Coeur d’Alene Vanilla Bourbon Stout

Formerly brewed at Coeur d’Alene Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Coeur d Alene, Idaho USA

Serve in Snifter

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   add pic

UPDATED: MAY 6, 2009 This was a pretty darn good beer. CDA’s finest offering that I’ve had to date. The vanilla is all over the place and it is very creamy. A unique Imp Stout to say the very least. I will have another pint of this when I’m at the steamplant again.

On tap- What a great stout! the nose is thick with deeply roasted oats, hops, coffee/burnt chocolate and under it all the sweetness of vanilla beans. the flavor delievers on all the promises of the nose. the taste is dark, deep and smooth from start to finish but just on the tip of tongue is the hint of vanilla which seems to just wake up the taste buds and everything just tastes better. I hope they keep it around!

Black. Dark brown head. Unusual fruit aroma but that may be the bourbon mixed with prune scents. Flavour is hearvy fruit as well with chocolate and bourbon edges.

What a big beer. This is what the brewery referred to as the "brewer's whim" meaning it was created seemingly on the fly and it is uncertain whether it will become standard. For being the rotating tap it was surprising as hell, because it was easily the best beer offered. Big vanilla flavor and aroma, HUGE. The bourbon was nice too, incorporated in such a way that the alchohol just made the vanilla all the more smooth and rounded. I'm not sure about the whole strong ale vs. stout fiasco, the waitress told us strong ale and the tap handle told us stout. I'd argue with Brian that it could be a stout, because the roasted grain was there, but who really knows. As great as the vanilla is here it could stand to be reduced by just a hair, otherwise this was pretty damn good.

First of all, this is not a stout, I don't know why they call it a stout, it should be a strong ale but I can't argue with the label. Great creamy head and body. Vanilla is all over the taste and aroma. Whiskey elements are in play here too, must have been barrel aged. Nice tart bitterness in a vanilla finish. Could use just a hint less vanilla, but this is a great winter beer.