Smoked Porter - Vanilla Bean - Stone Brewing Co.

ummswimmin

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I poured this beer into a tulip glass with a snifter style base. I did this to maximize the nose on this beer. I figured that a porter with vanilla would smell really good. I was right. I really enjoy the vanilla mix with the coffee of the porter.

The flavor is surprisingly well balanced. I like the mix of smoke, vanilla, and coffee in this beer. Stone did really well with this mix of flavors.

This is a very, very good beer. I know you can still find it at local stores in New Jersey. I recommend picking up a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 19:39:26 | More by ummswimmin

macrosmatic

Florida

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

Reviewed from notes. Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a CCB pint glass.

A: Pours quite a dark brown, but it appears pretty clear when held to the light. Nice visible carbonation which leads to a thin, light tan head.

S: Roasted sweet malt, some smoke (that doesn't overwhelm), and a background vanilla sweetness.

T: Follows the nose well. Roast malts first, then the smoke and vanilla flavors seem to battle on the tongue, with the vanilla sweetness winning by a nose. It seems dry, even mouth-drying at the end.

M: Very nice mouthfeel for porter. Just the right weight to the body, a good amount of carbonation sensation, and minimal alcohol presence.

O: I really didn't expect to like this at all. Porters aren't a style that I usually seek out, and I generally dislike smoked beers. But I bought this as a single bottle on a whim. While not exactly complex, this beer delivers what it says. Really pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 04:25:44 | More by macrosmatic

nova009

Kentucky

3.13/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass

A- pours a dark mahogany with red tints around the edges, a small (less than a half finger) fizzy tan head appears, the head settles to a nice covering and slowly dissipates

S- dark roasted malt, bitter cocoa, a slightly smokiness, slightly sweet with a little vanilla in the late nose, a little bit coffee too

T- bitter dark malt, some smoke, bitter dark chocolate, maybe a slight hit of vanilla but I'm struggling to find it, there's a strange aftertaste that I cannot quite place, not exactly pleasant

M- medium body, fairly creamy consistency, decent carbonation, covers the entire palate

O- not my favorite, I'm not a huge fan of porters but I'm by no means opposed to them, just something about the really odd and unpleasant aftertaste is making this one difficult to drink for me, I wouldn't buy again

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 00:52:57 | More by nova009

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours dark brown with a slight head. No lace.

Vanilla extract and charred malt in the nose. Some bitter chocolate.

Vanilla extract up front. Not artificial, but a little sweet. Then the porter starts. Dark roasted malt, charred notes, mild bitterness combined with malt, some bitter cococa, and a very slight smokiness in the finish. I want more smoke. Period.

Medium bodied. Good carbonation.

A bit disappointing. Too "odd" in the vanilla up front -- it just doesn't work. An uneven beer. Easy to drink, but not a quality level I expect from Stone.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 00:11:39 | More by OtherShoe2

Offa

California

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

This is very good, very enjoyable, with a somewhat complex character.

Not quite black, it has a big tan head steadily shrinking to foamy ring and wisps, a little lace.

Aroma is rich woody-roasty prunes, dark toast, brown bread, coffee beans, faint hint of vanilla.

Taste is caramlised coffee, wood, vanilla, some singed prunes, coffee-chocolate bitterness in finish. It is excellent and very drinkable, with some complexity in the character.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 00:32:23 | More by Offa

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

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

A: Slight cream coloured head over cola coloured liquid.

S: Smoke, vanilla and caramel.

T: Smoke, roasted malt, biscuit, grass, earth as well as caramel and vanilla in the finish.

M: Medium to thin viscosity with a medium to low level of very fine carbonation.

O: Complex flavours, unlike any beer I have ever tried. For me, the mouthfeel was a bit lacking though.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 02:38:41 | More by DaftCaskBC

Braz

Washington

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

12oz poured just below room temperature. Tons of fragrance notes. Butterscotch and chocolate. Roasted notes and overall slightly sweet smell with hint of vanilla.
Beautiful to look at. Dark mahogany to almost black in color, with two fingers of frothy tan head that lingers for few minutes.
Taste full of dark chocolate with subtle vanilla sweetness. Smoked flavor is subtle as well but I prefer it that way. It compliments the other flavors instead of being all you taste.
Medium body with a creamy, slightly oily feel on the palate, with a bitter finish. Overall, the bitterness of the chocolate was just a little too much for this beer. Would be better if the sweetness and bitterness were balanced a bit more. Still quite good. I don’t care for smoked beers but this one has the right idea.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 15:40:37 | More by Braz

Ranz

Texas

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

A: Poured in a glass snifter, it has a deep, rich mahogany color with a finger of head, dissipating rather quickly.

S: The aroma gives off hints of milk chocolate, lightly roasted coffee, and lovely candied malt.

T: Smooth as butter, it has a lovely roast flavor. There are also hints of caramel and toffee.

M: Slightly thick with a slight carbonation on the tongue, it has some good character. I prefer the chipotle pepper version, but this is still quite nice.

O: It's got some good character, but it needs just a little something more.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 01:32:23 | More by Ranz

ZBerkeleyan

California

4.58/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle, and it created a nice thick tan head. Lacing stuck to the sides of the glass, and light shone though the brew creating a crimson-brown glow.

The smell was the least impressive aspect, though it definitely improved and got more complex as the beer warmed. The vanilla bean was immediately apparent, while the other flavors were subtler and took time and a warmer temperature to become noticeable. There is also some spice in the nose, and malts.

The taste was just phenomenal. Creamy vanilla combined with a smokey, almost meaty second act. This unusual combination works amazingly well. It keeps the beer interesting til the very end.

The mouthfeel was, like any porter, pretty substantial. However, this one isn't too terribly filling or overwhelming. Still, even when taken in small sips, it has a bold and chewy character. Very satisfying, like a dessert (speaking of which, if you're in the mood for experimentation, pour a little of this over vanilla ice cream. Beer nerd sacrilege? Maybe. But it's a great way to make any old cheap pint of vanilla ice cream into a complex and worthwhile dessert).

Overall, do yourself a favor and try this one. Definitely worthwhile.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 06:26:58 | More by ZBerkeleyan

AndyAvalanche

Massachusetts

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

12 oz bottle poured into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint Glass. Liquid isn't that brown, slightly darker than a cola color. Amber highlights on the edges, not exactly see through because of the color, but looks like some decent clarity. Large thick and white head plenty of lacing.

Smell is really good. Very roasty, lots of dark roasted malts. Probably some pete malts because it's super smokey. Nice balance of vanilla. Similar to vanilla bean ice cream.

The taste is on par with the smell. Still super roasty and very smokey. Some slight chocolate and coffee flavors but there's still a distinct smokey flavor, almost campfire, but sweeter. The vanilla comes in after but it's very well blended.

The mouthfeel is good, the balance is a little off, but I can't imagine this one would be easy. Medium bodied, maybe slightly on it's way to full bodied. A very nice carbonation level and a good balance between bitterness and sweetness. It's much more drinkable than I expected. I've had it a couple times, the first time I had it, it was very fresh. I gotta say, even though it's recommended fresh, it's good to sit on this a couple of months. Initially the flavors don't blend all that well together, now it's much nicer. Before the smoke was a little too aggressive and then followed up by vanilla that was a little too sweet.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 03:08:23 | More by AndyAvalanche

jeonseh

Indiana

2.65/5  rDev -32.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle poured into a glass

A - Dark brown color with hints of light brown on the bottoms and edges. Has a frothy one finger head that settles down and leaves some nice lacing

S - Smoky cedar, roasted malt, light chocolate and coffee with a slight hint of the vanilla beans. The smoky scent dominates as you don't get as much vanilla as I'd hope for

T - Smoky and roasted malt up front. On the middle, there is a cream soda flavor that is what the vanilla provides here. The finish is more smokiness. The cream soda like flavor is good but doesnt meld well with the rest of the beer. The beer is also too thin for the flavors to stand up.

MF - Really thin and watery. Really wish this had a bit more heft to it as I'd feel it'd add to the flavors.

O - it's okay but really a disappointment from what I was expecting. The vanilla doesn't add much, the flavors are muted, and the body is really thin. Was hoping for more from Stone

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 01:14:15 | More by jeonseh

mikechance

California

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

Review from a 12 oz bottle purchased 11/20/12

A --- dark, thick and 1/4 inch head

S --- smoke, vanilla and

T --- lots of vanilla and malts. The smokiness is downplayed which I enjoy in this pairing.

M --- light to medium body and carbonation

O --- very good! I try to match food with smoked porters, but I could drink this one by itself.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 02:25:31 | More by mikechance

Nugganooch

California

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

I have had this from tap and growler in years past and have always been a fan.
*For Presentation purposes - 12oz bottle w/ Nonic taster glass

A: Pours a dark chestnut brown with a semi-transparent edge to it. Produces a nice thick oatmeal colored cream cap that retains quite nicely. Eventually collars out leaving etches and dots of cling down the glass.

S: Smells of fresh vanilla bean extract. The vanilla is sweet and expressive. There are some secondary notes of dark roast grains and earthy wood smoke. Really nice how the vanilla comes through big in the aroma.

T: Tastes of pure vanilla bean united with a light smoky char. Dark roast grains give a burnt toast note. Vanilla latte. Earthy dampened wood. There is a light peppery hop bitterness to the beer that cuts through the malt sweetness. Minor alcohol warming sensation. Crazy good vanilla flavor that just really marries well with the smoked grains.

M: Light moderate body with a smooth frothiness throughout. There is a nice carbonation crisp towards the finish and a sleek oily linger on the palate.

D: Bravo to Stone for capturing such a rich and fresh Vanilla flavor in this beer. This a very drinkable every day Porter by style but with some great robust flavors. The vanilla, smoke, and roast really come together to enhance the base beer experience in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 17:31:46 | More by Nugganooch

damndirtyape

Ohio

3.73/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a snifter. No date on the bottle.

Appearance: Black but with cola-brown at the edges. Light tan foam ring at the edge, tiny islands of lacing that slowly slid back down and disappeared over time.

Smell: Best to let it warm up or you won't get a lot. Vanilla dominates with a bit of some chocolate notes. With a swirl the smoke comes out from underneath the vanilla, but it's not strong even then.

Taste: Smoky, roasted malt, black coffee, some chocolate, and definitely vanilla like you would get off of ice cream. Bitterness at the end is part smoke, part roasted/burnt malt. Tasty brew.

Mouthfeel: Good carbonation, slick and strangely when cold, not a lot of body. As it warms up it gets a bit thicker.

Overall / Drinkability: As per the back of the bottle, I think this beer would be best with dessert. I had it by itself and I wish I had some cookies or cake to go with it. By itself it's just okay. The flavor combo works but it doesn't really pop out or make itself an amazing porter. Its just an okay porter by itself. Smoky, interesting, but one is enough. However....I really think if this was paired with food I might feel very different about this beer. I may have to try it again in the future and see if my hunch is right.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 23:59:30 | More by damndirtyape

BeerLover99

New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: deep blackish brown body, trace khaki head, mild lacing

S: big vanilla, faint choc, malt

T: vanilla, nutty, malt, chocolate, burnt coffee/smokey finish

M: med/light body, mild smooth/hint of dry mouth

O: LOVE Stone, but was slightly disappointed in this brew.
Feel like Vanilla overpowered, porter and smoke aspects.
Would recommend and probably not buy again.

GOOD, NOT MUST HAVE!

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 19:04:32 | More by BeerLover99

Kendo

New York

4.23/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This bottle arrived only recently on the Albany market. I didn't notice the etched "enjoy by" date until I sat down with it tonight - November 12, 2012 - and saw that I was supposed to enjoy this one by September 20, 2012. It sure would be nice if Decrescente (our local distributor) could figure out a way to get Stone beers in a timely fashion. . . . Oh well - let's see how it is nearly 6 weeks after it's expy date. . . .

A: Poured from the bottle into a pint glass. Body is black with an ivory head on top. A little bit of lacing.

S: I definitely smell the vanilla. Also some sweet malt, but that's about it. Nice nose though.

T: Vanilla sweetness over char, roasted coffee beans and even a touch of chocolate malt. Vanilla is the dominant characterisic, but it's not overly sweet or cloying at all. And it's clear that it's the real stuff, not fake vanilla (Magic Hat had a vanilla porter years ago that switched from the real to the fake stuff - you really can tell the difference). Good roasty bitterness seems to offset it, providing a good balance between sweet and bitter.

M: Medium in heft, decent creaminess to the feel.

O: Good stuff. I paid $3.99 for the single bottle, which is a little pricey, but I'm not unhappy with the taste of this beer at all.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 03:00:23 | More by Kendo

Phelps

Arizona

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

This was the second beer released by stone, on December 96. The chipotle variation was born ten years later, and was the first stone beer to get modified.

Poured into my Bell's tulip.

A chocolate brown liquid that melds into inky dark brown in the glass. The head, creamy, gets to about an inch thick and does its best the stay in place, leaving thick, pocked webbing.

Smoky, but gently so. A little campfire smoke, a noticeable scoop of chipotle. A touch of chocolate. Smells like a Mexican chocolate with peppers.

I've never been a huge fan of stone's smoked porter. It's a bit too subtle for me. Same deal here. The peppers are nicely integrated, and the heat on the tongue, just a suggestion of it, is perfect. but there's just not enough here to back it up. A smidge of dark chocolate, some piny hops, a rather dry finish. Just thin.

Like I said, thin. Light and a little fluffy in body. Moderate massaging carbonation, no hint of alcohol, the soft glow of pepper fire.

Eh. It's nowhere near as good as the vanilla porter, which could also be better. The chipotle integration is masterful, but the base beer leaves something to be desired.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 18:54:07 | More by Phelps

mkotsayfan

California

4.23/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a snifter. Pours a dark black with a two-finger light mocha head that dissipates fairly quickly. The aroma has a dominance of the smoke and vanilla, along with some roasted malts and chocolate. The taste is a nice blend of vanilla and smoke, the smoke does show through more in the taste than the smell though. Also, these flavors along with the chocolate tend to mix better in the taste rather than the smell. The mouthfeel is light and crisp, with a decent amount of carbonation.

Overall a really solid beer from Stone, now lets see a Stone IRS w/Vanilla bottled.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 02:40:43 | More by mkotsayfan

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

3.58/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Consumed 10/27/12

Appearance: Moderately dark brown, with some lighter brown and a lot of clarity around the edges - thin, wispy, off-white head - retains a little cap, but not much - leaves some nice streaks of lacing

Smell: Lightly burnt and charred, with some chocolate - dark chocolate bars and dark chocolate malts - some vanilla bean in the background, but doesn't really scream "vanilla" at first but it comes more apparent as it warms, and then becomes the main feature of the aroma (!) - some smoke, bready malts, and some sweetness

Taste: Vanilla with a side of char and smoke - kind of an odd combination - sweet, almost creamy vanilla - dark, burnt malts, with hints of charred grains and dark chocolate - some coffee - a moderate amount of bitterness

Mouthfeel: Medium body, lightly carbonated, a slight stickiness to it, pretty drinkable

Overall: Good, not classic like the original

Stone Smoked Porter is a benchmark for the style. Somehow, despite the fact that I like vanilla, adding it to this beer did not create something better. Yes, it is good, but it's not amazing. Still worth a try, though.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 02:25:15 | More by angrybabboon

cfrobrew

Texas

4.05/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 bottle poured into a tulip

A- A little light but still plenty dark. Very nice creamy head when its initially poured that disappears to a ring after a few sips.

S- Very strong vanilla smell with a malty pairing.

T- Mostly a pretty pure vanilla smell with a little smoke but its pretty hard to get past the vanilla. As it warms up the smokiness is a little more noticeable.

M- Nice carbonation, thin front feel with a creamy feel after especially for the first few sips with the creamy head.

O- Pretty neat vanilla beer, very different. Im not a huge vanilla porter fan but if I had to pick one it would be this one because its got a good sweetness paired with the vanilla instead of bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 01:10:52 | More by cfrobrew

mooseo

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into snifter.

A - Dark brown-black with a small tan head.

S - Roasted and smoked malt, vanilla bean, milk, light chocolate and coffee.

T - Smoked burnt malt up front, with vanilla, milk chocolate, and black coffee blending in throughout. The vanilla flavor overall is subtle but pleasant.

M - Soft and creamy, medium-full body. Mild carbonation.

O - A nice drinkable porter. The vanilla is there but I was expecting a bit more I guess. Good balance between sweet and bitter.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 00:20:16 | More by mooseo

fragilehearted

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle into a pint glass.

A - Beautiful pour. Beer is deep brown, with a little light showing through. Huge thick creamy head with amazing retention and beautiful lacing that sticks around.

S - Delicious. Vanilla (obviously) upfront, with chocolate, cocoa, coffee, roasted malt. Seriously, it smells like a dessert.

T - follows the smell. Simply amazing how the vanilla complements the roasted malts. I like their regular porter, but I don't even want it after this - the vanilla makes it so much better.

M - Medium bodied, perfect (medium) carbonation, very creamy.

D/O - I have to say, this is absolutely one of my favorite porters. It has all the regular porter appeal with the added vanilla that I love to make it a winner. I could drink this all the time. It is sublime. Stone, please make this one on the regular, and not the chipotle one.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 07:28:00 | More by fragilehearted

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.55/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a Talisker tasting glass.

A: Ruby-clear glints. Ostensibly black beer is actually mahogany.

S: Smells amazing. So sweet. Heavy vanilla bean, dark cocoa, and trace spice.

T: Light and roasted, with hints of smoke and vanilla, the latter which grows on the end taste. The aftertaste is mysteriously bitter and hoppy, with little trace of the initial flavors.

M: No carbonation. Thin and bitter.

O: Not so tasty. Still interesting. The main taste is great; the aftertaste kills it.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 08:12:44 | More by AgentMunky

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

tony223366

California

2.98/5  rDev -24.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A: Dark brown color, dark, dark walnut with fluffy, creamy head. Nice lacing. Looks an awful lot like Self-Righteous. Good looking beer.

S: Lots of vanilla! It smells like dessert. Lots of chocolate, some light smoked aromas. That vanilla really takes over, but it smells amazing!

T: It is unfortunately too unbalanced for me. I could see some people loving it though. Huge vanilla bean. Some chocolate, some light smoked flavors. Some acidity on the finish. This beer is missing balance. More smoked or malt depth is sorely needed. Don't like the finish much either.

M: Too light, needs more mouth feel. Light carbonation and smooth mouthfeel.

O: Love the vanilla bean, but the beer is not balanced. Won't buy again.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 04:44:19 | More by tony223366