Beer Review 67: Firestone Parabola

When I first had Parabola last year I felt it was the best barrel aged stout I had ever had and to this point after expanding my horizons a bit more and trying new things Parabola is still near the top when I think barrel aged stouts. I also want it to be known that tonight's review are from notes taken from the 2011 vintage of this beer not the 2010 vintage I had a while back. Firestone Parabola, is a robust imperial stout with lots of body and complexity; this stout isn't for those who think Guinness is as good as it gets. Like most of the Firestone barrel aged program releases, Parabola is a seasonal beer that see's it release near the end of May, but for sure in June. To me what makes the beer so special is the price, availability, and the quality of the product. For example, Parabola sells for $13.99 a 22 oz bottle and you can buy it anywhere Firestone distributes(sorry not all states get Firestone). Then there is the quality. Unlike the Bruery's Black Tuesday or Chocolate Rain (which  are good beer's)which are extremely expensive at 30 dollars or more and limited to Reserve Society members or for purchase at the brewery only, Parabola is as good if not better than the previous beers mentioned and did I say a lot cheaper! Furthermore, what makes Parabola even more amazing is how well it drinks for a beer bottled at 12.5% abv. Yes there is some heat from the alcohol when you consume this beer fresh, but its not enough to distract you from the array flavors this beer delivers. Make sure to enjoy the imperial stout in moderation, a 6.8 serving size of this beer is enough to last you awhile. as this beer is meant to be sipped and not pounded down like a hefe or you cheap variety lite beers. When it comes to pairing your Parabola with a meal or dessert, make sure its heavy enough to cut through the thickness and robust nature of this beer. Fish would probably be a bad idea as would be most white meats. A steak would make an excellent companion to this monster beer. I'd also like to add if you are a cigar smoker and and you are tired of pairing your Cohiba's, Montecristos, or Partagas with rum or whisky's may I recommend this beer for you, it will not disappoint. Parabola is a great beer and a beer snobs dream, so if you love stouts and barrel aging of your beer grab a few of these bottles, some to drink now and others to stash away in your cellar for years down the road because this brew will just keep developing over time.

Color: This beer is a solid deep dark brown to almost black. A dime sized tan ring forms at top of this brew. A nice amount of lacing is left on the glass and the head retention is very limited.

Nose: Complex! At first sniff you get the vanilla in this beer followed by the coffee and beautiful bourbon aromas rising from the glass. There is also the smell of bitter dark chocolate and roasted malts, truly a great smelling brew. Gets better as it warms by the way.

Palate: Explosive and layered. This beer is extremely drinkable and the carbonation is spot on. As this beer hits your taste buds and sits on your tongue you realize how wonderfully crafted this beer is. The taste of vanilla and bourbon dance the tango in your mouth, its beautiful, yet rough and sophisticated. Then comes the coffee and with it brings tobacco and velvety bitter chocolate. All these textures are present and invited. This is the wow portion of this beer.

Finish: Warm, full bodied, and extremely complex. A wonderful example of the usage of barrels with stouts. Firestone keep up the good work, this beer is a gift to all beer lovers!

Rating: 97 out of 100