Firestone Walker Parabola

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

Serve in Snifter

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OMG all the way on this one. Not much to say short of a novel. This brew is well balanced, strong, generous, complex and thought provoking. One of the best for sure. TRUMP!

Got this at the Monterey Deli in San Francisco. Pours like motor oil. Tastes like smokey chocolate, vanilla, and coffee, finishes with lots of alcohol. Amazing imperial stout.

Une vraie bombe que cette Parabola, rien de surprenant. Le nez est formidable, chocolat, bourbon, tabac, vanille dans un équilibre alléchant. En bouche c’est gracieux, riche, épais, collant et parfaitement effervescent. Le bourbon donne le chien nécessaire et prend la place qui lui revient, sans plus. Pas trop tiraillé entre les saveurs, balancé à la perfection.

Bottle shared at the July Houston RB tasting-thank me! Color is dead black with a thick tan head. Nose is alcohol and chocolate-tons of aroma in this one. Taste has some subtle whiskey notes, chocolate, a bit hot but the alcohol seems to fit in with the flavors rather than distract from them. Very thick like a milkshake and way too easy to drink. Dangerous and delectable. This is a supreme beer.

Good God this beer is fucking amazing! From the moment you pour this black stallion into your glass you’ll notice it’s alluring aroma of chocolate, vanilla, oak, licorice, and bourbon. Upon tasting this full bodied beast, you’ll notice that as you practically chew the beer, the tastes of chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, and oak transport you to a magical land... Well maybe that’s the 13% abv... but it goes down SMOOTH and is just absolutely fucking delicious. I only wish that I could get more of these.

(Bottle) pours black with creamy brown head. Amazing aroma of vanilla (marshmallows and vanilla ice cream) oak, creamy chocolate/chocolate cake, roasted nuts/Swedish mandelkubb, cherry candy, sweet tobacco, creamy fudge and dry, dusty roast. Some spicy alcohol, grainy dark bread, dark fruits/raisins, cinnamon, brown sugar, sweet liquorice and blueberries/blackberries. Touch of hops. The nose is round and the maltiness just fantastic/flawless. The flavour is near medium sweet, medium bitter and tiny acidic. Tones of creamy vanilla-ish wood, creamy caramelized nuts, dark bread, sweet black cherries, berry jam, sweet liquorice and light smoky tar. The mouthfeel is round, silky and wonderful with a perfect, soft carbonation. Best finish ever - creamy (not bitter) chocolate, smooth wood and creamy vanilla. Bit earthy. Near full-bodied. Wow, just wow!

This is a really good imperial stout. Thickish but not overboard, just a tad sweet. Really really good. If I could afford it, I’d drink this all the time.

UPDATED: OCT 14, 2007 Sampled @ GABF 2007. Best beer @ the festival IMHO, and the best beer I’ve rated. Pours black w/ a small head w/ good retention. Alcohol, vanilla, chocolate, bourbon, and coconut w/ a long after taste. A light mouthfeel. Very drinkable. Similar to Dark Lord, but much more complex.

Bottle from a friend. Pours deep onyx with minimal tan head. Nose is rich patent malt, blackstrap molasses, cacao, blackberry. Tastes dense on the palate, with a heavy patent malt, cacao, molasses, mild anise and rauchy notes, backup hops, and somewhat similar to Worldwide overall. It’s a shame I will likely never be able to do a horizontal with those two.

Nice oily black pour with a rich brownish head. Aroma is insanely awesome. Marshmallow, chocolate, light roast, oak, bourbon, molasses, raisins and some faint coffee tones and oh yeah...pipe tobacco. Flavor is even better. Perfectly rich chocolate flavors, bourbon, molasses, roasted marshmallows, coffee, roasted malt, ash, raisins....man this is really a superbly crafted beer. Bravo.