Parabola 2017 (Boulevard Collab)
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

 

super cool beer, i guess i never knew they did one at boulevard, makes sense with the ownership arrangement, but i had no idea. buddy brought this to a share last night and it was fun to drink this side by side with the 2016 as well, which was made in california like all the others. they are strikingly different. this vintage has a lot more barrel character to me, almost spicy from the wood and the whiskey. its richer and fuller feeling, way boozier, and seems less impacted by time to me, drinking perfectly well, no oxidation on it at all, not even a little bit. blacker in color, highly viscous, and nicely carbonated for what it is, unexpectedly. the aroma is hot from the booze, really strong, much stronger than the 2016 version, lots of old barrel character, dark chocolate, tobacco, a bit of a raisin type sweetness, and some light smoke even, all wildly complex and well integrated, super woody and mature. great flavor here too, spicy from the barrels and the alcohol, this is crazy hot still wow. cool layers of dark chocolate fudge, hersheys syrup, and wet soil, less sweet and more earthy than it smells. whiskey all through it also adds to the cozy warmth of this, tree bark, minerals, hot chocolate, and smoke are also present. massive body, but not overly decadent because its on the dry side for the style and the alcohol sort of thins the linger. good bitterness, enough carbonation, and it warms up amazingly well. really special beer, and frankly shockingly different from the 2016, neat little story behind this vintage and i think the beer is incredible. perfect stout for this time of year too, a joy to sip on with the crew! i still prefer this fresh.

A blast from the past courtesy a friends cellar. Bottle pour- inky dark with short khaki head leaving a ring of tiny bubbles. Nose is roasty malt with barrel wood and some boozy notes. Taste follows with stone fruit, caramel and more boozy barrel wood. Didn't realize it was a collaboration with Boulevard. Still tasty after all these years.

 

 

 

The 2017 version was brewed in Kansas City at Boulevard with Boulevard.

Color looks lighter than I remember being a dark caramel brown rather than black. Taste is pretty spot on. Warming bourbon, oak, and vanilla. Caramel, toffee, dark fruits/berries. Smooth and scary drinkability at 14.5%. The abv shows through bourbon and barrel flavors, but in a non harsh way. This is really well done. Not very thick or full bodied, but it works and it’s great. Boulevard did well.