Our iconic barrel-aged stout is back with a few new twists as we release the 2022 vintage of Parabola along with a small-batch variant called “Paraboloid.”
The lineage of Parabola dates back to 2005, when Brewmaster Matt Brynildson began aging a proprietary imperial stout in bourbon barrels in anticipation of creating our first Anniversary Ale barrel-aged blend. Parabola would soon become a cornerstone component of the Anniversary Ale program, and it wasn’t long before it merited its own stand-alone release.
Since then, Parabola has become one of our most-anticipated beers, released each year in limited quantities and renowned for its big, boozy, and balanced intensity. Parabola carries a rare 100-point rating on Beer Advocate, cementing its place in the pantheon of barrel-aged beers.
Parabola 2022 is now rolling out to all Firestone Walker markets in individually boxed 12-ounce bottles. Parabola 2022 and Paraboloid are both available at our three brewery locations and at our online store for a limited time.
Parabola: Vintage 2022
The latest vintage of Parabola was aged for a year in 12-year-old Heaven Hill bourbon barrels for the first time ever.
“Historically, we’ve aged Parabola in six- to eight-year-old bourbon barrels, but this time we seized the opportunity to age it in older barrels,” says Barrel Program Manager Eric Ponce. “It adds a new dimension to what people have come to know and love about Parabola.”
According to Eric, the older-stock barrels accentuated Parabola’s signature flavors of black cherry, dark chocolate, and vanilla with vintage-specific notes of stone fruit, fudge, and tobacco. “You get extra layers of complexity that make the drinking experience all the more edifying,” Eric said.
Discover where Parabola 2022 is available near you with our Beer Finder, or shop online or in person at one of our three locations.
Introducing Paraboloid: Elite Barrel Series
This year, Parabola is joined by Paraboloid, a limited small-batch variant aged in an equal 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.
These barrels complemented Parabola’s classic flavor profile by imparting hints of stone fruits, fudge, leather, and peppery spice. Additionally, the beer was aged for a full two years prior to blending and bottling.
“The extra year of aging allowed all of the flavors to meld and create an incredibly smooth, mellow, and prodigiously flavorful beer,” Eric said.
Limited quantities of Paraboloid are available now on our online store and at our three brewery locations.
And Cherry Parabola…
For our Brewmaster’s Collective beer club members, we also have Cherry Parabola–an exclusive small-batch Parabola aged in brandy barrels with a complement matured in cherry bitters barrels, infusing the beer’s dark chocolate character with luscious fruit aromas and hints of sweet viscosity. Finally, an addition of fresh cherries puts the proverbial cherry on top.
If you don’t want to keep missing out on beers like Cherry Parabola, you’ll want to join the Brewmaster’s Collective. The 2022 season is closed, but you can join the waitlist for the 2023 season here.