Gearys Vanilla Porter

Brewed by D.L. Gearys Brewing Co.
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
Portland, Maine USA

Strong vanilla aroma that masks some sweet malt and gentle pine hops. Very dark reddish brown that’s clear with a ring of thin, white foam. Potent in the vanilla flavour, but there are still some malty characteristics, as well as a salty feel that is likely to be from a fair dose of pine hops. The vanilla seems to also have a woodiness to it as though this was a barrel aged beer. Nice. Unfortunately, the flavour did have a certain oneness to it; I wouldn’t have known this was a porter without visiting Ratebeer.com. Medium to full body, with sort of a chalky feel that lingers.

Cask at The Collin’s Bar. Dark brown beer with no head at all. Aroma is very chocolatey and toasty. Caramel and light coffeeish character as well. Rich and sweet tasting. Flavour is also sweet and malty up front but there is a soft earthy/flinty palate that helps dry it out quite a bit. Nice earthy bitterness. Warming gives off a light chocolate wheaty character. A bit of peppery ethanol in the finish. Nice beer.

OOPS - I meant to enter the name as "Anniversary Ale." I realize there already is one on the brewer’s list, but this is clearly not an imperial IPA... anyway, on to the rating...


22 oz. brown bottle from Florian’s Market. The bottle is unclear as to the specific style, but says "A rich, strong ale with a sweet maltiness..." and "...and a deep chestnut color." Brown body with ruby red highlights and about a finger of offwhite head. Smells like vanilla, with hints of chocolate and diacetyl. Roasty flavor with vanilla. No noticeable hops present in either the aroma or flavor. On the lighter side of medium bodied. Seems to be a brown porter or a brown ale. Rather good, I may grab another bottle.

On tap at Pats Pizza in Auburn Maine. I first tried this beer at the Maine Brewers Fest 1 week earlier and of the 15 different samples this one was at the top of the list. Absoutely outstanding flavor! Goes down so smooth, wonderful color. I do not have the eliquent discriptive words that some people have on here for the various flavors. All I know is that this is a wonderfully delicious beer!

On tap at the Great Lost Bear. Pours a very nice dark brown with a foamy tan head. Aroma is wonderful sweet brown sugar and vanilla. Flavor is very sweet, almost cloyingly so, I dont know what the alcohol content is, but with all these sugars it’s gotta be up there. Much more complex than the regular London Porter that they make. Vanilla notes are pretty nice too. I liked this very much, but it’s not as good as Bray’s Vanilla Porter that i had earlier this year. This is a desert beer if there ever was one.