetness but it isn't overwhelming. lot's of dark chocolate notes too. this beer has a lot going on.

m: smooth, a bit creamy, a tad heavy but minimal on the alcohol notes even though this hasn't been aging a whole long time.

o: I really liked Parabola. Overall I prefer this over the Sucaba and XV.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 23:47:27 | More by jlenik

chanokokoro

Illinois

4.73/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 vintage 22 oz. bottle fairly aggressively poured into Firestone Walker Proprietors Reserve snifters

Pours a viscous motor oil black with a one and a half finger tan head. Huge aroma of oak, bourbon, and roasted malt. Bourbon, vanilla, and oak with hints of chocolate joined by the dense flavor of black cherries, hints of plums, and rich fig. Finishes with bold espresso notes and roastiness and a comfortable alchohol warmth. Full bodied, smooth, and even a bit of creaminess. Incredibly complex and without a doubt one of the finest barrel aged Russian Imperial Stouts available.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 04:15:37 | More by chanokokoro

ngeunit1

California

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

A - Pours a very dark brown-black with a half-finger of frothy chocolate colored head. The head fades down fairly quickly leaving behind some lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of roasted chocolate malts, dark fruits, vanilla, toasted coconut, oak, Bourbon, and a bit of booze.

T - Starts off with dark chocolate and roasted malts with vanilla and some dark fruits. Through the middle, the Bourbon and oak comes through with some toasted coconut and molasses. The finish is a mix of dark chocolate, molasses, tobacco, vanilla, oak, Bourbon, and dark fruit with a bit of booze.

M - Medium-full bodied with light carbonation. Feels smooth and a bit creamy with a sweet and warming finish.

D - Very drinkable. Amazingly smooth for how big and bold the flavors are. The balance is really spot on and the Bourbon comes through really nicely.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 04:02:14 | More by ngeunit1