Firestone Walker Parabola

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

650 ml bottle, kindly shared by gunnar. ABV is 12.5%. Pitch black colour, moderate to low tan head. Intense roasty aroma, notes of dark bitter chocolate, tar, tobacco, leather and coffee. Same elements in the flavour, intensely tarry and rich, salty finish.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

A HUGE thank you to Slowrunner 77. This beer is a No. 003 bottle, 2012. I split this 4-ways over guys weekend in OCMD 2015. This beer was AMAZING. For me, the winner of the week. It was rich, chocolatey, with hints of vanilla. The barrel aging was subdued - I imagine because it has been sitting for 3-years. This beer was dark as night and silky smooth. A real masterpiece. I think this edges out Velvet Merkin.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 9

From August KnoxBeerCrew tasting - 2011 edition. Deep brown-near black pour, tight tan head, tons of lacing. Welcome rich aromas of dark chocolates, light whiskey, roasted malts, hint of java, molasses, dark caramels, earthiness - tobacco and leather. Taste is immaculate: deep rich roasted malts, cocoa, espresso, dark caramel and toffee, bourbon hints, touch of tobacco. Exquisite beer!

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

22 oz bottle, 2012 version. Pours dark brown black with a small light brown head that quickly diminishes to a thin film that leaves a little lacing.

The aroma is grainy dark chocolate malts with some lactose and dark fruits and some sharp alcohol.

The flavor is sweet grainy chocolate malts, dark fruits with some roast and quite a bit of vinous alcohol in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with low carbonation.

Overall, it reminds me of Old Viscosity. I remember this being better than this sample. It's in your face and not really well balanced. Too sweet and treacly at times, and the alcohol is too sharp for me. It's still a good beer though.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 9

2012 Vintage poured into a snifter - pitch black appearance with sparse carbonation and a thin white head. The aroma is dominated by bourbon - but not in a bad way. It's very inviting in both look and aroma. The mouthfeel is smooth but it is a tad thin. The taste is top notch - loads of vanilla and oak grapple with dark chocolate and bourbon. It goes without saying that this is a sipper, one to savor and share. This is one of the best Barrel Aged Imperial Stouts out there. It's a tad hot fresh, but truely sublime with a year/two on it. Cheers.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

2010 and 2011 vintages. A decent stout that relies too much on the barrel and not enough on the beer. Take away the barrel and the beer is rather a simple stout with coffee, chocolate and vanilla flavours. Slightly thin as well.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Pours an opaque dark-chocolate brown with a decent tan head. Rich, rather sweet aroma has notes of sweet chocolate, caramel and molasses. Mouth filling flavor has semi-sweet chocolate, caramel and molasses tones plus hints of honey and fresh-cut wood. Smooth, fizzy texture has plenty of body.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 9

Another stand out in the recent trend of barrel aged stouts. Vanilla, and lots of lactose followed by chocolate and a hearty barrel aspect. Thick oily pour, brown head and much lacing. Amazing full bodied mouth feel with a silky smooth finish. In my mind this seemed like Bells Expedition combined with Goose Island Bourbon County.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 10

FANTASTIC. I dream of finding beers like this. It is just right. As an obnoxious Impy Stout lover, all I can do is implore you to seek this out. It is simply rightous in every regard.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Bottled (thanks mjs!). Pitch black colourr, small brown head. Aroma is vanilla, bourbon, some alcohol, mild sweet malts, vanilla and some dark dry fruityness. Flavour is bourbon, vanilla, wood, mild roasted notes, liquorice and some black chocolate. Rather pleasant.