Velvet Merlin - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

Philousa

California

2.8/5  rDev -31%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

Imbibed on tap at Wine Affairs on 3/4/13.

Very dark, but a clear cola color against the light with a thin tan head with decent retention. Lots of chocolate in the nose with a slight roasted coffee tinge. Caramel also plays a vital role. Flavor is very chocolatey also, but dry like baker's chocolate, and bitter as well. Caramel and somewhat sweet like chocolate milk, this finishes with earthy hop bitterness. Feel is somewhat creamy (would like more cream) ad thin, finish is very dry. Interesting, but wouldn't buy a sixer. Then again, I'm not one to enjoy most oatmeal stouts. Could fit the profile better.

Serving type: on-tap

03-05-2013 18:20:23 | More by Philousa

Night

California

2.83/5  rDev -30.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a burgundy-black with hints of purple in the light. Relatively thin head, dies down quickly to an average bubbly layer; lacing is sparse. Aroma is fairly smooth and mellow, not astringent: rich molasses, bouillon, chocolate, raisins, maybe a hint of grassy scents. Mouthfeel is slightly silky, but a little on the watery side; not much in the way of carbonation or body. Flavor is at first smooth cocoa with vague hints of coffee, then mild burnt oat bitterness, a slight wash of hops, and warming alcoholic presence; finally a lingering grassy sourness. Aftertaste is flat and lightly bitter.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2010 05:55:38 | More by Night

DavoleBomb

Ohio

2.9/5  rDev -28.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a snifter.

3.0 A: Black color. Two fingers of frothy light brown head that fizzes away a la Coca-Cola post haste.

3.5 S: Lots of oats and dry, dusty cocoa powder. Good bit of roastiness. Super dry overall.

3.0 T: The taste is really nice, but it has one major flaw. Again this is simple with a moderate roastiness, lots of oats, and cocoa powder. The flaw, which tastes a pretty damn good beer down to an average one is that this is as dry as the nose suggests. It's painfully dry and because of this, it comes off as quite watery.

2.0 M: Light body. Light body indeed. Way too light for the style. Never had one like this. Also, too much carbonation. Not creamy due to the body and not smooth due to the carbonation level.

2.5 D: Not impressed with this one. With some crystal malt, this would be a damn good beer as the flavors present are pleasant. However, what isn't there is more important.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2011 03:28:20 | More by DavoleBomb

BeerRefugee

Oklahoma

2.91/5  rDev -28.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 2.75

Pours a hazy dark brown. Thick tan head that dissipates very quickly. Mild aroma of roast grain and cocoa. Flavor is stronger but similar, with moderate roastiness and cocoa powder. Very thin (for a stout) mouthfeel and dry finish. The beer doesn't taste bad but I was very disappointed by the thin mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 21:41:02 | More by BeerRefugee

Sludgeman

District of Columbia

2.94/5  rDev -27.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Poured into a wine glass (that's all I had, I was in a hotel room). Bottled on 12-4-12

A - Pours black, one finger light brown head, which quickly dissapates, some minimal lacing

A - Toffee and a little metalic

T - Roasted malts, dark chocolate, a little bit of coffee, very little hoppiness, some bitterness from the roasted malt.

MF - Netural, not thin, but not chewy or creamy

O - Balanced but generally unimpressive for Firestone. No particular flavor is overwhelming present. Not velvety smooth as I would expect an oatmeal stout to be.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 04:58:10 | More by Sludgeman

The_Kings_Quart

Bhutan

3/5  rDev -26.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours a slick, oily blackish brown. 3 fingers of pale tan head that doesn't linger. Nice, frothy lacing.

Smell: Toasty malts, maple syrup, slight coffee notes, raisins (?).

Taste: Robust malts that fall away too fast. Interesting combination of spices leading to a burnt sugar/diner coffee finish. Thick and clingy. Disappointing.

Mouthfeel: Heavy, heavy carbonation that makes it unpleasant to savor. Like someone brewed up some malted soda pop.

Overall: I like Firestone, and this was a decent attempt, but the brew lacks the follow through I feel it ought to have. I don't see myself getting up for another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 06:28:43 | More by The_Kings_Quart

GRG1313

California

3.03/5  rDev -25.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours black; very nice thick, firm long lasting tan head. Lovely. One of the nicest looking stouts I've seen.

Nose is medium assertive simple sweet black chocolate. Nothing complex but a nice chocolate nose. Mouthfeel is medium creamy and pleasant. Tasted at room temperature which highlights characteristics in my opinion.

Mouthfeel at room temp is a nice half and half quality, creamy pleasant.

Flavors are simple, short and uneventful. Simple light roasted grain. A watery chocolate flavor - simple. "Velvety" smooth-a blessing and a curse. A blessing in that the smoothness would be attractive if it didn't have the curse of weak waterly flavors. Simple roasted grain; simple black chocolate. Light carbonation once you give it a swirl or two. Without the 2 or 3 swirls it had better carbonation and a better mouthfeel.

There is a very light elegant roasted character to this - nothing special whatsoever in my opinion. No need for me to try again.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2010 02:25:21 | More by GRG1313

pants678

California

3.05/5  rDev -24.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

The Merkin is thick and it is opaque. Like so black it's blue black. There's a thin bubbly head that doesn't last long.

Looks similar to LA's Ten Commandments so I expected figs, something dark and sweet, but I got your usuals: roasted coffee and dark chocolate.

There is a serious hop finish on the end of the chocolate and vanilla body. Not quite chocolate though, I think it's closer to cocoa. That finish, though, gives a taste of syrup sweetness underneath if you can swish it around and get at it.

The name suggests how smooth it is. I guess you can't ask for more carbonation when Velvet's the trademark.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2010 07:56:45 | More by pants678

BarrytheBear

Wisconsin

3.05/5  rDev -24.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to Ryan for filling a want and for being an awesome trader.

12 oz bottle in a tulip. Pours dark brown, with a deluge of tiny bubbles along the edges and a beige ring and spotty surface bubbles.

Molasses and coffee on the nose. Not nearly as pronounced as I'd hoped. In fact, it's lacking much complexity and for the style is a tad weak. There is a weird cooked plastic smell that ain't too groovy.

Taste and mouthfeel veer towards watery. Oats don't vibe with the beer well, leaving more of a coffee dark ale than a rich, roasty, full bodied oatmeal stout which I am after. A richer, more velvety mouthfeel and dialing down the carbonation might pick this beer up a notch. Crank up the oatmeal here!

Kind of a bummer. Granted I haven't had an inordinate amount of Firestone, but this is not up to the standard I expected from a great brewery. Plenty of other oatmeal stouts in the sea.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2010 01:51:26 | More by BarrytheBear

Auracom

Illinois

3.15/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Single 12 oz. purchase from MSCM. All 12 oz. poured into a FFF Rastal on February 8th, 2013.

A - Pours a deep black color, with lovely depth. Medium khaki head with plentiful foam and retention.

S - Straight mocha - Nesquik blended with black coffee beans. Soft honey malts and darker cocoa hints underneath.

T - Espresso transitions into almost pure effervescence. Touch of Chocolate powder at the back end, But nothing lingers.

M - High carbonation (overly so), light medium body, lightly dry finish.

D - The drinkability is pretty underwhelming compared to the nose. Too much carbonation and not nearly enough flavor.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 04:00:25 | More by Auracom

CommanderOfAwesome

California

3.18/5  rDev -21.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass.

A: Thick and dark brown with minimal head and some slight lacing.

S: Getting some coffee flavoring, and Molasses.

T:Taste like a weak stout, or perhaps even a porter. Bold flavors fade quickly in the mouth. Oatmeal flavor comes in the finish, esp after a big swig.

M: Medium bodied

O: It's decent, I'm definitely a little disappointed as FS usually delivers. It's not bad but not great.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 21:42:57 | More by CommanderOfAwesome

doughanson78

Washington

3.23/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First Firestone Walker beer. 12oz. bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Very dark, but not totally black. Light comes through around edges and bottom of glass. Kind of a dark redish tint where light comes through. Fluffy one finger head. Slightly off white with only small tight bubbles. Head dies down to thin layer but doesn't disappear. Fairly good lacing.

S: Not a big aroma at all. Smells like the inside of a Quaker oatmeal container. VERY light chocolate scent.

T: Nice roasted flavor. Light coffee. Mild sweet chocolate. Nice oaty finish. Very mild hop bitterness.

M: Medium bodied. Mild carbonation. Smooth but not Velvety.

O: Been hearing great things about Firestone Walker. Had a sip of their Double Jack and was impressed. Got a few of their brews, including the Parabola. Not super impressed with this one. It's decent but there's definitely many better.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2011 07:51:11 | More by doughanson78

ikantspel

California

3.28/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12oz served into a sam adams glass

Pours a dark coffee color with a small head. Small ammount of lacing

Heavy roasted malts, coffee beans, dark chocolate

Espresso flavor, black coffee, and roastiness

If anything i wish you could taste more alcohol. A bit too sweet.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 05:35:11 | More by ikantspel

SirRuss

California

3.3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Archetypal charcoal body, but retention is fleeting at best, and the lacing unimpressive. Having just glanced at the label - which sports a silky smooth, three fingered head - Firestone should probably thank their litigation stars that they have not yet been sued for false advertising

S - The pour alone wafts a dark chocolate breeze with enough presence to evoke surprise and intrigue. Unfortunately the chocolate notes within the glass are somehow less intense, and are accompanied by prominent notes of diner coffee pot. On the plus side, a dirty earthiness envelops the malt tones to lend an interesting foundation.

T - Very disappointing. It's almost as if the beer has been rapidly degrading from the moment the cap was cracked. All the expression from the nose is present on the palate, but its form is now diluted and scatty. The coffee aspect fairs best, although a watery genealogy confirms its Denny's lineage. The decadent chocolate promised by the pour is a wash out, and the deep earthiness is all but lost. In its favor, a twist of toastiness is imparted, and the roasted malt bitterness prevails in conjunction with the modest hopping. Unfortunately the redeeming features are far from capable of filling the emptiness of the profile, and a lot is left to be desired.

M - It's clear that the composition of this beer is capable of the velvety smoothness professed by the label. However, commercial soda style carbonation detracts from the texture this brew could otherwise boast, and the final effect is a prickly affair.

D - This is in no way offensive, or excessive in any attribute other than its determination to nullify itself into a disappointingly lackluster experience.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2011 07:14:48 | More by SirRuss

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours jet black with a light brown head. In the aroma, a light roast and a small sweetness. In the taste, sweet cocoa and a light roast. A smooth and medium to lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a small dry cocoa in the aftertaste. A bit thin across the board, nothing really exciting, nice but boring.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 21:24:00 | More by OWSLEY069

srandycarter

California

3.3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Very dark, I would say black. Light tan head, tight bead, leaves to ring fast. TONS of lace.

S - Harsh roast up front, light hop underneath. Not much else.

T - Watered coffee. Sorry, can't give it much more.

M - Medium body, coffee, light cocoa, light malt. Light hops.. LIGHT.

D -GOOD to try.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 03:56:30 | More by srandycarter

ThirstyBird

Germany

3.33/5  rDev -18%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

I had this on-tap at Beachwood BBQ - from notes.
Appears opaque black. Cappuccino colored head that lasts.
Smells of Espresso and toasted malt.
Taste is of toasted/ burnt malt, licorice. A little chalky.
The mouthfeel on this beer is wonderful. So smooth, mildly carbonated. Medium body.
Nice sipper - one is enough - the bitter burnt flavor is intense.

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2009 22:32:03 | More by ThirstyBird

bohemiandonut

California

3.33/5  rDev -18%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours a little thin but dark, with tan bubbly head.
Smells more like a porter to me than a stout. Lots of sweet roasty coffee, vanilla, and some dark fruit.
Tastes like this as well. Pretty good at first with a great mouthfeel and tasty balanced malts. Medium-low carbonation.
Finish is a little weak with a bitter tannic dryness taking over. Glad to be able to pick up a six-pack of this, but it's not my favorite style and doesn't really improve on Mr. Smith's variety. Not bad though.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2010 03:01:28 | More by bohemiandonut

blakelive784

Colorado

3.33/5  rDev -18%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 fl oz bottle served in a snifter, reviewed live:

A - Pours the darkest shade of brown, with a disappointingly thin, tan, one finger head. Retention is fair.

S - Light roasted barley, faint cream and light coffee. Mild strength and generally appealing.

T - Medium roasted barley foundation opens to a sweet, creamy body. It's really simple; I actually don't get too many more notes off it. It's balanced extremely well, though, and plays well off of its simplicity.

M - Medium bodied, a bit coarse and a bit off an odd dry finish. I don't mind it but could be more smooth.

D - Not a bad beer overall, but doesn't have a whole lot going for it.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2012 01:04:10 | More by blakelive784

denver10

Colorado

3.34/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

A: Dark with a light brown head that settles on the edge of the glass

S: Rich, full of oatiness and some roasted espresso and chocolate, and some roastiness.

Taste: matches the smell pretty well. Get the oatiness up front which is then followed with the espresso and closes out with some chocolate and hops. And don't forget the roasted malts.

Mouthfeel: definitely creamy and some good body to it.

Overall: A decent oatmeal stout but not the best I have had. Definitely worth a try, and it is an enjoyable beer, but as a go to Oatmeal Stout there are better options out there for me.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2011 00:07:41 | More by denver10

Beaver13

Colorado

3.38/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle. Pours dark brown with a big creamy light tan head that retains well and laces the glass a little.

The aroma is roasted malt, oatmeal and some coffee.

The flavor is a little on the mild side - some sweet chocolate and caramel malts with some earthy coffee notes. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and fairly watery.

Overall, a decent oatmeal stout, but a little on the mild and sweet side. I slightly preferred the Slow Elk by Big Sky which is very similar.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 02:47:34 | More by Beaver13

mactrail

California

3.43/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pronounced cereal, grainy flavor. Big dose of charred malt with that touch of sourness. Hops are pretty much in the background. Decent head on the black-brown pour. Very light body with appropriate carbonation for a refreshing mouthfeel. Fairly dry but there is a touch of caramel. Spicy in the back of the throat. Just a slight nose of roast grain.

Pleasant drinkable average stout. Not quite the "velvet" one might hope for.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2011 01:59:53 | More by mactrail

DaveHS

California

3.45/5  rDev -15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A-Pours cola brown with 1/4 inch of fizzy tan head. No lacing. Looks like there's no shortage of carbonation. Lots of tiny bubbles climbing the edges of the glass.

S-Oats, bittersweet chocolate, Hershey's chocolate syrup, a touch of roasted malts.

T/M-Mouthfeel is thin, with some dry hop bitterness on the back end.Carbonation is a bit higher than I'd like. This is significantly roastier than the nose indicated.Flavors of bitter dark chocolate and dry hop bitterness make up the majority of the flavor profile. Falls apart mid-palate, where the thinness of the body fails to sustain interest.

O-Did they change this from last year? I remembered it being a lot more bold and rich. This is alright, but I have a sneaking suspicion something is different with the current batch.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 01:53:04 | More by DaveHS

Ynot2

California

3.48/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12 oz bottle into pint glass. A nice dark brown to black with a tan one finger head. The head faded to a thick lace.

Roasted malts, chocolate and coffee aromas come out pretty heavy almost immediately.

The initial taste was coffee and a bitter chocolate. A slight bitter aftertaste lingers in the mouth.

Mouth is really light for a stout, would have preferred a little more.

Drinkability was decent, not great, not bad. I would have another one.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2010 04:41:58 | More by Ynot2

Gmann

New York

3.48/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A. Pours near pitch black color with a short but dense head. Some lacing on the glass.

S. the aroma has light chocolate notes quite nutty. Light overall roast.

T. The taste is of a chalky chocolate. Good roasted nut flavor. A bit of an herbal bark flavor going on. Smooth from the oat but an odd flavor going on.

The feel is quite dry and chalky. Too chalky. The roast is light and flavorful. Meh.

O. A bit disappointed in this way too dry. Decent flavor. Both this and the bourbon barrel aged version didn't really do it for me. Too chalky.

Serving type: cask

04-20-2012 23:33:06 | More by Gmann