Parabola Vertical

I have two of each and have tried both also..
Love them cannot recommend enough aging these bad boys

 

Standard advice: drink one now, and if you have more, line them up for later.

 

Drink the '13 if you haven't already, you can always get more. If you have more than one '12, I'd say drink one now. Otherwise I'd say why not, go for constructing the full vertical with the first 2 batches.

 

Parabola only gets better with time. Don't even try this year's, just age them all until 2017.

 

Its better fresh, don't listen to these guys.

 

I have '10-'12 (Havent found the '13 yet) I opened a 2011 2 weeks ago and can say it drank great! Looks to me like it has some aging potential. Bourbon character still present, big beer but not too hot. I havent found many non sour beers that I like when they pass 2 years old - but this one seems like it still has some good time left with it.

 

Keep it cold (like 55 or below) and it can go a year or two but up to a year is the sweet spot for me. Im not a huge fan of the sherry-like oxidized character in most ages beers though, so take that for what it's worth. I think the '13 will peak within a year. Verticals are fun, but just keep in mind that not everything will be in optimal condition in all likelihood. After a year, you loose some of that great barrel character and everything starts to fade and mellow out, with some harsher oxidative notes coming in if stored at room temp as well. I love parabola and get to drink it pretty regularly throughout the year but mostly the recent release on tap, so maybe that's why I prefer the fresher character to the older bottles that I've had.

 

A couple of buddies and I did the four year vertical last night. I think 2010 was my favorite, 2012 a close second.

The older the vintages had significantly more of the milk chocolate/vanilla/dark fruit flavors while the newer ones sided on bitter chocolate/coffee/booze forward end. The bourbon barrel flavors were definitely present in all four vintages -- IMO none of that "fell off" with age.

Each year was awesome in its own way -- depending on what type of flavors you're into, you may prefer aged or fresh. However I would *highly* recommend stashing 1 or 2 bottles away each year in addition to drinking them fresh.

 

I just opened a bottle from the original release, and while it was excellent, I don't think it really gained anything. I'm probably drinking all mine fresh from now on.

 

You should collect the anniversary beers too. FW 13 with 2 years on it was one of the best, most flavorful beers I've ever had. Way better than fresh.

 

They're 10x better fresh.. drink them all sooner than later. I've found that aging Parabola doesn't really have much benefit– it's fantastic straight off the bottling line.

 

Just so. It's matched only be FW 11 at year 3.

 

Are you saying to buy parabolas and forget you have them until 2017?!!! Is that even humanly possible!!?

 

Yes, I bought some in 2010 and forgot I had them until this year. I drank one and regretted it -- it has so much more aging potential, and I cut it down early. I am saving them for at least another year. I recommend everyone do the same.

 

ISO: Parabola 10'