Firestone Walker Parabola

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

Draft. A pitch black beer with a thin brown head. The aroma has notes of sweet malt, alcohol, roasted malt, fruits, prunes, and chocolate. The flavor is powerful with notes of prunes, over ripe fruits, alcohol, roasted malt, and chocolate, leading to adry roasted finish, where the alcohol tickles the tongue.

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

From the Jug at the GABF Colorado Convention Center, Denver 09/10/2008 Bourbon aroma. Beige head. Black strong in alcohol fruity and hoppy with a crisp dry and bitter coffee roast finish.

(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.

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.

This poured a black body with a slight tan head. The Bourbon dominated nose and taste as if they’d left some liquor in the barrel before adding the ale. Dark, sweet chcococalte covered caramel and hints of vanilla, oak, and a light nutty bitterness were also present but were getting beat up by the Bourbon and the alcohol. This one was a bit over the top for my tastes.

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/events-detail.asp?eve of Barrel Aged Beers, Chicago, IL 11/04/2006<font size=-1>

Draught, Boulder Strong Ale Fest 2008. Head is mostly diminishing. Body is dark brown to black. Aroma is moderately malty (caramel, chocolate, peanuts), with notes of vanilla, whiskey, wood, sherry, alcohol. Flavor is heavily sweet, lightly bitter. Finish is moderately sweet, lightly to moderately bitter. Full body, velvety/creamy texture, soft carbonation, moderately alcoholic. Didn’t find the aroma terribly enticing, but it’s certainly pleasant. Combination of bitterness and alcohol keep the massive sweetness from being too oppressive. A sipper for sure, but nicely done.

FoBAB 06: The beer pours mostly opaque with a small frothy ring. The aroma has a surprising note of lactic sour milk and a strange saison like floral quality. Oh, there was some of the standard chocolate, roast, and oat character expected but it was hard to discover it.

Lucky I did not find the sourness in the flavor but more towards bittersweet chocolate, cashew, rye bread and grandma homemade oatmeal. The ending was a bit boozy but I found a hint of smoky malt and wood along with a dose of Crème Brûlée burnt sugar. I dug this more I drank it. A strange brew but overall it’s taste out-weighted the nose.