Firestone-Walker: Paraboloid

Im almost complete with my BIG STOUTS box. THis is Firestone Walker Paraboloid. I think I only have one more from the 12 beers to finish. Its been fun consuming these beers, and many of them I couldnt get any other way. So thanks for coordinating this package! Also have been enjoying the reading of others reviews of the same beers as I. Well worth participating in these beer boxes IMO.

onto my review:


Sampling a 2022 vintage of this beer poured at cellar temp into my snifter. Part of the Big Stouts box from BA.
The beer is in a 12 oz stubby bottle and pours a rich cola brown into my glass. A creamy dense beige to tan head of 1 cm foams up and fades to a sturdy edge layer and some wispy surface covering soon after the pour.
Aroma on this is robust! I get dark chocolate, tobacco, charred wood, roasted malt, molasses and some whiskey. Nose is also black peppery spicy heat. No hint of any hop character.
First sip reveals a fairly thick body and sticky texture with fine tingly carbonation. Beer does leave a bit of residue on my lips with each sip.
Flavor is similar to the nose advertisements. I get dark chocolate, roasted notes and some tobacco hits. Moves to a whisky note that lingers long after each swallow. No hint of any hops and I do get a bit of spicy booze with accompanying warmth after each swallow. The warmth isnt really heat nor does it slow down my consumption of this 15% brew. I suspect this will definitely catch up with me by the end of the sampling. Glad to have tried this one as I do enjoy it quite a bit as a straight forward big boozy barrel aged imperial stout.
Well worth picking up a bottle. No surprises here.
4.5 in the BA DB

 

This is by far my favorite so far. Restores my interest in barrel aged stouts. Plus the 12 oz bottle means I can put the cap back on and savor some nips on a few more late evenings.

 

Love Parabola… enjoyed this even more.

4.51/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

A: Pours an opaque yet still clear thick viscous jet black in color with moderate amounts of carbonation rising along the edges of the glass and faint dark cola brown + dark chestnut brown + dark amber + dark garnet red colored highlights. The beer has a two finger tall sudsy foamy tan head that quickly reduces to a large patch of thin film covering approximately 75% of the surface of the beer and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of bourbon + rye whiskey over the top of slightly stronger than moderate aromas of roasted + toasted + caramel + chocolate malts with moderate amounts of molasses sweetness long with lighter aromas of dark fruit (fig + plum) sweetness. Hints of earthy hops. Light to moderate aromas of toasted oak + vanilla + spicy rye.

T: Upfront there are slightly heavier than moderate flavors of roasted + toasted + caramel + chocolate malts with moderate amounts of molasses sweetness long with lighter flavors of dark fruit (fig + plum) sweetness. That is followed by moderate to strong flavors of bourbon + rye whiskey as well as moderate flavors of toasted oak + vanilla + rye spice. Finally there are hints of earthy hops. Light amounts of roasty bitterness which fades away fairly quickly leaving moderate lingering bourbon + rye whiskey booziness.

M: Just shy of full bodied with light to moderate amounts of carbonation. Silky smooth with slightly stronger than moderate amounts of alcohol warming in the finish.

O: Drinks fairly easily considering the strength and the alcohol is decently hidden though the flavors + aromas of bourbon + rye whiskey are present as is the warming in the mouthfeel. Very enjoyable with lots of complexity and the barrel-aging is definitely a highlight in this beer.