Velvet Merlin - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

blackie

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +1%
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 -0.7%
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 -3.9%
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%
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 -28.3%
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

falloutsnow

Illinois

4.21/5  rDev +3.7%
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 dark chocolate syrup, espresso roast coffee beans, and sweet caramel malt.

Beer is medium-bodied with the thickness 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 -4.9%
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 +8.6%
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 -0.2%
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 -3.9%
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 -1.2%
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

rfgetz

New Jersey

3.81/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a dark, deep near black, moderate cap of grayish tinted tan froth. Scent is dark, roasty with some ash and char, notes of spent coffee grinds, bitter cocoa, some leafy hops thrown in and a touch of dark berries. Taste follows scent... dark and roasty, coffee, grains, cocoa, leafy hops, dark berry. Expected a bit more body and smoothness from style. Decent oatmeal stout, doesn't wow in any particular way.

Serving type: on-tap

03-11-2013 15:16:08 | More by rfgetz

Jonada

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12oz bottled on 1/8/13. Served in a Founders imperial pint glass

Appearance: Very dark brown, but not quite black with some ruby red around the edges of the glass when held up to the light. Poured about 2 fingers of a light tan head. Did'nt leave much lacing

Smell: Roasted malt, coffee, slight sweetness, dark chocolate.

Taste: Dark roasted coffee, burt malt, both dark and milk chocolate, with hints of vanilla and a slight earthiness.

Mouthfeel: Lighter side of medium bodied and a little thinner than I would have expected. It's lacking some of the creaminess I would look for in an oatmeal stout, but the finish is incredibly smooth. Carbonation is medium.

Overall: This one is a winner. I definitely recommend grabbing a few bottles if you can find it. It doesn't rank up there with some of the great imperial stouts, but it's certainly one of the best sessionable stouts out there.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 06:22:22 | More by Jonada

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

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

SolipsismalCat

Pennsylvania

4.19/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a pint glass.

A: Dark black with two-finger, tan, creamy head that lasted a long time. Great lacing.

S: Deep roasted malt. Coffee. Wonderful.

T: Light to moderate sweetness and light bitterness. Wonderful roasted malt flavor. Coffee, oats, milk.

M: Medium bodied with soft carbonation. Very smooth and slightly warm going down.

O: Delicious Oatmeal stout. Very roasted. Looks and feels fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 01:24:45 | More by SolipsismalCat

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

4.11/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Cheers to Goblinmunkey7 for giving me a bottle of this

Consumed 2/28/13

Appearance: Dark brown, some nice clarity around the edges - small, light tan head - fades to a minimal, wispy cap - leaves some nice streaks of lacing though

Smell: Roasty and lightly sweet - roasted grains, with some touches of burnt, chocolate malts - some dark chocolate as well - a distinct, lightly sweet oatmeal aroma - some chocolatey, grainy sweetness overall

Taste: Roasty oatmeal with a splash of coffee and chocolate - roasty malts, toasted malts, and some lightly sweet caramel malt - touches of roasty coffee, dark chocolate, and some semisweet chocolate - minimal bitterness, mostly of the roasty variety - some cooked sugar - nicely balanced overall

Mouthfeel: Medium body, about as smooth as an oatmeal stout should be, clean, nicely dry and very drinkable

Overall: Merlin's beard!

This is quite the clean, well-balanced, and drinkable oatmeal stout. No surprise from Firestone Walker... I would definitely seek this out. I get other Firestone Walker beers, and I hope this eventually makes it to the East Coast, as this is one of the best oatmeal stouts I've had in a while.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 07:13:41 | More by angrybabboon

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

A-dark black with a lack of head

S-dark chocolate, very sweet. Sugary caramels. Medium strength

T-great flavor of roasted grains and very sweet chocolate. The ingredients are all of high quality and very raw tasting. Tastes like a real beer. Matching after-taste

M-medium carbonation with a semi dry finish.

O-it's a great flavor. I wish it was a bit creamier though and less dry. I think it'd be perfect via nitro. Definitely something I'd recommend anyone to try

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2013 16:36:57 | More by AdamBear

Fatehunter

Oregon

4.13/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A finger of tan head on a pitch black body.
The aroma is strong burnt malt.
The taste is roasted malt, a touch of chocolate and only the mildest bitterness at the end.
The texture is, well, velvety smooth with low carbonation.
The burnt malt dominates here, which I like. It's a top stout.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 05:11:25 | More by Fatehunter

timc100

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A: Dark, dark, dark rich brown with a full ice cream dark beige colored head.
S: Fresh roasted coffee, bitter dark chocolate, big roasted malts.
T: Full of flavor - fresh roasted coffee, dark chocolate, subtle rich milk chocolate, roasted malts
P: Medium body, incredibly smooth - like silk
O: Wow, just a fantastic beer. Huge flavor and feel for a low abv beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 22:54:39 | More by timc100

arlingtonjoe

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

a:nice dark coloring with 2 finger tan head, slight cascading in the glass from a strong pour

s:breadiness from the yeast, subtle coffee, earthy

t:slight bitterness from the oats followed by dark chocolate and a little licorice

m:a little light in body but has a nice resinous charachter

o:nice addition in the lighter stout category and at 5.5 abv you cant go wrong

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 05:27:12 | More by arlingtonjoe

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

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

4.04/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A-dark brown black color with a nice tan head and decent lacing

S-dark roasted malt, chocolate, coffee,

T-dark malt, chocolate, coffee, light bitterness in finish with hints of pine

F-medium body with moderate carbonation, smooth

O-easy drinking with solid flavor, could see this as a regular

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 21:47:49 | More by MDDMD

Vonerichs

Illinois

4.11/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark brown body, lightening up around the edges. The head is minimal and doesn't last long.

The nose is abundant with coffee, roasted malt, and chocolate.

The taste is bitter coffee on both gbe front and bsck end, chocolate in the middle.

I was expecting the body to be a little softer considering its an oatmeal stout and the name. It's still smooth, but the carbonation is a little prickly.

A very solid stout. I especially appreciate the modest abv and robust flavor.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 03:49:46 | More by Vonerichs

jvillefan

California

4.45/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Velvet Merlin

A: Deep brown with a mocha colored lace head.

S: There is heavy roast aromas with chocolate and toffee.

T: Nice lighter chocolate, coffee, and toffee flavors. This is one of the better non barrel aged stouts out there.

M: It has a nice viscosity and mild carbonation

O: Great beer, worth getting if you can get it.

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2013 01:42:01 | More by jvillefan