Velvet Merlin - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

NWer

Washington

4.05/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Promoted as a Merkin @ local joint known for small number but top quality tap line.
Couldn't wait.
Enjoyed the beer enough but where was the bourbon? I reviewed it as a Merkin & blamed the thin taste on too cold serving temperature.
Elliott Bay Pizza later tweeted that it wasn't a Merkin at all but a Merlin.
That's better. Explains the taste but still doesn't excuse the serving temperature.
Still, I have the growler to go & can give it an updated rating on my terms in the future.
With the $10 price tag for the growler, not complaining at all. Should have known it was too good to be true. They're allowed to screw up once in a while. They're still my go-to local place for pizza & killer beer.
As a non-bourbon barrel aged oatmeal stout, this is excellent and more in line with what I expect from FW not the disappointment when I expected it to be a Merkin. Deleted my Merkin review.

Serving type: cask

10-13-2012 12:44:38 | More by NWer

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.9/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On cask at Max's today.

The beer pours a blackish brown color with good head retention and lacing. The nose is a bit shy, but I still pick up some nice coffee, light vanilla and light bourbon and light chocolate. On the palate... you can tell this is a low alcohol beer, but damn does it deliver a lot of flavor. The flavor profile basically replicates the nose, but there's just more of everything. There's also a hint of tobacco, smoke and earthiness in the finish that I appreciate as well. It helps to dry out the modest sweetness in this beer. Mouthfeel is pretty good. The beer is soft and plush on the palate, though it's a bit thin as well (but at 5.5% abv., that's hardly a surprise).

While nothing earth shattering here, it's hard not to be impressed with a beer showing this much flavor with such low alcohol. Pretty impressive really...

Serving type: cask

04-27-2012 19:27:53 | More by johnmichaelsen

Gmann

New York

3.48/5  rDev -14.1%
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

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Served from the beer engine at Papago Brewing Co. in Scottsdale, AZ.

A - Slowly settles in a thick, tar black with a thin, smooth, beige head. Looks like the top of a latte in a coffee shop.

S - Heavy roasted malt in the nose with smoked and charred meat.

T - Tastes like a stout milkshake. Chocolate and roasted malt dominate. Not a lot of depth if you're looking for several characteristics to describe it. Seriously just like melted chocolate.

M - As you'd expect from a cask, it's extremely smooth. A sweet, chocolate aftertaste that lingers. You can taste and feel the difference between cask and draft. Two very different beers, in a good way. Velvet Merlin is one of the better oatmeal stouts in production. Plain and simple.

Serving type: cask

10-31-2011 01:44:54 | More by Gatch

Phelps

Arizona

3.58/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Hand-pumped from the cask at Papago during a recent Firestone Walker promo. Served in an imperial pint.

A: pours the pervasive brown of dark chocolate with faint highlights of sunset orange visible at the edges. A foamy two-finger head the consistency of soap bubbles and the color of ground ginger sits atop, receding slowly but stopping the departure at about the one-finger mark. No lacing.

S: very chocolatey. Lots of cocoa powder and toasted crackers. Some coffee emerges as it warms. It's one-dimensional, but decent.

T: strangely, this seems way more coffee-forward than from the bottle. Flavors of cocoa powder and slightly acidic dark chocolate are also present.

M: medium-bodied with a lovely smoothness. Nearly flat, but that's to be expected. Not as full as from the bottle.

D: the brew goes down easily enough, but there's just none of the complexity or fullness I get from the bottle. Cask isn't a format that does Velvet Merkin any favors.

Serving type: cask

11-14-2010 23:21:55 | More by Phelps

Floydster

California

4.03/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a snifter at Blue Palms out of the handpump for seven dollars on 11/14/08, reviewed from notes

A-Practically black color but the edges are lighter for sure, so very dark brown, 1 1/4 inch full frothy medium tan head that lasted three or four minutes, nice retention, some lacing
S-Main smell at first is the bourbon and the slightly spicy scents that come from it, also lots of oak and vanilla, it has milk chocolate, roasted malts, cream, and grains as well
T-It starts off a little sweet with some cocoa, there is some light coffee in the middle, bourbon notes are in the finish with lots more vanilla than expected, like the slight twang and spice from the whiskey too, flavors mold together with this one well and I can really see why this mixed so well with a dark Belgian in a previous blend, nicely balanced and a flavorful oatmeal stout
M-Slightly dry, roasty, and faintly sweet mouthfeel, thinner body out of the cask but still medium, carbonation is obviously minimal, taste lingers
D-Could have drank lots more of this stuff, light on the stomach, smooth and very easy to drink for an oatmeal stout, could even make a session beer, taste does not get tiresome

I was excited to try this after having Saucerful of Merkin and wanting to know what those two components tasted like by themselves, this beer is right around six percent alcohol supposedly but it feels even lighter than that at times, would like to drink again, recommended

Serving type: cask

11-16-2008 23:01:12 | More by Floydster

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

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

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

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

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

watermelonman

California

3.68/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pouring to a thick near black, head is minimal and lace is merely a few lines.

The smell is good overall but a does of phenols is getting in the way, a touch too strong to meld in with the better flavors. Malts are more roasted than I like in an oatmeal stout, yet this beer comes up a little thin when compared to the non oatmeal variety. I think it is a line sitter than cannot quite decide what it wants to be. Still, a tasty effort overall, definitely smooth and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 05:39:30 | More by watermelonman

superspak

Michigan

4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got in a trade with swingracex. 12 ounce bottle into pint glass, bottled on 2/21/2013. Pours fairly crystal clear almost opaque dark brown color with a 1 finger fairly dense khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of milk chocolate, cocoa, roasted malt, oats, toast, brown bread, light coffee, floral, and roasted earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of roasted malt notes with oats and light hops. Taste of milk chocolate, cocoa, oats, roasted malt, toast, brown bread, light coffee, floral, and roasted earthiness. Slight earthy roasted bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of milk chocolate, cocoa, oats, roasted malt, light coffee, toast, and light earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice balance of roasted/bready malt flavors with oats and light hops; with nice robustness and zero cloying flavors after the finish; moderately dry on the finish as well. Medium carbonation and body; with a moderately creamy, smooth, and crisp mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with hardly any warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a damn nice oatmeal stout. All around nice flavor balance and robustness; and extremely smooth and crisp to drink. A very enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 04:04:57 | More by superspak

lighthabit

Oregon

3.7/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

never really cared for this one before, always had a hint of dull, dry, bitter, but tonight i opened one that's been sitting in the fridge for a while, and the hint above is not there, it's picked up a hint of chocolate/licorice, and it's creamy, much nicer feel than before. tonight was straight from the bottle, but in the past, poured in a glass. color is typical dark. one i'll revist . . .

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 06:29:17 | More by lighthabit

blackie

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

single from Wilbur's, Fort Collins

a: served in a short chalice, all that’s on hand in the hotel, deep stained brown in color, khaki head with average retention

s: the nose opens with grainy graham crackers and earthy roasted malt, woody coffee, subtle hints of smoke, toasted oat breads, mild earthy hops, qutie nuanced for a roast product - simple at first whiff, but there's a lot to dig into here

m: carbonation gentle, light-moderate, with a medium body, easy on the palate with a slight creaminess

t: toasted grains grace the palate with flavors of earth, nuts, coffee, smoke and wood - delicate and balanced, only slight burnt sugars present, hops earthy and impart a mild bitterness to the finish that lingers with a slight smoky roast note

o: very nice oatmeal stout that's incredibly drinkable, well balanced while showcasing the roasted malts and oats without interruption

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 15:46:02 | More by blackie

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A: coal black with a mellow glow up to the light... head dies shortly after the pour, lace blobs stick here and there... pretty much what one would expect

S: dominant, yet hardly overbearing roasted barley with a decent showing of mild-moderate dark crystal malt...coffee and perhaps chocolate syrup later... nice balance, supple yet subtle

T: noticeably roastier than most Oatmeal Stouts I've had and sports a decidedly ash-tray like aftertaste - but not in a bad way necessarily.... I'd be surprised if they didn't use an English yeast in this - maybe it's the hops they used.... bit of a tinge of cardboard in the finish... clean malt flavors overall

M: nice, smooth, faintly-silky, fullish body - but not slick

O: I believe the label had a "best by" or "bottled on" date of Dec 2012 - might explain some of the oxidized flavors, if the former.... either way, one of the more solid, somewhat more authentic takes on this style I've come across... I could drink it again

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 16:49:04 | More by Bouleboubier

writerLJBerg

Oregon

3.9/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle

A: Pours an opaque mahogany with carbonation speckling the sides of the glass. Creamy head dissipates quickly.

N: Grass, leafy hops, and milk chocolate. Light roasted malt and mild coffee. Oatmeal is prevalent in nose.

T: A fine balnace leaning a shade to the malty sweet side. Hops add a nice roundness and the oatmeal adds some pleasant grain. Lots of chocolate notes.

M: carbonated and feeling; drinks like a heavier beer. Quite smooth.

O: A perfect 'summer' stout. Easy to sip and a pleasure to drink while grilling.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 15:59:34 | More by writerLJBerg

tastyville

California

4.79/5  rDev +18.3%
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

BeerRefugee

Oklahoma

2.91/5  rDev -28.1%
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

falloutsnow

Illinois

4.21/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

From: Binny's, Bloomingdale, IL
Date: Bottled 12/21/2012
Glass: Tulip

Velvet Merlin is a delicious oatmeal stout, fairly rich in body and quite pronounced in aroma and flavor. Not priced inappropriately, and of high quality: this is a brewery that does things right.

Pours a 1.5cm tall head of light tan foam, made up of tightly packed, small bubbles. Retention is above average, lasting over two minutes. Leaves significant lacing along sides of the glass. Beer has a dark brown to black body, opaque, with light bringing out slight amber hues around the edges. Carbonation is only visible as it moves upwards along the side of the glass.

Aroma is of rich, bitter baker's chocolate, somewhat of acrid roasted coffee, burnt toast, yet balanced by a caramelized sugar sweetness.

The dominant flavors are varying degrees and types of roasted malt, contributing a variety of dark chocolate and roasted coffee bean flavors, with support from tastes similar to caramel and burnt toast. Front of palate notices blackened malt sweetness, with light chocolate and coffee flavors in the mix as well. Mid-palate finds heavy dark chocolate, roasted coffee beans, faint caramel, and hints of burnt toast flavors, all blended excellently. Back of palate picks up roasted malt, dark chocolate, charred toast, thick caramel sweetness, and slight cherry esters. Aftertaste of roasted malt sweetness and acridity, dark chocolate syrup, espresso roast coffee beans, and mild caramel malt.

Beer is medium-bodied with the thickness and smooth flow that one expects from an oatmeal stout. Carbonation is of medium to medium-low intensity, resulting in a gently foamy, slightly medium-heavy overall mouthfeel, well suited for the beer and the style. Closes quite dry, with substantial stickiness lingering upon the palate and lips.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 05:47:19 | More by falloutsnow

spoony

Colorado

3.86/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

From a 355 ml bottle (dated January 8, 2013) into a globe.

A-An aggressive pour fails to produce any head. The beer is slightly thin and watery looking. Color is dark, dark brown with ruby highlights. No bubbles visible.

S-The smell is a pleasant mixture of roasted malts, creamy oats, milk chocolate (lots of chocolate) with a touch of char and old coffee bitterness.

T-The taste is on the sweet side with milky chocolate and oats. I found it a little tight at first (45-50 degrees), but it opened up nicely as it neared room temperature. The chocolate came out along with some roasted malty flavors.

M-The feel is on the thin side with a fine, prickly carbonation.

O-This is a decent smelling and tasting brew, but I feel let down by the completely lackluster appearance and mediocre feel. Perhaps I got a bad bottle, but thin and watery is not how I prefer my oatmeal stouts. I am also surprised by how this beer's flavor profile blossomed at 65 degrees. In other words, this beer is something of an enigma for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 01:02:01 | More by spoony

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.41/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Firestone Walker Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout
12 oz. bottle, dated"01/08/13 12:01"
$3.50 @ The Beer Shoppe, Ardmore, PA

So what is it that makes an oatmeal stout, because just using oatmeal doesn't exactly do it?

Well, it's black in color with a long-lasting head of pillowy dark tan foam. When held to the light ruby highlights can be seen glimmering along the edges of the glass. Oddly, the lacing could be better as it only leaves spots and streaks behind.

The aroma displays graininess with both straightforward pale malt and a mild roastiness as well. There's a bit of yeasty fruitiness, and a suggestion of floral hops as well. They all work together, and although there's a bit of a sweet coffee aroma to it, it's not overly roasty or "harsh".

In the mouth is where oatmeal stouts seem to shine the brightest: it's medium-bodied and silky smooth with a fine bubbled median carbonation. As it warms it becomes nicely creamy across the palate.

Oatmeal stout is a derivative of the sweet stout style, and as such it should have a sweetish balance, offset by some delicate roastiness that conjures up flavors of milk chocolate, creamy coffee, toffee, and cocoa or fudge. Check, check, check! The bitterness is restrained, somewhere in the upper 20's, and there's just a subtle hint of underlying dark malt acidity that helps to balance it. Following that, there's a slight hint of floral and grassy hop flavor but it's quite restrained.

This is a beer that's about malt, and about drinkability - although it's generally more to be savored than gulped! It's flavorful without being aggressive, and it's complex but the components are very well woven together into one main fabric of flavor. Add to that a remarkable smoothness across the palate and a standard alcohol content, and you've got a remarkably enjoyable and drinkable stout.

It's not an easy beer to brew because the balance between malt sweetness, hop bitterness, and dark malt acidity is so important; yet Firestone Walker has pulled it off. Quite nice!

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 13:55:32 | More by NeroFiddled

Star80

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dated 1/22/13

A - Pours out a pitch black color with a tan head, quickly dissipated.

S - Smells like lots of chocolate, some sourdough bread, malted milk, and smoke.

T - Tastes like a burst of chocolate, dark roasted coffee and malts, some sourdough, and some leafy smoke.

M - Mouthfeel is good.

O - Overall a beautiful, sessionable oatmeal stout that is definitely on the chocolatey side of things. Another great beer from Firestone and a fills a needed gap in the sessionable American Stout arena.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 23:13:29 | More by Star80

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

(Served in a snifter)
Bottled 12/04/12
A- This beer pours a get black body with a thin wisp of tan head and a glowing walnut brown hue at the base.

S- The inky black malt aroma has some earthy tar notes and a deep coffee hint comes through. There are some nice graham notes that come through as it warms

T- The big black earthy inky roasted malt has an almost smoky quality it is so dark and some slightly sweet malt finish that is pretty clean in the aftertaste.

M- The medium mouthfeel has a slippery texture and no alcohol heat noticed

O- This big black malt flavor is nice with some inky qualities but the finish and body really get thin a lot as it opens up and there isn’t much to support that big malt flavor. It would be nice to have some alcohol or hops or sweetness to finish what the flavor starts.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 14:05:39 | More by rhoadsrage

BWED

Pennsylvania

4.01/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pint pour into tumbler at Monk's Cafe, Philadelphia.

A- Very deep mahogany, not quite black, with a brown half finger dwindling head. Stays at a ring, with no lacing.

S- Smoky coffee, a slight chocolate end, with no noticeable hop aroma.

T- Smoky coffee again, rather mild. Again, no hop.

M- Rather light and clean for an Oatmeal, but a good drinker. This could be a beefy session ale.

O- Was hoping for a thicker feel, coming from an oatmeal. Also, the smokiness caught me a little off guard, but in a good way ( I like smoke). A nice and solid beer, but nothing too extraordinary.

Serving type: on-tap

03-15-2013 00:40:27 | More by BWED