Merlin's Melange
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.


- From:
- Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Sweet / Milk Stout
- ABV:
- 12%
- Score:
- +3 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 3.98 | pDev: 4.77%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 4
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 10, 2026
- Added:
- Jul 30, 2025
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
Blende milk stout with cinnamon & vanilla
Aged in 10yr Henry McKenna and 9yr Elijah Craig barrels
Aged in 10yr Henry McKenna and 9yr Elijah Craig barrels
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by rand from California
3.84/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.84/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle into a Irish pub pint glass
Super bubbly, dark brown beverage, although no head forms through an extra oily complexion.
Notes of burnt sugar, charred oak and dextrins fill the bouquet…the added cinnamon isn’t detected.
Milk chocolatey flavors, super carbonated. Finally get a slight note of cinnamon as the brew warms. Finishes long and bittersweet.
I guess it does what they set out to do - a lactose version of their velvet merkin porter. But not really elevated from the originals.
Feb 10, 2026Super bubbly, dark brown beverage, although no head forms through an extra oily complexion.
Notes of burnt sugar, charred oak and dextrins fill the bouquet…the added cinnamon isn’t detected.
Milk chocolatey flavors, super carbonated. Finally get a slight note of cinnamon as the brew warms. Finishes long and bittersweet.
I guess it does what they set out to do - a lactose version of their velvet merkin porter. But not really elevated from the originals.
Reviewed by pants678 from California
3.71/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.71/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Black, thin beige foam lace.
Baker's chocolate.
Alcohol's apparent, dark chocolate base, cinnamon's a smidge or so too hot but maybe dialed down by lactose.
Not pastry, not too thick but harsh/sandpaper-y.
Feb 01, 2026Baker's chocolate.
Alcohol's apparent, dark chocolate base, cinnamon's a smidge or so too hot but maybe dialed down by lactose.
Not pastry, not too thick but harsh/sandpaper-y.
Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio
4.03/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look - black and thick with a nice tan head and lacing
Smell and taste - really nice barrel with cinnamon and cocoa
Feel - medium full body light carb
Oerall - not bad
Nov 28, 2025Smell and taste - really nice barrel with cinnamon and cocoa
Feel - medium full body light carb
Oerall - not bad
Reviewed by MutuelsMark from Kentucky
4.25/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Super dark black with a thick, frothy, tan head. Nose is sweet smelling assuming the vanilla with a hint of cinnamon. Taste is also sweet, hints of chocolate and cinnamon. ABV is not as evident as expected.
Aug 22, 2025
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