Smoked Porter - Vanilla Bean - Stone Brewing Co.

Zorro

California

3.48/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Clear brown colored beer with a small brown colored head.

Smell is sweet vanilla and chocolate with wisp of smoke. The vanilla kind of takes over.

Starts out semi-sweet with lots of vanilla. Vanilla, char and chocolate are the strongest flavors. Smoke is only an accent to this one.

Mouthfeel is full.

Overall this is an OK beer but not a great one. Vanilla is one of those flavors like clove that can easily takeover a beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 22:47:42 | More by Zorro

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draft at The Pour House in Westmont, NJ.

Pours a deep dark brown color that's almost black and completely opaque with faint mahogany edges and a two finger beige head that slowly settles into a lasting ring.  Streaks and chunks of soapy lacing left behind.

Slightly smokey, roasted malt aroma with sweet and roasted malt notes countered by silky vanilla sweetness.  Vanilla is prominent but doesn't overpower other notes allowing hints of dark chocolate, caramel, toast and oatmeal to come through.  

Medium bodied with a strong smokey, roasted malt presence up front that lingers over the sweetner notes and vanilla bean into a very dry finish.  Very robust with dark chocolate, oatmeal and burnt toast countered by toffee, lighter chocolate and hazelnut. The sweetness from the vanilla cuts the bitter roasted character with a decent amount of silky sweetness.  Good vailla flavor but is somewhat subtle letting the characteristics of the base beer shine. Was expecting more vailla but it's subtly integrated and shows most toward the finish.  Could use a little more vanilla but is still really good.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2012 02:02:31 | More by corby112

DoubleJ

California

4.45/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On cask at Beachwood BBQ, on to the beer:

Is this a vanilla/chocolate shake from Ruby's? The vanilla is very pronounced in the flavor, where it melds well with the bittersweet chocolate. The porter part seems to be hidden underneath the vanilla bean. There was a touch of cardboard found in the aroma and flavor, but otherwise this was a rich, creamy treat that I would suggest to be served/mixed with vanilla ice cream.

Serving type: cask

02-21-2009 06:31:11 | More by DoubleJ

HopHead84

California

4.15/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

10/30/2011

A: Dark brown with a reddish tinge near the edges.

S: Aromatic vanilla blends with dark chocolate and roasted malt. Smoke is light and redolent of beech wood.

T: Roasted malt with a pervasive beech wood smokiness and a pronounced vanilla bean flavor. The vanilla is pretty awesome with this beer. Chocolate is evident.

M: Medium body with upper moderate carbonation.

Overall: An improvement upon an already good beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-31-2011 02:43:23 | More by HopHead84

kojevergas

California

3.35/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served on-cask into a 25 cl Leffe goblet at the Daily Pint in Santa Monica. Reviewed from notes. Expectations were above average.

A: Pours a two finger head of nice cream, good thickness, and good retention. Colour is a dark amber-black. No yeast particles are visible.

Sm: Smoke, dark malts, yeast, cream, and roast. Complex and enjoyable. Smoke is dominant. A moderate strength aroma.

T: Smokey with cream. Some dark malts. Timid. Balanced decently. Built okay for a smoked porter, but I've had better. Vanilla is subtly present and is the best aspect of the flavour. Not bold, unique, or special. I like it but it's not great.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Too light and too thin. Not enough cream. Weak. Should be more coarse. Complements the flavour decently.

Dr: Drinkable and enjoyable, but it suffers from the cask; it'd be better on-draught. I'd like to try this properly. I've had far better beers in the style.

B-

Serving type: cask

04-20-2012 04:17:37 | More by kojevergas

Brad007

Vermont

4.38/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I have not seen this beer since it was on tap at American Flatbread when Stone first came to Vermont several years ago.

Pours a brownish-black color with a brown head into my glass. Accurate for the style.

Mild coffee with a good touch of vanilla bean in the nose. Chewy. Smoky.

Flavor is spot-on as I remember. My friend, who was still new to beer when he tried this, likened it to cocoa puffs. Me? I liken it more to french vanilla with a good chunk of cocoa.

Smoky, sweet and chock full of vanilla. The mouthfeel solidifies this ale.

I wanted to emulate this at one point. A cousin of mine actually tried with a standard porter and vanilla bean. Still, nothing can touch Stone.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 02:09:03 | More by Brad007

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review from notes taken on 10/1/10 at the Alewife's Stone total tap takeover event.

Pours a dark brown color with some lighter brown clarity around the edges. The head is tan in color and receeds to a layering around the edges of the glass. Lacing clings all around the glassware in patches.

The aroma of this brew is smoked goodness over roasty malt. There is a chocolate malt underlay and a touch of vanilla sweetness from the bean addition. The smoked quality is all upfront and the vanilla plays a minor role in the backend of this brew. Well played, it is subtle and makes for a very enjoyable nose. Once the brew warms, the vanilla really comes forward with a sweetness that never quite makes it into the flavor.

The taste is smokey and roasty with a burnt grain bitterness upfront that yields to the vanilla bean flavored sweetness through the body that is shorted lived before the rest of the flavor takes back over. There is a lingering flavor of bitter roasted malt that is quite smokey left clinging inside the mouth. As it warms, there is some citrus hop character that comes forward which was previously hidden beneath the smoke and burnt grain.

This is a medium to light bodied brew with a moderate level of carbonation. Overall it is quite drinkable but maybe just a bit more forward sweetness or vanilla flavoring would really drive this one home in the drinkability department. The smell of this brew was a bit deceiving, it made me anticipate quite a sweet vanilla profile which was not as forward or bold as the nose led on. Regardless it was well done and I would have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2010 23:13:10 | More by stakem

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.83/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had at the Stone Tap Takeover in Charlotte. Served from tap into a tumbler. Poured dark dark brown with a minimal off-white head. There was no lacing evident throughout. The aroma was comprised of roasted malt, vanilla, and subtle hop. The flavor was of roasted malt, vanilla bean, and a slight hop hint. It had a medium feel on the palate with low carbonation. Overall this was a nice enjoyable brew. I really liked the vanilla aspect to it. The hop note on the followthrough was quite nice and seemed to tie the vanilla bean into a nicely balanced brew.

Serving type: on-tap

10-12-2010 14:15:49 | More by thagr81us

largadeer

California

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Dark mahogany body with excellent clarity. An inch of off-white head forms.

Smell: As advertised, there's plenty of smoke and vanilla, and they work pretty nicely together. The porter base is dry, roasty, slightly ashy. Vanilla gives an illusion of richness to an otherwise dry beer.

Palate: Lots of natural and tasty vanilla flavor, along with a present but nicely integrated smokiness. Roasted malt, a touch of cigar and coffee. The body is medium verging on light. Carbonation is at a lower-medium level. Vanilla lingers, but the finish dries up nicely without being particularly bitter. This is a really enjoyable take on an already good beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 07:48:04 | More by largadeer

avalon07

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a brown color and a somewhat clear consistency. There was an inch and a half of foamy, tan-colored, long-lasting head. Great lacing.

S: The vanilla beans dominated the aroma, along with chocolate and malt.

T: Like the smell, the taste was all about the vanilla beans (not a bad thing). Also had traces of chocolate, coffee, malt, and mild hops. The smokiness wasn't as pronounced as I thought it would be. A very enjoyable flavor.

M: A decent amount of carbonation with a dry, smooth finish. Medium-bodied.

O: An oddly likeable, easy to drink porter.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 12:05:30 | More by avalon07

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep amber to black in color with an off white head. In the aroma, sweet vanilla, coffee, and even notes of cinnamon. In the taste, sweet vanilla, a coffee roast, and it feels a bit creamy. A small bite and a medium to lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a small dry to sweet vanilla and cream like aftertaste. Big vanilla, coffee and cinnamon. Tasty, but I can see this getting to be a bit too sweet at times.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 14:54:42 | More by OWSLEY069

jrallen34

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Whole foods until a tulip...A dark brown pour, light tan head, ok retention and lacing...The aroma is all sweet vanilla bean, its very strong true to vanilla and not generic like most vanillas. There also is some complexity brought on the finish by some roastiness...The starts out all vanilla as well and at first its almost too much and makes me wonder if I can finish the glass. Thankfully a few more sips in the vanilla really starts to fade into a side note as the smoke starts to take over a bit. Very balanced. Easy drinker.

A great balanced beer. The vanilla is really nice, best vanilla I've had since dl vanilla bean, the smokiness finishes this in the best way.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2010 23:06:59 | More by jrallen34

DefenCorps

Oregon

3.18/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle from Rodman's, served in my Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche tulip.

A very dark brown that ends up being black in the glass, this beer is capped with a dense, light brown head with excellent retention and lacing. The vanilla really dominates the nose, making it seem one dimensional. However, it does accentuate the cocoa and mild caramel notes of the base beer (the latter was obscured in the chipotle version), while doing a good (but unwelcome ) job of reducing the potency of the roast and smoke.

The palate opens sweet with plenty of vanilla, including a vanilla-like sweetness, coupled with the cocoa and chocolate (which have taken on more of a milk-chocolate note rather than a dark chocolate note that was present in the Chipotle version). The vanilla sweetness does also shine light on the not-so-positive fact that this beer is lighter in body than would be ideal. Mildly smoky on the finish with a moderate roast and cocoa character that is not very harmonious when paired with the intense vanilla. While the vanilla flavor is wholly natural, it is not terribly enjoyable IMO

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 02:27:32 | More by DefenCorps

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.53/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle pours a dark crimson color with an ample head that shows awesome lacing and good retention. This is a very good looking beer.

Nose is smoke and vanilla...how original of me to come up with those descriptors, eh? Really though...thats all I get.

The combination of vanilla beans and smoke give this a little bit of a barrel aged feel to it. I had this before and didnt enjoy it as much as I am now...it seems there has been a bit of a mellowing effect after a month or two. Before, the smoke and vanilla fought each other tooth and claw...but they are a little more integrated now and actually is fairly decent. Still think the vanilla is a bit much, especially paired with the relatively light smoke flavor the regular Stone Smoked Porter shows. I dont think this is one of Stone's better offerings...especially at nearly $4 a bottle!

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 01:59:07 | More by twiggamortis420

nickfl

Florida

3.9/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - One finger of if white foam on an opaque, black body. Ok retention and good lace.

S - Light smoke and some thick toffee. Notes of mocha and molasses with a distinct vanilla character.

T - Brown toffee and caramel up front. Some molasses in the middle with a hint of coffee appearing and vanilla starting to show through. The finish is full of chocolate and coffee with nutty vanilla and lingering smoke.

M - Moderately thick body, moderate carbonation, and a sweet finish.

D - Very nice, the smoke and vanilla combine nicely with the dark, sugary malt. It is a bit too sugary for my taste however and I really can't imagine drinking more than one in a sitting.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2011 21:15:35 | More by nickfl

smakawhat

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a nonic pint glass.

A real nice tan head three fingers, but forms rather quickly on the pour and settles quickly also. Body color is a very dark dark walnut brown red hues also. Compared to the Chiptole pretty much identical although this one didn't seem to foam up as big as the other.

Sweet roast malts sensing, but not much vanilla angle. Some faint smoke but not really getting accented. Creamy sense with the vanilla. Smells good, but the chipotle version highlights the malt and roast better.

Vanilla creaminess really jumps to the forefront highlighting a velvety smooth body and texture. Roasty dark malts linger slightly complimenting vanilla tones well. Smokey angle seems a bit lost with the sweetness though.

Overall it's still a very tasty porter, with a great feel more than anything, however I prefer the Chipotle version with its emphasis on bringing out the roast and smoke of the porter considerably more. A decent brew regardless.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 23:39:13 | More by smakawhat

FosterJM

California

3.85/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1223rd Review on BA
Draft to Pint

@Limericks Pub- Upland,CA

Hanging with Lcmir23

App- Almost a pitch black color. Some brown & amber edges. Bad pour got me zero head on it and had no cling either. Just a very there pour.

Smell- Picks up a little bit in the aromatics. Still had a bit of roasted smokiness to it with some creamy vanilla and a bit of malts as well.

Taste- There it is. Its a tasty beer. Had some good vanilla flavors that lingered for a long time. The smokiness was very tame on this one and I appreciate the blend on this. Not over the top with either flavor but nice balance.

Mouth- A bit of a medium body and a creamy low-medium carbonation level. Residual vanilla and malt flavors.

Drink- Been looking to try this one for a while and am glad I found it. Nice creamy flavors and a good balance. Would love this bottled.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2012 18:40:14 | More by FosterJM

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle. Served in a pint glass, the beer pours a clearish dark brown color with about a half inch tan head. Head retention is decent, and there's a good amount of lacing. The brew smells like roasted malt, vanilla, chocolate, and some light smoke. It tastes like roasted malt, smoke, vanilla, chocolate, and a bit of coconut. I think the vanilla overpowered the smoke in the aroma, but meshed well with the smoky flavor of the beer. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a bit slick with good carbonation. I think this is a good brew, it's definitely worth trying. I like this version better than the Chipotle one, but I still prefer the original Smoked Porter. $3.99 a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 22:28:30 | More by bluejacket74

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.7/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

dont like this as much as the chipotle version, but its still a nice porter. it pours a lazy looking dark brown color without a whole lot of head. it smells very strongly of vanilla beans, sticky and sweet, fresh. the smoke smell and flavor is largely masked by the vanilla, which i think is a major detriment to this beer. the original is great for that robust smoke flavor, and the chipotle version really enhanced that property, but its not as evident with the vanilla, and its missing to me. flavor is good though, desserty, sweet. i wouldnt drink a bunch of these, but one is fine. might also be nice with a creamy dessert like panacotta or something. feel is good, low on carbonation but thats okay here, sturdy body, sugary finish. an excellent porter on its own, but compared to the rerular smoked porter, it seems unnecessary.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 18:35:31 | More by StonedTrippin

AgentZero

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this at the Stone event at Smallbar Division.

A - Black beer, brown on the edges, small tan head that didn't leave anything on the sides. Thin coating of film left during consumption.

S - Roasted malts, you can smell the great roasted backbone of the regular Smoked Porter. The vanilla in this is obviously a big difference, it is quite present and smells pretty real.

T - Great taste. Real vanilla is infused into Stone's regular Smoked Porter, which is already a good beer in and of itself. Little bit of bittering coffee on the end.

M - Thick, medium carbonation, little chewy.

D - This was a fantastic beer, I was pleasantly surprised and drank it quite easily. Would love to have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2010 05:16:20 | More by AgentZero

tdm168

North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - pitch black with a large, soft, bubbly, dense, brownish head that has great retention

S - very faint; roasted malts and light smokiness; not nearly as intense as I would have thought

T - sweet and smoky, vanilla, earthy, roasty, faint bitter coffee, cola; the vanilla plays well with the smokiness and takes some of the bitterness away from the roasted malts

M - medium to full bodied, well carbonated, a bit creamy

This is a nice, rich, complex beer. The smoked malt and vanilla are a great combination. The richness and sweetness actually add to the drinkability by playing down the bitterness. This is definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 08:07:59 | More by tdm168

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle served in a glass beer mug.

L - black with a off-white head that thinned to a layer leaving a good deal of lacing.

S - vanilla aroma with solid smoke in the background.

T - the vanilla is lighter in the taste as the smoked flavor is more upfront and the vanilla compliments nicely.

F - medium bodied with a creamy smooth feel.

O - another good beer from Stone.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 21:38:12 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer was very hard on the wallet since I got it from the house of 1,000 beers for 4 bucks.

A - Damn this has a great level of carbonation getting well over an inch of rocky deep mocha head. The beer itself is pretty black with mild hues of red at the base of the glass.

S - To me it's very mild with soft tones of coffee roasts, milk like sugars and a soft pillow of vanilla bean.

T - I like it in fact it's very balanced. The vanilla beans do seem to hide the smoke a tad but I remember the original beer not having very much smoke to begin with. Roast and chocolate flavors also balanced it drinks almost like a rich coffee drink.

M - Medium bodied and chewy. Very tasty.

Overall no way worth 4 bucks a pop but would be worth 15 bucks a six pack easy. A very light tasty porter with vanilla flavor.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 02:18:37 | More by DrDemento456

flagmantho

Washington

4.38/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: rich, dark brown with ruby highlights. Body seems to be haze-free. Head is a finger of frothy tan foam. A good-looking beer!

Smell: smooth, chocolatey aroma with a hint of vegetal hops at the end. The vanilla and smoke are definitely there, but they are very subtle and play a great role bringing out the chocolatey and malty qualities. I like it.

Taste: the chocolate and vanilla work together wonderfully. This beer is smooth and flavorful, but never over-the-top. Vanilla can be a double-edged sword, and in this beer it's handled masterfully. I really love it.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a nicely integrated carbonation and a very smooth creaminess. The more I drink it, the more I like the velvety smoothness ... great!

Overall: a very good beer that I would be glad to quaff over and over again. Love it!

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 14:57:12 | More by flagmantho

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.95/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz. bottle served in a tulip. Pours sightly darker than cola in color and clarity with a loose, half inch, beige-colored head that quickly looses half its volume in a matter of seconds, yielding to ringlets and then finally to a soapy skim that coalesces around the shoulders. Some spots and thin strands of lacing are revealed during the tasting. Nose asserts a strong vanilla bean presence off the bat, albeit somewhat artificial in character, followed by a roasty/chalky cocoa quality. Taste consistent with nose; however, impressions of smoked meat are also expressed in the flavor profile. Mouthfeel is medium-light and feels a tad thin with a slightly coarse, almost gassy carbonation level. I really enjoy the standard smoked porter and the vanilla definitely imparts an interesting dimension to this beer; however, it falls a part a little in the mouthfeel for me. Perhaps a little more body and a little less carbonation would improve the overall character.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 01:53:05 | More by Jwale73