Empyrean Dark Side Vanilla Porter

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

On tap at Lazlos in Lincoln, Nebraska. Dark brown with a moderate tan head. Aroma of vanilla backed by chocolate malts. Good mouthfeel, and nice complex flavors. Quite enjoyable.

Poured a clear dark golden brown color with a large bubbly tan head. The aroma was dusty and seemed oxidized. Notes of vanilla and light roasty malt. Lightly sweet. Flavor of sweet roasted malt that drys out leaving an off flavor. Roasted bitterness on the finish. Fizzy mouthfeel with a CO2 bite on the tongue.

12 oz bottle, via BA swid. Pours a clear dark mahogany with a small quickly disappearing off-white head. Chocolate malt and vanilla beans mostly on the nose, but a little grainy. Lesser notes of coffee. Flavor is a little thin with alot of artificial (extract) tasting vanilla. Finish has alot of burnt character and an astringent and chalky lingering dryness. Mouthfeel is more like vanilla soda than beer. Fairly thin with fizzy active carbonation. Not an especially good Porter, overly sweet with a vanilla extract taste. I did finish the bottle though, so it’s not too bad.

Thanks to Sledge Jr for this one! Virtually no head formed when this dark brown brew was poured. The Vanilla was a no-show in the aroma dept, but there were some decent coffee and chocolate notes there. Lightly sweet and the aroma repeats in the flavor and the vanilla comes in at the finish. A bit thin, but the best of the Empyrean brews that I’ve sampled.

Dark brown, not totally opaque. No head to speak of. Faint vanilla and coffee in the aroma. Flavor recalls coffee and cream, with notes of dark chocolate. Nicely understated use of vanilla. Thanks to Springslicker for sharing this one!

Bottle from eboats Thanks!

Pours a thin, dark black with minimal head and lacing. Aroma is more akin to smoke and beef jerky than the flavor advertised. Flavor is a sweet, bubbly vanilla with beef jerky in the finish. Palate is tingly and slightly thin. Nice, nice beer. I’d love more of this.

Caleb rocks! Pour was dark, head was tan and fizzy. Nose was, to me, vanilla and coffee? This was a porter with a vanilla extract taste. Very smooth, with low carbination, making for an east drink. Thanks pal. This was nice.

12oz Eboats. Dark brown pour with a foamy/fizzy light tan head. Nose is light chocolate, vanilla extract, caramel and some roast. Taste is light vanilla, chocolate, some light roasted notes, a sweet sugary malt and finishes with a light bitterness and a filmy palate.