Firestone Walker Velvet Merkin Stout

Brewed by Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Style: Stout
Paso Robles, California USA

On tap at 21st Amendment Brewpub. The body was dark brown with red at the edges. A long lasting khaki head. The aroma was cola and milk chocolate. There was also some bread. The taste was milk chocolate with some peanuts. Earthy with a light body. Decent.

Draft at WCBF 08. Keg driven up the valley. Good show. Dark malt and chocolate aromas. Black color with a tan head. Fresh dark malt - smooth - with bourbon & oak notes. Quite a bit of bourbon. Finish is quite smooth. Just super excellent. When they ran out, and I really wanted more, they gave me the glassful that was on display. Over a hundred in the shade, but that beer which had stood out for several hours was still damn good.

Sampled on 12/1/2009 at the brewery. This oatmeal stout pours a very dark black color from the tap. Small sized tan foamy head, with decent retention and nice lacing. The aroma is A medium to light bodied Oatmeal Stout. The malts are chocolate and roasted malts. The hops are herbal and a touch citrusy. There is perhaps a touch of wood. Very smooth tasting. Nice stout. Good carbonation. The mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

17th Beer of the Beer Spot Tasting Sunday March 30th, 2008. 12oz handbottle via Thekegergator. Pours black with a tan ring. Nose is sweet and malty. Taste is sweet, malty and an overall damn nice oatmeal stout. Tap at Live Wire, still good and rich.

Draft. Nitro. Blackish beer with a nice dark beige nitro head. Roasty aroma. Roasty, dark chocolate flavor with backing sweetness. Medium body. Lingering chocolate with a tannic astringency starting to show. Labelled as an oatmeal stout, but oatmeal well hidden.

On tap at Stone. Pours with a black body with no head and no real lace. Aroma of chocolate, coffee, and vanilla. Taste is chocolate and floral with a light spiciness, light smokiness, and a light oak barrel character. Light bubbles and syrupy. Very enjoyable.

Portland Holiday Ale Festival 2008. This was one of my favorites from the festival this year. Very smooth stout with a lot of personality for a 5.5 abv easy drinker. Pours dark brown with a smooth tan head. Dark chocolate up front, soft bourbon and a touch of coffee in the finish. I picked up a light note of peanut butter lingering in the aftertaste. Very smooth on the palate, like it was brewed with oats. Just a killer stout overall.

draft at bigwood. nearly black with a few ruby highlights in the corners. loose burnt tan head. very nearly vacant nose. creamy medium body, not much carb. light roast and faint chocolate notes. neutral finish. lacking character all around.