Firestone Walker - Velvet Merkin

6 pack of merkin or Merlin? Merlin comes in 6 packs and merkin comes single in a box and costs $15

 

Does anybody else find it strange that people are saying it is thin? I'm pretty sure part of the point of making this with a "regular" stout was to make it more drinkable than a 15% BA imperial...

 

Yes my mistake.. still in the hunt for Merkin

 

the thin complainers need to chill. not everything has to be motor oil.

this is a very tasty 8.5% barrel aged stout. if you are expecting Parbola or Ten Fidy JUST GO AND BUY THOSE INSTEAD

 

Am I the only one that liked it more than Parabola? I thought the mouthfeel (probably due to the oatmeal) was much nicer.

 

FT:Backwoods Bastard ISO:Velvet Mirkin

 

I have a couple of bottles of FSW Merkin and Anniversary XVII for trade if anybody is interested.

 

Parabola also has a large amount of oats in it. It's really not far off of a double version of Merlin, actually.

Merkin starts as a 5.5% oatmeal stout that picks up a sizable amount of booze from aging in first-fill bourbon barrels, so I think you have to come into it expecting attributes from a regular stout, like a lighter, more drinkable profile, and it's gong to be best consumed fresh.

 

"Regular" stouts don't have to be thin nor do thicker stouts automatically qualify as less drinkable. Merkin is relatively thin. People mentioning it or not liking it holds no bearing on the "point" of the beer which only the brewer knows anyways.

I thought the beer was mediocre myself, even without factoring in mouthfeel. Outside of Sucuba, I'm less than impressed with FWs barrel-aged options. The hype is just that.

 

Maybe you're an adjunct kind of guy. Firestone uses none and this makes for more subtle flavor profiles and attention to perfect brewing technique. Their regular lineup is proof of this, DBA, Pivo, Wookey Jack, Merlin, Pale 31 etc. There is a reason why the masses of other brewers respect Matt Bryndilson so much and if there is any brewery in which hype holds no merit it would be Firestone Walker.

 

Maybe I'm not.

I'm very aware of this and am all for subtle flavor profiles. That doesn't change what my palate says of the beers.

Sadly, I can't taste other brewer's respect. What I can taste is the beer and I have found their barrel aged beers to be okay at best (outside of Sucuba). You can continue to love them, I will pass from here on out.

 

Yeah Sucaba is sick isn't it! Pass em up. I'm sure nobody will mind!

 

Interesting that you feel that way, in my experience regular stouts have always felt less viscous than imperials. Not to say they aren't good just a little bit lighter on the palette. Do you have any specific examples of "regular" stouts that you would compare viscosity wise to an imperial? (id like to try them)

 

I have not been able to find that or their anniversary yet. I did find the Doubld DBA and their collaboration with revolution brewing from the summer still called dos osos.

 

Ipswich oatmeal stout has a very robust mouthfeel for a non-imperial, I have also found Dark Horse One Oat and Too Cream to have a mouthfeel teetering on heavy. Imperials on the whole have a greater likelihood to be thinker but it is certainly not a given. I've had very thin imperials and nice full non imperials. Obviously if you compare everything to thickest stouts you've had nothing is going feel like it has a great viscosity.

 

Got a bottle and drank it immediately. I'm a compulsive cellar-ager and I proclaim this beer aged to perfection and ready to drink without aging. One of the best beers I've had all year. Firestone-Walker makes some of the best barrel-aged out there, and the Merkin is a fine example of their craft. I just wish I could get more of it.

 

Anything Special to AZ you would Like lol

 

This JUST hit Whole Foods in NYC. Where have they been keeping it? Did the train get stuck in the mud for three months?

 

How much is WF charging?

 

hop

ISO mud-aged Merkin