Enjoying the Fire with Firestone Walker

Settling in last evening in front of the fire after a spicy dinner, I chose to forgo the usual brandy aperitif I am prone to enjoy and instead opened a Firestone Walker Velvet Merlin. Perhaps my all-time favorite Oatmeal stout, the roasted coffee flavor with hints of dark chocolate and its creamy mouth feel was like having dessert. But any sweetness was perfectly balanced with hop (Fuggle) bitterness, leading to a dry and lingering finish. In a word, Yum!

Photo: Firestone Walker website