Lucy Palmer
The Firestone Walker Brewing Company's Parabola is a Russian Imperial oatmeal stout that is routinely ranked as one of the top beers in the world. It is a limited-quantity release, aged for a full year in premium bourbon barrels, and renowned for its big, boozy, and balanced intensity. The beer has a rare 100-point rating on Beer Advocate and is highly sought after by beer enthusiasts. If you're interested in trying this legendary brew, read on to find out where to buy Parabola beer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Beer name | Parabola |
| Brewery | Firestone Walker Brewing Company |
| Beer type | Russian Imperial Stout |
| ABV | 13.6% to 14.5% |
| Calories | ~320 |
| Flavour | Black cherry, dark chocolate, vanilla, roast coffee, charred oak, tobacco, bourbon, caramel, plum, cereal grain, toasted coconut, cocoa nibs, stone fruit, fudge, leather, peppery spice, brandy, cherry bitters, almond |
| Beer rating | 100 on Beer Advocate; 4.42 to 4.92 on BeerAdvocate |
| Beer release | Annually |
| Beer availability | Limited quantities; available at Firestone Walker's three brewery locations and online store |
What You'll Learn
Parabola beer in California
Parabola is a beer produced by the Firestone Walker Brewing Company, founded by Adam Firestone and David Walker in 1996 and based in California. The beer is a Russian Imperial Stout, with an ABV of around 13-14.5%. It is aged for a year in bourbon barrels, giving it a unique flavour.
You can buy Parabola beer in California directly from the Firestone Walker Brewing Company, which has a main brewery in Paso Robles and other facilities in Buellton and Venice. The company also has an online store where you can purchase the beer, and it can be delivered within 3 days.
Additionally, Parabola is available at various retailers in California, such as BevMo!, which offers instant delivery, pickup, and shipping options. Total Wine & More also stocks Parabola, and Half Time, which has a rewards club you can join.
When purchasing Parabola beer, it is important to note that the price, vintage, and availability may vary by store.
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Parabola 2022 and Paraboloid
The Firestone Walker Brewing Company has released its 2022 vintage of Parabola, a renowned barrel-aged stout, along with a limited-edition small-batch variant called "Paraboloid".
Parabola 2022
Parabola is a highly anticipated annual release, renowned for its big, boozy, and balanced intensity. It is a barrel-aged imperial stout, aged for a full year in premium bourbon barrels to gain depth, complexity, and intensity. The 2022 vintage is the first to be aged in 12-year-old Heaven Hill bourbon barrels, a departure from the usual six- to eight-year-old bourbon barrels. This change imparts new dimensions to the beer, accentuating its signature flavours of black cherry, dark chocolate, and vanilla with notes of stone fruit, fudge, and tobacco.
Paraboloid
Paraboloid is a limited-edition small-batch variant of Parabola, aged in a unique selection of rare older-stock barrels from premium spirits producers. Specifically, 14-year-old Old Fitzgerald bourbon barrels and 18-year-old Sazerac rye whiskey barrels are used, adding hints of stone fruits, fudge, leather, and peppery spice to the beer's flavour profile. Additionally, Paraboloid is aged for a full two years before blending and bottling, resulting in an incredibly smooth and mellow drinking experience.
Where to Buy
Both Parabola 2022 and Paraboloid are available at the three Firestone Walker brewery locations and on their online store for a limited time. Parabola 2022 is also distributed to all Firestone Walker markets in individually boxed 12-ounce bottles.
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Firestone Walker Brewing Company
The Firestone Walker Brewing Company is based in Paso Robles, California, and is known for its Parabola beer, a barrel-aged Imperial Stout. The beer has a rare 100-point rating on Beer Advocate and is routinely ranked as one of the top beers in the world.
The lineage of Parabola dates back to 2005 when Brewmaster Matt Brynildson began aging a proprietary imperial stout in bourbon barrels. Parabola would soon become a cornerstone component of the Firestone Walker Anniversary Ale programme and it wasn't long before it merited its own standalone release.
Each vintage of Parabola is aged for a full year in premium bourbon barrels, with the 2022 vintage aged in 12-year-old Heaven Hill bourbon barrels for the first time. The beer is known for its dense flavours of black cherry, dark chocolate, and roast coffee, with subtle notes of tobacco, vanilla, caramel, and plum. The 2023 vintage was aged in a combination of eight-year-old Blanton's bourbon and 12-year-old Weller wheated bourbon barrels, resulting in delicate notes of cereal grain and wheated whiskey.
The Firestone Walker Brewing Company releases Parabola in limited quantities each year, and it is available at the company's three brewery locations and online store. The 2021 vintage was also available at Killarney's Restaurant & Irish Pub in Temecula, California.
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BeerMenus
If you're looking to buy Firestone Walker Parabola beer near you, BeerMenus is the perfect platform to guide you. BeerMenus provides a comprehensive service, helping users find specific beers and discover new ones, while also supporting beer sellers in promoting their offerings.
Features for Buyers
For beer enthusiasts, BeerMenus offers a user-friendly interface to locate your desired beer, Firestone Walker Parabola, in this case, along with additional information about different vintages and their characteristics. You can explore details about the beer's style, ABV, calories, and flavour profiles. The platform also facilitates discovering new beers by suggesting similar offerings and providing reviews and ratings from other craft beer aficionados.
Features for Sellers
Vintage Variations
The Firestone Walker Parabola is a Russian Imperial Stout or an Imperial Stout, depending on the vintage, with ABV levels ranging from 11.3% to 14.5%. The 2014, 2017, 2018, 2020, and Napa Parabola variants have been featured on BeerMenus, each with its distinct characteristics. For instance, the 2014 version boasts bold bourbon and tobacco aromas, while the 2018 edition presents flavours of chocolate, charred oak, vanilla, black cherry, and coffee.
Locating Parabola
While BeerMenus provides a comprehensive service, the availability of Firestone Walker Parabola may vary based on location and time. In certain instances, BeerMenus has indicated that no nearby places offer the beer, allowing users to sign up for email notifications when it becomes available. However, in other cases, such as for the 2017 vintage, it has directed users to specific locations like Killarney's Restaurant & Irish Pub in Temecula, CA, which served the beer.
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Parabola beer ratings
Parabola beer by Firestone Walker Brewing Company is a Russian Imperial oatmeal stout that is routinely ranked as one of the top beers in the world. It is a barrel-aged beer, with each vintage aged for a full year in premium bourbon barrels, including Heaven Hill, Elijah Craig, Blanton's, and Weller. This process imparts a range of complex flavours, such as black cherry, dark chocolate, vanilla, charred oak, coffee, caramel, and cinnamon. The beer has an ABV of 13.6% to 13.8%, a deep ebony or impenetrable black hue, and a silky, balanced finish.
Parabola beer has received consistently high ratings and positive reviews from beer enthusiasts. On BeerAdvocate, it has a score of 100 and is described as "world-class". Individual ratings on the platform range from 4.2 to 5, with an average rating of 4.61. Reviewers have praised its rich, complex flavours, smooth finish, and boozy warmth. One reviewer described it as "magnificent", while another highlighted the beer's ability to "stun your palate with its unrivaled flavour and complexity".
Untappd, another popular beer rating platform, features numerous reviews of Parabola's different vintages. The 2019 vintage has received ratings ranging from 4 to 5, with reviewers highlighting its rich, honey-infused, and spectacular flavour. The 2021 vintage has also been well-received, with ratings of 4 and above. Reviewers have described this vintage as "smooth and rich", "spectacular", and "perfect".
Overall, Parabola beer by Firestone Walker Brewing Company is highly regarded by beer enthusiasts, with ratings consistently above 4 out of 5. Its complex flavours, smooth finish, and high ABV make it a sought-after and highly rated beer.
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Frequently asked questions
Parabola beer is available at the Firestone Walker Brewing Company's three brewery locations and online store. It can also be found at Killarney's Restaurant & Irish Pub in Temecula, California.
Parabola is a Russian Imperial oatmeal stout. It is aged in bourbon barrels for a full year and has notes of black cherry, dark chocolate, and vanilla.
The ABV of Parabola beer ranges from 13.6% to 14.5% depending on the year of release.
Parabola beer is described as having a bold and balanced flavor profile with notes of chocolate, charred oak, vanilla, black cherry, and coffee. It is known for its big, boozy, and balanced intensity.
