Mocha Merlin | Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Brewed by:
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
California, United States
firestonewalker.com
Style: Oatmeal Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.50%
Availability: Fall
Notes / Commercial Description:
Formerly Velvet Mocha Merlin
Added by JayPeso on 10-25-2014
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers
Ratings: 484 | Reviews: 115
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
4.06/5 rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
The additives dilute the head’s duration and stick as well as the feel. (As almost always) Beer is compromises by the trade offs of additives. (Look + Feel) 3.75
The smell is lovely roasty, coffee of quality, well made with suitable char and hop to offset any sweetness.
Wood fire included. (Smell 4)
The taste is outstanding with a very long, bitter-sweet, well-made arc on the tongue that includes the aromatics plus I find a long clean finish that outpunches its ABV. If you’re an espresso drinker this is for you.
O: Outstanding and original, not me too, among the best of the espresso stouts.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
The additives dilute the head’s duration and stick as well as the feel. (As almost always) Beer is compromises by the trade offs of additives. (Look + Feel) 3.75
The smell is lovely roasty, coffee of quality, well made with suitable char and hop to offset any sweetness.
Wood fire included. (Smell 4)
The taste is outstanding with a very long, bitter-sweet, well-made arc on the tongue that includes the aromatics plus I find a long clean finish that outpunches its ABV. If you’re an espresso drinker this is for you.
O: Outstanding and original, not me too, among the best of the espresso stouts.
603 characters
4.25/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
the coffee spike really makes this, a next level beer, and worth the high praise it receives. i think the cool thing about having coffee in it, is that it contributes a lot more than just coffee character, like, there are synergies it is responsible for that make this special, well beyond the nutty, sweet, roasty java thats all over the nose and taste of this one. for one, i think it calls up some cool nuance in the dark grain that is a little harder to fully appreciate in the original. chocolate is the main note i get now that i dont so much in that one, dark and milk alike, sweet and bitter, rich in a fancy and high end sort of way, and i think the coffee addition is responsible for it. i also think the coffee adds a lot of depth, like it highlights some of the roast in the dark barley, earthy and bitter, and it pulls up a slightly sweet caramel malt aspect to balance in the middle, toffee notes and light smoke to it. on top of that i really like the coffee itself, smooth and heavy, some caffeine to it, and its warming, feels like morning, and works in both cold weather as a cozy sort of thing, and in warm weather like a cold brewed coffee over ice might refresh. its beautiful, a more nuanced and complete beer than the original, still frothy and full from the oats, just awesome, and of the finest quality. one of the better firestone beers in recent memory for me!
1,387 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
the coffee spike really makes this, a next level beer, and worth the high praise it receives. i think the cool thing about having coffee in it, is that it contributes a lot more than just coffee character, like, there are synergies it is responsible for that make this special, well beyond the nutty, sweet, roasty java thats all over the nose and taste of this one. for one, i think it calls up some cool nuance in the dark grain that is a little harder to fully appreciate in the original. chocolate is the main note i get now that i dont so much in that one, dark and milk alike, sweet and bitter, rich in a fancy and high end sort of way, and i think the coffee addition is responsible for it. i also think the coffee adds a lot of depth, like it highlights some of the roast in the dark barley, earthy and bitter, and it pulls up a slightly sweet caramel malt aspect to balance in the middle, toffee notes and light smoke to it. on top of that i really like the coffee itself, smooth and heavy, some caffeine to it, and its warming, feels like morning, and works in both cold weather as a cozy sort of thing, and in warm weather like a cold brewed coffee over ice might refresh. its beautiful, a more nuanced and complete beer than the original, still frothy and full from the oats, just awesome, and of the finest quality. one of the better firestone beers in recent memory for me!
1,387 characters
4.25/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.41/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2.96/5 rDev -26.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3
3.84/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A thanks to the captain of the canquest, woodychandler, for this beer. Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a black color with a 1 inch head. Smell is of coffee, some cream. Taste is coffee with cream, light chocolate, some hints of oats. Feels full bodied in the mouth and overall is a quality beer.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A thanks to the captain of the canquest, woodychandler, for this beer. Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a black color with a 1 inch head. Smell is of coffee, some cream. Taste is coffee with cream, light chocolate, some hints of oats. Feels full bodied in the mouth and overall is a quality beer.
293 characters
4.24/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.32/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: Dark pour. Thick tan head that fades too fast.
S: Rich, roasted coffee, some cream and vanilla.
T: Full roast coffee flavor, some cream and vanilla, malted oats to finish.
F: Full bodied, heavy but velvety smooth. Moderate carbonation.
O: Outstanding.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: Dark pour. Thick tan head that fades too fast.
S: Rich, roasted coffee, some cream and vanilla.
T: Full roast coffee flavor, some cream and vanilla, malted oats to finish.
F: Full bodied, heavy but velvety smooth. Moderate carbonation.
O: Outstanding.
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4.08/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Nearing the end of my random build a 6 pack of stouts. Huge Velvet Merlin fan, I almost shat myself when I saw a mocha version. Let's give it a spin
Pours very dark into my pint glass. Light mocha colored .75" head. Recedes slowly to a solid light mocha ring. Subtle lacing throughout session. Beer is dark with ruby highlights shining through. Body appears to be quite clear.
First impression while pouring the beer was a strong green bell pepper aroma--both out of the can and in the pint glass. After the early volatiles gassed off, a nice medley of maple syrup, chocolate, gentle coffee emerged. As beer warmed up, green pepper aroma re-emerged, albeit it less intensely.
Great balance of flavors. Sweet caramel malts, gentle coffee. Low roast notes. Beer finishes sweet, and a ghost of sweetness emerges a few seconds later. Hint of earthy hops. Medium low hop bitterness. Smooth and soft.
Medium full bodied. Medium carbonation.
This was a very nice beer. Lost points for the weird green pepper aroma at the beginning and a lack of lacing throughout the session. This is a good beer, however I can see this NOT aging well due to how delicate it is. Only bought one of these, but I will happily seek out more.
1,219 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Nearing the end of my random build a 6 pack of stouts. Huge Velvet Merlin fan, I almost shat myself when I saw a mocha version. Let's give it a spin
Pours very dark into my pint glass. Light mocha colored .75" head. Recedes slowly to a solid light mocha ring. Subtle lacing throughout session. Beer is dark with ruby highlights shining through. Body appears to be quite clear.
First impression while pouring the beer was a strong green bell pepper aroma--both out of the can and in the pint glass. After the early volatiles gassed off, a nice medley of maple syrup, chocolate, gentle coffee emerged. As beer warmed up, green pepper aroma re-emerged, albeit it less intensely.
Great balance of flavors. Sweet caramel malts, gentle coffee. Low roast notes. Beer finishes sweet, and a ghost of sweetness emerges a few seconds later. Hint of earthy hops. Medium low hop bitterness. Smooth and soft.
Medium full bodied. Medium carbonation.
This was a very nice beer. Lost points for the weird green pepper aroma at the beginning and a lack of lacing throughout the session. This is a good beer, however I can see this NOT aging well due to how delicate it is. Only bought one of these, but I will happily seek out more.
1,219 characters
3.83/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Canned on 11/8/17. Dark brown to black body, with a thin ring of beige head.
Aroma has quite an astounding bit of black and green pepper action, with very very faint subtle hints of vanilla.
Luckily it doesn't carry over very strongly in the flavor profile. The coffee is there, a light breakfast blend, with nice fudge flavors hiding in the background. Hints of vanilla and caramel hang around near the finish. Hints of berry. All of these flavors don't really come off strong in any way, it's more an amalgamation of them. The sweetness is very faint but helps balance the roastiness of the coffee.
Feel is velvety smooth with a mild to medium carbonation, light roasty dryness and fruity acidity on the finish.
Overall, after having midnight oil, this isn't as intense or flavorful, but the added sweetness is a welcome change. It's a decent beer, probably not something I'd buy several of though.
908 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Canned on 11/8/17. Dark brown to black body, with a thin ring of beige head.
Aroma has quite an astounding bit of black and green pepper action, with very very faint subtle hints of vanilla.
Luckily it doesn't carry over very strongly in the flavor profile. The coffee is there, a light breakfast blend, with nice fudge flavors hiding in the background. Hints of vanilla and caramel hang around near the finish. Hints of berry. All of these flavors don't really come off strong in any way, it's more an amalgamation of them. The sweetness is very faint but helps balance the roastiness of the coffee.
Feel is velvety smooth with a mild to medium carbonation, light roasty dryness and fruity acidity on the finish.
Overall, after having midnight oil, this isn't as intense or flavorful, but the added sweetness is a welcome change. It's a decent beer, probably not something I'd buy several of though.
908 characters
4.56/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
L - Deep black with hints of mahogany highlighting the edges with a smooth, thin tan head that provides a slight amount of lacing.
S - Espresso along with notes of coffee along with sweet malt.
T - Roasted coffee and espresso notes dominate up front followed by semisweet chocolate. Slight notes of caramel along with sweet malt and oats. A slight roast to the overall flavor profile.
F - Medium to full bodied with a light to medium amount of carbonation. Rich, Smooth, and creamy.
O - This is a very good and very sessionable oatmeal stout with great notes of coffee/espresso. The flavors just seem spot on with out being over the top in terms of a coffee infused oatmeal stout along with providing a very smooth, rich mouthfeel. Firestone's Merlin iterations never seem to disappoint.
793 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
L - Deep black with hints of mahogany highlighting the edges with a smooth, thin tan head that provides a slight amount of lacing.
S - Espresso along with notes of coffee along with sweet malt.
T - Roasted coffee and espresso notes dominate up front followed by semisweet chocolate. Slight notes of caramel along with sweet malt and oats. A slight roast to the overall flavor profile.
F - Medium to full bodied with a light to medium amount of carbonation. Rich, Smooth, and creamy.
O - This is a very good and very sessionable oatmeal stout with great notes of coffee/espresso. The flavors just seem spot on with out being over the top in terms of a coffee infused oatmeal stout along with providing a very smooth, rich mouthfeel. Firestone's Merlin iterations never seem to disappoint.
793 characters
4.2/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Firestone Walker Brewing Co. "Mocha Merlin"
12 fl. oz. can, "CANNED ON 11/08/17 10:30"
$2.29 @ Total Wine & More, Cherry Hill, NJ
Notes via stream of consciousness: Typical stout appearance with a very deep, almost black, mahogany brown body beneath a creamy cap of dark tan. The aroma clearly expresses coffee beans, and some additional nuttiness. The flavor then follows but with more of a brewed coffee taste, although there is a little chocolate covered espresso bean to it. It's surprisingly sweetish, and not all that bitter; nor is it really that roasty. It's like a lightly creamy coffee with sugar - very easy to drink. It's not the brightest or clearest expression of coffee that I've ever experienced in a beer but it's pretty close. In the mouth it's medium bodied and smooth with a fine bubbled, median carbonation; and I'll assume the oats have a little something to do with the smoothness as well. Very nicely done. Well worth trying.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Firestone Walker Brewing Co. "Mocha Merlin"
12 fl. oz. can, "CANNED ON 11/08/17 10:30"
$2.29 @ Total Wine & More, Cherry Hill, NJ
Notes via stream of consciousness: Typical stout appearance with a very deep, almost black, mahogany brown body beneath a creamy cap of dark tan. The aroma clearly expresses coffee beans, and some additional nuttiness. The flavor then follows but with more of a brewed coffee taste, although there is a little chocolate covered espresso bean to it. It's surprisingly sweetish, and not all that bitter; nor is it really that roasty. It's like a lightly creamy coffee with sugar - very easy to drink. It's not the brightest or clearest expression of coffee that I've ever experienced in a beer but it's pretty close. In the mouth it's medium bodied and smooth with a fine bubbled, median carbonation; and I'll assume the oats have a little something to do with the smoothness as well. Very nicely done. Well worth trying.
951 characters
4.03/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Can poured into a Firestone Walker Brewing Co pint glass
A: Pours dark brown with a frothy tan head that settles to a light layer and leaves a little nice lacing.
S: Roasty, plenty of coffee, slightly spicy, subtle bittersweet chocolate, dark fruit, and toffee sweetness.
T: Roasty, rich slightly spicy coffee up front, underlying baker's chocolate, maybe a little woody, faint dark fruit, with some lactose and toffee sweetness.
M: Medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly creamy.
O: I wish they would make this one a little more frequently. Darn tasty coffee oatmeal stout.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Can poured into a Firestone Walker Brewing Co pint glass
A: Pours dark brown with a frothy tan head that settles to a light layer and leaves a little nice lacing.
S: Roasty, plenty of coffee, slightly spicy, subtle bittersweet chocolate, dark fruit, and toffee sweetness.
T: Roasty, rich slightly spicy coffee up front, underlying baker's chocolate, maybe a little woody, faint dark fruit, with some lactose and toffee sweetness.
M: Medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly creamy.
O: I wish they would make this one a little more frequently. Darn tasty coffee oatmeal stout.
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Mocha Merlin from Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
4.02 out of
5 with
484 ratings
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