Vanilla Porter - Breckenridge Brewery

NiceTaps

New Jersey

3.73/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap in a tulip glass.

A- Dark brown sugar, cola color that lets just a bit of light pass. Minimal head, mega rings of lacing.

S- Mild smokey porter aroma, toasty and sweet. Understated vanilla.

T- Oak, vanilla, liquid fireplace if I may.

M- Smooth light feel with good carbonation. The vanilla and low abv make it light and easy to drink.

O- good, easy drinking porter.

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2012 21:25:44 | More by NiceTaps

TimmyL

3.03/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap into a pint
A- dark brown with a small tan head that doesn't last or lace.
S- as a uge vanilla fan, less vanilla than I hoped. some cocca and roasted malt but not much going on here.
T- follows the nose, not as strong with the vanilla but a nice porter nonetheless.
M- decent carbonation. medium body. low ABV and smooth. sessionable.
O- good but not great... could have a few without a problem, but wouldn't seek out.

Serving type: on-tap

12-12-2012 04:41:46 | More by TimmyL

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

3.8/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass

This beer pours dark brown that turns black in the glass, red around the edges and a light brown head. The beer has a lot of roasted character, there is also a good deal of coffee in this beer. The vanilla however, is its strongest taste attribute. It is a very vanilla forward brew. There is a little chocolate character to this beer as well. The mouthfeel is lacking, it is a very sessionable beer but I would like to have seen something a bit thicker. It is a solid drinkable and flavorful porter.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 17:39:46 | More by TwelveOunces

HarryPotHead

Maryland

3.98/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured almost black into a frosty pint glass, the pour yielded a thin tan head of about a finger or so that disappeared quickly with just a bit of lacing. The vanilla notes are interesting...they come on late and aren't overpowering, but seem to be very well balanced with the rest of the brew. This is a decent porter...very easy to drink with just the right amount of creamy vanilla flavor. Just a little too much carbonation, but otherwise not too much to complain about. The price for 6 was over 10 bucks here in Maryland. Seemed a little steep for this brew, but again this is a pretty decent brew so I'm not gonna complain much. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 02:55:39 | More by HarryPotHead

bundy462

Texas

3.45/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Deep brown, almost black with a tan head that faded much more quickly than I expected.

S: Dark chocolate malts with barely a whiff of vanilla bean.

T: Dark chocolate malts up front with a toasted body. Where's the vanilla? But, a good porter none the less. Super clean in the finish.

M: Smooth with medium carbonation, pretty easy drinker for the style.

O: Good porter, but I wasn't able to detect any vanilla except in the smell. Decent brew, but nothing spectacular.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 07:10:55 | More by bundy462

bulldog91

Illinois

3.1/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thought I ordered a vanilla porter, but kept waiting for the vanilla.
A very good porter - poured dark with a modest head and gave some vanilla smell, but barely. It was easy and light in the mouth and the taste was good. But I kept wanting more vanilla - not dominating it, but just a touch more would have made it phenomenal

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2012 15:31:46 | More by bulldog91

BEERMILER12

Maine

3.83/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a ruby red/mahogany color with half a fingers worth of head that fades quickly

S: Get roasted malts and vanilla right up front, along with chocolate notes as well

T: Definitely vanilla forward. Starts off roasty and then quickly goes into vanilla. The vanilla lingers for a while, and then a light chocolate accompanies the vanilla

M: Medium bodied with moderate-high carbonation. Smooth after the carbonation hits

O: This is definitely a dessert beer, it's sweet and very vanilla forward. It would make a very good float with ice cream, as well. Quaffable despite the sweetness. It was enjoyable in the short time it lasted

On a side note, I'm not really sure how people aren't getting the vanilla in this beer... it's at the forefront and VERY detectable

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 19:35:00 | More by BEERMILER12

CMUbrew

Michigan

3.18/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle into a mug

A: Looks black, but is actually dark brown in the light. Brown head fades almost instantly to a small ring.

S: Slight roast, small hint of what I think is vanilla. Not much else.

T: Some light roasted malt, water, no vanilla.

M: Slightly less than medium body, carbonation is pretty low.

O: I now see why this beer gets such little love. No standout qualities and weak flavor. I find it hard to believe Breckenridge can't do better, but maybe they really can't.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 02:16:50 | More by CMUbrew

JohnnyJam

Arizona

3.9/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a brown 12 oz bottle with no date code into a pint glass.

A: Poured dark brown: almost black and almost opaque. There is very little head and very little lacing.

S: Vanilla beans and sweet milk chocolate. It smells like a candy bar.

T: It is very interesting: sweet coffee and roasted grains.

M: It goes down smooth enough. I think it would be better if it had more carbonation.

O: It is a nice beer. I have had this before on tap and it is always very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 06:38:26 | More by JohnnyJam

maki88

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

+

12oz bottle poured into a tumbler. Enjoyed at home.

A: Rich dark brown with ruby shades. A light brown head that dissipated slowly, as well as solid lacing on the glass. Beautiful, dark porter coloration.

S: Very bold coffee and chocolate scents with nutty undertones. The big question: Where's the vanilla? Very faint and difficult to detect.

T: Medium body. Vanilla is more evident here, but still not significantly so. Nuttiness with a hint of coffee is the predominant taste combination. It's a slightly sweet, malty start, with a somewhat bitter finish. The balance is interesting, but again, for a "vanilla porter," the vanilla is lacking.

M: Smooth overall. Good carbonation brings out the different flavors. I'd say that this porter tends on the lighter side of a medium body.

O: A good porter! Vanilla flavor is underwhelming, to the point where I'd suggest a change in the name of this brew. Nevertheless, it was delicious -- I'd rather have a delicious beer with a slightly off-the-mark name than one with a great name and a disappointing flavor. I'd have this beer again in a heartbeat.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 23:04:49 | More by maki88

TwinCreator

Massachusetts

2.8/5  rDev -22%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Very dark chocolate color with very little head on the initial pour. It initially looked as dark as a Guinness but didn't have the same head.

S - I got a very faint hint of the vanilla but overall there was not much of any smell to this. I expected more of a vanilla aroma and it was barely present.

T - Taste was fair -- there was no immediate overpowering single flavor that came though. You get the slight vanilla flavor with a hint of coffee. It is really a mellow flavor and overall decent drinkability.

M - Very smooth overall. As mentioned there is very little head from the bottle and seems on my batch anyway that the carbonation was at a low level making it smooth and easy to drink.

O - Overall decent beer - gave it a 3.0 because it didn't scream "I must have another" by any means but was good and not offensive to the nose or palette. I would say a decent starter-porter for those looking to try one.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 14:27:42 | More by TwinCreator

Ford

Texas

4.83/5  rDev +34.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle poured into a pint glass.

Dark, dark brown, but not black.

This is a great tasting beer. The smell is fantastic also.

Very smooth, very little bitterness, but still not overly sweet.

Slight vanilla taste replaces the chocolate usually associated with porters.. but it isn't that strong... just different.

Not an overpowering coffee flavor, but it's there and very good.

I love this beer. My new favorite porter I think. Can't wait to try it on tap somewhere.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 21:06:01 | More by Ford

DrinkMoreBigBeers

Michigan

3.88/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - When poured out it left a small half finger off whit head that fizzled out quickly. It looks black until held up to the light then you can see through this maroon brown beer. Not as dark as other porters I have had.

S - This beer is pleasant to smell with a sweet nuttiness, also some dark malt and coffee in the background.

T - The beginning bitterness followed buy nut and coffee. Throughout this one I get a vanilla more of that bitterness that is almost salty. I get a dark malt flavor as well. This is a really tasty beer for only being 4.7% abv.

M - The feel of this one is nice and smooth with the right amount of carbonation. Pleasant to drink.

O - This is a really nice Porter with a vanilla twist. Coming in tat 4.7% this one would be a nice session brew with a lot of good qualities for the lower abv. One I will come back to from time to time. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 23:43:55 | More by DrinkMoreBigBeers

FlyingBull

California

3.1/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Purchased while traveling through Colorado. 12 oz Bottle poured into a pint glass.

appearance: Dark brown; appears non-cloudy when held to the light. Medium carbonation - seems appropirate for style. Creamy dark white 1/2" head that held for about 5 minutes into the drink. Normal amount of lacing on the glass.

smell: Normal or average Porter nose; nutty with some coffee notes. I did NOT notice or pick up and vanilla notes or smells. No hop notes detected.

taste: Nice medium coffee and nutty flavor noted; slightly sweet in the begining with a devloping balance towards dry and slightly bitter towards the end. Again, I did NOT pick up any vanilla flavor. Otherwise, a nice balanced porter flavor.

mouthfeel: Medium body, medium carbonation that is style-appropriate. I would have expected a little more mouthfeel; this beer is on the medium light side for body, but I really like it in general.

overall: Solid middle of the road porter in general, but for me, i didn't pick up the vanilla. I was kind of disapointed in that - but it was me and not the beer. Results may vary for others that try this beer.

comments: I'm looking forward to trying this on tap if I get a chance. Hopefully I'll pick up that vanilla flavor that I'm missing. All in all, an o.k. porter that I would try again.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 23:41:20 | More by FlyingBull

SteveMi

North Carolina

3.05/5  rDev -15%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A - Thin brown pour to black in glass. Very light carbonation though there is a little white lacing on the edges.

S - Faint nutty with some chocolate notes. There is sweetness there as well but I can not tell if it is vanilla or not. It's nice but very subdued.

T - Vanilla/toffee with chocolate. The vanilla hits at the very front and and very end of with the chocolate and malt between. It's pleasant while it lasts but not strong. The problem comes that after a few sips the tastes fades away. I have a feeling this would be best enjoyed with food that resets the palate.

M - Light. For my taste it is too light but drinkable. A bit of soft carbonation is present as well.

O - It's a good choice for a session porter but the taste is forgettable even while drinking. I really wanted to like it but in the end I felt it was just "OK".

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 23:25:23 | More by SteveMi

mscudder

Georgia

3.33/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Into a snifter.

A - A deep black with a thin tan head. Little retention/lacing.

S - Rich vanilla and nuts. The aroma is robust although I would like to see more vanilla rather than the big nutty presence. I get a touch of caramel.

T - The big tastes here are the nuts and coffee. Sadly the vanilla takes a back seat. There is a vanilla presence, although it is a heavy sweetness to follow.

M - A medium-minus body with light carbonation. Not bad, although I wish it had a bit more mass.

O - A feel there is a lack of vanilla in this "vanilla porter." The vanilla is only here to satisfy those with a sweet tooth. While I was once intrigued by this, I will not pursue it any further.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2012 05:53:31 | More by mscudder

LubricatedWisdom76

4/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is much more than a dessert beer or night cap. I could actually imagine drinking this on a hot day or pairing it nicely with food. That's actually quite a feat for a darker beer.

Flavor is balanced between vanilla aroma and sweetness with dry roasted malt that has some burnt and even sour character. None of these flavors are particular lingering which is what makes it so drinkable and versatile.

Overall- A lovely beer for anytime that walks you through some complexity but none of the flavors are overpowering. This can be a good or bad thing for some but for me the multitude of flavors and versatility makes this one stand out.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 03:10:57 | More by LubricatedWisdom76

NuclearDolphin

Minnesota

3.88/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Pint Glass

Appearance - Dark Brown and Crimson with a clear look. Pours a half finger brown head. There is some decent lacing on the side.

Smell - Chocolate, Vanilla Bean, Coffee, Chocolate. Mild, but at least it's pleasant and nice.

Taste - As George Takei would say: Ooooh My!!! Rich Vanilla Bean, Cocoa, Coffee, and Roasted Malts. This doesn't even taste like a Porter. It looks like one, but doesn't taste like one. It's the strongest but it's still very good simply for it's unique flavor.

Mouthfeel - Body weight is moderate and the carbonation is light. It doesn't feel refreshing or crisp, but it's creamy which compliments the flavor nicely.

Overall - If you're looking for a completely different porter in terms of flavor. It's unique and done quite well, albeit a bit too mild for my liking. However, it's an easy drinker and it goes well with the flavor.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 01:17:14 | More by NuclearDolphin

The_1084

3.95/5  rDev +10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Deep ruby tones; 2 finger foamy head that never fully dissipates; nice lacing and moderate activity.

S: Nothing special here; a very mild hint of vanilla is detectable as the beer warms up, but overall not much happening.

T: Strong taste of creamy vanilla with a mild touch of milk chocolate; very good tasting beer.

M: Easy drinkability; low-medium carbonation.

O: I was very pleased with this beer; the smell was disappointing, but the taste more than made up for it; nice change of pace from traditional porters; looking forward to drinking more of these in the future.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 05:32:35 | More by The_1084

BeerDocT

Georgia

3.38/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a chilled pint glass.

-Appearance 3.0: Very little head and I cranked the pour. Not quite black in color, more of a dark brown.

-Smell 3.5: Sweet barley and a subtle vanilla bouquet. Not overpowering and, strangely, not reminiscent of any porter I have tried.

-Taste 3.5: Front is somewhat salty and flat. Middle is smooth and displays slight vanilla tastes and some hazelnut. Finish is smooth and has more vanilla hints. Aftertaste has some lingering smokiness, but not much.

-Mouthfeel 2.5: Carbonation is off base for this brew. More conditioning in the bottle could have resulted in more defined flavor profiles for the beer.

-Overall 3.5: Disappointing. This is a somewhat enjoyable beer, but it is not greater than the sum of its parts. I would have liked more smokiness to offset the sweet vanilla and more vanilla in general. Also, the conditioning needs to be increased. Still, it's a good beer for session sampling and its relatively low ABV makes it good for parties.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 21:11:49 | More by BeerDocT

JamesMN

Minnesota

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

Appearance: Dark brown, maroon when held to the light. Nice clarity. Thin film of light brown head.

Aroma: Roasted malts with a sweet note above that. Just a hint of vanilla.

Taste: Get a little molasses/vanilla at first and that flavor sticks around. Some nice roasted notes in the background. Unfortunately not very robust and not many flavors going on.

Mouthfeel: A little thin for the style, lighter side of medium bodied. Good level of carbonation and above average drinkability.

Final Thoughts: This is an average Porter. I'm not sure if the vanilla really adds anything desirable but it does set this one apart from others of the style. If it was a little more robust it'd be sessionable because of it's drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 03:20:54 | More by JamesMN

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

3.35/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Brownish colour with ruby highlights, ring of white head, little lace. Smell is roasted and malty, lots of milk chocolate, vanilla and bakers chocolate. Taste is pretty similar to chocolate milk, vanilla and roast malt present as well, mild sweetness and a light bitterness. Medium carbonation, light body with watery points. Nothing really stands out about this, fairly one dimensional porter, could take it or leave it really.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 13:54:41 | More by peensteen

CreamCity

3.6/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into 12oz pint glass.

S: Chocolate, toast, hint of vanilla.

A: Pours dark brown with thick tan head, whittles down to a rocky head with some great lacing on the glass.

T: Toffee, a bit milky, can't really taste vanilla.

M: Creamy, rich, very sessionable.

O: Pretty decent through and through. But by having the title of "Vanilla Porter", I was really expecting to be able to smell or taste vanilla. I was disappointed that I couldn't. They only hit half of the brew on the head; the Porter part. Other than that it's a great session beer or after dinner beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 21:48:59 | More by CreamCity

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.63/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

We pour a dark chocolate brown brew with red flecks around the edges. It holds a brief half finger tall head of creamy brown bubbles. These leave little lacing, and only small aggregates of bubbles across the top. Carbonation appears lighter, and no sediment is noted. The nose shows sour grain and malted milk balls. There is acidic lactic milkiness, and a sweeter sting of caramel and chocolate malts, that become more buttery as the tasting goes on. The malts also show a bit of chalk to the malts, and the raw vanilla bean adds coolness. Our first impression is that there is nice sweetness, but the malts have some unnecessary vinegar quality to them. As we sip, chocolate and malts mix at the front, as they did in the nose, for that malted milk ball character. The grain has a certain saltiness to it as well, which adds a savory bite. There is a cutting sourness of grain mash, with lactics, again, following the nose almost exactly. These flavors mix towards the center, peaking with a strong acidic quality that nears a biting citric lemon. This goes quickly, allowing for the malts to reclaim the finish. Here they are more metallic, and the vanilla bean finally becomes palpable as a sweet and oily inclusion. The aftertaste breathes of creamy milk, faint booze, charred chocolate, chalk, and musk. The body is medium, and the carbonation is higher, leaving the mouth prickled. Each sip has great froth, slurp, smack, and pop, as the beer goes down bubbly and smooth. The mouth is coated at first, but dried with a final astringent streak. The abv is appropriate, and the beer drinks accordingly.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was the aroma. For the style it was actually quite different. They took the vanilla and integrated it nicely, while allowing for more natural sweetness of the malts to collaborate with it, rather than overpower it. The balance was certainly there. The flavoring was almost as good, but the malts were a little rough around the edges at times, making for an ultimately incomplete, less refined taste. Still, this is a nice find and a tasty after-dinner treat.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 03:30:59 | More by TheBrewo

Lawl3ss

Texas

3.38/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

Lightly chilled 12 oz. bottle into a shaker pint. No visible bottling or best-by date.

Look- Clear ruby brown with a finger of frothy beige head that falls pretty quickly. Nice lacing.

Smell- Strong vanilla, sweet, dark rye bread. Sharper roasted/burnt aroma lurks in the background.

Taste- Similar to the aroma, but not as roasty. Comes off like Ovaltine, lightly sweet, toasted marshmallow and chocolate drink powder. Ends with dry floured toffee.

Mouthfeel- Thinner than expected, soft carbonation comes out on the swallow. Clean at first, but gets somewhat sticky by the end of the glass.

Overall- Tastes a bit too much like Yoohoo to wow me, but it's pleasant, reasonably priced, and flavorful enough to pair with something spicy. It's also one of the few readily available porters in my area, so it has that going for it.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 22:34:26 | More by Lawl3ss