Growler shared with brenn79, thanks. Aroma consists of vanilla, chocolate, roastiness, bread. Smells like a Guinness with a little vanilla added. Where’s the smoke? Pours black with red highlights and a medium cream-colored head with good retention. Flavor is sweet and full of vanilla, very light smokiness, finishes with a hoppy bitterness, dry. A light smokiness finally comes through in aroma after sitting for twenty or so minutes. I’m also getting a licorice flavor. Carbonation is soft, don’t know if that’s a growler fill issue or if that was how it’s brewed. I’m a little underwhelmed, dammit. I was really looking forward to this. There should be a lot more smoke if you ask me.

(tap) clear brown colour with a medium tall brown head; aromas of vanilla, smoke, wood, dried fruit; mostly dry flavour with a long light bitter finish

Draft. Vanilla, light smoke and chocolate malt aroma. Black with moderate head. Sweet vanilla chocolate malt flavor. Light bitter finish. Delicious.

Bottle from Antenna America, served in a snifter. It pours a nutty brown that’s black in the glass with a decent light beige head & lacing. Smooth vanilla & soft chocolate aroma. I am not getting much smoke in the aroma... Medium thin body with the taste being chocolate, light coffee, hints of smoke but just too much vanilla. Soft velvety bitter dark chocolate, potent vanilla beans & possibly hints of smoke with a touch of coffee in the finish. Am not feeling it, the vanilla is natural according to the label but I feel almost like it is an extract... I find the beer becomes more acidic as I drink it with the vanilla getting cloying & somewhat syrupy. The nose is great as is the aftertaste real smooth vanilla but for me the taste just doesn’t come together. Let’s give this a go in a half-pint glass and see what happens: still lots of vanilla in the nose but a fruitier rawer smell with the same soft chocolate in the background. The body seems fuller, velvety smooth mouthfeel more satisfying taste the vanilla isn’t so in your face overpowering it’s better balanced by the chocolate notes with more of a bitter dark chocolate think 70% cacao or more feel. Am still not really a fan but I can see how the ratings on this one are so polarizing, do NOT drink this in a snifter the vanilla is just way too much. In a snifter I’d give this a 3.2 or less in a pint it’s 3.5-3.7 for me.

Dark brown liquid bordering on black thin lasting white head. The aroma and flavor run hand-in-hand with this porter. Vanilla, shoe leather, English toffee and real subtle smoke in the finish. The vanilla and smoke lingering for a nice duration after the sip. Both are subtle and not overpowering. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Overall I enjoyed that the flavors being subtle and the sweetness didn’t get overwhelming. This draft example was served in a tulip glass @ Sunset Grill and Tap, Alston, MA.

Pour is a very dark brown with a small tan head. Aroma is a both equally nice smoke malt and vanilla. Flavor is way more of the vanilla. The smoke malt takes a back seat to the vanilla used but it’s still there in the back round. Finish leaves a lots of the vanilla on the tongue. A very in your face vanilla with some minor smoke in the back round makes this something different and solid.

From bottle to glass. Slight roast and moderate chocolate aroma. The vanilla is sweet and smooth. Pours a clear chestnut with slight garnet highlights. Head is taupe with lots of small bubbles. Slight lacing down the glass. Head lingers. Flavor is semi-sweet chocolate. Roast comes through mid-palate and slowly takes over the flavor profile. Vanilla constantly reminds you of its presence during the whole taste experience - but it has a little bit of a "fake" or chemical aspect to it. Mouthfeel is slightly over carbonated - with some spritzy aspects to it.

Wife says it’s "Not as bad as it sounds" and I’d agree, though I think it’s actually pretty good. Pours a dark, cola-brown, with barely any head. Aroma is dominated by smoke. Flavor is a pleasant combination of smoke and vanilla. It really is a good winter warmer sort of beer.