Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

Velvet Merlin Oatmeal StoutVelvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Oatmeal Stout
Ranked #93
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
89
Ranked #10,528
Avg:
4 | pDev: 9.75%
Reviews:
709
Ratings:
3,131
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 30, 2023
Added:
Nov 13, 2008
Wants:
  248
Gots:
  641
A decadent oatmeal stout. Velvet Merlin offers robust cocoa and espresso aromas with subtle American hop nuances. Rich dark chocolate and roasted coffee flavor with a creamy mouth feel and wonderfully dry finish create the perfect balance in this full-bodied stout. Ideal for sipping in the winter months or at the end of a meal.

Original name was "Velvet Merkin", but name was changed when it began to be bottled in 2010.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfaqU30twwU&feature=youtube_gdata
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Pegasus:
Photo of Pegasus
Reviewed by Pegasus from Texas

4/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Huge, coarse dark tan head crowns a body as black as night. The head retention is quite good, Thin, scattered lacing adorns the glass walls.

Aroma: Roasted malt utterly dominates the aroma, although cold coffee and some bitter cocoa are present as well.

Taste: Opens with roasted malt, cocoa, and bitter coffee. As the taste progresses, the roasted malt, cocoa, and coffee meld together, with the oatmeal serving to remove any harsh edges from the taste. Finishes with a long, lingering note of semi-sweet cocoa.

Mouth feel: Very soft and gracious on the palate, silky and smooth, with only a hint of carbonation, it is well-named.

Drinkability/notes: Very well-done, an illustration of what a skilled brewer can do with this style.

Presentation: Packaged in a short twelve-ounce brown glass bottle, sealed with a pry-off crown, served in a New Belgium Brewing chalice. Production date, per the label, was '12/02/14 11:13'. Purchased on 04/24/2015 in Texas.
Apr 25, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

4/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz bottle from Boise Co-op. Nice mellow, woody aroma, superb smoky, chocolaty taste. Silky smooth body, sweet and smoky finish. All around great stout.
Nov 30, 2023
 
Rated: 3.94 by Dave2234 from Minnesota

Jun 03, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by hester7 from Texas

Mar 01, 2021
 
Rated: 4.38 by Sinister from New York

Feb 21, 2021
 
Rated: 4.04 by DucksFan16 from Tennessee

Sep 02, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by ryanf2192 from District of Columbia

Jun 09, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

May 13, 2020
Photo of Act25
Reviewed by Act25 from New Jersey

4.23/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Now in cans. As fine a 5.5% velvety, flavorful Stout as can be found. Must blind test against Lefthand and the rest.
a) Massive lace over black body.
s/t) Enough roast to temper the sweet of chocolate, mocha, vanilla, prune. Some grass and hops also balance.
f) Velvet to core as good as any.
Feb 03, 2020
 
Rated: 4.19 by jmbeerdude91 from Arizona

Jan 05, 2020
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4.09/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bottled 10/6/15; drank 10/28/15 @ the Yarchives.

Brown/black/purple appearance.

A rough pour yielded a HUGE tan head (careful pouring!); strong lace.

Oatmeal, cream & peanut butter notes in the nose; inviting!

Creamy medium thick mouthfeel. Oats, cream & faint milk chocolate flavors up front; peanut butter notes on the finish.

An easy to drink, flavorful fall treat. I'd have another.
Nov 23, 2019
 
Rated: 4.21 by eluvah from New York

Aug 23, 2019
Photo of maddogruss
Reviewed by maddogruss from New Jersey

3.59/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
(nitro-tap)
A: pours dark body with reddish hues and a thick ear with good retention and lacing
S: subtle smelling beer, but not much to it
T: somewhat roasted toffee notes, but very light. Some roasted notes with a subtle, creamy, oaty aftertaste
M: medium bodied and pretty creamy; not too bad
O: ok mouthfeel and taste combo; ok overall, but nothing impressive.
Aug 09, 2019
Photo of mintzmeet
Reviewed by mintzmeet from Washington

3.55/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Nice nitro stout! Very creamy. Not a whole lot of flavor, but excellent texture. Smooth taste of lightly toasted grains. Incredible head, beautiful lacing.
Jul 06, 2019
 
Rated: 4.49 by sunnovgoat from California

Jun 28, 2019
Photo of DoctorZombies
Reviewed by DoctorZombies from Florida

4.26/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
2018 version. Pours black with ruby edges at 57 degrees; light tan cap; good retention; heavy ring, moderate lace; thin legs. Roast malt, bourbon, whiff of vanilla. Lite roast, chocolate, coffee. Medium body, moderate carbonation, no warmth. Drinks like a porter as it feels thin for an oatmeal stout; nicely balanced flavors, just wish it had more...
Jun 18, 2019
Photo of Oh_Dark_Star
Rated by Oh_Dark_Star from Washington

4.04/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Tasty but a bit weak and thin
May 03, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania

May 01, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by Kolb from Montana

Apr 24, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by PaleAleWalt from New York

Mar 01, 2019
Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout from Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 3131 ratings