Stone Smoked Porter (Vanilla Beans)

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Rated Sept. 2012. It has been a long time since I had a Stone Smoked Porter (that wasn’t barrel aged) maybe 6 years. So this will be fun to revisit with these two different treatments. The 12oz bottle pours mahogany with deep ruby red edges and tan head of foam. The light aroma offers up earthy malts, a light amount of roasted malts and a tiny sense of smoke. Overall the taste begins with subtle and subdued notes of dark roasted malts, a thin layer of sweet vanilla and just a dab of smokiness. As this thing progresses toward midway and on to the finish I seems to swing from moderate sweet vanilla to almost firm levels of smoke and then back toward vanilla with a bit of a chocolate sensation. Into the after taste the smooth oak like smokiness lingers. All of these notes are fairly restrained and stay within what I take as the Porter style by not overwhelming with any one ingredient. Nice.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Growler. Pours a dark, somewhat transparent sienna with a thick, fluffy, and very persistent light tan head. Smoked malt aroma has a strong aroma of slightly sweet vanilla and hints of licorice and coffee. Flavor has a strong and somewhat sweet, but not cloying, vanilla overtone; smoky malt, licorice and roast coffee notes round out the lip-smacking taste. Smooth, firm texture has darned good fizz. I’m not a big fan of vanilla - but in a good Porter it is da bomb!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

A black colored beer with a big frothy textured, beige head rising above. There's excellent hang time on the head. A thick ringlet and light cap are left. Both in the nose and on the tongue the general profile is smokiness, bitter roastiness and lots of vanilla. All in a light-medium bodied ale.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

I originally saw this for about $7.99, which was a little too high for me. Then saw it for about the same price as the regular smoked porter, just under $6, so figured I'd should try it now. Vanilla adds some sweetness to it, perhaps a tad too sweet. Takes away some of the smokiness. Might add some to the aroma though. Getting some toasted and roasted malt flavors as well. Still great beer and worth the try, just not sure this it needed the variations.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

This beer is a WINNER! I had this on draft at the Wasena Tap House in Roanoke, VA. This beer is a big flavorful stout with coffee and vanilla tones. Smoke is present but hardly dominant - an addition, not a focus. The color was dark as pitch. Noticable heat, but appropriate. FANTASTIC BEER.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Enjoy by: 3/15/14. Pours a clear very dark amber/brown with a one finger off white head that take a bit to go down. A little bit of carbonation in the glass. Aroma is very roasted with hints of smoke and vanilla. Taste is somewhat watered down. Slightly metallic at first but goes away fairly quick. Vanilla is present but doesn't add to the brews taste that much. Very drinkable but the taste could have been better.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Black with decent light brown head, lacing to glass. Aroma is burned malt with vanilla :). Taste is smooth slightly bitter vanilla. Aftertaste is turning more bitter over time, long present. (Houston 201301)

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

12 oz bottle. Pours brown with a medium rocky light tan head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is some chocolate malts, smoke and perfumey vanilla.

The flavor is sweet vanilla followed by an acidic charry bitter smokiness in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with smooth carbonation.

Overall, interesting, but the sweet vanilla didn't blend well with the acidic bitter smoke to me.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

One hell of a mouthfull, in name and taste. Probably the equal to the awesome vnailla bean smoked porter. Off the charts in complexity, as you can taste the subtleties of each individual ingredient. Rich, smooth, and delicious.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Very nice Stone, good work indeed. Big fan of the Smoked Porter, but the vanilla bean takes it to a whole 'nother level. Creamy and roasted goodness with a hearty dose of sweet mellow vanilla. Exceptional.