2017 Firestone Walker Parabola

When I start my blog, I hope you'll be my first subscriber! I aim to please!

 

Those, and LC6 was another favorite, I bought about a case of that one at costco, really enjoy their blonde style to flanders style they do more often. As I said before, I'd take saison brett over any of the Opal iterations they have, at half the price.

There's no talking to our buddy @TriggerFingers though, Boulevard's beers are too big, easy to find, and inexpensive for his liking! Plus if it's not from CA, forgot about it, "it's terrible!"

 

Lot of bourbon in those two sours never had anything like it before, very complex. Wish I had a couple cases of those.

 

I've only had Agrestic and Krieky out of Barrelworks and have no clue if they're representative of the lineup as a whole, but I'd put Saison Brett and Love Child in the same tier in terms of quality. I'm not getting all the Boulevard shade in this thread. They had one, maybe two infection issues? To me, that doesn't make them some massive failure of a brewery.

 

Has it made it to Newport News / VA Beach yet?

 

No, it's nothing like that. It's a very particular recipe, and every stage of the brewing process was overseen and QC'd by FW. Just talked to one of their brewmasters about it last weekend. They moved it there for capacity reasons only. A couple of years ago, FW themselves took over brewing Pliny for a few months due to capacity reasons, and it was unnoticeable. You're definitely missing out.

 

Nope, not.missing out on anything. I think its funny everyone jumps on that part of my issue, but it's still more $$$ per oz for less beer. Not interested.

 

To each his own, I suppose. Although, I've been born and raised in California, I've also lived on the East Coast for a number of years. Having had nearly all of Boulevard's offerings, I can say FW's "Feral One" was easily the best "blended" sour I've had...EVER, that wasn't from Belgium. I don't hate on Boulevard. A few of their offerings I have found quite solid. Collaboration #6 was a very interesting take on a blended sour.

The caliber of the FW Barrelworks though, is something I have only found surpassed domestically by Russian River...period.

But the best way to truly settle this is ...to drink them blind...and then see "whats up."

P.S. consider the Parabola 2017 Hijack over...lets just have a beer and enjoy the company.

Cheers all!

 

Now that rationale I can get behind. I am not happy about the format/price change. I've got 4 Bravos and 4 Parabolas I'm gonna age for a few months before cracking open. I'll see then if I still think it's worth the price increase. I definitely think the other ones (Stickee Monkey, Helldorado, Velvet Merkin) aren't.

 

What the? paid $10.99 at applejack in arvada.... I wasnt' going to shop around for a better price. I panicked and bought the first bottles I found. haha

What store in the mountains? that's a screamin deal!

 

I would agree with others and say that Boulevard's Love Child series and Saison Brett are on about the same level in terms of quality as similar FW Barrelworks offerings. I understand that you may not agree with this sentiment, but to find it laughable is, well, laughable.

 

It was at Dillon Ridge Liquors in Dillon. They're long gone now but there were still a couple Bravo on the shelf last time I was in on Saturday haha

 

It just got to western VA last night. Picked up one in Staunton for $10.75.

 

I've revisited Barrelworks lately, and I've been impressed by their beers. I fully agree that Barrelworks is still behind Russian River, I was impressed by Krieky Bones and Lil Opal.

 

Must be making it's way!

 

I just picked up a couple bottles for myself and my brother here in Kansas. I was happy with how it worked out, 9.29 a bottle and no limit. We only got 4 cases though, I wanted more than I bought, but it wouldn't have been right.

 

Nice. What part of Kansas.

 

I got it in Topeka.

 

I just realized that I read that wrong. I read it as you having only been able to buy 4 cases (implying that they got, say, 50+). I was thinking - well I will be making a trip out that way in a couple weeks...maybe if they got that much they might still have a couple left when I come through .

Then I reread, and...yea, definitely won't be any left when I come through with them only getting 4 cases.

Congrats again, and very nice of you to only pick up a few despite the no limit.