Molé Merkin
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

2019 version on tap at Irene's BBQ. Poured an opaque, jet-black color with a small, light brown head of foam. It left thin trails of lace. It smelled of cinnamon, vanilla, chocolate, peppers and roasted malt. Great cinnamon, pepper and vanilla taste with rich chocolate and toffee taste.

2019 vintage. Poured from bottle into a tulip, good 3 finger tight dark tan head, great retention and good lacing. Jet black in the glass, no light passes thru. Bourbon notes on the nose up front, slight cinnamon and a dusty earthiness. Taste is vanillin, cinnamon, cocoa, little to no roast, lactose sweetness and finishes smooth with residual fruity pepper left on the palate. Nice beer, but they could have gone heavier on the pepper or perhaps used a combination to tweak out some of the fruitiness some supply.

on draft, in nonic glass

very dark brown, almost black in color, cream colored head. Nice dark cocoa and cinnamon flavor. Slightly sweet. fuller bodied.

 

12oz bottle poured into a snifter. 2019 Bourbon barrel edition.

A: Black pour with a one inch beige head. Retention is decent, but the head settles after five to ten minutes. Lacing forms thin rings.

S: A tickle of chili pepper is apparent first, followed closely by a stiff whiff of cinnamon that almost comes across as steely. Barrel aromas tag themselves in next. Sweet, corny bourbon, dusty oak, coconut shavings and subtle marshmallow. Bakers chocolate and some smokey roast. Fruity coffee bean sort of scent. Tight, berry-like and almost jammy fruitiness and a whisper of papery oxidation starting to form.

T: As in the nose, the chili pepper hits first. It tastes like chipotle powder, with a nice smokiness but mild heat. Cinnamon follows in close proximity, and is sharp but well-controlled. Fatty cocoa nibs brings a chocolate syrup sort of flavor, and thoroughly own the mid-palate. Barrel contributions are more subtle than the nose suggested. Sweet, corny bourbon is easygoing and not at all hot. Some dusty oak with plenty of vanillins redolent of shaved coconut and marshmallow. Very subtle stewed red fruit and a fleeting papery flavor. Cocoa nibs return on the finish with a very fatty and chocolatey feel that trails on forever with an even-keeled smokiness.

M: Rich and thick in body. Definite sense of heft, but it stays lithe enough to not be sludgey. Somewhat coating and oily, likely from a good dose of the cocoa nibs. Carbonation is ample and fine, prickling a little around the tongue. Chewy but silky too.

O: Nicely done all around. I get more Mexican hot chocolate out of it than a dark mole, but I guess they're close enough conceptually and either way I'm definitely not complaining. The balance is not perfect, with the fatty nib flavors dominating a bit and the barrel staying more quiet than expected, but it all works. The spicing stays at an even keel, which is probably most important. I will say that the 2019 release is best enjoyed right now. At the three year mark, the age is just barely starting to show. It's at the tail end of its peak IMO, and it won't improve from here on out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poured from 12oz bottle into a tulip. This is a 2019 bottle.

Appearance: nearly black with only some dark brown highlights showing around the edges when held up to the light. Head isa thick finger of creamy tan foam. I think it looks great!

Smell: it's got sweetness, chocolate, dark fruits, and a light dash of chili. Upon further reflection, the cinnamon does come out as well. It does smell a little bit boozy, which is not really supported by the ABV; interesting. Still, I quite like it.

Taste: it's a smooth stout with a balanced flavor; the chili is just a little hint of interest, and the chocolate is not overdone at all. The one thing that is missing for me here is the richer dark-fruit flavors that come from a bigger beer. That being said, I think this beer achieves a better balance than a lot of other "mole" stouts do. A delightful treat.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a moderate carbonation and creaminess. To be honest, it doesn't have the big creaminess or smoothness that I usually expect of the style. Not bad overall, but not a style exemplar.

Overall: a very decent treat indeed, and I'm going to quite enjoy finishing this bottle slowly.

 

 

Is it overpriced at about ten bucks a bottle for a sub 8% beer? Yeah probably. Still it’s an excellent drinker, super balanced, aged well without getting that dusty character some beers with chilies and/or cinnamon can get. Smooth well rounded feel and moderate barrel presence. Just drinkable and tasty and nailed the flavor profile. Sort of like a lighter take on a BA Mexican Cake.

2019 bottle. The notes on this listing say this is Brandy barrel-aged, but my bottle says bourbon barrel-aged.

Chocolate is the most prominent flavor. I did get a bit of cinnamon and just a whisper of pepper. The barrel influence is mellow and well incorporated.

 

 

Dark mahogany brown body capped with a thick, dense, and creamy khaki colored head. Initial smell filled with rich, sweet chocolate giving way to spicy and herbal tones. Outstanding flavor feast; milk chocolate and cocoa; cumin, curry, and chili peppers; sweet earthiness throughout; dull hop bitterness. Heavy body; silky and smooth on the palate; mild chili pepper warmth.

All righty, then!!! This beer has some age to it yet other than some well-subdued barrel aging in the taste, the chocolate and spice aspects have melded together into a superb taste treat. The chili pepper has mellowed into a fine complementary flavor component. An exquisite beer...

2019 version. Poured at 55° F.

Pours very dark brown. Brown head that dissipates as expected. No Lacing 4.25
Aroma: blend of dark and milk chocolate, bourbon, vanilla and hints of cinnamon. 4.5
Taste: roasty coffee with blends of chocolate - the blend of cinnamon and chile pepper works well together and even comes through after 2 years. Damn, would have been nice to have this a year or so earlier. Bourbon barrels round everything out. 4.25
Feel is light-medium carbonation - lighter bodied. 4.25
Overall - a Firestone Walker knows what they’re doing. Never a huge milk stout fan, but this combination makes Mole Merkin an enjoyable offering for those looking to change up the typical milk stout. 4.25