Stone Smoked Porter with Vanilla Beans

Brewed by Stone Brewing Co.
Style: Porter
Escondido, California USA

Serve in English pint, Shaker

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One of my favorite porters. I didn't think I was going to like it but it was fantastic. The vanilla complements the roasted coffee flavor perfectly. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Cask@The White Horse, Parsons Green, London.Black colour, small beigeish head. Aroma is vanilla, roasted malts, liquorice, oak, caramel, fudge and lots more. I’m lost for words. Flavour is very close to the aroma in an extremely good balance. Lacking something I can’t pinpoint in the flavour. Really close to perfection! Orgasm of the senses!

The first time I had this was on cask at the Stone 12th Anniversary festival, and it was all 5’s, in my opinion. This review is based on a growler I got at the brewery last Saturday. Black with a two finger cappuccino colored head. Smells like what I imagine burning vanilla beans to smell like. Sweet and smoky. Very appetizing. To me, this tasted like it has more smoky overtones, with vanilla in the near background, rather than the other way around. All mixed in with that great dark porter taste. Smooth and dry. There was something in there that kinda made me think of a "gritty" mouthfeel, if that’s possible in a liquid form. A very drinkable beer. I could easily go through the whole growler myself.

This may be the best smoked porter my taste buds have ever tasted. To start the noseon this brew is exceptional with Carmel chocolate and vanilla. The taste is excellent with a cocoa start and vanilla finish excellent beer that leaves the mouth wanting more.

Pours dark ruby mahogany with three fingers of light brown head. Smells of smoke, chocolate, and vanilla. Taste is smoke with subtle hints of vanilla and chocolate. Medium-bodied with a smooth texture and soft mouth-carbonation, Stone Smoked Porter with Vanilla Beans finishes a little smoky.

Strong vanilla aroma. Starts off like a porter finishes with an awesome vanilla taste of course. You know the vanillas aren’t masking off-flavors like most other vanilla beers!

UPDATED: AUG 16, 2011 Enjoyed on tap as a guest draft at Dark Lord Day at 3 Floyd’s in Munster, IN. Appearance virtually black with a rich tan head. Aroma mostly of vanilla, very rich with a smoke backing, a bit boozey as well. Taste very decadent, rich in vanilla, smooth, great mouthfeel. Wish I could have a full bottle. Even though the review isn’t overtly large, the addition of vanilla to this brew was a great complimentary ingredient and it would be sweet to have this again at a different time when I didn’t have 8 big beers in a 4 hour span.........re-rate on 8/16/11, the taste is now a 10, this is the best variety of the ’Smoked Porter’ series, hands down.

Had this on cask in the Bistro. A: Very dark, pretty much black with a tan head. S: Smell is like vanilla ice cream to me. But it still retained some of the smokiness. T: Initially it tasted like a great vanilla float, to be honest. Very wide range of flavors though. The smoked flavor isn’t as noticeable, it becomes more roasted/nutty. M: Very smooth, seemed to coat the mouth a bit. Very pleasant. D: I could drink this all day.

UPDATED: FEB 11, 2009 Quite simply the best thing I have ever had from Stone. On CASK no less at their Winter Storm 09. I was so lucky and knew it because all three kegs burned out by late lunch. Nose is an immaculate vanilla bean vanilla extract with a slight roasted foundation. It looks like there are small flecks of white in it because of the BRIGHT white head - like a photo negative of cookies ’n cream. The normally tart (for me) porter is calmed a bit, so unified in roast and coffee and the vanilla just ends it like a chord, and fills your mouth and sinus with a wonderful vanilla cream haze, or aura, or patina. Such a great, great pairing.

I knew they were wanting to know which was better, vanilla or chipotle. Finally found the beer at Davis Beer SHope. aroma is of vanilla and smoke. flavour is similar, really smokey, which i love in the origional, the vanilla comes through as well. this is really balanced. the porter part is kindda buiried in back. nice head and lacing. mild carbonation. palate is medium full body. great brew!!!