Dark Side Vanilla Porter - Empyrean Brewing Company

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.7/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a stark-colored brown with a bubbly, ivory white head.

Smell: Some slight dark, roasted notes in the aroma. Aromawise, the vanilla isn't overabundant, and mingles well with other scents of coffee and sweetened chocolate.

Taste: Faintly sweet malts upfront give way to a chocolate flavor and a roasted bitterness. The vanilla peaks through all the while, but really manages to emerge on the finish. Ultimately, all the light, sweet flavors and fizzy carbonation suggest a vanilla soda.

Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body. Carbonation is noticeably fizzy.

Drinkability: A fairly pleasant beer that makes for easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2006 19:15:00 | More by ChainGangGuy

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -12.2%

05-23-2013 01:51:00 | More by mikeincharleston

mrwelk

North Dakota

4/5  rDev +8.1%

05-15-2013 01:39:14 | More by mrwelk

EROCK75

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%

05-13-2013 15:51:01 | More by EROCK75

dshield

Nebraska

4/5  rDev +8.1%

04-24-2013 02:23:56 | More by dshield

Jabartheljr

South Dakota

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%

04-14-2013 19:49:17 | More by Jabartheljr

gromnir

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +1.4%

04-06-2013 18:41:11 | More by gromnir

Steamer

Missouri

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%

03-25-2013 00:57:29 | More by Steamer

Miami66

Nebraska

3/5  rDev -18.9%

03-19-2013 03:05:15 | More by Miami66

Whiskeydeez

Kansas

3.25/5  rDev -12.2%

03-13-2013 16:27:46 | More by Whiskeydeez

Bear1964

Nebraska

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%

03-10-2013 23:10:17 | More by Bear1964

Herky21

Iowa

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%

03-04-2013 19:23:58 | More by Herky21

VDODSON

North Dakota

3/5  rDev -18.9%

03-01-2013 01:16:03 | More by VDODSON

ButterflyBethie

Missouri

4.55/5  rDev +23%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer smells great!! You can use it for aromatherapy. Smells of sweet vanilla with a hint of chocolate. The taste is like the smell and goes down very smooth with light carbonation. Not overly sweet in taste but also no bitterness. The beer has a small head with no lacing and is very dark. The appearance is typical of a porter. This is like drinking a great dessert.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 00:13:01 | More by ButterflyBethie

teleforce

Nebraska

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%

02-28-2013 17:53:54 | More by teleforce

bootsandbeer

Maryland

4/5  rDev +8.1%

02-11-2013 03:11:18 | More by bootsandbeer

Haybeerman

Colorado

4/5  rDev +8.1%

02-06-2013 23:06:49 | More by Haybeerman

olliegaff

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%

01-18-2013 02:25:47 | More by olliegaff

vette2006c5r

Wisconsin

3.81/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Dark Side Porter pours a black color, with a small lacing head. There is a strong smokey aroma, smells almost burnt. The taste has a mellow vanilla flavor, on a smokey, almost burnt malty backbone. Smooth combination of flavors, and good full flavor. Overall a nice porter, nothing overpowering, but nice and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 00:20:43 | More by vette2006c5r

blackcows

Nebraska

4.5/5  rDev +21.6%

12-28-2012 18:05:08 | More by blackcows

tewaris

Minnesota

2/5  rDev -45.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Another state ticked, thanks Lowry!

Clear brown colored with a fizzy head. Aroma is faint roast, some acidity and vanilla, I assume. Tastes oddly bland and sharp with a very generic feel to it. Frankly, right from the pour and down to the taste, this beer is closest to Coke than any other that I have had. Thin and overcarbed, it did not excite me in any way. Except being from Nebraska.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 08:28:56 | More by tewaris

yankhawk

Iowa

3.75/5  rDev +1.4%

12-22-2012 15:51:17 | More by yankhawk

mcaulifww

Virginia

4/5  rDev +8.1%

12-20-2012 16:02:03 | More by mcaulifww

DukeX13

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%

12-19-2012 02:35:59 | More by DukeX13

acelin

Kansas

4.25/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Beer Kitchen, poured into a tasting glass.

Pours dark nut brown with minimal head that disappeared quickly, ok lacing.

Smelled of roasted malt, almost coffeish.

The malt was very roasted, with hints of coffee, vanilla, caramel, chocolate, more vanilla... balanced to the point that it almost tasted like candy. Hope profile was light with no specific character.

Mouthfeel was perfect for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2012 04:05:08 | More by acelin