Parabola - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

Gosox8787

New Hampshire

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

Presentation: 22 oz bomber bottle courtesy of Garron. Big thanks for getting me a huge want for a long time. Served a little under room temperature and allowed to warm while drinking.

Appearance: Midnight black in color with a nice, one finger mocha head. Surprisiningly good retention considering teh high alcohol content here.

Aroma: Some nice layered bourbo, baker's fudge, and vanilla all pull together nicely. Some licorice and tobacoo notes are also there and round out the aroma nicely. Complex but still maintaining exquisite balance.

Taste: The notes from the aroma really come together perfectly here. Bourobn, fudge, and vanilla really are the main flavors and each are strong but not overpower each other. I get some licorice, espresso, and a hop leaf earthiness in the background that round out what could be an overally sweet beer and bring it into perfect balance.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied and velvety smooth. I alo think they really nailed the carbonation on this. Just enough to compliment the smoothness and make it perfect to sip.

Drinkability: Even at 13% ABV, I really did not find it hard to finish a bottle by myself. Perfect to sit back and enjoy by yourself or share with friends. I'm so glad I got to try this.

Overall, this is either number one or two for me in terms of barrel aged stouts (with Bourbon County regular) that I've had. The balance is absoutely unbelievable and the parts are perfectly integrated. Definitely something I recommend anything to try.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2011 18:03:34 | More by Gosox8787

pumptrick

California

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

Poured hard into my Reidel snifter which rendered a beautiful 2 finger head.

A- Pitch black with a wonderful brown head

S- Bourbon smoke vanilla chocalate and fruit

T- Bourbon roast barly vanilla booze and some dark fruit with the booze lingering

M- all over coater and lingerer if thats a word. this thing hangs on for minutes

O- outstanding overall but would love for the price to be more along the lines of stone brews. That being said I bought several and will enjoy every sip.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2011 01:01:02 | More by pumptrick

projectflam86

Ohio

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

Got this thru a trade with youradhere. Thanks buddy, I owe you one!

22oz bomber poured into a snifter.

A- Pours a jet black color with a medium creamy brown head that leaves nice lacing. I can't make out any light coming through even on the edges of the glass. This baby is dark.

S- Bitter dark cocoa and plenty of bourbon and red wine barrels in the nose. I don't think I've ever picked up as much 'barrel' quality from the nose before but this certainly makes its presence known.

T- Wow, now I know where the hype has come from. Right off the bat there are rich creamy milk chocolate flavors with a nice smooth bourbon note that lingers on for quite a while. Some very sweet hints of vanilla and oak are noticeable as well and add another level of complexity to the flavor profile. I must admit that I am a fan of Barrel Aged Stouts but they are easy to overdo. However, this beer melds all of those distinct flavors together without having any singular flavor overpower another. Really really tasty.

M- Velvety smooth mouthfeel. Creamy and thick with just the right amount of carbonation.

O- Truly an outstanding beer. Unfortunately this isn't something that distributes in our area which is a shame. But maybe it's for the best...I imagine I'd go broke quickly spending $20 each time I wanted one of these (which would be often)! A wonderful beer and I'm glad I got the chance to try it.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2011 22:24:08 | More by projectflam86

Burt

Rhode Island

4.9/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Served in a tulip glass.

Black with a thick brown head (darkest that I have ever seen) that dispersed slowly and left a lacing on the glass.

Coffee and chocolate with a little hint vanilla and alcohol.

Dark caramel sweetness at first then it becomes dark chocolate and coffee in the middle. Light vanilla and alcohol at the end, finish is thick and oily on the tongue.

This is an exceptional beer. With it being 12.5% the alcohol could barely be detected. There are not that many beers that make sit back and go wow, this is one of them. Believe the hype.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2011 10:58:59 | More by Burt

d4114

California

4.9/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A- On pour a very dark red, in glass pitch black. Finger of tan to brown head. Pretty big alcohol feet on this one.

S- Really excellent; Getting big vanilla and oak. Chocolate comes through pretty strong and has a sweetness to it which is perfect for everything going on. Alcohol is in the background just a bit.

T- Wow really complex, so much going on it's hard to describe. Big vanilla, oak, chocolate, coffee and almost a milkiness to it. Also does have some dark fruit notes but just really amazing flavor.

M- Full body and some; You feel the 12.5% and the amount of malt that is used. I would think the flavor of this beer would make it a sipper but it's really the mouthfeel, never had a beer this full and thick before.

O- The most complex and best beer I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 00:58:51 | More by d4114

goosewhisperer

Colorado

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

Batch 3 2012 bottle, fresh.

a-pours a deep black with a two finger head that leaves some lacing down the New Belgium globe glass. Just how this type of beer should look,

s-chocolate, coffee, bourbon, oak, vanilla and a little alcohol. Beautiful nose on this beer.

t-follows the nose. This beer is a child of the bourbon barrel. There is a lot of great roasted malts in the form of the chocolate, coffee, oak and bourbon. This beer has a lot of complexity to it, and opens up as you let it breathe. EXCELLENT.

m-creamy, and rich. Heavy on the palate, and lingers there for a while.

o-I cannot say enough about this beer. This is hands down my most anticipated beer release of the year. This beer continues to impress me. Excited to age some of this over the next year or so.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 02:53:46 | More by goosewhisperer

denver10

Colorado

4.9/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours black with a thumbs width mocha head that quickly recedes, what remains sticks to the edges. Nice lacing. A sharp rich and woody aroma. roasted barley, bourbon, chocolate, coffee, coconut. The flavor blew me away, so good and so balanced. Woody, bourbon, roasted barley, milk chocolate, molasses, coconut, and a touch of coffeee. The flow of flavors into one another is ridiculously awesome. Noticeable, but the alcohol blends in quite well. A nice creamy and silky mouthfeel. Overall, yeah I loved this beer. So dangerous though, should be a sipper but so tasty and smooth that I just want to devour it!

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 00:26:04 | More by denver10

bcostner1

Tennessee

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

2012 Vintage. Poured into a tulip glass.

A: Going from the bottle into the glass, this beer actually appears to be a very deep, dark, rich garnet/ruby mahogany as opposed to the sheer pitch blackness you see in a lot of imperial stouts. Beautiful pour.

S: Bourbon, vanilla, dark rich fruits, malty sweetness. Intoxicating.

T: Blows me away. Absolutely, ridiculously delicious. The perfect melange of bourbon, vanilla, chocolate, caramel, molasses, figs, dates, dark raisins, and malt all woven together by the woody undertones. Seriously, this is one of the best tasting beers I have ever had. I think I will probably pick up different nuances in this beer each time I have it. It's very complex.

M: Perfect. This stuff is silky smooth, rich, creamy and dangerously drinkable. Probably one of the smoothest brews I have ever had. If this is really 12.5% ABV, I really can't find it anywhere.

I can see now why this beer gets so much hype. It deserves every bit of it and more. It is phenomenally crafted and I am grateful to have finally been able to try it (and glad I have a few more). I would drink/buy this at every opportunity and recommend that anyone else who loves world class barrel aged stouts to do the same. Simply amazing.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 22:25:06 | More by bcostner1

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

mjw1200

Ohio

4.9/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This beer is one of the best beers I have ever tasted. the perfectly right amount of booze enhances an impressively crafted stout. Outside of eclipse 20 yr Elijah Craig aged stout I can't think of anything better. Only slight slight draw back is I would have liked some more thickness

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 23:27:28 | More by mjw1200

sirtomtom

California

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

Review of the 2013 Vintage

A: Pours a jet black, with a thin head that dissipates almost immediately. Holding up to the light, a faint ruby light emanates from the beer.

S: Chocolate, coffee, dark sticky fruit and quite a bit of booze.

T: Like a chocolate covered coffee candy. The booze present in the nose is not present in the taste.

M: A wonderful thick body, just thin enough to make it easily drinkable.

O: An amazing vintage, a perfect marriage of flavors and barrel aging. Ignore the comments on that it's too hot, it's perfect.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 19:11:43 | More by sirtomtom

mikesgroove

South Carolina

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

Can this beer live up to the hype, I have a lot of expectations on it to be honest. I have been staring at it on my wants list for 3 years, dying to get a taste, but with no luck. Then they bottle it and I go into full on rage mode to get some. A kind BA sent me a bottle and I am in heaven. My son graduated yesterday, what better way to celebrate I could not think of one.

Served chilled and poured into a snifter, this one was consumed on 05/26/2010.

Deep and dark, black as night this one poured with a tremendous fury. Evil looking and thick as oil it came at me . Small two finger head settled down and coated the sides with sticky chocolate colored lacing that let me know I was in for it.

As I reach in and take a whiff it hits me like a ton of bricks. Deep aroma of roasted malts, huge bourbon notes , vanilla, molasses, tons of rich oak and lots of sugary and boozy touches. Hard to explain, just soo complex I dont know where to begin. Warming just confuses me more as the profile seems neverending. Each sip is like liquid god for me. Deep roasted notes, coffee, light licorice, bourbon, boozy flavor that seems to dominate early on but fade as it starts to warm. Vanilla, and oak, chocolate, rich decadent notes of toffee and never ending complexity welcome me and wont let me go. Smooth carbonation, full, complex body, delicous, perfect nightcap.

Overall everything I wanted it to be and then some. One of the best BA beers I have ever had. It works on every level possible. So worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2010 01:15:15 | More by mikesgroove

melliott2811

Arizona

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

Firestone Walker Parabola Barrel Aged Imperial Stout 2010

"This particular lot was aged in a combination of barrels for 9 months. . .Chocolate, charred oak, vanilla, dark cherry and coffee are just some of the complex aromas and flavors you will find in this beer."

Had this beer on two occasions: 22oz bottle poured into specialty glass (almost a snifter) & 22 oz bottle poured into pint glass

A: This beer is beautifully packaged and pours like a dream. Bomber comes in a box that provides a venue to describe the beer in detail and makes you feel like a kid on Christmas. Pour is dark, very dark, with some head, but not enough to last you through you sampling. Not a big deal, your brain will be busy later with the flavors.

S: Coffee, vanilla and a nice aroma from the barrels used hit you first. Go back and take a second, third and fourth smell before you taste it. Complex and enticing.

T: This beer is 13%, and that comes out a little in the smell (those barrels again) but when you finally taste it, the broad swath of flavors overpower the alcohol taste. You still know you're drinking a strong beer, but the rich sweetness, coffee, chocolate & variety of barrel-aged flavors keeps your palette busy. Too bad I couldn't find enough to age one of these bad boys.

M: This is a beer you'll sip and smell and hold in your mouth for an hour or more. A pleasant experience on the tongue.

D: Wonderful beer for a relaxing afternoon/early evening. I'd be careful, hesitant even, pairing it with food. You won't want to miss out on or distract from the myriad flavors in this beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2010 15:29:05 | More by melliott2811

maximum12

Minnesota

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

Thanks to mrbubbler & my #1 West Coast dealer, cloudskipper, for two bottles of this much-anticipated brew. Firestone is one of two breweries (Founders being the other) that have magic in their barrels.

Pours lightless into a pair of stylin' Selin's Grove goblets; quick, still, & beautiful, as long as it's not spilled in the Gulf. The smell is what the urine of Hades might smell like: divine. Sweet, barrelly, insanely deep malts, coupling with some pretty chocolates.

The taste...Parabola doesn't disappoint. Hype? Screw hype, this is a great beer. Slap a BMC label on it & I'd buy it by the case. Honestly, I don't even know where to start describing the tastiness of this fire-breather. 93 varieties of malts, all complementing one another like a consultant at a convention? Check. Subtle, quiet, but powerful beads of bourbon coating my mouth like WD-40? Check. Blended chocolate, dry oakiness, vanilla, check. But the English language doesn't do it justice, nor would Spanish, or French. As with any superior beer, or puzzle, or good relationship, it's the way the pieces fit together that really matters. And this is a masterpiece.

And also the rare barrel-aged beer where my first, questing sip turned into a long swallow, & I consciously had to remove my lips from glass. A serious beer, but not heavy or cloying, & the barrel aging sets up & plays off everything else.

Masterpiece. So glad I have one more bottle, & I might need another to age down the road. Though I might need to bury this one to keep from having the other bottle tomorrow night.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2010 02:35:11 | More by maximum12

BillHilly

Washington

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

A: Super black, 1 finger pour, excellent retention for such a high abv.

S: Malt, Vanilla, Cocoa, caramel

T: Dark chocolate, vanilla, bourbon, plum, molasses

M: Perfect carbonation for this style, extremely smooth.

D: Incredible stout..one of the best of this style by far. I was trying to get more for weeks after initially tasting. It's a must have.

2010 vintage in a Duvel tulip.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2011 06:28:09 | More by BillHilly

DCon

Missouri

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

Enjoyed on-tap @ the iTap House in Chesterfield, MO for $7. This was served during the Parabola event which was a huge success! Tapped from the Parabola Tap Handle into a 12oz Snifter glass and enjoyed over a good period of time.

Aroma- Starts off with a huge bourbon and vanilla aroma. Tons of roasted malts used, a hint of espresso, and strong. Perfect for the style! No flaws at all.

Appearance- Received with 1 finger of bubbly and dark brown head. It has an extremely dark brown body (almost black but can see brown in the light), Opaque, and lace is left all across the sides.

Flavor- Has an aged bourbon whiskey start and almost an oaken barrel of chocolate mousse. The finish has a warm feeling and notes of Merlot. Very rich, nice malts used (once again), and complexed beyond belief! Could grab more attributes but enjoyed too much to think about all of them.

Mouthfeel- Full Bodied, Thick as Motor Oil, Chewy, and actually leaves Spice behind on the palate with a hint of bourbon. Not sure what to think of this!

Overall Impression- Intense! This guy has some serious complexity and one of my favorite beers of the month! I bought 2 bottles of this from Lukas Liquor and am going to see how they age. Could/Would only want to enjoy one of these because of how strong it is. Had a nice buzz going after this beer. Will be promoting this beer!

Serving type: on-tap

06-22-2011 16:52:32 | More by DCon

cosmicevan

New York

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

love that firestone walker comes out to me.

a - a beer like this called for the big guns in glassware so i pulled out my southampton 2011 RIS oversized snifter for the job. opened the bottle and gave a generous pour...the beer is dark as halloween night with a nice rich shine. at first there was a thin deep brown head which quickly dissolved to spotty mocha bubbles. i don't usually expect to see a head on a barrel aged RIS but every now and again you get one. this one could be rebuilt on command with a swirl of the glass, but it never hung around long. also, love that this beer comes in a box with a wrapped cap...just adds to the specialness of it.

s - in a word deliciousness. a nice dark fruit booziness. wonderful balance. fruity and rummy and bourbony...dark cherries dominate the fruitiness, but there are certainly notes of chocolate and roasted malts. smell very rich, but spot on.

t - that's a BIG beer...and it has a HUGE flavor profile. dark cherries, coffee, roasted malt, chocolate and a variety of boozines. extremely well made and well balanced. heavy like a chunk of chocolate cake.

m - rich and full, the heat is in the flavor but not so much in a burn.

o - overall this is a top beer. this is a beer that you talk about. this is a beer that blew my mind. far and away worth the praise it receives.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2011 01:51:00 | More by cosmicevan

rfgetz

New Jersey

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

Pours a deep dark near-black with minimal cap of brown creamy head, gone quickly save for a ring around the edges and a pool in the middle. Scent is amazingly complex and as almost as important as the taste... Strong bourbon and cocoa notes, backed by ample vanilla, dark fruit, strong coffee grinds, roast and char throughout. Light touch of acidity, coconut and fresh cut wood. First sip is heavy on the bourbon but amazingly doesn't overpower. Strong dark Belgian chocolate, port wine and vanilla. Roasted grain and charred oak Espresso, berry and leather also noted. full bodied and smooth, lacking only a little creaminess, perfect carbonation. Amazingly fantastic beer. One I would love to partake in on a regular basis. Another great one from FW.

Update: Had on draft 8/1/11. While slightly superior in body and flavor, I can not justify submitting a second review that would barely raise the rating.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2011 17:10:14 | More by rfgetz

bld81

Missouri

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

On-tap served into a snifter:
A: Carefully set in front of me because the pour ends right at the edge of the glass. Clearly, the server was not expecting any head formation. Very dark appearance, like a rich cup of coffee, with small brown bubbles settling at the edges forming an incomplete ring.
S: Very impressive complex aromas of coffee, cocoa nibs, butterscotch and toffee, sweet chocolate, and finally bourbon, but not overpowering
T: Vanilla first (a surprise due to muted presence in the nose) and great chocolate and toffee flavors, slight alcohol burn, bourbon on the tongue, tobacco lingers and dries the palate
M: Creamy, coats well, leaves a dry finish, alcohol not overpowering, one could drink this faster than expected
O: Amazing beer, up there with the other highly regarded RIS, less roasted and coffee flavors than KBS, but the sweetness here is balanced well and makes this a must purchase

Serving type: on-tap

07-31-2011 15:10:15 | More by bld81

bogus564

New Jersey

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

650ml, poured into a pint glass.

Getting ready to enjoy some leftover ribs (they're the best) with this offering from Firestone Walker Brewing Company. It's getting to the right temperature, so here goes...

A: It's beautiful! It's a boy, Mrs. Walker, it's a boy (100 points to anyone who gets the reference)... Dark brown, caramel colored head, 2cm high, really lasts. I'm ready to dive in with my nose.

S: It smells of chocolate, coffee and alcohol at first. Behind it, there's a citrus hop note, orange, and the actual hop smell. I'm praying that this is as good as it tastes...

T: Oh. My. God. This is a tremendous stout! All the flavors that I smelled are confirmed, and with the power of the Dark Side. This is a Sith Lord of beer, and I could not be happier right now.

M: Spectacular. Not a rating I give out a lot. Medium-bodied, chewy, well-carbonated, sweet finish, glides over the palate smoothly. I'm duly impressed.

O: This is a tremendous beer. I only wish that my beer store had (a) bought more; and (b) allowed us to purchase more than one bottle. Outstanding with my leftover ribs. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2011 22:29:57 | More by bogus564

ehammond1

California

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

Bottle (2011)

Cardiff Seaside Market
Cardiff, CA

Dark as night black with a thin brown head. This beer looks shiny, oily, menacing, and splendid. Spotted lacing down the glass.

Incredible, complex, and perfect aroma. The rich bourbon, vanilla, and wood come flooding forward first, followed by sweet caramel and toffee, and an underlying yet powerful scent of freshly baked coconut macaroon cookies. As the beer warms, more and more layers open which include sweet, rich, sticky molasses, gingerbread, chocolate, and char. Simply phenomenal!

Rich bourbon flavors, including the oak barrel, earth, and vanilla are the initial invaders, followed by more and more coconut as the beer warms. Sweet caramel, toffee, molasses, and gingerbread are present, though the roast and chocolate and a mild bitterness keeps the rich dessert sweetness in line. A slight alcohol warmth and burn as this beer goes down adds to the overall flavor. Brilliant!

Medium to thick mouthfeel and a touch oily--absolutely coats the mouth.

A stellar beer. True perfection.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 21:49:14 | More by ehammond1

Mscarpen

Tennessee

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

22oz bottle via Best Damn Brew Shop in San Diego, CA.

This is one of the best examples of a barrel aged beer i have come across to date. I rank it up there with BCS Rare and Angels Share.

Appearance: Dark, dark black with just a think film of head and absolutely no lacing. Its beauty is apparent but no way indicative of what's to come.

Smell: Sweet, deep bourbon and caramel. Vanilla and butterscotch. Each notes evolves into deeper complexity as it warms. Smelling this beer soothes the heart while concurrently and quickening the pulse.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Everything the nose had to offer but with the backdrop of wood, toffee, deep body, and some complex hop notes. The dark syrup coats the pallet and helps you to remember and anticipate the next sip. Small bubbles help to keep the flavor evolving as you hold it in your mouth.

Overall: A top bourbon barrel beer with complex aromas and flavors. Just thinking of my experience with this beer makes me start to scheme as to how I can get more.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2011 16:07:27 | More by Mscarpen

schmoopsbeer

California

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

2011 vintage
poured into Bruery tulip

Color: This beer is a solid deep dark brown to almost black. A dime sized tan ring forms at top of this brew. A nice amount of lacing is left on the glass and the head retention is very limited.

Nose: Complex! At first sniff you get the vanilla in this beer followed by the coffee and beautiful bourbon aromas rising from the glass. There is also the smell of bitter dark chocolate and roasted malts, truly a great smelling brew. Gets better as it warms by the way.

Palate: Explosive and layered. This beer is extremely drinkable and the carbonation is spot on. As this beer hits your taste buds and sits on your tongue you realize how wonderfully crafted this beer is. The taste of vanilla and bourbon dance the tango in your mouth, its beautiful, yet rough and sophisticated. Then comes the coffee and with it brings tobacco and velvety bitter chocolate. All these textures are present and invited. This is the wow portion of this beer.

Finish: Warm, full bodied, and extremely complex. A wonderful example of the usage of barrels with stouts. Firestone keep up the good work, this beer is a gift to all beer lovers!

Rating: 97 out of 100

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 09:25:05 | More by schmoopsbeer

Crundy

Ohio

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

2011 Version batch 002

A: Very carbonated and fizzy, looks like a cola. mocha colored head. very dark

S: oak, bourbon, alcohol, dark roasted malt, vanilla notes, slight coffee notes

T: Bourbon flavor is prominent, chocolate, woody oaky flavor, sweet and dark roasted malt, very well balanced flavors. alcohol is there but you hardly notice it.

M: very creamy, smooth, thick and coats the mouth full bodied, dry on the finish

O: Wow was the first thing I said, wow this is a good beer. I expected it to have a more boozy flavor because of the nose but I could hardly taste the alcohol. This is very well balanced and delicious beer. Probably one of the best i've ever tasted.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 06:44:28 | More by Crundy

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

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

2011 Vintage.

A: 1/8" or thinner level of tan coloured head over cola coloured liquid.

S: Coffee, vanilla, oak, toffee and red wine come to mind.

T: Vanilla, cherry, toffee and some alcohol up front with red wine, oak, coffee, chocolate and toasted malt in the finish. Very complex and very nice.

M: Medium mouthfeel with a medium level of fine carbonation. Some drying from the alcohol.

O: My only complaint is the the heat from the alcohol, but even this was relatively minimal. I chose to drink this beer now, about 8 months after release in order to still have the oak taste present while diminishing some of the heat from the alcohol. I believe this balance was met, as this was a beautiful and complex experience of a beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2012 22:46:37 | More by DaftCaskBC