Empyrean Dark Side Vanilla Porter

Brewed by Empyrean Brewing Company
Style: Porter
Lincoln, Nebraska USA

Courtesy of our beer traveler Tpd975. Pours light hazy brown with beige head. Aroma and taste, of nice sweet vanilla, light roasted malts with the right touch of coffee. Was expecting a lot more sweetness of the vanilla beans. Woudln’t mind trying some more.

12oz Bottle. Southwestern grill twang leaps off the glass, followed by a strong waft of my grandfather’s leather recliner and a billow of his pipe tobacco, era 1970. That vanilla works in a real musky, earthen tobacco manner.

I really enjoyed this beer. Perhaps a bit heavy on the Vanilla but still fantastic.

Opaque super dark brown. Aroma hasroast character and some sweet vanilla and chocolate notes. The vanilla seems out of place and lends a not totally aggreable sweet note that clashes with the basic roast malt body. A bit fizzy and light. Okay.

355ml bottle (Beertopia, NE) - thanks Anna’s parents!
Jet black, small tight head which settles to a mouldy appearance. Sweet roasty aroma, despite starting slightly stale. Pleasant carbonation, and full-bodied. Sweet coffee and vanilla accompany a simple roasty malty body. Zingy hops hang around for a finish, as does a delicious roastiness. No real weaknesses more than just being a tad sweet. A very easy beer to drink, despite being quite characterful. Didn’t really get a ’wow’ from drinking it, but the numbers don’t lie.

Decent beer.. Dark appearance.. Moderately sweet flavor with medium finish.

From a 12oz Bottle. Obtained in a trade with valpoaj. Minimal pop upon opening; low fill, but no leakage. Dark brown, somewhat transparent color with a thin layer of wispy off white head. Notes of coffee and cocoa malts, along with a hint of vanilla. Pleasant, but simple. Medium bodied, lightly carbonated mouthfeel. Flavors of cocoa and nutty malt up front on the palate - clean, but lacking much malt depth or complexity. The malt profile actually reminds me more of a brown ale than a porter, but with slightly more cocoa. The vanilla flavors come through mid-palate. I like how they aren’t overpowering or artificial tasting, but I’d like even more. Vanilla wafer and husky coconut milk. Finishes moderately dry, with a slightly husky maltiness.

Pours dark brown, almost with the look of a coke, very faint tan head that quickly dissipates. Aroma is pleasant with vanilla,coffee, and chocolate notes with the coffee predominating. A light bitterness and sweetness is the first impression on tasting. Not particularly impressive.Body is light to medium, fizzy, with the vanilla faintly coming through, but then comes the follow up. A warm alcohol laden deep coffee begins to build, with a burnt toast finish. An enjoyable brew from Nebraska!