Firestone Walker - Velvet Merlin

It's a year round release, but is spreading around the firestone walker distribution network. Massachusetts used to just get union jack, double jack and the bombers, but now we are getting DBA, velvet merlin, Pale31 and Pivo Pils as well.

 

Velvet Merlin is a seasonal release, and according to their calendar it's not in 'season' right now. Weird. But good for you!

 

Check the dates...oddly believe that this may be from last years release.

 

I'm sure this is the case...

 

I have a 6pk on hold at a local shop. Looking forward to finally giving this a try.

 

My bad. thought it was year round, not seasonal since we just got it in Mass about 3 months ago.

 

This hit Charlottesville yesterday, too. Bottled 2/17/14 and only $8.99. Glad to see them finally sending this one east and was quite pleased with the price. Haven't seen 6p prices like that since visiting friends in Colorado and Montana.

 

VA ABC finally approved the label is my guess...have a bottle of the 2013 bbl velvet Merkin, my buddies say to trade it, it's ok at best...I'll cellar it for a year or so, and then drink it or trade it.

 

It just hit NoVA as well, nice to see more FW out this way. Now if we can just get Pivo Pils and Opal . . .

 

Don't listen to your buddies -- Merkin is great. Choose a nice evening, pop that sucker open, and maybe share a bit with one of those buddies to show them they're wrong

Parabola it ain't, but, hell, it's 8.5%. Think, instead, about getting a nice, smooth oatmeal stout that's been fortified by the magic of the barrel -- a little extra chocolate/caramel/vanilla, but nothing approaching a bourbon-bomb like BCBS.

Seriously, drink 'er up!

 

Cheaper than prices in the home state!

 

I'm drinking one right now (got it today at Total Wine in Chantilly)...$9.99/ 6-pack.

A very solid oatmeal stout. Never noticed this in VA before.

 

Oh I'm gonna, it was an extra from a buddy in Philly that showed up on Xmas eve for me, wife put it under the tree, thinking it was a gift! It was, just a beer gift!

My cellar is getting full, did inventory then bought more bottles, and got a bunch in trades, bottle count is 165...I have a problem...more bottles on the way too, next 2 weeks will be silly, in a good way...

 

Found a case today in Orange County for $8.99. They told me it was a winter release. Can't wait to try it!

 

You sir are a smart man or a girl. Either way I like the way you think.

 

Merkin or Merlin?

 

I hope this hits DC soon! I have yet to see any other FW stuff here besides UJ, DJ, and WJ.

 

I had an October bottle date just a week back or so (have two left from a trade). BA score is probably on par here. Great. But probably forgettable. Other local oatmeal stout options should suffice. There is likely a market for this if your area is lackluster in that "light" stout category. I am loving the foreign stout and oatmeal stout category over the milk/sweet souts if I am to consume anything other than a IRS.

 

Snagged a sixer from Fishpaws in Arnold yesterday. Good beer!