Midnight Merkin
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

Bottle pour - inky black with quickly dissipating khaki head leaving a ring of tiny bubbles. Nose has a vanilla and almond dance going on. Taste follows with a lingering sweetness on the finish.

Jet black, minimal foam.

Vanilla mostly, year old so not as prominent.

Faded from what I remember being too pastry. Almond? IDK but cacao is welcome touch, vanilla pervades. Wood and bourbon are gone, though.

Lost viscosity is for the best.

 

Poured into a sniffer at 51.9° ; tan head atop black body with ruby edges; solid ring; poor cap Retention; a few small islands; no lace; medium legs at best on swirl. Nose is Chocolate; vanilla; a little almond as beer warmed. Taste follows nose; semi sweet chocolate cake; almond in the finish; have to search for bourbon though. Body is silky, smooth, minimum carbonation; minimum warmth for ABV; medium body; not adjuncty. Overall, not much bourbon, but chocolate and vanilla in spades; a little almond nose/tongue; nice balance, and very tasty.

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a very dark mahogany brown, appearing nearly opaque in the glass with a thin khaki head that dissipates to patches with slight lacing. Aroma of dark toasted malt, fudge, vanilla, almond and a hint of bourbon. Flavor follows, with dark toasted malt, vanilla fudge, almond and light bourbon. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. Delivers what it promises; chocolate, vanilla and almond. Bourbon is rather in the background here, unusual for FW; but it is not really needed; this combination is very pleasant and drinkable. Body is on the lighter side for a barrel aged stout, but so was the base Merkin; this one does not claim to be an oatmeal stout, so not as unexpected. Very nice balance of flavors. Nicely done.

Look - black and thick with nice head rimming and lacing
Smell and taste - Almond cocoa vanilla, great balance
Feel - medium full body, lighter carb
Overall - great balanced beer

 

12 oz bottle into a snifter

I couldn’t help thinking of an oatmeal chocolate cookie as soon as I took the first sniff, and the flavors followed. I have a bunch of BBA stouts aged in Elijah Craig, but this brew was straight up brewed for the Cookie Monster…and I’m not complaining.

Dark brown to black in color with thin, active tan head. Nose is a mix of bourbon and vanilla, seems to have some cinnamon hint to it also. Taste was malty and bourbon and vanilla. Easy drinking beer especially give the higher ABV.