Velvet Merlin - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

gregb13

California

4.43/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours very dark with minimal head; nice sticky lacing. Smells very strongly of coffee with some chocolate. Taste follows the nose, along with some added oaty character. Mouthfeel is medium and somewhat viscous. Overall this is excellent, better than others of the style (Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout comes to mind). Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 09:24:42 | More by gregb13

peteh2112

Colorado

2.5/5  rDev -38.3%

06-17-2013 02:44:15 | More by peteh2112

12packpoet

Arizona

4/5  rDev -1.2%

06-16-2013 01:28:20 | More by 12packpoet

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.24/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Paid the price for this single, $3.50 at the house of 1,000 beers. Bottled 1/8/13 so its 5 months old.

A - A very good amount of head just a 1/4 inch from a soft pour that pulls back to a mocha lined lace ring that sticks around. Color is almost pitch black with a tiny bit of ruby hue at the base.
S - Very good roasty mixed with some chocolate malts and some oats. Smells a bit of smoke but not overwhelming
T - A very pronounced dark chocolate malt, borderline sweet but not overly so. Then a nice kiss of smokey ash and a finish of some mild coffee grounds. Damn tasty.
M - Medium bodied, very creamy and silky.

Overall I am impressed it drinks better than my all time favorite "Anderson Valley oatmeal stout" yet its around the same ABV. If I ever get the chance at a case I will be sure to pick it up.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 04:52:30 | More by DrDemento456

djre4orm

Virginia

4/5  rDev -1.2%

06-13-2013 19:05:34 | More by djre4orm

C3likesbeer

California

4.28/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A- Nice mahogany almost black with a nice creamy beige head that dissipates relatively quickly.

S- Rich, thick roasty malts with chocolate and coffee. Some smoke in there as well. t

T- Nice rich dark chocolate with a smokey espresso shot. Surprisingly refreshing finish that's rounded off with an alcohol warmth.

O- My favorite oatmeal stou. Firestone makes good beer and this may be one of my favorites. This can be consumed in the summer or winter. I could drink one on a cold rainy night in a pub or on the beach at a barbecue. Nice all around beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 03:04:47 | More by C3likesbeer

Caleb

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -13.6%

06-11-2013 18:35:50 | More by Caleb

midnitesun11

California

4/5  rDev -1.2%

06-11-2013 02:20:50 | More by midnitesun11

jarrgal

North Dakota

4/5  rDev -1.2%

06-10-2013 03:25:39 | More by jarrgal

gkozeny

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%

06-07-2013 04:20:13 | More by gkozeny

jhillwastaken

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -19.8%

06-05-2013 15:11:33 | More by jhillwastaken

RBassSFHOPit2ME

California

3.75/5  rDev -7.4%

06-05-2013 03:14:03 | More by RBassSFHOPit2ME

emceecue

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%

06-04-2013 03:49:55 | More by emceecue

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.96/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a into a pint glass. Pours a deep black with a small beige cap. Light lace left behind. Nose is rich with chocolate, fresh bread, rolled oats, faint ethanol.

Velvety smooth mouth. The oats do what they do best really mellowing this beer out. Sweet chocolate kiss, dry bark like taste, finish of vanilla cream. Really a good beer. A well-made treat, that is another I'd love to see around this area. Oh well, thanks for the bottle, Ed!

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2013 02:16:41 | More by Onenote81

Rihup

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1.2%

06-04-2013 00:53:57 | More by Rihup

CaptDavyJones

New York

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%

06-03-2013 02:20:12 | More by CaptDavyJones

bmurray10

Texas

4/5  rDev -1.2%

06-02-2013 17:21:20 | More by bmurray10

Paccamacca

California

4/5  rDev -1.2%

06-02-2013 03:46:23 | More by Paccamacca

MastaShonuf

California

4/5  rDev -1.2%

06-01-2013 04:25:10 | More by MastaShonuf

pin

Australia

3/5  rDev -25.9%

06-01-2013 02:46:02 | More by pin

MADPolo

Florida

4/5  rDev -1.2%

05-31-2013 22:11:33 | More by MADPolo

danwho

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%

05-31-2013 14:48:57 | More by danwho

menacho1

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%

05-31-2013 04:44:03 | More by menacho1

Eighty

Washington

4/5  rDev -1.2%

05-30-2013 16:23:27 | More by Eighty

DeanMoriarty

California

4.08/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Picked up from the sale bin at Baron's Market in Point Loma for a dollar and some change - damn good deal!

Poured into a Forestinne branded tulip glass. Pours dark as shit - like motor oil with a decent sized tan head that sticks around for a few sips - decent lacing. Smell is smoky and earthy, faint scent of hops, fresh milled grain, dark chocolate and iced coffee. Flavor is much more bright and interesting than the nose suggests - plum, burnt raisin, earthy roasted coffee, vanilla, sweet toffee, cocoa nibs, slight hint of fresh cut grass - absolutely delicious! Medium bodied and perfectly carbonated for the style - smooth and creamy - extremely easy drinker for a stout. Overall amazing stout, that as mentioned, drinks ridiculously easy - could crush a few of these in a single sitting, no problem!

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2013 03:44:13 | More by DeanMoriarty