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Firestone Walker Velvet Merkin

Firestone Walker Brewing Company
Paso Robles, CA, United States of America


Vital Statistics

Type: Stout
Release: Limited Rotating (vintaged)
ABV: 8.5%
Bitterness: 33 IBU
Color: 80 SRM

From the brewer

It's not a typo and yes, we know what a Merkin is... Our decadent Oatmeal Stout lovingly aged in Bourbon barrels. Beautiful chocolate, espresso and vanilla-bourbon aromas hold your nose hostage. Rich dark chocolate truffle, bourbon and espresso create a dangerously smooth and incredibly drinkable barrel aged Oatmeal Stout. Hoarding tendencies may occur.

Average Scores

Overall: 86 (logged 36 times)
Bottle: 85 (logged 33 times)
Draft: 89 (logged 3 times)

Who's been drinking this

2015 release
Honestly, this felt like a big disappointment after the other two - especially right after the Molé Merkin. In comparison, there was a bit of a vegetal weirdness to the flavor here. It evened out after the palate adjusted, and it's hard to argue the easy appeal of sweet, but it definitely colored my experience.
Bottle at Odin Lounge
2013 release
Still a superb beer. Not profound, I think its lightness prevents that, but so, so smoooooth.
Bottle at Odin Lounge
2014 release
2017 release
I’ll just add what Mr T said here because he so rarely gives a description: “Mmmmmmm. Smells like something worn many, many times by a lady of the night.” “I can smell the arthropods.” “Are you trying to get me drunk?”
Bottle at Home
2017 release
Bottle at Home
2014 release
Very smooth. Chocolate, caramel, roasted flavors.
Bottle
2015 release
Tasty. So tasty it'd be worth walking a block over to a friend's place to drink.
Bottle at Karthik's
2014 release
Beeeeeeeeers
Bottle at Xbeer One
2014 release
Pretty good oatmeal stout. A little light though. Boozy, fruity, very slight carbonation.
Bottle at Xbeer One
2014 release
This one seems to produce a nicer head than others, Also has a lighter smell and less emphasis on molasses flavors, It's more roasty, I'd say it even present some burnt/ashes flavors in the aftertaste. It's overall drier than the others. Also getting a very light sourness.
2014 release
2014 release
Super delicious
2013 release
Just a few degrees below room temperature seems ideal for serving this beer. Chocolatey and smooth, with a really nice, complex but smooth malt-ball texture. Delicious.
Bottle at Xbeer One
2013 release
It was great, One more Please :)
2013 release
Smooth with a great depth of flavor from the aging. More of a fortified-wine-aged flavor than a bourbon one though.
2013 release
There wasn't a lot left in the bottle, but what I could squeeze out of it tasted great.
2013 release
2013 release
2013 release
It was awesome, smooth and I would like one more please.
2013 release
Bottle at Home
2013 release
Bottle at Home
2013 release
Bottle at Home
2013 release
Had this with a stew tonight. Really good match. I liked it better than what I remembered!
Bottle at Home
2013 release
Bottle at Home
2013 release
Bottle
2013 release
Bottle at Home
2013. Exc release
Ok, i'm giving this a high rating for two reasons: first, it tasted like liquified flourless chocolate cake, which is the best cake because it's rich and chocolatey and fatty without all of that useless flour-poison that Gwyneth Paltrow tells me I shouldn't eat if I want to look emaciated like her. Second, because on a Saturday night when Xbox One has ONCE AGAIN ruined date night this was like a platonic chocolate and alcohol hug. Some girls just eat Ben and Jerry's straight out of the container...
Bottle at Home
2013 release
A bit of a metallic taste and less than ideal texture from the carbon knock this down a point.
Bottle at Home
2013 release
Bottle at Home
2013 release
Bottle at Xbeer One
2013 release
Bottle at Home
2013 release
Fermented prune smell. Sweetish oatmeal taste with some raisin qualities. Complexity to flavor so you're not left searching for more but also not overdone.
2013 release
2013 release
2013 release
2013 release
A thin-mouthfeel but still somehow creamy oatmeal stout with a sweet bourbon finish. It's not ... profound in the same way as other boxed Firestone releases, but it's extremely delicious and deceptively drinkable.