Velvet Merlin - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

JoshuaB

4.43/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Easily one of my favorite stouts, balancing mild bitterness and acidity with hints of sweetness, moderate gravity and alcohol percentage, perfect for a long, cold night.

It is very, very dark, as expected, although it doesn't have quite the epic head some stouts do.

The oatmeal flavor is present but not overly forward; the caramel maltiness is a much larger part of the character of both the taste and smell. Long aftertaste that again is more bittersweet than bitter. Coats your mouth, definitely on the creamier side. Has the feel of a higher alcohol beer, surprisingly.

Goes well with anything BBQ, though I mainly drink it alone. It's become my go-to beer for drinking by itself this winter.

Having not tried the Merkin, I can't compare yet.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 13:26:33 | More by JoshuaB

Sokool

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%

05-19-2013 02:57:19 | More by Sokool

Photekut

Azerbaijan

3.25/5  rDev -20%

05-18-2013 22:15:36 | More by Photekut

510a

Washington

4/5  rDev -1.5%

05-18-2013 05:25:18 | More by 510a

ElizabethEleanor

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +17%

05-18-2013 03:53:35 | More by ElizabethEleanor

rdooley

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

05-17-2013 22:26:57 | More by rdooley

BarrelAgedBrian

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%

05-17-2013 04:05:05 | More by BarrelAgedBrian

dan027

Pennsylvania

2/5  rDev -50.7%

05-17-2013 02:35:24 | More by dan027

verge

California

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%

05-16-2013 21:58:57 | More by verge

MinorThreat

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

05-16-2013 02:40:14 | More by MinorThreat

Zbeetleman

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

05-15-2013 02:37:19 | More by Zbeetleman

Absolut

California

4/5  rDev -1.5%

05-14-2013 17:52:55 | More by Absolut

prock180

Arizona

4/5  rDev -1.5%

05-13-2013 23:39:37 | More by prock180

vitese

California

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%

05-13-2013 17:47:50 | More by vitese

EROCK75

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -13.8%

05-13-2013 15:53:16 | More by EROCK75

ControlledBurn

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1.5%

05-13-2013 03:55:13 | More by ControlledBurn

IPeteA91

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -13.8%

05-12-2013 22:36:34 | More by IPeteA91

blackie

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

single from Wilbur's, Fort Collins

a: served in a short chalice, all that’s on hand in the hotel, deep stained brown in color, khaki head with average retention

s: the nose opens with grainy graham crackers and earthy roasted malt, woody coffee, subtle hints of smoke, toasted oat breads, mild earthy hops, qutie nuanced for a roast product - simple at first whiff, but there's a lot to dig into here

m: carbonation gentle, light-moderate, with a medium body, easy on the palate with a slight creaminess

t: toasted grains grace the palate with flavors of earth, nuts, coffee, smoke and wood - delicate and balanced, only slight burnt sugars present, hops earthy and impart a mild bitterness to the finish that lingers with a slight smoky roast note

o: very nice oatmeal stout that's incredibly drinkable, well balanced while showcasing the roasted malts and oats without interruption

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 15:46:02 | More by blackie

CesarLopes

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1.5%

05-11-2013 03:48:36 | More by CesarLopes

Jessenimmo

California

4/5  rDev -1.5%

05-11-2013 02:26:21 | More by Jessenimmo

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -13.8%

05-10-2013 22:14:48 | More by mikeburd1128

twenty5

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1.5%

05-10-2013 19:02:17 | More by twenty5

brenty0man

California

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%

05-10-2013 08:05:54 | More by brenty0man

SHerninko

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%

05-09-2013 17:50:28 | More by SHerninko

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A: coal black with a mellow glow up to the light... head dies shortly after the pour, lace blobs stick here and there... pretty much what one would expect

S: dominant, yet hardly overbearing roasted barley with a decent showing of mild-moderate dark crystal malt...coffee and perhaps chocolate syrup later... nice balance, supple yet subtle

T: noticeably roastier than most Oatmeal Stouts I've had and sports a decidedly ash-tray like aftertaste - but not in a bad way necessarily.... I'd be surprised if they didn't use an English yeast in this - maybe it's the hops they used.... bit of a tinge of cardboard in the finish... clean malt flavors overall

M: nice, smooth, faintly-silky, fullish body - but not slick

O: I believe the label had a "best by" or "bottled on" date of Dec 2012 - might explain some of the oxidized flavors, if the former.... either way, one of the more solid, somewhat more authentic takes on this style I've come across... I could drink it again

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 16:49:04 | More by Bouleboubier