Firestone Walker Parabola

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

Rerate, 9th Beer of the Beer Spot Tasting Sunday March 30th, 2008. Growler from TheKegergator, poured me a way to big snifter of this big beer. Pours black with a light brown ring. Nose is big and malty and nose is sweet. Taste is sweet and chocolaty and very very nice. PP Strong Ale Fest 07. Probably the first pour off the keg when it finally arrived. Pours black with a 2 finger light brown head. Nose is malty chocolate and coffee. The taste is full of coffee, chocolate, sweet, big and very potent.

Nose was creamy w/ silky notes of vanilla and bourbon. Beautiful creamy bourbon and vanilla flavors as well...nice silky thick & creamy mouthfeel. Absolutely killer at that alcohol level. Killer!

A bit of butter in the nose once you get past the vanilla/bourbon. Lots of fresh fruits including cherry and chocolate. You can’t really taste too much of the 13%

On tap at the 2007 GABF: Pours an oily opaque with a nice, dense, frothy light brown head. Aroma of sweet, rich dark chocolate, caramel, dates and oaky bourbon complexity. Body is viscous and sweet with creamy dark chocolate and mild brown sugar flavors balanced with a lot of good bourbon character and some warmth toward an otherwise smooth finish. A real nice beer and one of my favorites at the fest.

Tasted on tap at the 2007 Bistro West Coast Barrel Aged Beer Festival. This Imperial Stout pours a dark black color. Medium to large sized tan head. Aroma is chocolate and coffee, lots of bourbon and oak. A medium to full bodied Russian Imperial Stout. The malts are chocolate and coffee. The hops are earthy. Lots of flavors in this beer, chocolate, coffee, bourbon, oak, brown sugar and vanilla all combine and then seem to explode in your mouth. The 14% alcohol is noticeable but it not too bad. Nice roasty malt finish. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

On draft at the Bistro’s BA Fest 07. Murky brown pour with very active carbonation and a tan head. Sharp bourbon aroma with sweet, sugary notes. Somewhat thin mouth feel. Bourbon and oak flavors. Sweet and malty and pretty hot.

On tap at FoBAB ’07. Dark black/brown, syrupy, no head. Roasted malt aroma with slight borubon. Bourbon flavor with dark fruit and roasted malt. Medium to full body and creamy. Nice.

(on tap @ the ba bistro fest)black body with a nice thick dark brown head.i grabbed marshmellows,chocolate,bourbon,and vanilla in the aroma.the flavor was much f the same.although the bourbon was a bit heavy,for some reason it didnt bother me in this beer.