Einer's Folly Vanilla Imperial Porter (Holiday Wine Cellar's 45th Aniv Ale) - The Bruery

claspada

New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark brown with a medium off-white head. Good head retention, spotty lacing as it recedes.

The aromas begin very heavy on the oak with some good notes of vanilla beans. As it warms the roast becomes quite heavy and dominant with faint hints of bourbon in the background.

The tastes begin with a touch of caramel sweetness and a hint of vanilla. The roast is perhaps even more pronounced in the flavor than the aromas which I didn't think was possible, as is the oak, but the roasted char becomes too dominant and lingering on the palate.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. Finish is dry and roasty and overly oaky; too much so for myself and others I sampled this with.

Overall this beer was enjoyable colder and become abrasive and taxing on the palate as it warmed. Maybe a bit too heavy on the dark malts and too long of an extended contact period with the oak. Maybe the base beer wasn't bold enough to handle the aging as well, either way the vanilla wasn't as pronounced as I had hoped for and this just didn't work for me in the end.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 17:45:32 | More by claspada

Arbitrator

California

2.2/5  rDev -42.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Chilled bottle into a glass. Shared by Nick3, I believe. From notes.

A: Pours a black body with a short-lived beige head. No lace.

S: A muted, weak nose of some chocolate, some vanilla (and that's only because I looked at the label). Possibly some smoke. Really lackluster.

T: The smell was a good preview for the taste, which is pretty lackluster, as well. It begins with roast and a semi-sweet chocolate flavor, but it becomes lightly bitter, bringing up smoke and mild vanilla. Some fruitiness going on. Pronounced oak.

M: Medium-bodied. It's about the only part of the beer that is halfway redeeming.

O: Unremarkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2011 04:16:32 | More by Arbitrator

merc7186

New York

3.28/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Bomber into taster glass.

A: Dark Brown Hue, Passes Mild Light, Brown Head Ring, Some Lacing

S: Vanilla Beans, Mildly Boozy

T: Bitter Chocolate, Mild Vanilla Beans, Mildly Boozy

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium to Full Bodied, Mildly Boozy

Overall, pretty disappointing actually, I don't know if it didn't age well but the beer was just boring

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 02:19:51 | More by merc7186

Phelps

Arizona

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip

Deep, pure black with a creamy, dense two-finger head of light tan. The bubbles are very sticky, clinging to the glass in thin yet jagged tracts of horizontal lace.

Tangy nose. Licorice, honey, bitter dark chocolate, spicy molasses, vinous oak, vanilla beans. Cocoa and prunes emerge as it warms. Perhaps it’s a little oxidized, but I’d expect as much after the amount of time this has been aging.

A little spice — anise, perhaps — in the flavor as well. Burnt oak, smooth vanilla, lingering burnt toast, molasses, burnt oak and toast. Some tangy dark fruit, probably prunes. A little of the oxidation here as well.

Velvety medium-light body. There’s a touch of silky fizz as is moves, but very little carbonation. A tiny bit of boozy heat causes numbness on the tongue.

Einer’s Folly is no mistake — it may be a little old, but it's held up well. A good blend of flavors.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2012 04:51:21 | More by Phelps

jsanford

Georgia

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours dark black with a fluffy khaki head that settles to a thin, bubbly haze and some soapy lacing clinging to the glass. Aromas of dark roasted malt, coffee, and chocolate, along with dark-toast oak and nice vanilla beans. Very smooth and integrated. Taste is pretty similar, more solid Porter flavors of roasted malt, chocolate, coffee, and baked bread with more oak and vanilla bean. Smooth and drinkable, with a medium-full body and ample carbonation. Pretty nice beer, definitely enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 04:12:42 | More by jsanford

portia99

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750ml bottle poured into a Dogfish Head signature glass.

A - Pours a nearly black dark, dark liquid with a finger of dense cappuccino head the lingers for a while. A tiny bit of lacing is left after the head falls and a nice skim coat of foam remains throughout the glass.

S - A good amount of coffee, roasted malts, oak, dark caramel, dark chocolate, licorice, some alcohol. Surprisingly, I'm not getting any vanilla. Vanilla comes out when it gets room temperature warm, but not before.

T - Crispy burnt malt, black coffee, smokey malt, bbq sauce?, light vanilla. The smokiness dominates this one...becomes almost rauchbeir-like when it approaches room temperature.

M - Medium bodied with smooth creamy and lightly prickly feel. Smokiness fills the mouth on every sip and way into the aftertaste.

D - Split this bottle with another BA, nonstick...half of the bottle is just about right. Very interesting, good porter - perhaps a bit too smoky to be ideal. Recommend trying this one if you can get it.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2010 22:57:45 | More by portia99

DovaliHops

California

3.2/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours dark black with a small tan head that disappears rather quickly. Scent is...extremely weird. Can't really explain it...oaky? Taste is very dark chocolate. Bitter dark chocolate with hints of vanilla and oak. Some earthiness as well. Mouthfeel is medium bodied. Drinkability is fair. Overall, not my favorite beer from the Bruery. I'm not a huge fan of dark chocolate, and this was VERY dark-chocolatey.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2011 06:33:17 | More by DovaliHops

jmarsh123

Indiana

3.6/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours deep brown with a 1.5 finger creamy tan head.

Aroma is cocoa, vanilla, some spiciness and a bit of oxidation.

Starts out with some chocolate and cocoa flavor. Vanilla and oak make their presence known, but the vanilla appears to have faded with time. A little bit of a spice kick and some more expected oxidation. Finishes sweet on the back of the tongue.

Medium body and carbonation has held up well.

Some good flavors here even though it's slightly oxidized due to age. I'm not a huge fan of some of the spice profile, but overall still a rather enjoyable beer. I wish I could've tried this when the vanilla popped a bit more. Probably over the hill now.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2012 21:00:08 | More by jmarsh123

billshmeinke

California

4.08/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Wax dipped bottle with Holiday Wine Cellar logo instead of the Bruery's. Looking classy. Poured into an oversized wine glass.

Dark black with hints of brown at the very outer edges of the glass when held to light. Pretty much impenetrable darkness. Steady pour yields a finger and a half creamy tan head that stick around for awhile before becoming a layer of foam that spans the entire top of the beer and already shows evidence of some serious lacing. Layer of foam retains throughout, leaving tons of tan colored lacing behind. A magnificent looking beer.

The nose is complex and layered. Oak, vanilla bean, and roasted malts are most prominent accompanied by whiffs of bourbon. There is some pine and spearmint in there as well plus a touch of dark berries. Smells a bit hot from the bourbon. Fairly aggressive nose. Pretty much what I expected from this beer with a few interesting surprises (specifically, the pine/spearmint and dark berries).

The taste kicks off with dark chocolate, charred malts (producing a slightly burnt flavor), hints of coffee, oak, a bit of peat, vanilla beans, a touch of dark berries, and some caramel/toffee flavors start to develop mid palate. The bourbon is definitely there and adds some heat to the brew. Some piney/minty hops add an interesting dimension and a bit of balance. Oak/vanilla, smoke with a bit of ash, and a slight tobacco flavor linger on the palate.

As far as mouthfeel goes this one is on the lower side of full bodied. It is quite well carbonated and creamy, much like a belgian dark or quad, which keeps the otherwise viscous brew from feeling too heavy on the tongue.

This beer is a little on the aggressive/harsh side, and comes off as a bigger beer than its abv would suggest. The vanilla beans work very well with the bourbon soaked oak chips to produce an after dinner/dessert oriented beer, and the flavors and aromas it produces are quite big and bold. I have three more bottles, and I am extremely excited to see what a few years of aging will do for this beer. My feeling is that the aggressive/harsh characteristics are due to the beer's youth, and that age will do it wonders.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2010 21:31:06 | More by billshmeinke

DaveHS

California

3.4/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle shared by nbree00

A-Pours shiny black with burgundy highlights and a fluffy coffee colored head. Leaves a blanket of thick foam down the glass.

S-Cocoa powder, vanilla extract, a little booze/wet cardboard mustiness. More chocolate comes through once it's had some time to settle.

T/M-Tastes like a lesser Victory at Sea. Vanilla and baker's chocolate dominate the palate, with sharp bitterness on the back end. Body is full and soft, with a dry bitterness that creeps in and builds up residually.

O-The dryness hurts drinkability. Decent. I would've liked to try it fresh, seems like it's on the decline.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 01:42:20 | More by DaveHS

PeprSprYoFace

California

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

On tap at Holiday Wine Cellar.

Pours a deep brown. Very little head. Little bit of lacing. More of a thin layer of film as a head.

Aroma is mostly roasted grains. Slight bit of oak. Not alot of diverse aromas going on. Just roast mostly.

Tastes pretty much how it smells. Not alot of diversity. Don't get me wrong it's a pretty good beer but nothing to really set it apart as an anaversary beer. I was expecting a little more actually. A little hint of bourbon but not much.

Mouthfeel needs to be heavier IMO. Carb was good.

Overall I could drink a whole 750 of this beer because it is actually easy drinking but it's not very special IMO. Tastes like a really roasty porter. Needs more caramel malt. It's good and I would have it again I was just expecting more.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2010 00:37:33 | More by PeprSprYoFace

waltonc

Colorado

3.8/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours dark translucent brown with a large tan head. Smells of vanilla and chocolate, mostly. Not very complex. Tastes of chocolate, oak, vanilla, and hops. The pronounced hop pine bitterness seems slightly out of place here. Tastes good, but doesn't blow me away. Not boozy or hot. Maybe expectations were set too high due to the fancy wax-topped one-off anniversary celebration factor, but this doesn't strike me as meriting a Vanna White gliding arm presentation. Body is a bit thin in my opinion (but certainly thick in comparison to an ice cold Coors Light), with high carbonation. If this were sold in sixers at a reasonable price, I'd buy more. But given the high cost, I would pass on trying it again.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2010 23:16:28 | More by waltonc

Jmoore50

Nevada

3.85/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Got this from Holiday down in San Diego. Need to catch up on some reviews.

The appearance is a dark black color, with a nice frothy tan head. It is a good looking porter, the head leaves a medium lacing around the edges of the glass.

The smells in this one are not very strong, but there is some good going on. Vanilla, cocoa nibs, earthy malt, some alcoholic boozy-ness.

The taste is full of vanilla, chocolate, earthy grain, and lots of oak. It is pretty good, actually it is really good its just that the flavors are all basic and text book. Yes, this is a vanilla porter with oak cubes, but is it anything spectacular? No, it is very good but nothing worth remembering.

The mouthfeel is very good on this one, it has a great thick mouthfeel with a silky clean finish. Great mouthfeel.

J

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2010 02:07:32 | More by Jmoore50

biglite351

Pennsylvania

3.1/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

A - good bit of red around the edges. Tall creamy off-white head leaving considerable lacing.

S - heavy malts and dried fruit. There is something Sharp in there that I can not place, but I don't really care for that part.

T - malts and dried fruit but also a bit of smoke. However, that part of the scent that I didn't like is also mildly in the taste.

M - Heavy coating. Tingle at tip of tongue and back of throat.

D - just one.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2010 01:59:35 | More by biglite351

willjschmidt

California

4.4/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on-tap at The Bruery.

A: Pours a deep black color with dark red undertones.

S: Roasted barley, a hint of chocolate, a faint whiff of vanilla, and a good dose of alcohol.

T: Lots of layers of flavors here. Dark malt, dark cherries, bourbon, and a bit of alcohol. No taste of vanilla detected.

N: Average carbonation, full bodied.

D: A really good beer. Excellent flavors and complexity.

Serving type: on-tap

03-22-2010 18:27:06 | More by willjschmidt

KAP1356

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes. I was lucky enough to get a bottle of this when it first came out. 750 ml bottle split 4 ways at a birthday party. Poured into a pint glass...

A - Pours a dark brown color that almost borders on being black. A nice light tan head forms about a finger thick. Some nice lacing along the glass.

S - The aroma is roasted malts, chocolate, and a lot of vanilla and oak. The vanilla and oak really takes the stage here as the other aromas are slightly muted by it. I love vanilla, but I also like it when its integrated well.

T - Chocolate, vanilla, and oak all up front. These are really the main flavors I get here. There are some tannins, and some subtle coffee coming through as well. Surprisingly, the vanilla is more subtle on the palate than on the nose.

M - The body is medium, but it really feels a tad too thin for what I expected. The carbonation is also a bit higher than I wanted it to be.

O - I'm glad I got to try this one, but I wasn't blown away by it. A few of us who split it really liked it, while the others were on the opposite side of the spectrum.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 19:48:27 | More by KAP1356

hopsbreath

Oregon

1.75/5  rDev -54.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

Thanks to black13 for sharing this at a recent tasting.

A: Turkish coffee brown, good tan head, spotty lacing. 3.5/5

S: Definite oxidation, muddled fruits, weird wet pennies aroma. 1.5/5

T: Definite wet cardboard. No vanilla and more of the weird metal. Porter elements are virtually non-existent. 1.5/5

M: Moderate body with average carbonation. 3/5

O: This was a very bad bottle. It's perhaps past its prime. Two-thirds of the bottle split eight ways was drain poured. 1.5/5

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2011 08:14:29 | More by hopsbreath

jethrodium

California

3.78/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle generously shared by colonelforbin. Thanks Mike. Pours a dark brown with a small tan head that has good retention and leaves some light lacing on the glass. The aroma is vanilla, some light coffee, light oak, a bit of roasted malt, and a bit of earthiness. The initial taste is some sweet vanilla, followed by some roasted coffee, a little oak, and some earthiness, The finish has a light bitterness. Medium bodied. Low-medium carbonation. Overall, an enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2011 22:59:35 | More by jethrodium

phichifiji00

California

3.53/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into tulip glass.

Appearance: Dark brown, 1/2 finger of tan head, fades quickly, minimal lacing.

Smell: Smoked malt, oak and lots of vanilla.

Taste: Tons of vanilla, oak, smoked malt and some bitter chocolate.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, decent carbonation, very smooth.

Overall: Very pleasant, huge vanilla profile. I wasn't expecting the smokiness.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2011 15:47:53 | More by phichifiji00

DenverLogan

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 750 ml into Corsendonk chalice.
Pours a dark brown with large brown head that eventually goes bye bye.
Aroma of dark roasted chocolate, burnt malts, slight wood.
Significant carbonation and mouthfeel.
Flavors of burnt malts, bitter chocolate, cream of tartar, molasses, slight funky dark tropical fruit juice, carob, black pepper. Overall tasty but challenging with a bitter sweetness and semi-dry finish. Some travel damage and slight oxidation is likely, but not overwhelming. Perhaps best to share after a few lighter brews.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 04:54:45 | More by DenverLogan

Xul

California

3.68/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours dark brown with rich ruby highlights when held up to the light, capped by a foamy two finger beige head. Retention is moderate as the head settles down to a thin layer, leaving some light lacing behind.

S: Total oak bomb at first, but it balances a bit as it warms and opens up. Vanilla, bittersweet chocolate, roasted malts/light coffee, and dark fruits - dark cherries and figs - integrate nicely behind the oak. Perhaps this aspect will improve as it ages but the oak is just too strong right now.

T: Opens up with strong, spicy oak notes again before moving into dark chocolate and roasted malts. Dark fruits barely show up near the backend, before movingg into an oaky finish with some hints of vanilla in the background.

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation, would benefit from being fuller bodied.

D: Goes down easy in spite of the overpowering oak, but isn't particularly memorable. I'd be curious to pick up another bottle and see where it is in 6 to 12 months, but there are definitely better examples of the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2010 06:02:09 | More by Xul

Beerisheaven

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Decided to crack this one tonight while watching the Penn State Bama game. Should have drunk a lot more during the day before the game.

A - After picking through the yellow wax, finally opened this bad boy. Pours dark brown with a bubbly head that quickly settles down.

S/T - Blast of oak followed by some coffee/chocolate roast with an undertone of vanilla. Actually, it all comes together pretty well, but if any of the other components took a higher profile compared to the oak, the beer would be that much better.

M - Pretty nice, nothing great but OK.

D - Pretty nice beverage and something that I am glad I got the chance to try. I thought this was pretty solid.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2010 02:39:52 | More by Beerisheaven

pastradul

California

3.88/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

poured into chimay chalice.

No head to speak of. but may be do to the pour not the beer. no real lacing to speak of.

Smell. bourban with a light alcohol smell.

mouthfeel. was a little let down by the mouthfeel on this one. I would think an "imperial porter" would be heavier or creamier. But pretty medium bodied.

Taste. the main taste I get is a mild bourban taste. some dry chocolate and roasted malt to finish. but main flavor is the bourban chips. no vanilla to speak of?

drinkability. is pretty good. the beer is somewhat balanced and it is easy to drink through. Would imagine this beer is much better out of bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2010 04:47:31 | More by pastradul

mikedashg

California

4.3/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap (first official "open to the public" tapping as far as I know) in the tasting room/cellar at Holiday Wine Cellar on the day of their 45th Anniversary, St Patrick's Day 03/17/2010.

If I could fit the entire title of this beer in the title, I would call it the:

"Bruery Einer's Folly (Holiday Wine Cellar's 1st Anniversary Ale Celebrating the 45th Anniversary/1st Annual Homebrew Contest Winner Eric Holden "Holden's Homebrew") Vanilla Robust Imperial Porter - Aged on Bourbon Oak Cubes - Preconditioned Keg"

History: This beer is a home brew recipe from an open home brew competition event at Holiday Wine Cellar in October 2009. Initially judged by the crowd out of 125 beer entries, and finally the top entries were chosen/narrowed down further by a judging panel, including Patrick Rue from the Bruery. Winner was Eric "Holden's Homebrew" Holden. The beer is in celebration of the the store known as "Holiday Wine Cellar" (located on Mission Ave in Escondido, CA) on it's 45th Anniversary (originally opening on St Patrick's Day). It can be described as an "Vanilla Imperial Porter Aged on Bourbon Oak Cubes" (initially was going to be bourbon barrel aged). Brewed at the Bruery with Eric and HWC.

PLEASE NOTE: This review was from a "pre-conditioned keg." The final beer once bottled will have MORE time spent on bourbon oak cubes then this initial keg.

A - Very dark dark brown, almost black with a good sized tan head.

S - Bourbon, Oak, Chocolate, Vanilla, Coffee.

T -Complex. Similar to nose. Bourbon, Oak, Chocolate, Vanilla, and Coffee. Exactly as described! Pretty balanced in all flavors. Nothing overpowers. Has an English ale yeast taste to it. A little hoppy for a porter (although I was told since this keg was pre-conditioned, and very young, that the final taste in which they are shooting for would be less hoppy).

M - Moderate to moderately high carbonation, full body and a quite nice creamy finish.

D - Pretty easy drinking and really quite balanced in all of it's complexity and advertised characteristics. I can see why this recipe won the contest. I can't wait for it to be bottled, the hops to mellow out a little bit, and for it to take on a bit more oak and bourbon flavor. I will be sure to create a separate review from bottle. My guess is that it will get an even higher score from me! But I'll try and be fair :D.

Serving type: on-tap

03-18-2010 07:27:37 | More by mikedashg

Westsidebuddha

California

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On Tap at The Bruery

Poured a dark black into The Bruery tulip glass. Smell of roasted oaks and vanilla. Taste of an Imperial Porter with vanilla and a definite bourbon backend. Mouthfeel had different tastes going on at the same time i.e. vanilla, roasted oaks, bourbon. Good drinkability for a porter. Had to get a full glass after this taster. Hope they have this in a bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

03-30-2010 07:15:27 | More by Westsidebuddha