Vanilla Stout - Big Muddy Brewing

cdrogers

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on-tap at Kindling in Carterville, IL.

It was as dark as a cola with a nice off-white and dark-tan head with a nice head retention while drinking.

Nice balanced vanilla aroma with a little sweetness and malted notes.

I really enjoyed this one. It got the vanilla for sure, but it was very balanced with the hops and the sweetness in the aroma came through with the taste.

Nice carbonation and well-balanced. Was not heavy at all, quite smooth.

Overall, this is a great stout and I really enjoyed the nice vanilla flavor and aroma. Highly recommend as a regular cold-weather beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2011 04:32:10 | More by cdrogers

Kubrickx

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%

05-12-2013 18:28:21 | More by Kubrickx

LCB_Hostage

Pennsylvania

2.96/5  rDev -19.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

A: black. little to no head or lacing
S: Vanilla
T: Vanilla
M: Actually the best part of the beer. Smooth and creamy without being overly syrupy. Could have use a bit of carbonation, thogh.
O: Vanilla.

Seriously. I like vanilla. I never would have purchased this beer if I didn't like vanilla. But c'mon guys. Have you never heard of subtlety??? This has to be the most one-dimensional beer I've had in a long time. Thing is, that wasn't too bad at first. But this was a classic "diminishing returns" brew. By 1/3 - 1/2 way through I was so over the vanilla milkshake novelty and desperately wanted something even vaguely beer-like to punch through the smothering vanillaness. Alas, twas not to be. I'll probably drink the rest of the six, but I'm really going to pick and choose my moments carefully.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 17:45:52 | More by LCB_Hostage

Tone

Missouri

4.06/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Pours a black color. 1/2 inch head of a tan color. Great retention and good lacing. Smells of vanilla, cream, sweet malt, hint of roasted malt, and a hint of hops. Fits the style of a Milk / Sweet Stout. Mouth feel is smooth and creamy, with a cleanness and low carbonation level. Tastes of vanilla, cream, sweet malt, slight roasted malt, and a hint of hops. Overall, good appearance, great feel, but the blend too strongly favorites vanilla.

Serving type: on-tap

05-08-2013 16:14:44 | More by Tone

Suds

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

This beer is a very dark, nearly black beer with a tan head. The aroma is overwhelmingly vanilla. It borders on over-done vanilla bean. Some chocolate and a bit of espresso underneath. The taste is slightly sweet, with some bitterness. The vanilla carried over in the mid taste. Moderately creamy mouthfeel, but it lacked depth. Overall, it was pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 21:21:31 | More by Suds

ssteiner13

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +35.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

So this is the first time I have had a vanilla stout. Wow. I am guessing they are not all this good. The vanilla smell is so pleasant and strong - I love vanilla, so I was super happy about this. The taste matches the smell. Excellent mouth feel and tastes great. Like I said, take this with a grain of salt as I have never had a vanilla stout before, but holy sh*t this is an awesome beer. I loved it.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 03:22:10 | More by ssteiner13

Hopstout

Minnesota

3/5  rDev -18.7%

04-10-2013 23:29:21 | More by Hopstout

kkmiller76

New Jersey

2.5/5  rDev -32.2%

03-21-2013 03:28:44 | More by kkmiller76

RichH55

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

03-18-2013 22:50:38 | More by RichH55

MickeyBeer

Illinois

3.71/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

12 oz bottle that I picked up the local store and poured into a pint glass.

A- Pours a brown color with about one finger of light tan head that disappeared almost immediately. Not all that impressive of an appearance for a stout.

S- Smell is sweet and pleasant. Vanilla is the dominating aroma along with sweet malts.

T- Roasty malt flavors along with vanilla and coffee. Also picking up on a little bit of a root beer flavor. Overall, the flavor is sweet and smooth.

M- Mouthfeel is surprisingly light for a stout. Carbonation is medium-light. This is a brew that I could have several of and not exhaust my taste buds. It is smooth, but easy to drink.

O- A tasty brew, but not much like a stout in my opinion. Almost more like a porter. Still a tasty beer that I would have again, but wouldn't necessarily seek out.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 00:48:14 | More by MickeyBeer

Caskaway

Illinois

4/5  rDev +8.4%

03-10-2013 23:38:09 | More by Caskaway

jtierney89

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Dark chestnut color and about two fingers of tan head. Good clarity. Sweet chocolate and vanilla on the nose, faint hints of charcoal and roasted malts. Touch of caramel.

Nice smooth mouthful. Nice sweetness but not overly sweet. Creamy. Lots of vanilla and caramel flavor. Faintly woody finish Lends balance to the beer adding a bit of dryness. A few astringencies but other wise a nice easy drinking milk stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 20:03:30 | More by jtierney89

FosterJM

California

3.53/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

1753rd Review on BA
Bottle to Woodshop Snifter
12oz

Purchased at Binnys Forest Park, IL

App- Out of the gate, I thought this was a RIS w/vanilla. It wasnt. The label of the milk stout is right. A bit lighter in browns and tans with a semi deep center. Once compacted on itself. Its a bit darker than pouring would suggest. A small 1/2" fizzy head was there and then gone.

Smell- A bit sweet on the nose. The vanilla is a bit light for me, but blended well with a bit of a brown ale note and lends itself to a nice healthy malt base. A bit lactose and lacking a big punch. However, at 6% was not expecting to be overpowered either.

Taste- This was pretty good. A bit light on the vanilla again for me, but still flavorful and well balanced. A bit sweet and dessert forward. A bit roasty and malty with some sugary milk flavors.

Mouth- A lighter medium body with a smooth medium carbonation. The residual flavors are of malts, vanilla and a little bit of a grainular sugar flavor.

Drink- Pretty good. Was part of a mix 6 at Binnys and I like Vanilla in my beers. Couldve been a touch better, but thats just my opinion. Would probably add more vanilla to this if I was at home.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 22:01:36 | More by FosterJM

Gavage

New Jersey

3.73/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: pours a dark brown almost black color with a short one finger head.

Smell: vanilla and some roasted tones come through to the nose.

Taste: roasted malt, big vanilla flavor, some softer molasses tones, and prunes are balanced with some floral hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer. Light crispness to start, smooth at the finish. Aftertaste is laced with continuing vanilla flavor.

Overall: this stout is a bit sweet and full of vanilla flavors, so don't expect a hearty stout here. Slow sipping but not a bad beer at all.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 21:00:24 | More by Gavage

damngoode

Indiana

4/5  rDev +8.4%

02-15-2013 04:38:49 | More by damngoode

Lemke10

Wisconsin

4.08/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This pours a dark brown color with a foamy, light brown head. The scent is mildly malty with hints of vanilla. The texture is thin yet a little creamy. You can definitely taste the vanilla in the flavor. It’s kind of like a vanilla cream soda with deeper robust flavors. Fairly decent as it’s better than some vanilla beers on the market but I’ve had at least one other beer that was better with its use of vanilla. An easy find for me, but I guess they are a smaller operation.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 04:51:08 | More by Lemke10

WDJersey

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

02-10-2013 02:03:39 | More by WDJersey

rfgetz

Pennsylvania

3.94/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark brown - near black in color, with minimal cap of bone white head, moderate lacing. Scent is strong with vanilla... Smells more natural than artificial, malts are dark and toasty, light creamy sweetness. Taste hits with vanilla, bitter on the tongue, helped along by light cream and sugar, roasted grain with notes of chocolate and coffee, faint stone fruit. Medium bodied, biggest issue is the lack of smoothness, creaminess or heft, would have upped the score a touch. Another nice, comfortable and approachable brew from the Midwest.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 15:54:53 | More by rfgetz

ShemRahBoo

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +8.4%

12-16-2012 01:00:25 | More by ShemRahBoo

enelson

Illinois

3/5  rDev -18.7%

12-13-2012 04:46:42 | More by enelson

smonice

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -18.7%

11-27-2012 22:41:45 | More by smonice

st9647v3

New Jersey

2.75/5  rDev -25.5%

11-03-2012 23:11:48 | More by st9647v3

DNofBN

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%

11-01-2012 19:46:31 | More by DNofBN

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Duvel tulip glass.

The final bottle left from my Friar Tuck's run prior to my buddy's wedding. It pours a deep black-brown topped by a short half-finger of khaki foam. The nose comprises cocoa powder, vanilla bean, light roasted malts, and a drop or two of molasses. The taste holds notes of dark cola, light roasted malts, vanilla bean, and a dusting of dark chocolate powder. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fluid feel. Overall, an alright stout, but one that comes in too thin, both in terms of body and in terms of robustness of flavor. Not bad, but not quite good, either.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 03:04:32 | More by TMoney2591

EvanWilliams

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

10-20-2012 02:21:58 | More by EvanWilliams