Velvet Merlin - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

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BA SCORE
91
outstanding
-
1,083 Ratings

rAvg: 4.05
pDev: 10.62%
Reviews: 442
Hads: 641

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Brewed by:
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

California, United States

Style | ABV
Oatmeal Stout | 5.50% ABV

Availability: Fall. bottle (367), on-tap (63), cask (6), growler (3), nitro-tap (3).

Notes:
Original name was "Velvet Merkin", but name was changed when it began to be bottled in 2010.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ufa ... tube_gdata

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Reviews

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Reviews by mcintire78:

mcintire78

Massachusetts

3.55/5 rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

a: Pours deep brown to black. A very small amount of head that quickly dissipates and mild to moderate carbonation. Served out of a bottle and into a nonic pint glass.

s: A sweet, malty smell. Slightly of raisins.

t: Strong oatmeal taste up front, and ends up dry.

m: Little carbonation. A bit thin and dry on the end.

d: The low abv means you could drink more than one if you were so inclined. Not sure I'd be having more than one or two...

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 21:43:21 | More by mcintire78

More User Reviews:

MaximalC

Illinois

3.36/5 rDev -17%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.25

Pours seal brown with an ample head of khaki foam. Cola-like carbonation can be seen clinging to the bottom of the glass before ascending to the top, where it emits an audible effervescence. Aroma smells of dark chocolate, toffee, and oatmeal. The flavor is of roasted malt, mild toffee, some oats, and faint coffee and milk chocolate. Hop presence is negligible, if existent at all. Some mild coffee bitterness comes through in the finish, though.

The flavor profile is acceptable, if unremarkable. The problem lies in the exceedingly thin mouthfeel and excessive carbonation, both of which go contrary to everything I look for in a stout. It's almost like drinking a stout-flavored soft drink, and I say this as one who has great respect for Firestone Walker and had high expectations for this brew. It's drinkable, but far from what I was hoping for. Light and thin does not an oatmeal stout make...

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2013 00:48:37 | More by MaximalC

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