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Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
- From:
- Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Oatmeal Stout
Ranked #93 - ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 89
Ranked #10,506 - Avg:
- 4 | pDev: 9.75%
- Reviews:
- 709
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 30, 2023
- Added:
- Nov 13, 2008
- Wants:
- 248
- Gots:
- 641
A decadent oatmeal stout. Velvet Merlin offers robust cocoa and espresso aromas with subtle American hop nuances. Rich dark chocolate and roasted coffee flavor with a creamy mouth feel and wonderfully dry finish create the perfect balance in this full-bodied stout. Ideal for sipping in the winter months or at the end of a meal.
Original name was "Velvet Merkin", but name was changed when it began to be bottled in 2010.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfaqU30twwU&feature=youtube_gdata
Original name was "Velvet Merkin", but name was changed when it began to be bottled in 2010.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfaqU30twwU&feature=youtube_gdata
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by nhindian:
Reviewed by nhindian from Pennsylvania
4.27/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.27/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
12oz bottle poured into a Surly Darkness glass. Bottle provided by jodan I believe, thanks Jordan!
A - Pours a chocolate brown with tints of black in the widest part of the glass. It settles into a soft, matte black color. The head is a pillowy, light tan color, about a finger tall with fairly low retention. Lacing is sticky at first, but quickly falls back to the comfort of the liquid. There's some carbonation on the edges of the glass as well.
S - The nose on this is almost all malt. The oat is a big part of the aroma, leading the way but still going strong by the end as well. The chocolate is rich and bittersweet, like dark cacao. There's some espresso here as well, but it mainly serves to add some roast to it rather than any noticeable coffee smells. Hanging beneath everything is a subtle bourbon quality, which adds some vibrant fruits and a slight alcohol feeling.
T - The taste brings a concise version of the nose to the palate. Immediately I'm getting a lot of oatmeal here, giving the beginning a creamy jumping-off point for the rest of the flavors to follow. Again, the chocolate is the main component after the oats, giving off flavors of baker's chocolate and some bitter notes. The flavor is slightly more roasty than the nose, with a lasting impression lingering long after drinking. Thankfully, the bourbon quality in the nose returns as well, playing cheerfully in the background of the beer but still imparting it's tastiness. The finish even brings a slightly cola-like flavor.
M - Mouthfeel is moderately light-bodied with high carbonation. This beer is really smooth, but perhaps the carbonation is a tinge too high as it sort of clashes with the smoothness. I found myself instinctively swirling this between tastes in order to cut that a little. Lasting impression are oats, roastiness, and dark fruits from the bourbon.
D/O - Drinkability is high. Oatmeal stouts are one of my favorite styles if done correctly, but if not they can come off as uninspired. Firestone Walker produces a fine representation here, and the quasi-bourbon notes in here only do that much for this offering. This is a beer that I nearly finished before completing this review, as I just wanted to keep drinking it. If this ever comes to Pittsburgh, it will be a staple in my fridge.
Jun 15, 2011A - Pours a chocolate brown with tints of black in the widest part of the glass. It settles into a soft, matte black color. The head is a pillowy, light tan color, about a finger tall with fairly low retention. Lacing is sticky at first, but quickly falls back to the comfort of the liquid. There's some carbonation on the edges of the glass as well.
S - The nose on this is almost all malt. The oat is a big part of the aroma, leading the way but still going strong by the end as well. The chocolate is rich and bittersweet, like dark cacao. There's some espresso here as well, but it mainly serves to add some roast to it rather than any noticeable coffee smells. Hanging beneath everything is a subtle bourbon quality, which adds some vibrant fruits and a slight alcohol feeling.
T - The taste brings a concise version of the nose to the palate. Immediately I'm getting a lot of oatmeal here, giving the beginning a creamy jumping-off point for the rest of the flavors to follow. Again, the chocolate is the main component after the oats, giving off flavors of baker's chocolate and some bitter notes. The flavor is slightly more roasty than the nose, with a lasting impression lingering long after drinking. Thankfully, the bourbon quality in the nose returns as well, playing cheerfully in the background of the beer but still imparting it's tastiness. The finish even brings a slightly cola-like flavor.
M - Mouthfeel is moderately light-bodied with high carbonation. This beer is really smooth, but perhaps the carbonation is a tinge too high as it sort of clashes with the smoothness. I found myself instinctively swirling this between tastes in order to cut that a little. Lasting impression are oats, roastiness, and dark fruits from the bourbon.
D/O - Drinkability is high. Oatmeal stouts are one of my favorite styles if done correctly, but if not they can come off as uninspired. Firestone Walker produces a fine representation here, and the quasi-bourbon notes in here only do that much for this offering. This is a beer that I nearly finished before completing this review, as I just wanted to keep drinking it. If this ever comes to Pittsburgh, it will be a staple in my fridge.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz bottle from Boise Co-op. Nice mellow, woody aroma, superb smoky, chocolaty taste. Silky smooth body, sweet and smoky finish. All around great stout.
Nov 30, 2023Reviewed by Act25 from New Jersey
4.23/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Now in cans. As fine a 5.5% velvety, flavorful Stout as can be found. Must blind test against Lefthand and the rest.
a) Massive lace over black body.
s/t) Enough roast to temper the sweet of chocolate, mocha, vanilla, prune. Some grass and hops also balance.
f) Velvet to core as good as any.
Feb 03, 2020a) Massive lace over black body.
s/t) Enough roast to temper the sweet of chocolate, mocha, vanilla, prune. Some grass and hops also balance.
f) Velvet to core as good as any.
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4.09/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bottled 10/6/15; drank 10/28/15 @ the Yarchives.
Brown/black/purple appearance.
A rough pour yielded a HUGE tan head (careful pouring!); strong lace.
Oatmeal, cream & peanut butter notes in the nose; inviting!
Creamy medium thick mouthfeel. Oats, cream & faint milk chocolate flavors up front; peanut butter notes on the finish.
An easy to drink, flavorful fall treat. I'd have another.
Nov 23, 2019Brown/black/purple appearance.
A rough pour yielded a HUGE tan head (careful pouring!); strong lace.
Oatmeal, cream & peanut butter notes in the nose; inviting!
Creamy medium thick mouthfeel. Oats, cream & faint milk chocolate flavors up front; peanut butter notes on the finish.
An easy to drink, flavorful fall treat. I'd have another.
Reviewed by maddogruss from New Jersey
3.59/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.59/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
(nitro-tap)
A: pours dark body with reddish hues and a thick ear with good retention and lacing
S: subtle smelling beer, but not much to it
T: somewhat roasted toffee notes, but very light. Some roasted notes with a subtle, creamy, oaty aftertaste
M: medium bodied and pretty creamy; not too bad
O: ok mouthfeel and taste combo; ok overall, but nothing impressive.
Aug 09, 2019A: pours dark body with reddish hues and a thick ear with good retention and lacing
S: subtle smelling beer, but not much to it
T: somewhat roasted toffee notes, but very light. Some roasted notes with a subtle, creamy, oaty aftertaste
M: medium bodied and pretty creamy; not too bad
O: ok mouthfeel and taste combo; ok overall, but nothing impressive.
Reviewed by mintzmeet from Washington
3.55/5 rDev -11.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.55/5 rDev -11.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Nice nitro stout! Very creamy. Not a whole lot of flavor, but excellent texture. Smooth taste of lightly toasted grains. Incredible head, beautiful lacing.
Jul 06, 2019Reviewed by DoctorZombies from Florida
4.26/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.26/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
2018 version. Pours black with ruby edges at 57 degrees; light tan cap; good retention; heavy ring, moderate lace; thin legs. Roast malt, bourbon, whiff of vanilla. Lite roast, chocolate, coffee. Medium body, moderate carbonation, no warmth. Drinks like a porter as it feels thin for an oatmeal stout; nicely balanced flavors, just wish it had more...
Jun 18, 2019Rated by Oh_Dark_Star from Washington
4.04/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.04/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Tasty but a bit weak and thin
May 03, 2019
Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout from Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
3131 ratings
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