25th Anniversary Vanilla Doubledog - Abita Brewing Co.

jvillefan

California

3.39/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

A: The body of the beer is a dark brown body. The head is a two finger head that is a mocha brown that disappears quickly.

S: Strong vanilla and roasted malt aromas. There is a subtle bready aroma present as well.

T: There is a sweet vanilla flavor mixed with deeply roasted malts. It is an odd mix of flavors that I am not a big fan of.

M: Thin body with a very sharp carbonation bite.

O: This is an okay beer, not great. I expected more for a 25th anniversary beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 05:20:53 | More by jvillefan

mralphabet

Virginia

3.76/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Bomber poured into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint Glass

A: Poured a very dark brown, almost black. Good 2 fingers worth of head that settles to a thin layer with fantastic lacing from start to finish.

S: Well it is not surprising I'm getting a big hit of Vanilla, followed by a mix coffee, toffee and some roasted malt.

T: A lot like the smell here. .. Starts with a hit of vanilla then the next coffee really kicks in with a little hint of roasted malt. It gets a little weak in the middle but finished with a very nice vanilla aftertaste.

M: Sadly it started and a little watered down with little carbonation but got creamier as it warmed up. In the end I liked it.

O: I pretty good little beer, I like the mix of coffee and vanilla. Pretty easy to drink with a hearty ABV. One bomber will do you, worth looking for if you can find it.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 00:04:01 | More by mralphabet

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.26/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This brew was served from the tap at Rattle ‘N Hum in New York, NY. It arrived in a straight chalice and appeared to be of the darkest maroon-brown coloring. It held a one finger tall head of cream-colored bubbles, leaving specks of lacing around the glass. Carbonation appeared average, and no haze or sediment was visible. The aroma was of adjuncty corn, tinny metallics, darker brown malts, and cooling cream. The vanilla advertised was not very apparent, but more floral hints were noted as the beer warmed. Our first impression was that the beer boasted big milk-chocolate sweetness and a sweet vanilla bean that was otherwise hidden from the nose. As we sipped, limey citrus and sweet chocolaty malts blended with vanilla to started things off. Moving to the peak were bitter grains, tinny metallics and a bit of adjuncty corn to muddle the sweeter flavor profile from the beginning. This was quickly followed by big chalky metallics and vanilla wafers in the end to revive that original sweetness. The aftertaste was of more corny adjuncts, bitter grain, and metallics. A hint of spicy booze balanced these flavors to end on a fusel bite. The body was medium to light, and the carbonation was prickly and robust. There was minimal pop, but good slurp and smack, with a distinct metallic crispness. The latter gave light astringent pull at the back of the palate. The abv was appropriate, and the beer drank easily.

Overall the best thing about this beer was the sweeter milk chocolate and vanilla notes, helping to keep the flavoring up to the expectations advertised. While there were certainly a variety of these chocolates and vanillas to mix, these were, at times, muddled by the adjuncty grains and metallic spring that were so present throughout the tasting. This added a bit too much bitterness to something that we felt should have been kept to the sweeter side. The nose was equally as underwhelming, arousing little excitement or spark. This is fine for a one-off anniversary sampler, but not something that we would keep as a fridge regular.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2013 22:24:26 | More by TheBrewo

MickeyBeer

Illinois

3.96/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle poured into a pint glass

A- Pours a dark almost black color with about white finger of tan head that doesn't stick around very long. A little bit of lacing is present.

S- I picked up on a slight vanilla smell, as well as other sweet aromas like chocolate, toffee, and caramel. Not a particularly strong smell, but very enjoyable.

T- Delicious sweet vanilla flavor with roasted and caramel flavors as well. The vanilla taste is present but not dominating and lets the other flavors shine through. As sweet as it is, there is some hop flavors that balances it out really nicely.

M- Surprisingly light mouthfeel for a beer this dark and with a decent ABV. It has a good amount of carbonation and the alcohol is well covered. It has a lot of flavor, yet it doesn't exhaust my taste buds. I really want to have another.

O- I really liked this beer. It has some really tasty flavors, a nice mouthfeel, and has a smooth finish. I was pleasantly surprised by it, and would love to have it again.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 05:03:03 | More by MickeyBeer

vette2006c5r

Wisconsin

3.98/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

25th Anniversary Vanilla Doubledog pours a black color with a nice large head. There is a strong coffee/toffee smell. The taste is complex with alot of different flavors mixing in. Some coffee and chocolate flavors, but strong vanilla, and toffee flavors. Good on the palette; strong carbonation, and flavors. Overall a rather interesting beer, very strong on the toffee flavors, among others.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 02:38:01 | More by vette2006c5r

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Beer had a very nice color with nice tan foamy head. Medium carbonation. Aroma is vanilla and root beer with a slightly acrid roastiness. Starts out reminiscent of a cafe latte or chocolate milk (says A). Light roastiness throughout. Some vanilla woodiness, but not quite as prominent as expected. Chocolate malts. Medium body, moderate ethanol. Lingering sweetness. Overall, not bad but fairly mild.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 17:36:02 | More by WoodBrew

BeerManDan

California

4/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

When poured the color was a very dark brown, with no foam and no lace on the side of the glass.
The smell of roasted malts and chocolate were evident when the aroma filled the nose of this pleasant smell. The taste was of roasted malts, chocolate, caramel and vanilla. This ale had a complex of aroma's and flavors as the ale heated up. A very pleasant surprise from Abita. This has to be one of their, if not, TOP beer!

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 23:40:12 | More by BeerManDan

drabmuh

Maryland

3.45/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The definition of mediocrity right here, served in an Abita shaker pint. Beer is dark brown and clear at the corners with a lazy head of small bubbles, some lacing, low retention, low carbonation.

Aroma is malty with a hint of vanilla.

Vanilla is subdued in this beer which is fine but overall the beer is not very good. it has this astringent finsih to it and I don't know what to make of it except that I don't really like it. I won't have this again.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 21:15:37 | More by drabmuh

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.38/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours an opaque very dark brown (almost black) in color with reddish brown highlights near the edges when held up to the light. The beer has a dense three finger tall dark tan head that slowly reduces to a thick film covering the entire surface of the beer with a small-medium thick patch and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: There is a very mild (almost non-existant) smell to this beer with very light notes of vanilla, chocolate, and caramel malts. It intensifies very slightly as it warms.

T: Light to moderate flavors (that get a little more intense as the beer warms) of roasted and caramel malts with some light amounts of sweetness. There are also more subtle light notes of vanilla and chocolate. Light bitterness that lingers but not for too long.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth but slightly thin/watery.

O: Unfortunately, the smell of this beer is just too mild - there was so much potential but somehow this beer has little to no aroma. I would have enjoyed a little more complexity to the flavors of this beer as well, though it is easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 02:38:27 | More by dbrauneis

Ford

Texas

4.83/5  rDev +31.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bought from a Spec's in Houston, Tx.

First tried this last winter. Went back and bought a few bottles to save. What a fantastic beer. I'm already a fan of Turbo Dog, and while I like that beer, I love this one. This and Andygator have really impressed me lately from Abita.

I'd love to see this turned into a regular beer in their lineup. It borders on a porter in ways to me. Fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 03:21:34 | More by Ford

superspak

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle into tulip glass, no bottle dating(probably 2011 bottling). Pours very dark brown color with a 2 finger fairly dense khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice foamy lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of big vanilla, caramel, toffee, milk chocolate, roasted malt, herbal, nuttiness, and light earthiness. Pretty good aromas with good balance and decent strength; Fairly pleasant. Taste of milk chocolate, vanilla, toffee, caramel, roasted malt, toast, nuttiness, molasses, earth, and light herbal. Slight trace of herbal bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of milk chocolate, vanilla, toffee, caramel, toast, nuttiness, and herbal on the finish for a bit. Good balance of flavors with decent complexity; not as robust as I was expecting, but good. No cloying sweetness at all after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a creamy and fairly slick mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a nice imperial brown ale. Well balanced flavor profile; very smooth and easy to sip on. Definitely enjoyable stuff.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 03:19:16 | More by superspak

paulcdejean

4.18/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I have pretty limited experience, considering that I'm only 23.

However this is the best beer I've had so far. Second best would probably be Red Stripe.

I guess my taste is weird though. I have Brooklyn Oktoberfest in the fridge right now, and I think it's good but not great, while I'd consider this one great.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 03:30:14 | More by paulcdejean

JWU

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz. bottle poured into a snifter

A- dark, dark brown. Pretty much like turbodog. A thick, fluffy tan head sits atop, dissipates in normal time, and laces nicely down the glass.

S- milk chocolate, vanilla, and a hint of coffee.

T- the base of turbodog is certainly there, a nice milk chocolate, coffee, and dark-ish malts. The vanilla is very complimentary, and doesn't steal the show. Well done.

M- A bit thin for what I would ideally expect. A bit drier on the finish that I would have thought as well.

O- A very nice twist on good ol' turbodog.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 23:51:39 | More by JWU

WMEugene

Virginia

4.23/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Similar to the turbodog - dark brown, almost black. Thin tan head and some lacing.

S - Roasted Malts and Vanilla. Some cocoa and toffee. Somewhat sweet.

T - Big chocolate and vanilla flavors up front. Comes on pretty sweet and bold. Vanilla is always an odd taste for a beer - it either comes off as too boozy or too cloying, but Abita does it right here.

M - Medium bodied, a little thinnish than expected. Very smooth and drinkable.

O - Vanilla beers are hard to do right, but Abita has made a great drinking one in the Vanilla Doubledog. Well done!

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 00:15:30 | More by WMEugene

palma

New York

4.25/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer is way underrated. Beautiful looking froth tan head. Malty vanilla nose with hints of licorish. Fusel alcohol. Taste is excellent. Sweet chocolate notes upfront. Vanilla middle with just enough hop bitterness at the end to keep it uncloying. Good balance for a sweeter beer. Will definately look for this beer in the future. Also a great value at 4.50 per bomber.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 01:23:46 | More by palma

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle poured into a large snifter.

A: Pours a very deep brown, almost black. Rocky tan head has good retention, but eventually settles into just a thin crown. Minimal lacing, just a small spot here and there.

S: Cocoa, caramel, cola, vanilla bean. A bit of toffee and coffee, very slightly nutty. Not much else going on in the nose. A touch bland and not particularly aromatic.

T: Bakers chocolate at the outset, hint of molasses. Strong vanilla bean presence toward the middle. Cola. Slightly nutty, ghost-like roasted malt impression. Flash of chocolate covered oranges. Caramel washes over the palate toward the end. Finishes semi sweet with tastes of cocoa powder, strong vanilla bean, and a kiss of smoke.

M: Medium bodied, creamy and slightly slick and viscous. Low carbonation.

O: A solid enough beer. The vanilla is incorporated nicely. Nothing mind-blowing though.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 02:18:16 | More by ryan1788a5

TheSixthRing

California

3.58/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Pours a near jet black with a ruby brown tinge where light can penetrate. Head is a light tan color, a tad over a finger thick, decent retention, and the resulting head is thick and semi-sticky.

Smell - Hints of chocolate, roasted malt and vanilla. Subtle, but enticing.

Taste - Big malted chocolate flavor upfront, with distant notes of coffee. A faint coconut character? An underlying vanilla note kicks in around midtaste, then hits harder on the finish and intermingles with the chocolate as it fades into the aftertaste. As awesome as that all sounds, the vanilla tastes somewhat artificial, and the rest hits on only two or three notes. Simple, and somewhat boring.

Mouthfeel - Medium in body, with a moderate amount of carbonation. Smooth and silky. The best part of the beer.

Overall - There are several beers who do vanilla and do vanilla well... this isn't one of them. It's not a bad beer, but it's fairly bland and does little to sate my craving for a big, bold ale.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 05:03:29 | More by TheSixthRing

HalfFull

California

4/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A bit of a rarity in these parts, I find this Anniversary beer upon my desk. This, the double dog, I'm intrigued. If this were Firestone Walker and a Double Jack then things might be different. But alas, doubling anything is good, right???

Pours a deep and clear burgundy with a robust inch of foam. Offers decent clarity and just a light haze. Aroma of dark and yet muddled malts. Bit of black cherry and a touch of chocolate and raspberry. Gladly the off flavors I've found in other beer from this brewer and it's yeast are lacking.

Offers a firm sweetness with a tad bit of brown sugar and some more milk chocolate. Offers a light touch of alcohol but it is well kept. Overall this brew offers an almost Belgian complexity in the malt profile while having a limited yeast exposure in that regard at the same time. Quite Baltic in style at times..

Perhapas an odd cat, but quite nice..

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2012 07:48:08 | More by HalfFull

drpimento

Wisconsin

3.3/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Almost a very good brew. Poured at a good temperature with a great, giant, foamy, frothy, fluffy, billowy, cream-colored head that lasts a long, long time and some lace. Color is a clear dark mahoganey with some bubble trails. Aroma is malty, vanilla, caramel, toffee, a bit roast. Flavor's like nose, hugely sweet up front, followed by some bitter and very slight carbonic tang. Can see where they were trying to go, but decided to cut back on the malt bill. Flavor's a bit shallow. Body's a little lacking too; carbnation is soft. Finish is like flavor, surprisingly of average length, and good for one bottle.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 06:30:29 | More by drpimento

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.85/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle pours a nice dark brown color with an attractive, long lasting tan head. Nice lacing as well.

Nose is roasty, caramely sweet and chocolaty...similar to a turbodog. The vanilla seemed to be a bit more prevalent when fresh.

Taste is a good mix of Whoppers-esque sweetness, light hop presence and nutty yeast. I liked it better when fresh, although it didnt seem to have the malted milk ball quality to it that it is expressing now. A modest fruit presence is poking through as it warms. Mouthfeel is fine, nothing to complain or rave about there. I wanted Abita to come with something that would knock my socks off for their 25th Anny beer, but this is merely good beer I’d be happy to quaff most anytime. Not special, but solid, and I am really happy they kept this under $5 a bomber. I’m of the opine this would merit a 3-5 bomber purchase, and I don’t think it would age well. Solid, if not great job Abita!

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2012 01:28:28 | More by twiggamortis420

ediaz

Florida

2.38/5  rDev -35.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A: pours a deep brown, lets light through. Bone colored head about 1 finger dissipates quickly to a think lacing.

S: malt, a lot of vanilla, not very pleasant.

T: Watery, vanilla, malt. I don't like this at all.

M: a bit of carbonation, medium, not great.

O:I wouldn't buy this again, even at the $5.99 price tag. Big let down.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 02:24:48 | More by ediaz

hopsolutely

Ontario (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A fascinating beer, with a lot going on.

Pours a translucent, clear dark brown - almost black - with limited coffee coloured head and no real lacing. Mouthfeel is refreshing, but thinner than I expected for something with this high ABV and complexity.

The aroma is stunning, with the chocolate malts at the forefront. The chocolate transitions nicely with the vanilla into the taste, with hazelnut and coffee tones as well. Ends with a nicely bitter finish alongside a distinct caramelized malt sweetness.

Overall a very interesting malt bill and a beer I'm glad to have tried.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 00:54:22 | More by hopsolutely

soulfly1492

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Aroma: So this is supposed to be a strong ale, interesting. Bold dark malt character, not burnt or roasty. Toasty chocolate and crystal malts. Worty. Some chocolate, little or no vanilla. Mild floral hops. Lots of sweet, not much bitter.

Appearance: Very dark brown. Appears to be opaque... holding up to a bright lights shows a very dark brew with high clarity. Head pours tall and is medium brown in color. Good retention and lots of lacing.

Flavor: Tastes more like a light stout at first. Lacking the moderate dark fruity esters typical of this style. Only mild raisin and plum. Nice dose of chocolate and mild crystal malts. Very smooth flavor throughout. Aftertaste is savory yet mild. Hops are mildly bitter.

Mouthfeel: Medium body. Slick and creamy. Very little carbonation. Finishes just barely dry.

Overall: Good brew. Different yet conservative and mild enough to be extremely drinkable. I typically love the strong and bold varieties, but this wins out regardless of being quite mild. Savory from start to finish.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 21:52:53 | More by soulfly1492

ChimRichels

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Body is fairly clear in that I can actually see through it. For some reason I thought this was a stout when I bought it so needless to say I was a little shocked at the color. It is a deep brown/mahogany with a very slightly beige head that maintains a thin film throughout.

S - Aroma is very similar to that of a nice brown ale - very rich and toasty, but not overbearingly so as with a heavy stout. Chocolate is very prominent, and of course the vanilla is there, although not as forward as I was anticipating.

T - The brown ale theme is very prominent - I would guess this is a beefed up ABA recipe. Definitely a malt-bomb with notes of fresh bread, chocolate and cola being the dominant flavors. Hops bowed out of this one from the get go.

M - very full-bodied and viscous. Coats the palate thoroughly.

O - Solid beer that is quite sessionable. I could put a few bombers of this down no questions asked, although it left a bit to be desired with the flashy "25th Anniversary" labeling... I was definitely anticipating a creme de la creme beer. Regardless, it's pretty solid

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 23:51:54 | More by ChimRichels

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

3.38/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Vanilla Doubledog poured a deep amber color with a modest head that yielded a slight lacing on the glass. Immediately, one notices a striking hit of vanilla in the aroma with a hints of the chocolate malts. If you have ever patronized an ice cream establishment that uses artificial vanilla in its milk shakes, you are already familiar with the taste of Vanilla Doubledog. Drinkers will get a big hit of artificial vanilla in the initial taste, like drinking vanilla flavoring straight from the bottle. The malty backbone is pleasant, but far from extraordinary. The aftertaste gives a sensation of chalky vanilla flavoring that lingers on the back of the tongue. Perhaps this is Turbodog with a shot of vanilla flavoring added. Given the opportunity, I would pass on this in the future.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 20:08:37 | More by JohnnyHopps