Firestone Walker Parabola

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

On tap at the FoBAB 2007. Pours dark brown with no head. Aroma is sugary, vanilla, fruity and chocolaty. Sugary bourbon and fruit with the roasted chocolate flavors with a little oak. Decent but overshadowed by so many great beers.

On tap at FoBAB 5. Poured black with darker brown highlights and a creamy deep brown head. The aroma picked up sweet bourbon (and perhaps some brandy) sugars with dark chocolate beneath (the bourbon stuck out more).. vanilla and toasted oak rounded it out. The flavor had deep, rich dark chocolate and bourbon sugars with tart oak and some alcohol warmth especially around the finish.. bit of molasses and some brown sugar added sweet malty complexity.. sweet finish with a kick and a nice oaky tartness. Medium-ish bodied, and perhaps a touch lighter than it would have been due to the barrel aging.. nice and warm. Good one!

FoBAB 2007. Pours a darkish brown to black with a little ring of a tan head. Subtle nose (Relatively). Oaky sweet malt. Vanilla and some bourbon soaked chocolate. Small roast. Substantial body. Not watery or syrupy with low carbonation. Big alcohol!! There’s a balance of alcoholic bourbon with vanilla, some chocolate, but mostly straight oaky alcoholic bourbon. The roast comes on late. This is a sipper. Not too cloying. Lingering tannins some roast, a dry booze finish.

on tap at FoBAB V: pours black with no head. nose of coffee, dark chocolate. flavor of soy, chocolate, and nutty. not much bourbon here. no heat. decent stuff.

(Draught) Pours dark brown body with a thick beige head. Aroma of oak, sweet raisins, vanilla, and chocolate. Flavor of oak, bourbon, dark chocolate, roasted malt, and nuts.

Date: 10/11/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewfest, GABF

black, frothy beige head, sweet rum raison and dark chocolate aroma with dark chocolate enhanced by vanilla and oak for balance, hot dark chocolate flavor, bourbon and vanilla for sweetness, lasting bitterness mixed with oak,
-------- /> Date: 11/30/2007
Mode: draft
Source: strong ale fest
Score: 4.0 to 4.3

creamy body, little alcohol in the flavor allows the rich chocolate and fruity character more soom to shine,

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 9/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 18/20
Rating: 4.3/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: ***4

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.

Sampled at the FOBAB. Pours dark black with a thin head. Heavy bitter roasts and chocolate notes blend very well with the Bourbon notes. ABV is well hidden.