Bottle. Clear dark brown with a generous light tan head. Nutty, malty aroma. The flavor ha vanilla, chocolate and a bit of coffee. Light bitterness. I didn’t pick up any of the special ingredients, but otherwise an OK Porter.

12oz bottle. Unfiltered deep brown-black body. Sort of oily mouthfeel, the smoke is a little thick and almost has licorice notes. The honey adds an odd note to it, not sure it works so well. I like the idea of this beer, but the overall end product is rather weak, messy.

Draft at Sierra Nevada, Chico. Pours a medium depth brown with a small ring of tan head. Aroma is a delightfully mild smoke with roast, chocolate malt, and vanilla. Lots of small nuances in the flavor, beginning with the light smoky bits to vanilla and dark chocolate. The sweetness from the honey plays nicely with the smoke.

Draught @ Rattle ’n’ Hum. Clear reddish brown with small beige foamy head, caramelk mocha aroma, medium carbonation, initially sweet mocha taste with bitter alcohol undertones, thin body, long finish with alcohol aftertaste. The alcohol is not well masked.

12oz bottle pours out dark brown almost black topped with a tan head. Nose is roast malts some chocolate sweetness berries vanilla. Taste is more of the roast malts some chocolate sweetness and ash.

Bottle sample at a tasting at troubles’ place. Thanks troubles. Brown. Caramel, nuts, toast, some roast, vanilla, sweet, some honey, medium-bodied. Pretty nice.

Pour is more of a dark brown with a large tan head. Aroma is more of a toasted malt with some minor chocolate and herbal honey. Flavor is a toasted malt with a solid vanilla and honey. I did not get any of the smoke from the rare wood. Probably b/c Sierra Nevada or the distributor sits on these beers for 2 months before they are sold. Still this was still drinking fine besides that. I do like the addition of vanilla to any porter/stout.

Aroma’s molasses licorice dark malt barest hint of smoke. Flavor is likewise very slightly noticeable smoke and again licorice molasses on the sweet side not my favorite combination. Finish has a boozy warmth to it.

Pretty good porter, a bit light in the actual porter elements but given an extra bit of soul thanks to all the fancy tweaks. Smoke comes across loud and clear--the campfire’s in full effect--but the honey and vanilla stick to the periphery, overshadowed by the deep blackened malts and firm, bitter finish. Bitterness seems a bit overdone for a porter promoting its marshmallowness (32 IBUs feels low, but I’m no scientist), but at least it’s not desert-level sweet. Looks are okay, a bit thin and light with little head or lace. Nose is mostly smoke, but I’m good with that. Drinkable, for sure. (This bottle officially closes out my SN Beer Camp twelver. Great concept with varying results, my fave being the East Meets West IPA. Regardless, it’s probably the coolest thing Sierra Nevada’s done in years. Let’s make it an annual tradition.)