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Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
- From:
- Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Oatmeal Stout
Ranked #93 - ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 89
Ranked #10,527 - Avg:
- 4 | pDev: 9.75%
- Reviews:
- 709
- Ratings:
- 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
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
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by NWer:
Reviewed by NWer from Washington
4.05/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.05/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Promoted as a Merkin @ local joint known for small number but top quality tap line.
Couldn't wait.
Enjoyed the beer enough but where was the bourbon? I reviewed it as a Merkin & blamed the thin taste on too cold serving temperature.
Elliott Bay Pizza later tweeted that it wasn't a Merkin at all but a Merlin.
That's better. Explains the taste but still doesn't excuse the serving temperature.
Still, I have the growler to go & can give it an updated rating on my terms in the future.
With the $10 price tag for the growler, not complaining at all. Should have known it was too good to be true. They're allowed to screw up once in a while. They're still my go-to local place for pizza & killer beer.
As a non-bourbon barrel aged oatmeal stout, this is excellent and more in line with what I expect from FW not the disappointment when I expected it to be a Merkin. Deleted my Merkin review.
Oct 13, 2012Couldn't wait.
Enjoyed the beer enough but where was the bourbon? I reviewed it as a Merkin & blamed the thin taste on too cold serving temperature.
Elliott Bay Pizza later tweeted that it wasn't a Merkin at all but a Merlin.
That's better. Explains the taste but still doesn't excuse the serving temperature.
Still, I have the growler to go & can give it an updated rating on my terms in the future.
With the $10 price tag for the growler, not complaining at all. Should have known it was too good to be true. They're allowed to screw up once in a while. They're still my go-to local place for pizza & killer beer.
As a non-bourbon barrel aged oatmeal stout, this is excellent and more in line with what I expect from FW not the disappointment when I expected it to be a Merkin. Deleted my Merkin review.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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, 2023Reviewed 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
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, 2020a) 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.
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4.09/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
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, 2019Brown/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.
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
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, 2019A: 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.
Reviewed by mintzmeet from Washington
3.55/5 rDev -11.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
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, 2019Reviewed by DoctorZombies from Florida
4.26/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
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, 2019Rated by Oh_Dark_Star from Washington
4.04/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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
Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout from Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
3131 ratings
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