Firestone Walker Parabola

Brewed by Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Style: Imperial Stout
Paso Robles, California USA

Serve in Snifter

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I’ve had this several times at the Bistro Barrel Aged festivals, just never rated it. This is from a 22 ounce bottle purchased at the Davis Food Co-OP. The aroma on this is really nice. Lots of chocolate, with moderate sweetness and a nice deal of bourbon and some oaky-wood hints, too. There also is some leather present and a little bit of salty soy sauce, too. Really quaffable. Opaque black body with a medium light brown head that is strong and leaves some stellar lacing. Starts a little acidic and hot on the tongue, before some chocolate maltiness and roastiness comes through. Strong bourbon in the middle with some oak, too. The finish has a bit of an astringency present, and a fairly nice bitterness. The finish is rather warming...this definitely has some alcohol in it, but the ethanol isn’t overly noticeable. The astringency is a bit weird, but otherwise this is enjoyable. I don’t know if aging this will really improve it much, though.

I really enjoyed this. Aroma is sweet, creamy, roasted malts, chocolate, hint of creamy coffee, wood and some light bourbon. Flavor is much the same. Not too complex overall just really tasty. Smooth, not over barrel aged. Great vanilla, wood and bourbon aspect. Finished smooth sweet, a touch hot at the end.

Bottle. Pours deep black/red, presumably clear, almost no head and thus no lacing. Aroma is wonderful - roasted malts with strong chocolate notes, warming alcohol. Almost a cognac aroma. Taste is heavily chocolate, with coffee, fruit and woody notes in the back. Alcohol is prominent in the taste, particularly in a warming finish. All in all this is more like a stout-liquor than a beer. Wonderful finisher in moderation as the description notes. This one was a unique bottle to me, and I really enjoyed it.

Black with small brown head. Slick and conentrated aroma of luxurious caramell and chocolate pralines alongside a prominent yet well integrated bourbon barrel character. Flavor is similar and very smooth, nicely balanced and highly drinkable for such high ABV. Big thanks to Todeon for this beauty.

Up front, not the best review because I had it among several beers a couple hours ago. That said, aroma was delicious, sweet malty chocolate. Taste was also very chocolate. Had this with speedway stout and beer geek weasel something or other. This was the third best in my opinion, but certainly one of the best stouts I have had.

Recently did a vertical tasting of 10, 11 and 12. But have had 12 numerous times on tap and out of a bottle recently. Consider 12 to be the best. A beautiful aroma of chocolate, fudge, bourbon and some oak. Taste is just pure awesomeness with more bourbon, chocolate, and some roasted malts. One of my favorite imperial stouts.

Rich aroma. Coffee, bourbon darker flavors richly blend together. A great beer.

Long story short, I wish I didn’t share it. It was very smooth and had a great after taste.

A - pours deep dark brown with no head. S - bourbon and oak up front. notes of coffee, vanilla, smoke. Hints of sweeter fruits. M - nice strong bodied beer with nice rich oak aged imperial stout. Lighter than the big boys. Flatter and lightly hoppy end. T - bourbon, oak, vanilla, molasses, toffee, on the nose and palate. Nice rich barrel stout that fades to a grassy bitter end with lingering quiet toffee and brown sugar malt. O - very good imperial stout. If it was richer through out it would be great. 8

Shared by someone at the Monte’s Krown tasting yesterday. Pours a jet black with a tan head. Liquorish in the nose. Roasty flavor, with chocolate. Very deep and complex. Low carbonation. Very decent.

UPDATED: MAY 20, 2012 Black pour, low head, sweet aroma of malt, fruit, roasted grain, chocolate. Taste is intense, of chocolate, bourbon, alcohol, vanilla. Very complex, deep and interesting. Thick. Sweet but not overly so. Finishes with linger notes of the flavor, alcohol burn, and moderate bitterness. This is a huge, flavorful beer. Almost too much, but not too much if you know what awaits you. Nice. Definite cellar material.