2017 Firestone Walker Parabola

Yeah, but they will still all be gone in a few weeks or a month even if there was a 1 or box limit at that store. BA stouts are never shelf turds, they are either gone quickly or lucky finds with some age on them. Dusty bottles give them extra "character"!.

 

To follow up on raynmoon's impressions: Based on my 3 year vertical at FW Paso I found this years to be very bourbon forward. 16 was more barrel forward with lots of oak, vanilla, and coconut. 15 was the most mellow and balanced. Made we want to wait a year to open any of my four 17 bottles.

 

Were those all in the same night?

 

Mysteries of the universe. I get more roasted nuts and charred oak than previous years. This was fun but it won't happen again.

 

I ended up grabbing 3 bottles of this.

Drank one and enjoyed it. Will spread the final 2 out over the upcoming months....hopefully. Having some KBS on hand should help with not finishing them too quickly.

 

We really enjoy Parabola, buying three to five bottles per year. This Kansas City batch is not as tasty as the normal stuff from California. It's good but it's not stellar like Parabola usually is. After reading the back of the box I'm guessing the new ownership is why this was brewed at Boulevard. Bummer.

 

Five bucks is a mistake. Snatch it up while you can.

 

nb, I read @bulletrain76's comment above to mean that this was a one-off thing, so next year should see things return to normal.

 

Went by total wine today. Still had about 3 cases out. BevMo had 3 cases on the floor and 3 more up top behind the shelf the manager said.

 

Found some while on vacation in ocean City for $13.25 a bottle. Thought about it for a while but decided to pass. I did buy a bottle each of DFH 120 and WWS so that kinda makes up for it

 

Seems like the Monmouth and Ocean county areas got the shaft again this year? Places I went looking for it had it come and go quickly and only got a case each.

 

Found it in a Foodery in Philly a couple days ago. $13 for a 12oz bottle. The price is ridiculous. This was the first year I've tried this beer - I've always strayed away due to scarcity and price. I rarely chase shelf beers. I have to say I was pretty underwhelmed by the actual beer. Some nice bourbon flavors but the mouthfeel was way too thin for me and the booze is pretty in your face.

 

Having Parabola 2017 on tap in SF

Full disclosure, never had Parabola until 2016 version, which I had on tap a couple times and via a few 2016 bottles I purchased. I thought it was fantastic and better than KBS and BCBS.

I bought 4 bottles of 2017, but haven't opened. On tap... This is pretty meh.

It has the barrel notes that FW is known for: bourbon, vanilla, coconut. But it's so overwhelmed by the bourbon notes that it's boring. Gone is the interplay between roasty stout beer and the barrel aging. This is now just a generic BBA beer. I'm hoping some time will improve it, but right now I'm rather disappointed.

 

Cannot agree more. I had Parabola for the first time this year and it was just meh, average. Good to know that it's usually better than that.

 

Crazy how far behind distribution is in Texas. This just hit this week at my local spots.

 

I bought two 2017 bottles this year. I had my first one right when they hit Colorado around easter. The first bottle tasted a bit "hot" and alcohol -forward, and the flavors weren't melding well. Not to say that it was bad by any means, just not the Parabola I am used to or have loved. I opened my second bottle last night and it was a night/day difference- It was well balanced, complex, the alcohol was integrated, and the barrel character was amazing!

my wife didn't end up drinking her half so I stashed the second half in the fridge over night. The next evening I figured I'd still try the second half. It was still great! even a little bit flat it was still amazing, and doesnt' need a lot of carbonation to pull it off in the first place. Well done Firestone!

 

Couldn't agree more. I had my first parabola this year but it was a 2015 bottle and it BLEW my mind. One of the best ba stouts I've ever had. I missed out on 2016, and grabbed 2 bottles this year and drank one, and it was so bland compared to the 2015. not a lot of barrel character and there was a weird after taste that was really unpleasant.

Hopefully they can pull it together next year, or maybe they just need to age for a year or two....

 

Brandon,

Just let me know when they put them on clearance... and be sure to leave me a few.

I opened one a week ago BTW. It was a lot of heat and bourbon and not much nuance. I love drinking bourbon, but when I want a BA beer, it shouldn't taste like a boilermaker. I hope time will resolve it. Not bad....but not as great as it has been.