Smoked Porter - Vanilla Bean
Stone Brewing in Escondido, California, United States 🇺🇸
Porter - Smoked Rotating Out of Production|
Score
7.12
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In 2006, almost exactly 10 years after we first released Stone Smoked Porter, Stone Small Batch Brewer Laura Ulrich had a brilliant idea: What if she added whole Madagascar vanilla beans to a small batch of the finished beer? And voilà, Stone Smoked Porter w/Vanilla Bean was born! It was an instant hit, as the resulting flavor combinations—rich vanilla melding with the malty, chocolaty, coffee-like characteristics of the beer—were practically made for each other. Originally available only as an occasional growler fill or on tap all-too-briefly at special events or in our restaurant, this exquisite creation was released in a single bottle run for the first time in 2012, much to the delight of its many fans…who instantly began clamoring for more. Your voices have been heard.
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9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 10
Texture 8
Overall 10
Enjoyed on tap as a guest draft at Dark Lord Day at 3 Floyd’s in Munster, IN. Appearance virtually black with a rich tan head. Aroma mostly of vanilla, very rich with a smoke backing, a bit boozey as well. Taste very decadent, rich in vanilla, smooth, great mouthfeel. Wish I could have a full bottle. Even though the review isn’t overtly large, the addition of vanilla to this brew was a great complimentary ingredient and it would be sweet to have this again at a different time when I didn’t have 8 big beers in a 4 hour span.........re-rate on 8/16/11, the taste is now a 10, this is the best variety of the ’Smoked Porter’ series, hands down.
Tried
from Draft
on 30 Apr 2011
at 17:16
7.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Sampled from the tap at EBF. Poured near black with light brown head that dissipated to the edges. Aroma had a hint of smokiness with dark grains and a nice vanilla note. Flavor started with roasted malt and dark grains with the vanilla coming out in the finish. Not much smokiness on the tongue.
Tried
from Draft
on 19 Mar 2011
at 16:07
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Tap Takeover at Churchkey. Poured a dark, rich black color, medium sized head. Aroma was vanilla. It was pretty phenomenal. Flavor was slightly smoky, but vanilla beans dominate this one. Complex, rich, smooth - was close to perfect the night I had it.
Tried
from Draft
on 04 Oct 2010
at 20:43
5.9/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
From cask Pours dark brown to black with a small tan head. Aroma is dark roasted malt and distinct vanilla. Sweet, distinct vanilla and dark sweet malt beneath. Dark roasted. Lasting vanilla impression. Not balanced and overimpowering on the vanilla.
Tried
from Cask
on 04 Aug 2010
at 09:44
7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Clear deep mahogany with a medium beige head. Aroma had vanilla, dark chocolate, hard roasted malt and hints of smoke. Sweet flavour with plenty of vanilla, hard roasted malt, coffee, dark chocolate and smoke. Finished semi dry. Fine dessert beer.
Tried
on 20 Jul 2010
at 21:02
7.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
So I forgot I actually has this rare beastie when Stone first came to Chicago in 2010, Okay, so here’s my impression from an entire bomber, now $6.99 at my local Costco: "Enjoy by 3/31/15" Lightly toasted porter malt smell from under the cap and during the pour. Dense, brownish porter head that looks like you could walk on it. Smoke only comes out when I bring the glass up to my nose. This goes more for the campfire smoke smell. Smoked malts brings an acrid taste to the tonsils, slightly mellowed down by the vanilla bean. Pretty fresh malt taste is kind of grainy. So different impressions than my sample from 5 years ago, but I see no reason to change my rating. Still great.
Sampler at Finnegan’s, Plainfield, April 3, 2010. Deep, dark brown with some ruby highlights. Vanilla is clearly there in the nose, and up front on the tongue. Then it settles down to let in some real nice malts. Not one of the porters than are closer to an imperial stout, but a better impression of an old school "three threads" porter. The vanilla doesn’t get in the way, instead it acts like it belongs there. 7-4-8-4-16, total 3.9
Sampler at Finnegan’s, Plainfield, April 3, 2010. Deep, dark brown with some ruby highlights. Vanilla is clearly there in the nose, and up front on the tongue. Then it settles down to let in some real nice malts. Not one of the porters than are closer to an imperial stout, but a better impression of an old school "three threads" porter. The vanilla doesn’t get in the way, instead it acts like it belongs there. 7-4-8-4-16, total 3.9
Tried
on 21 Apr 2010
at 20:39
7.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Cask at White Horse on Parsons Green, August 2009. Black with a small off-white head. Vanilla, licorice, wood smoke and vineous sherry alcohol in the aroma. Sweet chocolate and vanilla flavour. Slightly roasted finish, but could do with a little more balance to the sweetness
Tried
from Cask
on 19 Dec 2009
at 08:19