Firestone Walker - Velvet Merkin

I'd say more like October

 

The Offical release is Sept. 14th. So I don't think anyone has seen it yet.

 

you know how i know you don't have a girlfriend/wife?

 

I'm really glad to see this is going to be such a wide release! Hopefully I'll be able to grab a few.

 

Any BAs going to this release?

 

i really hope merkin won't be as disturbing as the parabola release. a few store owners that i talk to said FW reps were hand delivering 3 bottles to a few stores on LI. shit was insane!

 

I picked up one bottle on LI and then realized that all the trouble it took me to get that one I could simply trade and get plenty since its so easy to get in Cali, haha.

 

Got my ticket the day the went on sale, stoked to go check it out!

 

Velvet Merlin is the non BA version

 

to those of you who have had it on tap- how does it compare to Parabola?

 

Not nearly as good. Just my opinion.

 

I e-mailed my craft contact at the FW distributor within the last 2 weeks and was told they had no info from FW about Merkin yet (they also had no idea when they'd be getting more Union Jack, which has been selling well lately). So I am glad to see that the amount is the same as Parabola and Sucaba, which means I should get a case at my store. Good to hear, indeed.

 

I haven't had Parabola but your post has bummed me out a bit. The non BA version (Velvet Merlin) is good stuff

 

I had some on tap last year at a Firestone Walker tap takeover. I concur that it isn't as good as Parabola, but it isn't a knock on the Merkin. Parabola is simply that good.

 

I will be there. Looking forward to it. And also saying something isn't as good as parabola isn't that big of a diss. But that being said it is a lot "smaller" than parabola as it is an oatmeal stout, but I like the lighter ABV, but the flavor does lag behind parabola.

 

I just ask because I had a bunch of Parabola this year, and while I thought it was a very good beer, it wasn't a great one. Its the kind of very good beer I'd get one bottle of each year, but no more. So I'm just trying to get a gauge on where Velvet Merkin stands.

 

Definitely a different flavor profile than Parabola. I had Merkin on tap last year, and it could be best described as Parabola Light. It has a smooth milk chocolate and coffee flavor that should lend well to some aging.

 

Agree. I like to consider it a "sessionable" Parabola. For those mid-week days when you come home and ~12% ABV can't do, but you want a Parabola dammit!

 

That sounds pretty appealing. We'll have to see if I can snag a bottle down in Illinois (no FSW distribution in Wisconsin )

Haha thats what bottle stoppers are for. The last Parabola I opened, I used a stopper and drank it over 5 days (Saturday-Wednesday). 4oz a day when I come home from work. On the last day it tasted the same as it did the first day! Kind of like sipping on some whiskey on a school night...

 

Ain't nobody got time for 4 oz Parabola pours!