When I don't have the time or inclination to take pictures or do an all-out, in-depth review, I'll post these Quick Hits.
My local liquor store has started doing $9.99 mixed sixers, with the cooler featuring mostly Colorado micros, pseudo-micros (looking at you, Blue Moon and Shock Top), and macros. Perfect for some beer-sploration.
First up is Firestone Walker Velvet Merlin. This appears to be their winter seasonal, an oatmeal stout. This was perfection in a glass. Tan, creamy head that settled quickly and absolutely no light shining through the glass. Maybe a deep burnt sienna on the edges. The flavor was spot-on, coffee and chocolate notes, but not so roasty that you felt like you were drinking charcoal. The oatmeal effect on the mouthfeel was awesomely silky, but not like you're drinking a milkshake. If I get the chance to have another of these before the end of winter, I'll jump on it. Beers like this make me want to drink stout and nothing more.
Next is Blue Moon Winter Abbey. I had high hopes for this beer. Blue Moon, while technically a macro under the MillerCoors umbrella, does some nice, non-mainstream beers. Anyone who's had the Peanut Butter Ale at GABF will agree with me. This beer, however, was an abject failure. The head was nearly identical to your standard Bud/Miller/Coors lager head: medium sized, coarse textured bubbles that disappeared quickly, although a nice tawny color. The beer itself was a beautiful deep honey color, but that's about all that was appealing. There were no discernible aromas or flavors to set this apart from any other generic ale, despite what the marketing copy might say. I'm sorry, but if you're going to advertise your beer using the adjective "abbey," it damn well better have the banana/clove/bubblegum esters from a Belgian yeast present. This beer had none of that. I'll stick to New Belgium Abbey, thanks.
