Firestone Walker Introduces Napa Parabola

I tried both a couple of weeks ago and preferred regular Parabola over Napa. I'm not a fan of bitter beers, and surprisingly Napa seemed more bitter to me. I'll try them again in a few months.

 

I'd pick up a bottle, have a 2019 Parabola for next weeks NBS.

Cheers!

 

Tried this one last night. Pleasantly surprised. I liked it more than I thought I would. Definitely get the wine barrel character. Will age the other bottle for 6 months and try again.

While better than expected. I still prefer the 2019 regular Parabola.

 

I reviewed Parabola a few years ago and gave it a 4.77. Damn near perfect ! This one must be succulent-

 

I grabbed 2 and am sitting on them. The shelves are full of them here. WI really wish I could find more regular Parabola.

 

Just drinking my first of these. I haven't had a wine barrel stout I liked before this one but this is great. Tastes a lot like normal parabola with maybe a bit brighter and fruitier/berry forward flavor. If anything I find a little added to parabola but I haven't had fresh parabola in a few years so i may just be thinking of parabola with a few years on it.
Either way I would buy another few bottles if I see it around

 

I fully agree, I like regular Parabola a lot more - NAPA was unexpectedly much more bitter.

 

I had one, I’d say it was good, but not insanely good. Now that I had it, no desire to seek out more.

 

Not a stout, but I had a wine and bourbon BA quad last night which was incredible, De Struise Brouwers Rio Reserva Quad, which had the jammy/bourbony flavor I had expected with Napa Parabola.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/15237/81244/

 

Just had my first 2019 regular parabola and I gotta say that I like the napa a lot more at this age. I know that for me, parabola is a definite ager. I like it a lot with 2 years on it, I don't think I've taken any longer than that. It's just a bit hot and has a bit too much going on for me out the gate, and that is my experience with the 2019 I'm drinking now. It's a great beer, I just know it will become transcendent here in another 12 months when things cool down and meld a bit.
The napa was super bright and had a much more coherent taste to me at this age though. I have one extra that I'm gonna sit on, super interested to see how it ages.
I kinda wish I'd bought a case the other day when I was in Oxnard and they had regular and napa for 10$ a piece. I could've definitely done 12 of each and not been too mad at myself

 

This was exactly my take on it. Good but not super great. Then again I wasn't blown away by Parabola either.

 

Had mine and thought it was absolutely delicious. The wine barrels gave it something really unique, kinda hope it's not just a one time thing

 

found a bottle pretty easily in Denver as well, pyched for that. Don't normally go for any wine barrel aged or wine- themed beers, but Parabola would be the exception.

 

Big fan of this one. Only planned on buying one but had to get another. Challenges Oskar Blues/Cigar City Bamburana for "shelf beer of the year" for me.

 

I definitely agree with this, bamburana brought a wonderful spice to a stout in a way that delighted and surprised me, and naps parabola had a tart, dark berry character that I wouldn't have expected to love as much as I did. Different flavors but both wonderful surprises

 

Still looking for this one. Oh well.

 

where abouts are you in CA? I've seen it at whole foods

 

I’m in NorCal so the closest Whole Foods is 4 hours away. We usually get FW’s BA beers up here but it takes awhile. Hopefully it shows up.

 

hmm ya im in the same boat, I was traveling a bit last month and got some at FW brewery and also picked some up at a whole foods that I stopped at. But I haven't seen any at any of my local shops yet