Mocha Merlin | Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Brewed by:
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
California, United States
firestonebeer.com
Style: English Oatmeal Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.50%
Availability: Fall
Notes / Commercial Description:
Formerly Velvet Mocha Merlin
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers
Ratings: 573 | Reviews: 132
3.5/5 rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4.02/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Very dark, opaque brown, almost black with a decent creamy milk chocolate head that subsides to just a persistent thin layer but does produce a bit of lacing.
The aroma is roasted malt, coffee and just a hint of cream.
The taste is toasted malt up front, coffee followed by milk chocolate, slightly sweet, finishing with a bite of roasted grain and coffee.
The body is light for oatmeal stout, but fairly smooth.
Overall it's a very enjoyable, tasty brew.
459 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Very dark, opaque brown, almost black with a decent creamy milk chocolate head that subsides to just a persistent thin layer but does produce a bit of lacing.
The aroma is roasted malt, coffee and just a hint of cream.
The taste is toasted malt up front, coffee followed by milk chocolate, slightly sweet, finishing with a bite of roasted grain and coffee.
The body is light for oatmeal stout, but fairly smooth.
Overall it's a very enjoyable, tasty brew.
459 characters
4.08/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Look - very dark - no light gets through - a nice 3 finger head that dissipated quickly though
Smell - coffee and burnt grains - not as aromatic as hoped - didn't really get chocolate
Taste - nice bite at first and sweet caramel / charred grain and wood - some coffee but barely any chocolate
Feel - lighter than expected - low/medium bodied - wanted thicker for a milk stout
Overall - very good beer that is easy drinking - not as powerful as I expected - Firestone brews are usually very flavorful and this is just not so much - but a good tasting brew
554 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Look - very dark - no light gets through - a nice 3 finger head that dissipated quickly though
Smell - coffee and burnt grains - not as aromatic as hoped - didn't really get chocolate
Taste - nice bite at first and sweet caramel / charred grain and wood - some coffee but barely any chocolate
Feel - lighter than expected - low/medium bodied - wanted thicker for a milk stout
Overall - very good beer that is easy drinking - not as powerful as I expected - Firestone brews are usually very flavorful and this is just not so much - but a good tasting brew
554 characters
4.33/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
12oz, drank directly out of the can. Tastes of chocolate and coffee, not too sweet, and not too bitter. Very pleasant beer that grows on you as you drink it. Overall it is one of the better milk stouts that I have ever drank.
225 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
12oz, drank directly out of the can. Tastes of chocolate and coffee, not too sweet, and not too bitter. Very pleasant beer that grows on you as you drink it. Overall it is one of the better milk stouts that I have ever drank.
225 characters
4.56/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured a black body with one-finger khaki head that left a lace ring. The aroma is mainly coffee and oats although some lactic qualities along with hints of milk chocolate slip in. Smooth, dry, well-balanced as the minimal lactic/chocolate sweetness keeps coffee in check and it's a delicious sipper.
302 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured a black body with one-finger khaki head that left a lace ring. The aroma is mainly coffee and oats although some lactic qualities along with hints of milk chocolate slip in. Smooth, dry, well-balanced as the minimal lactic/chocolate sweetness keeps coffee in check and it's a delicious sipper.
302 characters
3.75/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.2/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Hugely roasty nose with fresh coffee being greatly prominent. Some cream notes as well. The taste comes in with mildly acidic coffee. Silky chocolate plays a nice background. It’s somewhat creamy, but overall a little thin for my liking. Not bad for the style though.
Overall, this is a nice and flavorful oatmeal stout with a very sessionable ABV.
351 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Hugely roasty nose with fresh coffee being greatly prominent. Some cream notes as well. The taste comes in with mildly acidic coffee. Silky chocolate plays a nice background. It’s somewhat creamy, but overall a little thin for my liking. Not bad for the style though.
Overall, this is a nice and flavorful oatmeal stout with a very sessionable ABV.
351 characters
3.75/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.5/5 rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4.49/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.23/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.1/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
12oz canned 12/19/18 (1 month ago) poured into a perfect pint glass at fridge temp 5.5% ABV. The beer pours dark brown with ruby highlights and mocha colored head. The head recedes to a thin film and ring leaving some lacing. The aroma is sweetened cold brew coffee. The taste is medium strength cold brew coffee first with the lactose sweetness and chocolate rolling in behind. The balance of bitterness to sweet is just on the side of bitter. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, adequately carbonated and semi dry in the finish. Overall, very good. Looks and nose are first class. A little tangy & thin for a oatmeal or milk stout (it seems to use both ingredients). Still very enjoyable.
692 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
12oz canned 12/19/18 (1 month ago) poured into a perfect pint glass at fridge temp 5.5% ABV. The beer pours dark brown with ruby highlights and mocha colored head. The head recedes to a thin film and ring leaving some lacing. The aroma is sweetened cold brew coffee. The taste is medium strength cold brew coffee first with the lactose sweetness and chocolate rolling in behind. The balance of bitterness to sweet is just on the side of bitter. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, adequately carbonated and semi dry in the finish. Overall, very good. Looks and nose are first class. A little tangy & thin for a oatmeal or milk stout (it seems to use both ingredients). Still very enjoyable.
692 characters
4.23/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.77/5 rDev +18.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Mocha Merlin from Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
4.02 out of
5 with
573 ratings
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