Velvet MERKIN clone attempt - help needed

[jammin]

Hi all -

Merkin is fantastic beer and I'd love to try and nail down this recipe. I'm not a pro at designing/brewing stouts so if you have any insight please chime in.

Here is what FSW has listed for ingredients:
Velvet Merkin

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.
style
Oatmeal Stout
abv 8.5
ibu 33
color 80SRM
fermentation British Ale (House)
malts:
Maris Otter, 2-Row Pale, Roast Barley, English Dark Caramel, Medium Caramel, Carafa Malt, Oats (15%)
hops
100% US Grown Fuggle Hops

the bottle says:
SG: 19 plato ~ 1.079 SG
TG: 4 plato ~ 1.016 TG
8.5% ABV (im giving the bourbon credit for 0.5% in my recipe)


With that in mind, I'm curious if anyone thinks this recipe might be in the ballpark? Any ideas on percentages of specialty malts (especially the carafa)?

 

[DavidJP]

I haven't tried the merkin version but have done the Merlin version which I gather is just a lower ABV. I think the roasted barley is at 12%, I think that comes from a youtube video that Matt bryndilson did on the velvet Merlin. Also might be worth checking out the velvet Merlin thread from a while back.
Wouldn't mind betting the yeast was WLP 002 as well.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f12/firestone-walker-velvet-merlin-oatmeal-stout-clone-234567/