In this seasonal beer blog, we are going to get into Smoked Porter with Vanilla Bean from Stone Brewery. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west coast craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know Stone Brewery. Let us get into this vanilla bean porter.
It has a jet black color with a tan color head. The aroma has a heavy vanilla notes. The taste has a smooth chocolate with a slight smoke notes. There is a heavy vanilla notes with a nice vanilla aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.
Here is a description from the beer bottle:
In 2006, almost exactly 10 years after we first released Stone Smoked Porter, Stone Small Batch Brewer Laura Ulrich came up with a brilliant idea: What if she added whole Madagascar vanilla beans to a small batch of the finished beer? She did just that, and Stone Smoked Porter w/ Vanilla Bean was born. It was an instant hit, as the resulting flavor combinations – rich vanilla melding with the malty, chocolaty, coffee like characteristics of the beer – were practically made for each other. Originally available only as an occasional growler fill or on tap all too briefly in the restaurant, this exquisite creation was bottled for the first time in 2012. To the many fans who have been clamoring for more, worry not: Your voices have been heard.
Here is a description from their website (www.stonebrewing.com):
Warm up your palate with this delicious vanilla-laced creation. Whole Madagascar vanilla beans impart a vanilla quality that melds perfectly with the malty, chocolaty, coffee-like characteristics of our venerable Stone Smoked Porter. Enjoy this exquisite brew on its own or paired with a variety of food.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.stonebrewing.com
Twitter: @StoneBrewingCo
In the end, I saw this year and I wanted to try it. I wanted to long and it sold out. There was a case where I saw it go out of code in some of my craft beer stores. When the season came back around, I had to check code dates. I love the aroma of the vanilla bean in this porter. I thought that the smoked porter would over take the vanilla or make it weak. The vanilla shines throughout this brew. I love the aftertaste. They did a great job on this brew. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Cheers!
Bill DJ Weiser
Email: djweiser16@gmail.com
Twitter: @djweiser
Instagram: @djweiser13