Red Brick Smoked Vanilla Gorilla - Red Brick Brewing Company

SMortiL987

Louisiana

4.25/5  rDev +20.4%

11-10-2012 01:42:12 | More by SMortiL987

thampel09

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +13.3%

05-20-2013 03:49:46 | More by thampel09

khargro2

Georgia

3.25/5  rDev -7.9%

05-06-2013 03:20:44 | More by khargro2

stakem

Pennsylvania

2.89/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle into a tulip. The brew appears brown in color with some clarity around the edges. A finger of tan head rests atop and produces some spotty lacing as the cap fades. A light swirl revitalizes more than a finger effortlessly back to the surface.

The aroma is smoked like beefy bacon alongside an awkward amount of alcohol tang. There is a fruity aspect present that is not all that inviting along eith an earthen to rocky/mineral feel.

The taste is quite tangy like whiskey mixed with chocolate. Some earthen flavors mingle with the beefy smoked aspect. There is quite an abundance of mineral flavoring into the aftertaste that is not that enjoyable.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest level of carbonation. The whiskey reinforced tang is interesting but not that good. If that wasnt bad enough, the mineral aspect was even worse. Not at all what I was expecting for a "vanilla smoked porter."

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 17:55:14 | More by stakem

oline73

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

03-26-2013 02:08:09 | More by oline73

smonice

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +6.2%

03-22-2013 18:58:24 | More by smonice

BeerZack

North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Creamy vanilla iced coffee nose with hints of wood and smoke. I think the smoke comes across as a chili pepper-like spiciness moreso than a salty or umami impression. Big, rich dark chocolate flavors with a boozey undertone that blends well with the hop bitterness. I think the strength of barrel and booziness in the mid through to the finish overpowers any of the smoked flavors, which isn't a bad thing for me.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 03:54:26 | More by BeerZack

PEIhop

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +6.2%

02-22-2013 22:02:28 | More by PEIhop

dvmin98

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

02-13-2013 22:13:46 | More by dvmin98

fatlabrats

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +13.3%

02-07-2013 15:35:52 | More by fatlabrats

tbryan5

Louisiana

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

01-20-2013 23:28:29 | More by tbryan5

TheMarkE

California

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

01-10-2013 22:59:57 | More by TheMarkE

iemailjack

Florida

3/5  rDev -15%

01-09-2013 01:54:23 | More by iemailjack

Keith_R

Georgia

3.25/5  rDev -7.9%

01-08-2013 04:17:35 | More by Keith_R

Zach136

Georgia

4/5  rDev +13.3%

12-28-2012 01:35:35 | More by Zach136

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Haven't been totally thrilled with the Red Brick beers I have had so far, but this is bucking the trend.

This is a nice porter. Vanilla accents mesh well with the overall robust porter tones. Pretty good bit of hoppy spice tones in there as well.

I dig this beer. It's not the typical porter. It gives a whole lot more to think about and enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 03:49:56 | More by RblWthACoz

bradcochran1234

Georgia

4/5  rDev +13.3%

12-13-2012 22:34:33 | More by bradcochran1234

mrebeka

Michigan

1/5  rDev -71.7%

12-12-2012 01:03:36 | More by mrebeka

sendbeer

Georgia

4.5/5  rDev +27.5%

12-09-2012 19:44:03 | More by sendbeer

hilgart1

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +6.2%

12-09-2012 05:29:13 | More by hilgart1

tut2528

Illinois

3.35/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

thanks to atlcarl for this one!

A: pours a black as night, and even with am aggressive pour, I get almost no head formation.

S: bold smoke, tobacco, coffee, roasted malt, leather. this is just a very extremely bold brew. i'm not picking up any sweetness.

T: quite smokey, but it has an overall decent balance with coffee grounds, tobacco, bold and bitter dark chocolate, slight touch of molasses, nice creamy vanilla finish, alcohol is only slight evident..

M: medium bodied, leaves a nice smokey, dark chocolate taste on the palate, with just a slight creaminess. minimal carbonation.

O: i feel that this would be a nice fireside beer and might be a excellent to pair with some smores (i know that sounds ridiculous, but I think it could actually bring out the flavors of the brew)

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 03:33:16 | More by tut2528

RogerTheShrubber

Georgia

2/5  rDev -43.3%

11-28-2012 01:32:18 | More by RogerTheShrubber

ajdemma

Georgia

1.5/5  rDev -57.5%

11-26-2012 01:03:41 | More by ajdemma

jrohrbacher

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +6.2%

11-22-2012 02:44:05 | More by jrohrbacher

russwbeck

Virginia

2.2/5  rDev -37.7%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A: The beer pours out thick and black, but really has nothing else going for it. Only a thin ring of light brown head raises out of the beer, and doesn't lace or hang out at all. The beer bubbles slightly, but isn't anything special. 2

S: The smoked porter is clearly apparent right off the bat. Huge roast, char, and smoke. Next up is the vanilla, which attempts to provide some balance, but actually takes away from it. The smoke and vanilla don't really seem to work with each other...fighting for prominence in my nostrils. I don't note any whiskey. 3

T: The balance on the taste is off as well, which really disappoints me because I was looking forward to tasting this beer. I think the smoke just overtakes the whiskey too much. The taste is dominated by smoke, char, peat, and big hits of vanilla. The finish is actually really nice, with lingering chocolate, slight vanilla, and hints of booze. The aftertaste leaves the remnants of too much vanilla that I noted throughout the aroma and taste. 2

MF: The beer has a medium body, with the lower than average amount of carbonation I expected from the appearance. The finish is slightly unpleasant, with lingering flavors that don't exactly work. The alcohol presence is hidden well, but not even that can help the drinkability. I just find this to be too smokey, vanilla-y, and unbalanced. 2

O: Pretty big disappointment here. Thought it was going to be a knock out as I really appreciated Red Brick's other beers I've had. Can't win them all! 2

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 23:26:21 | More by russwbeck