Breckenridge Vanilla Porter

Brewed by Breckenridge Brewery
Style: Porter
Denver, Colorado USA

2006 bottle drunk on 11/3/06
Dark chocolate colored body has some tawny highlights on the edges and seems clear (and filtered) when held to the light. Light tan head is initially medium in height but recedes steadily to partial cover, providing no lacing.
Dry vanilla emerges, timidly from the glass, wrapped about by a sticky, though light, caramel sweetness. Some cola notes and an almost carbonic edge (LOTS of carbonation in the liquid) are dry through the middle, while a washed out roastiness, more reminiscent of tar and tobacco ash sit starkly on the end. An odd, lightly sourish note of cherry-vanilla, not terribly sweet collects on the nose as well. Not sure what to think. The roast seems harsh, poorly executed and the rest of the beer just seems to lack for true maltiness. No alcohol in the nose, medium to medium-low aroma strength.
Light sugariness perks up in the flavor, and an odd meaty-like flavor of sourdough and buttercream is apparent. Vanilla is dry again, with a strange (phenolic?)-like spicy/pepperiness that might be perceived as anise or black pepper. It diminishes the already weak amount of malt flavor (dry, hard crystal maltiness) and quickly transitions in to a char/black, dark roast finish (overdone chocolate and/or black malt in the grain bill). Not overly strong, but there is just so little else there to balance. The odd sweet-and-sour meatiness never leaves on further sips, and the vanilla just seems out of place, as do most of the other flavors here. Overly loose, artificial carbonation and a watery, lean texture. No alcohol noted.

12 oz bottle. Pours a deep ruby brown with a thin head. Aroma is vanilla creme, with egg nog, light chocolate. Very sweet flavor- some butterscotch- may be some diacetyl? Tons of vanilla flavor with cream, toffee and loads of sweetness. Slick and creamy mouthfeel. Too sweet and wierd for me.

(Bottle) Thanks Oakes. Deep red. Nose of vanilla and a barleywine. Flavour is good and strong with chocolate syrup and sweet malts mingling. I love the strength and sweetness.

Bottle poured a clear, dark reddish brown with a small, diminishing tan head. Aromas of coffee and vanilla. Palate was medium bodied and smooth. Flavors of cola, coffee, vanilla and a hint of smoke with a dry lingering semisweet finish.

Bottle. Pours dark brown with a small mostly dissipating tan foamy head. Aroma is dark roasted chocolate and caramel malt (toast) and leathery yeast with a vanilla nose. Vanilla and dark malt medium sweet flavor that transcends into a medium bitter and acidic drying spicy toasted caramel malt finish. Dark bodied and fizzy-spicy palate.

Pours a deep brown with ruby red highlights and a smaller light tan bubby/creamy head tha tleft some lacing. Aroma of vanilla cream soda, some ligth chocolate/roasted malts (very light). Flavor of artificial vanilla. Kind of like vanilla Coke without the Coke. Not really getting much more besides a fake vanilla soda. Sure they probalby used real vanilla bean but it’s just too much and covers up the porter.

Bottle. Poured a small tan head that mostly diminished with decent lacing, carbonated, transparent, and a dark red with some brown for the hue. The aroma was malty sweet, caramel, some chocolate notes, and vanilla. Flavor was very nice-sweet, malty, caramel, chocolate and some roastiness. Smooth, thin mouthfeel. Light body. A very smooth, quaffable brew.

Draft at Capital Ale House - Downtown. Nearly opaque mahogany. Small tan head on this. Nose is big vanilla and light chocolate. Some light roastiness. Taste is vanilla, some cola notes, light roasty notes and sweet malts. Body i sticky and sweet with light carbonation and a light overall feel. Ends with sweet malts, vanilla, cola and light brown sugar.