Firestone Walker Paraboloid 2022 | Russian Imperial Stout USA

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

4.4Untappd

Paraboloid pours a pitch-black, near-opaque mahogany with a tightly knit tan head that clings to the glass and leaves delicate lacing on the swirl. The nose is immediately commanding: waves of dark chocolate, black cherry, and vanilla lead, followed by complex secondary notes of aged leather, stone fruit, and a pronounced peppery rye spice drawn from the rare Sazerac barrels. On the palate, the mouthfeel is extraordinarily silky — the result of a full two-year aging process that rounds every edge into seamless cohesion. Sweetness is rich but restrained, with layers of fudge, tobacco, and roasted espresso threading through a moderate warming bitterness.

The rye whiskey character lends a distinctive backbone of cracked black pepper and cereal grain that sets Paraboloid apart from the standard Parabola vintage. The finish is long and gently warming, with a lingering interplay of charred oak, dried dark fruit, and bourbon vanilla. An exceptional candidate for extended cellaring, Paraboloid rewards patience and improves measurably over several years. Rated 4.4 on Untappd, this is one of Firestone Walker’s most coveted Brewmaster’s Collective limited releases. See the full community profile at https://untappd.com/b/firestone-walker-brewing-company-paraboloid-2022/4699378.

Food Pairing

The Firestone Walker Paraboloid 2022 is a natural companion to a dark-roast espresso-rubbed beef short rib, where the beer’s rye spice and barrel depth mirror the char and rendered richness of the meat. Equally inspired is a pairing with an aged Comté or cave-ripened Gruyère: the nutty, crystalline paste of these Swiss mountain cheeses harmonises beautifully with Paraboloid’s fudge and stone fruit complexity.

Firestone Walker Paraboloid (2022)