Firestone Walker - Parabola 2014

ISO. I really want to crush one of these 2014's if someone can help me out. Can ship fresh Hop Juju, Ohio stuff, etc.

2011 batch was great.

 

Raise the price? Then it becomes a bidding war. That is not smart

 

I'm not actually advocating raising the price, it just seems simpler than forcing someone to buy a lot of extra stuff.

 

I've never had the luxury and privilege of trying Parabola heretofore. But I'm curious to know how it compares to two other excellent Bourbon Barrel-aged Imperial Stouts that I've had and love: Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout and Founders KBS. Are we talking the same ballpark here?

 

For BCBS, yes. But for KBS, I would say no, since it have chocolate and coffee added and is best fresh. Maybe Bell's Black Note Stout, among others.

 

Thanks. Curious too to know if anyone has had Dogfish Head World Wide Stout recently. It is not Bourbon Barrel-aged, I know. But it is an incredibly "big beer." 18% ABV. It is an amazing beer too. I would love to taste test it against BCBS. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I will get that opportunity any time soon. I bought the last four DFH WW Stouts from my beer store. And they won't likely get BCBS in anytime soon either.

 

I can see this from both sides and can understand why some bottle shops do this. For regulars who spend the cash at the shop, being put on a list & knowing you'll get those whales is not only comforting but makes you feel special. The shop knows he made a 'customer for life'.

I can also understand the frustration of those that pop in to a new shop, wanting to make the same purchase but only to be disappointed by the shop's 'regulars rule'.

It has to be a tough call for the shop owner, if he truly cares. For sure he wants to please his regular customers but would also like to make new ones. I've been on both sides of this and can say, just like with anything in life, it rocks & it sucks depending on what the outcome was.....

 

Parabola, especially this year, is much more 'milder' than the Dogfish World Wide Stout. WWS had a little less heat than BCBS that I can remember, but more complex flavors. Especially the chocolate & spices.

 

I see what you're saying but this is where I respectfully disagree.

1, if you want to save a product for a "regular". Don't tell people you have it just to them tell a non "regular" that they can't buy it. That's just bad business.

2, from a business stance you want to draw in new potential customers. By denying future customers to a good product you are cutting yourself off at the knees. (Referring back to my first point) when you tell a potential customer that you have a product & then deny them of purchasing it, it turns people off to the store.

Now okay, there are those people who go from store to store, buying up every bottle they can find & that ruins the scene for everyone. But not everyone does that.

Lastly 3, lets look at it this way. A store gets 1 6 bottle case. They have 10 loyal customers, 5 potential customers & 15 stalkers. Who gets the 6 bottles? Sure, the store can save the case to split between 6 out of the 10 regulars. But then 4 get left out & could get upset & then go elsewhere. It's a double edged sword.

Again, the biggest point I'm trying to make is, you DON'T tell someone, "yes, we have it but you can't buy it". It's better to just say, no I'm sorry but we didn't get it in.

 

Chicago northern burbs types...

Binnys Skokie, Highland Park
Evanston 1st

Parabola came and went.

I guess my search is over, unless I get lucky and find it in an unexpected place or trade for it.

 

Binny's in River grove has some Parabola left. Went in today & I saw a case behind the service counter.

 

Funny these bottles made it halfway across the US before it makes its rounds in CA where it's brewed

 

I picked up a case (6 bottles) at the BevMo in Santa Barbara this morning.

 

Good to know. Last time I was in there (about 3 months ago), the dust on the craft beer bottles looked like powdered sugar.

 

I can get you Founders All day and maybe some Hopslam.

 

There is a name for this. Extortion.

 

So how does this year's batch taste?

 

Grabbed a bottle on my way home to find out that my girlfriend also got me a bottle. I am willing to trade a bottle for a bottle of, Bourbon county rare. BM me if interested in a trade. I also have a bottle of, Darkness that I'd be willing to trade for the BC rare.

 

Me too - picked mine up in Goleta. Apparently they just got their shipment today, not sure why it landed in Chicago first.

 

Some stores got it here 2 weeks ago & all are sold out. That is odd that we got it before you all. Most stores in Chicago only got a 6 pack case & they sell out within hours or even sometimes, minutes.