Stone Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

Stone are celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2016 by releasing an "Encore Series" of brews. Today's Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout is a rerelease of their 12th anniversary beer which was created during the hop shortage of 2008.

Founded in 1996 by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner, Stone is among the top ten largest craft brewers in the United States. With several locations in California, Stone are now embarking upon eastern expansion with a brewery in Richmond, VA and another in Berlin, Germany.

Stone Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout, 9.2% alc., 22 oz. bottle

C: Black with a foamy caramel head and decent lacing

N: Dark roasted malt with dark chocolate presence and just a hint of drip coffee

P: Soft entry but bitter across the palate with dark chocolate and roasted grains, slight barnyard funk to the back of the palate

F: Lingering dark chocolate bitterness with just a hint of raisin

In conclusion: A very solid stout but I would have preferred a touch more oatmeal influence and just a touch less bitter chocolate. The Xocoveza stands head and shoulders above it.

Stone Coffee Milk Stout

This is the second Stone in the first four windows (an observation, not a complaint) of my "Twelve Beers of Christmas" selection from Midtowne Bottle Shop (Harrisonburg, VA). However, I can guarantee you this Coffee Milk Stout is no Xocovena!

Behind door #4: Stone Coffee Milk Stout, 5% alc., 12 oz. bottle

C: Black with a caramel head

N: Sweet malt, milk chocolate, and distant farmyard notes

P: Soft entry with a massive and unmistakable farmyard note (reminiscent of a smoked porter) then sweet lactose notes with roasted coffee elements and a bitter chocolate that transitions into the finish

F: Roasty with bitter chocolate, dark malt, and lingering farmhouse notes

In conclusion: The farmyard assault on the palate is very surprising and makes me wonder if there's a little peated malt in here. Given that I don't think that makes sense I wonder if the roasted coffee is doing something similar to peated malt. Worth paying attention to in other stouts that include roasted coffee. 

 

Stone Xocoveza

My "Twelve Beers of Christmas" fun from Midtowne Bottle Shop (Harrisonburg, VA) continues with Stone Xocoveza, a holiday/New Year stout brewed with cocoa, coffee, peppers, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Founded in 1996 by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner, Stone is among the top ten largest craft brewers in the United States. With several locations in California, Stone are now embarking upon eastern expansion with a brewery in Richmond, VA and another in Berlin, Germany. While I know them most for Arrogant Bastard and Oaked Arrogant Bastard, their Pale Ale is considered to be their flagship brew.

Behind door #2: Stone Xocoveza, Mocha Stout, 8.1% alc., 12 oz. bottle

C: Black

N: The coffee and chocolate are to the front with unmistakeable hot pepper notes (redolent of Mexican hot chocolate -- by design) beyond them

P: Damp earth, dark roast coffee and cocoa nib bitterness to the front, then a bit marshmallowy around the middle, with some of the pepper heat (very subtle) presenting itself towards the back 

F: Long with lingering chocolate and pepper notes (flavor not heat) that continue to bounce off of one another

In conclusion: Given the number of additional components there's a fear that it will come off as a hodgepodge of flavors. However, this is Stone we're talking about and all the flavors balance one another beautifully. It's a surprisingly easy drinker for a big, celebration beer with a long lasting finish. And as an added bonus, as the beer sits in the glass and warms a bit the flavor profile sings ever louder.

Firestone Walker Velvet Merlin

I'm fortunate to have an excellent privately owned beer retailer near me. Midtowne Bottle Shop in Harrisonburg, Virginia has only been on the scene for a year and a half but it offers a wonderful selection from session IPAs in cans to sour Belgians in 750ml bottles to growler fills of some of the best beer currently available in the United States. At this time of year Lauren, the owner, builds "Twelve Beers of Christmas" boxes. This year's boxed offerings are sour, IPA, and dark. I bought a dark pack for $35. Now I plan to kick off this blog's beer reviews by reviewing one a day from now till Christmas.

First up is California's Firestone Walker with Velvet Merlin, their oatmeal stout. Firestone Walker, a collaboration between two brothers-in-law, was founded in 1996. While the majority of their distribution is in California that's set to change with this summer's acquisition by Belgian brewer Duvel Moortgat. Firestone Walker are known for their hoppy beers and barrel aged program.

Behind door #1: Firestone Walker Velvet Merlin, Oatmeal Stout, 5.5% alc., 12 oz. bottle

C: Black

N: Dark malt to the fore with hints of cappuccino 

P: Quite velvety on entry, robust dark malt notes with coffee and bitter dark chocolate

F: Good length with lingering chocolate notes

In conclusion: Despite the lack of head retention this is a tasty enough oatmeal stout from Firestone Walker. It's not up to the epic standards of Wookey Jack, their black IPA, but it's still a lovely beer for the season.