Paraboloid (2023)
(Batch of Paraboloid)
Firestone Walker Brewing in Paso Robles, California, United States 🇺🇸
Stout - Imperial Special Out of Production|
Score
7.97
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Our signature Parabola imperial stout achieves new heights in this limited small-batch release. The story of this beer began when we aged it in a special selection of premium 20-year-old Elijah Craig bourbon barrels. These barrels complemented Parabola’s classic dark chocolate, cherry and vanilla flavors by imparting mellow hints of oak, fudge and chocolate brownie. Additionally, we aged the beer for a full 18 months prior to blending and bottling, cultivating an ultra-smooth mouthfeel for this prodigiously flavorful stout. Enjoy it now, or cellar in a cool, dark place between 45˚F and 55˚F. Allow it to warm up in the glass when serving.
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9.6/10
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Appearance 9
Aroma 9
Flavor 10
Texture 10
Overall 10
Firestone Walker is easily one of my top 5 breweries. And Parabola is my highest rated imperial stout. So, are there high expectations this time around? I have a 12 oz bottle of the 2023 version of Paraboloid acquired I believe from Half Time quite some time ago. I read that it is aged in 20 year old Elijah Craig bourbon barrels. Pricey barrels I imagine. A New Belgium globe glass is in place and I tilt the bottle. I have to call the body jet black and the head is a moderate-sized, parchment-colored cover that promptly reduces to a skim. Lift the glass for a smell and I have to say oh my. Bakers chocolate, scorched grain, toffee and booze. The drink is top level also. Bourbon up front, dark chocolate, pecans, some oakiness background, caramel, malt, dark plums, vanilla and a bit of a burn at the end. A very good sensation, thick and chewy. Every bit as good as Parabola and perhaps better what with the bourbon barrel aging. It was worth the wait for the tasting.
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Aug 2026
at 22:49
8/10
Tried
from Bottle
on 27 Sep 2025
at 00:34
8.4/10
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Appearance 9
Aroma 9
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Fake brown color. Smell like a tootsie and Rolo bar cake dipped in bourbon and vanilla. Heavy palate super smooth. Low carnation. Sweet, alcohol well hidden. Very rounded and warming. Liquid desser but not a pastry stout. This is my jam
Tried
on 09 May 2025
at 14:56
8.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
A black beer, a head is medium and yellowish beige. Aroma has liquorice, salt liquorice, some bourbon, hint of barrel and vanilla. Intensive aroma. Taste has salt liquorice, roastiness, strong maltyness, bourbon. Full bodied, not stickyness. Very intensive and powerful beer. Great beer.
Tried
on 19 Apr 2024
at 09:38
8.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8
Heavy, roasty and dry with some spicy rye notes, burnt coffee, licorice, earthiness, stingy wood, oak, bourbon and syrup, hints of mämmi, dark chocolate and cocoa. Intense and heavy with loads of dry roastiness.
Tried
on 04 Apr 2024
at 16:57
7.6/10
wonderful and intheir yeast and fermentation to a T. Lovely boozy and super fruit estery. Bottle from chris
Tried
from Bottle
on 04 Nov 2023
at 21:49
7/10
Magus, mõru, röstine, tummine, kuiv, vanilje, šokolaad, tamm, alkohol. Ok, mõrudus on nats liiga intensiivne.
Tried
on 16 Jul 2023
at 22:41
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle thanks to Stuu666. Pours black with a thin tan head. Aromas of liquorice, burnt toffee, coconut. Taste is blueberry, coconut, chocolate. Boozy finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 10 Jul 2023
at 14:11
8.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Bottle thanks to Stuu666. Appearance - deep brown to black with creamy beige head. Nose - dark chocolate, burnt wood, hazelnut, sweet liquorice and raisin. Taste - Flake bar, then raisin, burnt wood and smoke. Palate -.rich and full bodied and roasty finish. Overall - very nice. Complex.
Tried
from Bottle
on 10 Jul 2023
at 14:03
8.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Bottle at ash's. Pours black, nose is chocolate, coconut, vanilla fudge, taste is sweet toffee, vanilla, chocolate, dark fruits, roasted, coconut in the finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 10 Jul 2023
at 14:01