Firestone Walker Brewing Company Velvet Merkin Bourbon Barrel Aged Oatmeal Stout

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Firestone Walker Brewing Company Velvet Merkin Bourbon Barrel Aged Oatmeal Stout.  I acquired this bottle at Caps & Taps in Dublin. As I’ve said many times before, please visit local shops and support them.  The guys at Caps & Taps (here) are really cool and if you go in there tell ‘em you heard about them here.

From the Firestone Walker Brewing Company website: “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.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours black with a nice tan colored head and lots of thick spots of lacing.

Aroma: Chocolate, vanilla, oak, coconut, toasted oats, roasted malt and just a slight bourbon scent.

Taste: Toasted oatmeal, quite cookie like, chocolate, caramel, oak, vanilla, roasted malt and just a touch of bourbon.

Overall: Since I knew I loved Firestone Walker Brewing Company Velvet Merlin I knew I’d enjoy Firestone Walker Brewing Company Velvet Merkin Bourbon Barrel Aged Oatmeal Stout.  This 8.5% ABV offering tastes great and smells excellent.  It is lower in alcohol than their other bourbon barrel aged beers, but still worth picking up and trying.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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