Velvet Merlin - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

largadeer

California

4.88/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Finally picked up a six pack of this. 12 oz into a tumbler.

Looks like a cup of straight coffee in the glass; the center is blackened, the edges slightly translucent. The head is dense and lasting, ultimately settling to a collar.

The nose is sublime, predominantly toasted malt and light roast coffee, with smatterings of chocolate and licorice.

Taste and mouthfeel are where this beer truly excels. A perfect balanced of toasted, lightly roasted malt, licorice and dark chocolate lead into a dry, coffee-like finish. It's mildly sweet up-front, and ends wonderfully smooth, just slightly bitter. Drinkability is through the roof; it's hard to not quaff the hell out of this beer and go back for another bottle.

So glad this was bottled, hands down the best beer Firestone has released in six packs.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2011 06:08:35 | More by largadeer

Arbitrator

California

4.8/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Chilled bottle into a glass. I've had this before on tap, but I'm curious to see how the bottle holds up. Turns out, quite well.

A: Pours a dark brown body with ruby translucence at the edges. It is capped with a light beige head. No sticky lace, but there is a nice wash of foam that accompanies each sip from my snifter.

S: Medium-roast coffee, milk chocolate (with an associated lactic touch to it), vanilla, grain (specifically, toasted multi-grain bread). This smells like a nice breakfast. I'm impressed that they got so much depth out of the ingredients. It isn't in the same league as FBS, but it show remarkable complexity for something that [presumably] wasn't brewed with adjuncts.

T: The taste doesn't disappoint. Absolutely top-notch for an oatmeal stout, with rich washes of milk chocolate, toast, grain, vanilla, and medium- (or even light) roast coffee. As noted in the nose, there's a light lactic presence, and if I'm sipping carefully, it's suggestive of anise. There's no bitterness to be found, but it's not sweet, either. Well attenuated and approaching dry, this beer has a phenomenal balance.

M: Creamy, with lush, low carbonation as befits the style. I don't think you can really screw up an oatmeal stout's mouthfeel, so I'm not sure how to grade this here. It's not watery, it's flavorful for such a low ABV, and it has a bountiful flavor delivery up front with a relatively clean finish (just some lingering roast).

D: Really, really good stuff. Oatmeal stouts aren't a hyped category, but if you're looking for the best of the style, this should be in the conversation.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2010 07:03:53 | More by Arbitrator

Danishboy59

4.8/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Came in a sampler pack, so glad it did!

A - Light does not penetrate this truly dark stout, poured in a pint glass, almost no head.

S - Coffee, toasty malt, something almost like garlic in a good way

T&M - Huge coffee up front, toasty malt, some pine, just the right amount of hops on the end, thinner than most stouts, warming alcohol, just enough tingle in the carbonation, and some nice caramel on the long and winding finish. Velvet is the proper term for this one.

The smoothest stout with big flavor that I've ever had, the only stout I like better than Obsidian. This beer is all about balance, It is exceptional. Buy all you can find...

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 12:06:54 | More by Danishboy59

tastyville

California

4.79/5  rDev +18%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I had this nearly three times a week in the winter when I was living in Atascadero. I was working at the California Valley Solar Ranch in Santa Margarita from December 2011 to July 2012. This review is being written for Velvet Merlin on nitro tap from the Firestone Brewery. This is by far one of my very favorite beers of all time!
This doesn't get a perfect score because I believe a good stout should have a bit higher ABV. 8% like Board Meeting would be perfect. A 5.5% ABV is like a session beer and stouts don't make very good session beers since they are very filling.
I always sit in a position at the bar where I can get a perfect view of this one betting poured. I love the tan head not as dark and sexy as KBS but it is just right. There is something about this beer that takes me back to my childhood when I used to eat half-melted ice cream with a spork from the paleta man. I often imagine myself eating Velvet Merlin with a spork. The aroma is not immediately prominent until you take a drink. That thick head keeps it all in. You inhale slightly when you drink too, right? Of course you do. I enjoy the aroma and the taste very close together with this one. Almost at once. It is nutty, chocolatey, caramely, roasty, and malty and all in a perfect balance. Not one exceeding the other. Like a group of sexy women walking abreast towards you in slow motion. For me? Fuggles is a funny name for hops. I get taken to another place when I'm enjoying this outstanding beer. It is unfortunate that it is not available year round. See you again in the fall!

Serving type: nitro-tap

05-07-2013 16:14:29 | More by tastyville

jmperez

California

4.75/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

This was my first oatmeal stout, if all oatmeal stouts are half as good as this one, i would have found my new style.

Aromas of roasted malts, slight vanilla and chocolate, bit of hop

Taste had hints of coffee, chocolate, bit of hop bite in the end.

Ridiculously smooth, might i say velvety. This oat stout is extremly drinkable and at 5.5% abv i could easily drink a six pack.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2010 04:57:02 | More by jmperez

intensify

Colorado

4.73/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

poured a finger head with good retention. Dark like body which represents a good stout. Roasted malts and vanilla on the nose as well as some hoppy aroma lingering around. The palate was almost identical to the smell. Strong taste of roasted malts which do not overpower the beer at all. The vanilla seems to sweeten it out and give it a nice balanced taste. Not a complex oatmeal stout, but a very well brewed and tasting one indeed. Oily thick mouthfeel is as pleasing as they get for this style.
If you happen to come across this limited edition stout I would grab a few. This is definately worth having and cannot find one reason why this should not be a big contender.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2012 06:40:56 | More by intensify

BierJager89

California

4.73/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a bottle into a tulip or a small snifter.

A: Pitch black with a nice mocha head.

S: Coffee, roasted malt, toffee and a hint of chocolate in the nose.

T: Chocolatey delicious, with coffee, toffee, roasted malt, all those good roasty flavors you want out of a stout. Pleasantly bitter.

M: Perhaps the smoothest beer I've ever had (that wasn't flat), creamy, velvety goodness. Deserving of it's name, and a paragon of oatmeal stouts, at least in terms of mouthfeel. This beer displays exactly how much the addition of oatmeal to the mash can do to a stout.

O: I compensated a bit with the taste score, because this beer should get a 100... out of 5... on the mouthfeel, and I can't do that. One of my top 20, and maybe the best value in that respect. I can get six of these for less than a quarter of the price of some of the others I've tried that are better. Get a six pack when it's available if you like smooth oatmeal stouts. This is the best of it's style (well, the bourbon barrel aged version, Velvet Merkin, is a little better).

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 20:37:25 | More by BierJager89

DarthKostrizer

California

4.72/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Look: Black in color with brown rings around the top and bottom. 1/4 inch head no retention and a spot of lacing here and there

Smell: Roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, and oatmeal

Taste: Coffee flavor right up front and it is in perfect balance with the roasted malt. Traces of bitter chocolate and oatmeal in the middle and finishes with hints of vanilla and more coffee delicious

Mouthfeel: Medium body and medium carbonation and some really nice buttery silkyness

Overall: This is one of if not my favorite oatmeal stout. It is almost perfect on every level. Just another fantastic beer from firestone

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2011 01:57:16 | More by DarthKostrizer

hopsbreath

Oregon

4.7/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Looks like I'm the first to review this from the bottle. Bottled 9/20/2010.

Poured into a pint glass. Pours dark brown with deep plum edging. A few fingers of cappuccino head recedes to a spotty cap with a wispy ring on the edges. No lacing evident.

There's some deep roasted coffee on the nose. Some sweet malts, vanilla, soy sauce, and a little prune make this smell oh so good!

Tons of coffee, bakers cocoa, and roasty goodness are the most prolific flavors on the palate. No harsh bitterness or acrid flavors rear their ugly heads. The sharp edges have been knocked off this and it is wonderfully round. I love this stuff!

Oatmeal stouts have wonderful mouthfeel when done right and this bad boy is no exception! Creamy and smooth, I really like this more and more with each passing bottle. For the record I went through 4 of these with ease.

All too easily, Velvet Merlin disappears faster than free corn bread at a hoe down! Highly recommended regardless, of the name, get some now!

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2010 03:00:48 | More by hopsbreath

weatherdog

Illinois

4.7/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle poured into a tulip glass

Pours a deep black, mocha dense head dies down to a thin layer of bubbles. Minimal lacing.

The aroma is of grains. Like freshly mashed dark grains it's inviting and roasty but not over done with just a little back end sweetness and vanilla. Its simple and to the point.

Taste is just outstanding. Roasted barley in the forefront, a mild coffee bean flavor and then it finishes with just the smallest amount of plum fruit. The finish has a lingering bitter /roast that is welcomed. Mouthfeel is medium light but the oats give it a silky impression that makes it feel fuller bodied without knocking down the drinkability.

This is seriously a great beer. One of the best simple no frills stouts that I've ever had. Truely impressed.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 01:19:18 | More by weatherdog

TheGordianKnot

Tennessee

4.65/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks go out to leschkie for bringing me this long want! Poured into stemless chardonnay glass.

A- Pours a liquid dark chocolate brown with an inch of creamy, light beige head. Foam settles quickly leaving just a ring.

S- Smooth, warm, balanced roasted malt blends incredibly well with milk chocolate and some lighter cereal grains. Very reminiscent of a chocolate donut paired with a cocoa dusted mocha. Great aroma here...

T/M- Incredible. So smooth and well rounded. The malt provides a grainy Cheerios taste which leads into a soft chocolate roast. Finishes with a slight bitterness to remind you this is a beer and not a chocolate mousse latte. Nuts, roast, chocolate, caramel, oats, grain... Its all there! Body is medium with a nice level of carbonation to keep this slick with a kick of carbonation bubbles on the finish.

O- Well, it's official- this is now an always ISO... Hell, if anyone reads this and wants to send a 6 pack my way, please let me know and I'll provide goodies from my neck of the woods. As it warmed, it did get a touch of medicine, but overall this beer is a top notch oatmeal stout!

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 15:10:32 | More by TheGordianKnot

TaySuth

California

4.65/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Dark brown with a minimal head and moderate lacing.

Smell: Amazing smell with hints of chocolate, oatmeal, coffee, and caramel. Absolutely excellent.

Taste: Great balance between the chocolate, oatmeal, coffee, and caramel flavors. Good amount of bitterness. Delicious.

Mouthfeel: Just the right amount of carbonation. Solid body without feeling too thick. Smooth finish.

Overall: Very pleased with this beer. Great balance, smooth finish, and a delicious taste.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 02:18:17 | More by TaySuth

yemenmocha

Arizona

4.6/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Enjoyed on draft in San Francisco at 21st Amendment brewpub as guest tap.

Draft version more robust flavors and nose was more assertive. Otherwise very similar to bottled version.

Pours a very dark brown to almost black color. Nose is rich with roasted malts and wet robusta coffee grounds. On the palate the roasty flavors take center stage, with a bit of sweetness that is present as well. Some gentle woody components are noted, but subtle. The roasty character carries nicely into the finish. Medium bodied and very, very drinkable. Nice session stout.

Serving type: on-tap

11-01-2010 04:58:01 | More by yemenmocha

Klsfgiants15

California

4.6/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Poured this beautiful beer into a Firestone Walker pint glass.

Appearance: You know it's a good bear when you hold it up to a light fixture, but can see anything. This beer is as black as my heart is sinful. But like my heart, it is redeemed. I think the brewmasters of Firestone Walker themselves atoned for this beer. I'm noticing a nice carbonation in this beer, but the head is not posing a problem to me getting this beer to my mouth as fast as possible.

Smell: I keep smelling it over and over. And it seems like a different smell overpowers my senses each time. The three recurring smells are chocolate, coffee, and oatmeal.

Taste: The beer continues to taste better as it warms. But the thing is, I loved the taste straight after the pour. So each time I take a sip I get more and more enthused with this beer. The smells and tastes are similar. But I'm tasting a good presence of malts along with the coffee, oatmeal, and chocolate.

I highly recommend this beer. I hope that Firestone starts to make this delicious drink year-round.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2011 07:43:57 | More by Klsfgiants15

Xul

California

4.58/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: Pours dark brown with ruby highlights around the edges, capped by one and a half fingers of foamy, mocha-colored head. Retention is moderate as it settles down to around a half finger and slowly recedes from there.

S: Strong aroma of oats up front with a touch of cereal, along with big coffee notes, cocoa, and moderate roastiness. Hint of vanilla in the background, very well integrated.

T: Opens up with oats and roasted malts, followed by big cocoa on the mid-palate. Coffee comes in right after the cocoa and leaves a light bitterness through the finish, although cocoa returns on the aftertaste for some balancing sweetness.

M: Medium bodied width light to moderate carbonation, could be a touch creamier but very smooth for a reasonably light beer.

D: This would be incredibly easy to drink all night.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2010 03:41:56 | More by Xul

Dlish

California

4.58/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A-nothing amazing little bit of head, but dies quickly i guess normal for a stout

S- Prob the biggest let down of this beer, is it smell or lack of it. I get a bit of coffee and dark malts, maybe a hint of oak.

T- Now this is really good. Very up front cream, a very smooth malt profile. Coffee and bit of chocolates. Also get like a whole grain oat flavor. probably from the oatmeal

M- Great the creaminess works well with carbonation.

D- This is great, I love the low alcohol percent and the great flavors. I will be buying this 6 pack a lot this winter.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2010 03:32:23 | More by Dlish

bfields4

Colorado

4.58/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Black body with a light brown hue around the edges. Nice mocha head laces the glass.

Aroma is very much oaty with a bit of espresso bit of roasty. Nice.

Flavor profile is similar to the aroma. Nice roasty oat flavor with an espresso finish. Nice dry chocolate/hop bitterness rounds the beer out nicely.

Velvet is right, the mouthfeel is very smooth. Nice creamy body with just a good bit of carbonation. This beer doesn't have big in your face interesting flavors, but the flavors it does have it absolutely nails.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2011 03:41:02 | More by bfields4

gbontrag

Colorado

4.58/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

what a great, well-made beer. Partially aged in bourbon barrels, but this doesn't define the beer. So, it really still reviews as an oatmeal stout. The bourbon barrel adds some depth to the nose, and blends seamlessly in the flavor. There's some barrel char and sweetness in the finish. Maybe a little buttery, but this is all perfectly wedded to the yeast.

Velvet Merlin presents a black body with tan foam, and walnut wood highlights when back lit. The finish is so delicious, and long: Caramel and char take turns on the palate with ripe apple core in the retronasal. That's only part of the story. The mouthfeel is thick, creamy, and like a stout-flavored chapstick on the lips. It's well carbonated, and the carbonation holds in this thick ass beer. This beer has back!

15% of the grist is oats! Sucking crawdad heads gives you the real mud bug experience; drinking Velvet Merlin is the real oatmeal stout experience. The oats are palpable in this velvet beer, and they're not polite. They are oily, thick, slightly astringent and grainy, and omnipresent here. Bring it on! This is one of those beers that make me say, hell yah, from recipe to regal pour.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 22:40:26 | More by gbontrag

Beertracker

Oklahoma

4.58/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

FW's Velvet Merkin pours up with an incredible effervescence which creates a cascading tannish-brown colored head above the deep mahogany-jet black body. The head retention is phenomenal with lots of wonderful lacing that clings to the side of the glass. The aroma is very complex for a "smaller" beer with notes of cocoa roasted almonds, bread pudding, hot chocolate, cordial cherries, marzipan, mocha, rumcake, toasted coconut & warm vanilla wafers. Really great stuff! There's maybe just a touch of spiciness from a late hop addition? The flavor starts off with a fresh coffee character sustained by a lovely roastiness followed by a touch of nuttiness (almond/hazelnut) complimented by some caramel sweetness which is superbly balanced by a moderate bitterness which creates an off-dry, bittersweet & somewhat fruity (blackberry, cherry) finish. The overall flavor isn't quite as complex as the aroma, but still very good for its strength. The body is medium-light with a mouthfeel that's as smooth as a baby's bottomwy. I'm admittingly not a huge 'stoutfan' but this is one terrific oatmeal stout and definitely worth seeking out for any stout lover!

CHEERS! Beertracker

Serving type: on-tap

01-01-2012 19:43:22 | More by Beertracker

Maurod4d

4.58/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer was one of the reasons I became a stout drinker. Last evening yet again I came to know just why I love this beer. It taste toward the front is a sharp espresso coffee taste and finishes with hints of chocolate malt and cream. One of the best ways to enjoy beer on a winters evening is with a stout like this in your hand.

Serving type: on-tap

12-17-2012 17:01:33 | More by Maurod4d

ely2000k

California

4.55/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Nearly black in color when you pour it into a pint glass. Not too much head or lacing. Looks very appetizing however. Smell of oatmeal chocolate, vague raisin bread perhaps, and a wee bit of molasses? Great smell. The taste is slightly underwhelming at first but as the beer warms, the complexity begins to come out more, and it's almost like the perfect combo between a cream stout and chocolate stout. And the best part of the beer is the mouthfeel. It lives up to the name, feels very velvet, goes down smooth and full, leaving you satisfied. Overall this is a beer I will absolutely come back to again each year around winter.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2011 05:35:00 | More by ely2000k

billshmeinke

California

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle poured into a standard pint.

Dark brown almost black body. Light beige one finger head that dies down to a layer of foam on top leaving nice lacing behind.

Smells of roast, oak, and a slight hint of char. A touch of brown sugar too.

Taste follows smell. Roasty malt, oak, vanilla, rolled oats and brown sugar. Not very sweet though.

The mouthfeel is quite rich and full bodied. Luscious in fact. A nice balance between slight sweetness and dryness with a slightly roasty/bitter finish.

A really session-able and awesome beer for the alcohol content. It tastes like a much bigger beer than it really is. Not in terms of tasting alcoholic, but in terms of being full of flavor.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2010 05:38:08 | More by billshmeinke

pwoods

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Thanks to westcoastbeer for the nice extra.

12oz. stubby brown bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Pours pitch black, no light. Moderate light tan head on the pour with pretty good retention and decent lacing.

S: A healthy oat aroma with light coffee notes and a distinct mocha/latte aroma. Coffee is dry but not over done. Light chocolate. Some caramel and toffee notes as well. Complex and pleasing.

T/M: Flavor mimics the aroma nicely but with less of the mocha/latte, which is a bit disappointing but everything is still very nice. The oats stand out a bit more and play well with the light chocolate, caramel, and toffee notes. The coffee is still dry but even more rounded and smooth. Body is medium or so, not too heavy, and the carbonation is nice and smooth.

D: Very very drinkable. I could definitely session these all night.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2011 06:09:52 | More by pwoods

nlmartin

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This came as an extra from a recent trade with romwarrior. Thank you this is a fantastic beer. The beer was served lightly chilled in an imperial pint glass.

Appearance: The body of the beer is black with a hint of ruby highlight when held to the light. The head of the beer is a nice dark tan. Nice head retention and actually stands up to my mustache. Lacing sort of speckles the side of my glass. Looks good in my glass.

Smell: The aroma is of lightly roasted coffee. This combines well with a bit of cocoa. A whiff of nuttyness and a brief flash of smoke.

Taste: A major delivery on the aroma. The lightly roasted coffee flavors are very well paired semi sweet chocolate and caramel. Nice dried out finish on the end of the flavor.

Mouthfeel / Drinkability: The body of the beer is medium and very smooth. Carbonation levels are low but perfect for this beer. In all honesty I could drink this beer all night long. A straight forward beer that will not bore you during a long night.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2011 13:50:14 | More by nlmartin

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Ultraman9000 for throwing this as an extra in to a box from a recent trade.

Poured in to Duvel tulip.

A - Poured black with one finger of espresso coloured head.

S - Roasted malts, coffee, caramel. Some bitterness and a slight smokiness. A very nice profile for a regular stout.

T - Roasted malts, lots of smoke, coffee, chocolate and a slight overall sweetness.

M - Medium body; lightly carbonated.

D - A very good stout.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2011 21:59:15 | More by TheSevenDuffs